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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 159

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 159

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 159

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 159 of the classical Mahābhārata with 73 verses.

Total: 73 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.159.1–73 • 250 Lexicon Terms • Page 1 of 3 (Verses 30 shown)
कृतार्थो यक्ष्यमाणश्च सर्ववेदान्तगश्च यः । आचार्यपितृभार्यार्थं स्वाध्यायार्थमथापि वा ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said Wealth and knowledge, O Bharata, should be given to such pious and impoverished Brahmanas as have been robbed of their wealth (by thieves), as are engaged in the celebration of sacrifices, as are well-read in all the Vedas, and as are desirous of acquiring the merit of righteousness, so that they may satisfy their duties to preceptors and the Pitris, and spend their days in reciting and studying the scriptures.
एते वै साधवो दृष्टा ब्राह्मणा धर्मभिक्षवः । अस्वेभ्यो देयमेतेभ्यो दानं विद्याविशेषतः ॥
अन्यत्र दक्षिणा या तु देया भरतसत्तम । अन्येभ्यो हि बहिर्वेद्यां नाकृतान्नं विधीयते ॥
English Translation
Only the Dakshina, O best of the Bharatas, should be given to those Brahmanas who are not poor. Uncooked food should be given beyond the limits of the sacrificial altar, to those Brahmanas that have fallen away in consequence of their sinful deeds) from their own dignity.
सर्वरत्नानि राजा च यथार्हं प्रतिपादयेत् । ब्राह्मणाश्चैव यज्ञाश्च सहान्नाः सहदक्षिणाः ॥
यस्य त्रैवार्षिकं भक्तं पर्याप्तं भृत्यवृत्तये । अधिकं वापि विद्येत स सोमं पातुमर्हति ॥
English Translation
That Brahmana who has sufficient stores for feeding his family for three or more years, deserves to drink the Soma.
यज्ञश्चेत्प्रतिविद्धः स्यादङ्गेनैकेन यज्वनः । ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषेण धार्मिके सति राजनि ॥
यो वैश्यः स्याद्बहुपशुर्हीनक्रतुरसोमपः । कुटुम्बात्तस्य तद्द्रव्यं यज्ञार्थं पार्थिवो हरेत् ॥
English Translation
If inspite of the presence of a pious king on the throne, the sacrifice undertaken by any one, but especially by a Brahmana, cannot be completed for want of only a fulptrt of the estimated cost, then the king should, for the completion of that sacrifice, take away from his relatives the wealth of a Vaishya who has a farge flock of cattle but who is averse from sacrifices and abstains from drinking Soma.
आहरेद्वेश्मतः किंचित्कामं शूद्रस्य द्रव्यतः । न हि वेश्मनि शूद्रस्य कश्चिदस्ति परिग्रहः ॥
English Translation
The Shudra is not competent to celebrate a sacrifice. The king should, therefore, take away (wealth for such a purpose) from a Shudra's house.
योऽनाहिताग्निः शतगुरयज्वा च सहस्रगुः । तयोरपि कुटुम्बाभ्यामाहरेदविचारयन् ॥
English Translation
The king should, also, unscrupulously take away from their kinsmen the wealth of him who does not celebrate sacrifices although he has a hundred kine, and also of him who does not perform sacrifices although he has a thousand kine.
अदातृभ्यो हरेन्नित्यं व्याख्याप्य नृपतिः प्रभो । तथा ह्याचरतो धर्मो नृपतेः स्यादथाखिलः ॥
English Translation
The king should, always, publicly take away the wealth of a person who does not perform charities. By acting in this wise the King acquires great merit.
तथैव सप्तमे भक्ते भक्तानि षडनश्नता । अश्वस्तनविधानेन हर्तव्यं हीनकर्मणः । खलात्क्षेत्रात्तथागाराद्यतो वाप्युपपद्यते ॥
English Translation
Listen again to me. That Brahmana who has been compelled by want to fast for three days, may take away without permission, according to the rule of a person who cares only for toclay and not for the morrow, only what is necessary for a single mcal, from the husking tub or the field or the garden or any other place of even a degraded man. He should, however, whether asked or unasked, inform the king of his deed.
आख्यातव्यं नृपस्यैतत्पृच्छतोऽपृच्छतोऽपि वा । न तस्मै धारयेद्दण्डं राजा धर्मेण धर्मवित् ॥
क्षत्रियस्य हि बालिश्याद्ब्राह्मणः क्लिश्यते क्षुधा । श्रुतशीले समाज्ञाय वृत्तिमस्य प्रकल्पयेत् । अथैनं परिरक्षेत पिता पुत्रमिवौरसम् ॥
English Translation
Having learnt a Brahmana's learning and conduct, the king should provide for his living and protect him as a father protects his own begotten son.
इष्टिं वैश्वानरीं नित्यं निर्वपेदब्दपर्यये । अविकल्पः पुराधर्मो धर्मवादैस्तु केवलम् ॥
English Translation
On the expiry of every year, one should celebrate the Vaishyanara sacrifice. Those who are conversant with religious codes say that the practice of an alternative act, does not destroy virtue.
विश्वैस्तु देवैः साध्यैश्च ब्राह्मणैश्च महर्षिभिः । आपत्सु मरणाद्भीतैर्लिङ्गप्रतिनिधिः कृतः ॥
English Translation
Fearing death in seasons of distress, the Vishvedevas, the Saddhyas, the Brahmanas, and great Rishis, do not hesitate to follow the alternative provisions laid down in the scriptures.
प्रभुः प्रथमकल्पस्य योऽनुकल्पेन वर्तते । न सांपरायिकं तस्य दुर्मतेर्विद्यते फलम् ॥
English Translation
That man, however, who while able to live according to the first provision, as laid down above, follows the alternative, comes to be known as a wicked person and never succeeds in acquiring any happiness in heaven.
न ब्राह्मणान्वेदयेत कश्चिद्राजनि मानवः । अवीर्यो वेदनाद्विद्यात्सुवीर्यो वीर्यवत्तरम् ॥
English Translation
A Brahmana conversant with the Vedas should mention his power and knowledge to the king. Comparing again the power of a Brahmana with that of the king, the former will always be found to be superior to the latter. never
तस्माद्राज्ञा सदा तेजो दुःसहं ब्रह्मवादिनाम् । मन्ता शास्ता विधाता च ब्राह्मणो देव उच्यते । तस्मिन्नाकुशलं ब्रूयान्न शुक्तामीरयेद्गिरम् ॥
English Translation
Therefore the power of the Brahmanas can hardly be borne or resisted by a king. The Brahmana is said to be creator, king, ordainer, and god.
क्षत्रियो बाहुवीर्येण तरत्यापदमात्मनः । धनेन वैश्यः शूद्रश्च मन्त्रैर्होमैश्च वै द्विजः ॥
न वै कन्या न युवतिर्नामन्त्रो न च बालिशः । परिवेष्टाग्निहोत्रस्य भवेन्नासंस्कृतस्तथा । नरके निपतन्त्येते जुह्वानाः स च यस्य तत् ॥
प्राजापत्यमदत्त्वाश्वमग्न्याधेयस्य दक्षिणाम् । अनाहिताग्निरिति स प्रोच्यते धर्मदर्शिभिः ॥
English Translation
They who are well-acquainted with the scriptures hold that man who, having lighted the sacrificial fire, does not give away the dedicated food as Dakshina, is not the kindler of a sacrificial fire,
पुण्यान्यन्यानि कुर्वीत श्रद्दधानो जितेन्द्रियः । अनाप्तदक्षिणैर्यज्ञैर्न यजेत कथंचन ॥
English Translation
A person should, after having controlled his senses, and with proper devotion, do all the meritorious acts. One should never adore gods in sacrifices in which no Dakshina is given.
प्रजाः पशूंश्च स्वर्गं च हन्ति यज्ञो ह्यदक्षिणः । इन्द्रियाणि यशः कीर्तिमायुश्चास्योपकृन्तति ॥
English Translation
A sacrifice not completed with Dakshina, encompasses the destruction of one's children, animals, and heaven. Such a sacrifice destroys also the senses, the glory the achievements, and the very life, itself.
उदक्या ह्यासते ये च ये च केचिदनग्नयः । कुलं चाश्रोत्रियं येषां सर्वे ते शूद्रधर्मिणः ॥
English Translation
Those Brahmanas who know women in their season, or who never celebrate sacrifices, or whose families have no members well-read in the Vedas, are considered as Shudras in act.
उदपानोदके ग्रामे ब्राह्मणो वृषलीपतिः । उषित्वा द्वादश समाः शूद्रकर्मेह गच्छति ॥
English Translation
That Brahmana who, having married a Shudra girl, lives for twelve years continually in a village which has only a well to give water, becomes a Shudra in act.
अनार्यां शयने बिभ्रदुज्झन्बिभ्रच्च यो द्विजाम् । अब्राह्मणो मन्यमानस्तृणेष्वासीत पृष्ठतः । तथा स शुध्यते राजञ्शृणु चात्र वचो मम ॥
English Translation
That Brahmana who brings to his bed a maiden, or allows a Shudra, knowing him as deserving of respect, to sit upon the same carpet with him, should sit on a bed of dry grass behind some Kshatriya or Vaishya and show him respect in that way. It is in this way that he can be purified. Hear, O king, my words on this subject.
यदेकरात्रेण करोति पापं; कृष्णं वर्णं ब्राह्मणः सेवमानः । स्थानासनाभ्यां विचरन्व्रती सं;स्त्रिभिर्वर्षैः शमयेदात्मपापम् ॥
English Translation
The sin that a Brahmana perpetrates in one night by respectfully serving a member of a lower caste or by playing with him in the same spot or on the same bed, is purified by observing the practice of sitting behind by observing the practice of sitting behind a Kshatriya or a Vaishya on a bed of dry grass for three years continually.
न नर्मयुक्तं वचनं हिनस्ति; न स्त्रीषु राजन्न विवाहकाले । न गुर्वर्थे नात्मनो जीवितार्थे; पञ्चानृतान्याहुरपातकानि ॥
English Translation
An untruth spoken for jest is not sinful; nor one spoken at the time of wedding; nor one spoken for doing good to one's preceptor; nor one spoken for saving one's own life. These five sorts of falsehood in speech, it has been said, are not sinful.
श्रद्दधानः शुभां विद्यां हीनादपि समाचरेत् । सुवर्णमपि चामेध्यादाददीतेति धारणा ॥
English Translation
One may gain useful knowledge from even a person of degraded calling, with devotion and reverence. One may take up gold, unhesitatingly from even an unclean spot.
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