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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 136

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 136

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 136

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 136 of the classical Mahābhārata with 212 verses.

Total: 212 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.136.1–212 • 250 Lexicon Terms • Page 7 of 8 (Verses 30 shown)
तन्मामेवंगते साधो न यावयितुमर्हसि । त्वया हि याव्यमानोऽहं प्राणाञ्जह्यां सबान्धवः ॥
धिक्शब्दो हि बुधैर्दृष्टो मद्विधेषु मनस्विषु । मरणं धर्मतत्त्वज्ञ न मां शङ्कितुमर्हसि ॥
English Translation
If I am ordered by you, I can, with all my kinsmen and relatives, sacrifice my very life. The learned and wise see sufficient reasons for reposing their confidence in persons of such mental disposition as ourselves. O you who are a master of the truths of morality, you should not suspect me.
इति संस्तूयमानो हि मार्जारेण स मूषकः । मनसा भावगम्भीरं मार्जारं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥
English Translation
Thus addressed by the cat, the mouse, thinking a while, said these weighty words to the former.
साधुर्भवाञ्श्रुतार्थोऽस्मि प्रीयते न च विश्वसे । संस्तवैर्वा धनौघैर्वा नाहं शक्यः पुनस्त्वया ॥
English Translation
You are highly good. I have heard all that you have said and am glad to hear you. For all that, however, I cannot trust you. It is impossible for you, by such eulogiums or by present of great wealth, to induce me to unite with you again.
न ह्यमित्रवशं यान्ति प्राज्ञा निष्कारणं सखे । अस्मिन्नर्थे च गाथे द्वे निबोधोशनसा कृते ॥
English Translation
I tell you, O friend, that the wise never place themselves, without sufficient reason, under the power of an enemy. Regarding this, two stories have been recited by Sage Usanasa. Listen carefully.
शत्रुसाधारणे कृत्ये कृत्वा संधिं बलीयसा । समाहितश्चरेद्युक्त्या कृतार्थश्च न विश्वसेत् ॥
English Translation
Having made an agreement with a stronger one, when both are threatened by enemies, a weak person should act carefully after considerations of policy. Having gained his object, the weaker of the two parties should not again trust the stronger.
तस्मात्सर्वास्ववस्थासु रक्षेज्जीवितमात्मनः । द्रव्याणि संततिश्चैव सर्वं भवति जीवतः ॥
English Translation
For these reasons one should, under every circumstances, protect his own self. One's possessions, children and everything else are so long valuable as he is alive.
संक्षेपो नीतिशास्त्राणामविश्वासः परो मतः । नृषु तस्मादविश्वासः पुष्कलं हितमात्मनः ॥
English Translation
In short, the highest truth of all works on policy is Mistrust. Therefore, mistrust of all persons yields the greatest good.
वध्यन्ते न ह्यविश्वस्ताः शत्रुभिर्दुर्बला अपि । विश्वस्तास्त्वाशु वध्यन्ते बलवन्तोऽपि दुर्बलैः ॥
English Translation
However weak people may be, if they mistrust their enemies, the latter, even if strong, never succeed in reigning supreme over them.
त्वद्विधेभ्यो मया ह्यात्मा रक्ष्यो मार्जार सर्वदा । रक्ष त्वमपि चात्मानं चण्डालाज्जातिकिल्बिषात् ॥
English Translation
O cat, one like myself should always guard his life from persons like you. Do you also
स तस्य ब्रुवतस्त्वेवं संत्रासाज्जातसाध्वसः । स्वबिलं हि जवेनाशु मार्जारः प्रययौ ततः ॥
English Translation
While the mous, thus spoke, the cat frightened at the mention of the hunter, hastily left the branch of the tree, ran away with great speed.
ततः शास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञो बुद्धिसामर्थ्यमात्मनः । विश्राव्य पलितः प्राज्ञो बिलमन्यज्जगाम ह ॥
English Translation
Having thus shown his power of understanding, the mouse Palita also, who was conve. sant with the trists of scripture and endued with wisdom, entered another hole.
एवं प्रज्ञावता बुद्ध्या दुर्बलेन महाबलाः । एकेन बहवोऽमित्राः पलितेनाभिसंधिताः ॥
English Translation
Bhishma continued Thus did the wise mouse Palita, though weak, and alone, succeed in baffling many powerful enemies.
अरिणापि समर्थेन संधिं कुर्वीत पण्डितः । मूषकश्च बिडालश्च मुक्तावन्योन्यसंश्रयात् ॥
English Translation
An intelligent and learned man should make peace with a powerful enemy. The mouse and the cat escaped by their reliance upon each other's services.
इत्येष क्षत्रधर्मस्य मया मार्गोऽनुदर्शितः । विस्तरेण महीपाल संक्षेपेण पुनः शृणु ॥
English Translation
I have thus pointed out to you fully the course of Kshatriya duties. Listen now to me in brief.
अन्योन्यकृतवैरौ तु चक्रतुः प्रीतिमुत्तमाम् । अन्योन्यमभिसंधातुमभूच्चैव तयोर्मतिः ॥
English Translation
When two persons who were once enemy 1.1ake peace with each other, it is certain that each of them has it in his heart to control the other.
तत्र प्राज्ञोऽभिसंधत्ते सम्यग्बुद्धिबलाश्रयात् । अभिसंधीयते प्राज्ञः प्रमादादपि चाबुधैः ॥
English Translation
In such a case the wise man succeeds by the power of his understanding in controlling the other. He, on the other hand, who has no। wisd m suffers himself, for his carelessness, to be defeated by the wise.
तस्मादभीतवद्भीतो विश्वस्तवदविश्वसन् । न ह्यप्रमत्तश्चलति चलितो वा विनश्यति ॥
English Translation
It is necessary, therefore, that in fear one should appear to be fearless, and, while really mistrusting others, one should seem to be truthful. One, who acts with such carefulness nev r loses his steps, or, even losing it, is never ruined.
कालेन रिपुणा संधिः काले मित्रेण विग्रहः । कार्य इत्येव तत्त्वज्ञाः प्राहुर्नित्यं युधिष्ठिर ॥
English Translation
When the opportunity presents its-self, one should make peace with an enemy; and when the time comes, one should make war with even a friend. Those, who are well read in peace and war, say that one should conduct hiinself thus, O king.
एवं मत्वा महाराज शास्त्रार्थमभिगम्य च । अभियुक्तोऽप्रमत्तश्च प्राग्भयाद्भीतवच्चरेत् ॥
English Translation
knowing this, O king, and remembering the truths of scripture, one should, ser:sibly and carefully, act like a person in fear before the cause of fear actually arrives.
भीतवत्संविधिः कार्यः प्रतिसंधिस्तथैव च । भयादुत्पद्यते बुद्धिरप्रमत्ताभियोगजा ॥
English Translation
One should before the cause of fear actually arrived, act like a person in fear, and make peace with enenies. Such fear and carefulness beget keenness of understanding.
न भयं विद्यते राजन्भीतस्यानागते भये । अभीतस्य तु विस्रम्भात्सुमहज्जायते भयम् ॥
English Translation
If one acts like a man in fear before the cause of fear is so near, one is never filled with fear when that cause actually arrives. And from the fear of a person, who always acts with "carlessness, very great fear criginates.
न भीरुरिति चात्यन्तं मन्त्रोऽदेयः कथंचन । अविज्ञानाद्धि विज्ञाते गच्छेदास्पददर्शिषु ॥
English Translation
Never cherish fear,-such an advice should never be given to any one. The person, who entertains fear from a consciousness of his weakness, always seuks the advice of wise and experienced men.
तस्मादभीतवद्भीतो विश्वस्तवदविश्वसन् । कार्याणां गुरुतां बुद्ध्वा नानृतं किंचिदाचरेत् ॥
English Translation
For these reasons, one should, when afraid, appear to be fearless and when mistrusting (others', should seem to be truthful. One should not, even iil serious acts, !reat others with falsehood.
एवमेतन्मया प्रोक्तमितिहासं युधिष्ठिर । श्रुत्वा त्वं सुहृदां मध्ये यथावत्समुपाचर ॥
English Translation
Thus have recited to you, O Yudhishthira, the old story (of the mouse and the cat). Havii.g listened to it, do you: act properly in the midst of your friends and kinsmen.
उपलभ्य मतिं चाग्र्यामरिमित्रान्तरं तथा । संधिविग्रहकालं च मोक्षोपायं तथापदि ॥
English Translation
Deriving a great lesson from that story, and learning the difference between friend and enemy and the proper time for war and peace, You will discover means of escape when beset with dangers.
शत्रुसाधारणे कृत्ये कृत्वा संधिं बलीयसा । समागमं चरेद्युक्त्या कृतार्थो न च विश्वसेत् ॥
English Translation
Having made an agreement with a stronger one, when both are threatened by enemies, a weak person should act carefully after considerations of policy. Having gained his object, the weaker of the two parties should not again trust the stronger.
अविरुद्धां त्रिवर्गेण नीतिमेतां युधिष्ठिर । अभ्युत्तिष्ठ श्रुतादस्माद्भूयस्त्वं रञ्जयन्प्रजाः ॥
English Translation
This path of policy is quite of a piece with the three-fold objects of life, (viz., Virtue, Profit, and Pleasure) O king! Guided by this Shruti, do you acquire prosperity by once more protecting your subjects.
ब्राह्मणैश्चापि ते सार्धं यात्रा भवतु पाण्डव । ब्राह्मणा हि परं श्रेयो दिवि चेह च भारत ॥
English Translation
O son of Pandu, always try to associate with Brahmanas in all your acts! Brahmanas give great benefit both in this world and the next.
एते धर्मस्य वेत्तारः कृतज्ञाः सततं प्रभो । पूजिताः शुभकर्माणः पूर्वजित्या नराधिप ॥
English Translation
They are teachers of duty and morality. They are always grateful, O powerful one! If adored, they are sure to do you good. Therefore, o king, you should always adore them.
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