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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 171

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 171

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 171

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 171 of the classical Mahābhārata with 62 verses.

Total: 62 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.171.1–62 • 250 Lexicon Terms • Page 1 of 3 (Verses 30 shown)
ईहमानः समारम्भान्यदि नासादयेद्धनम् । धनतृष्णाभिभूतश्च किं कुर्वन्सुखमाप्नुयात् ॥
English Translation
Yudhishthira said If any person, desirous of accomplishing acts of charity and sacrifices, fails to find (the necessary) wealth, and thirst of wealth gets the better of him, what course should he pursue to obtain happiness?
सर्वसाम्यमनायासः सत्यवाक्यं च भारत । निर्वेदश्चाविवित्सा च यस्य स्यात्स सुखी नरः ॥
English Translation
He who makes no difference between two opposite agents, viz., pleasure and pain, honour and insult, etc., who never troubles himself for the gratification of his desire for worldly possessions, who observes veracity of speech, who has freed himself from all kinds of attachment, and who has renounced his desire for action, is, O Bharata, a happy man.
एतान्येव पदान्याहुः पञ्च वृद्धाः प्रशान्तये । एष स्वर्गश्च धर्मश्च सुखं चानुत्तमं सताम् ॥
English Translation
The ancients say these are the five means by which perfect tranquility or emancipation could be obtained. These are called Heaven. These are Religion. These form the highest happiness.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । निर्वेदान्मङ्किना गीतं तन्निबोध युधिष्ठिर ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said Regarding it is cited the old discourse between father and son. Listen to it, 0 Yudhishthira.
ईहमानो धनं मङ्किर्भग्नेहश्च पुनः पुनः । केनचिद्धनशेषेण क्रीतवान्दम्यगोयुगम् ॥
English Translation
Manki, desirous of wealth, found that he was doomed to an unending series of disappointinents. With a little remnant of his property hc purchased at last a couple of young bulls with a yoke for training them (to pastoral labour).
सुसंबद्धौ तु तौ दम्यौ दमनायाभिनिःसृतौ । आसीनमुष्ट्रं मध्येन सहसैवाभ्यधावताम् ॥
English Translation
One day the two bulls, properly yoked, were taken out for training (in the fields). Shying at the sight of a camel which was lying down on the road, the animals suddenly ran towards the camel, and fell upon its neck. Enraged at finding the bulls fall upon its neck, the camel, possessed of great speed, got up and ran with full speed, bearing away the two helpless creatures dangling on either side of its neck.
तयोः संप्राप्तयोरुष्ट्रः स्कन्धदेशममर्षणः । उत्थायोत्क्षिप्य तौ दम्यौ प्रससार महाजवः ॥
English Translation
One day the two bulls, properly yoked, were taken out for training (in the fields). Shying at the sight of a camel which was lying down on the road, the animals suddenly ran towards the camel, and fell upon its neck. Enraged at finding the bulls fall upon its neck, the camel, possessed of great speed, got up and ran with full speed, bearing away the two helpless creatures dangling on either side of its neck.
ह्रियमाणौ तु तौ दम्यौ तेनोष्ट्रेण प्रमाथिना । म्रियमाणौ च संप्रेक्ष्य मङ्किस्तत्राब्रवीदिदम् ॥
English Translation
Beholding his two bulls thus carried away by the strong camel, and seeing that they were: on the point of death, Manki began to say,-If it is not ordained by destiny, wealth can never be obtained even by a clever man strenuously and confidently striving and skilfully doing all that is necessary towards the accomplishment of his object.
न चैवाविहितं शक्यं दक्षेणापीहितुं धनम् । युक्तेन श्रद्धया सम्यगीहां समनुतिष्ठता ॥
English Translation
Beholding his two bulls thus carried away by the strong camel, and seeing that they were: on the point of death, Manki began to say,-If it is not ordained by destiny, wealth can never be obtained even by a clever man strenuously and confidently striving and skilfully doing all that is necessary towards the accomplishment of his object.
कृतस्य पूर्वं चानर्थैर्युक्तस्याप्यनुतिष्ठतः । इमं पश्यत संगत्या मम दैवमुपप्लवम् ॥
English Translation
I had, all along, tried by all manner and means, and with great devotion, to acquire riches. But all this misfortune to my property is due to Destiny.
उद्यम्योद्यम्य मे दम्यौ विषमेणेव गच्छति । उत्क्षिप्य काकतालीयमुन्माथेनेव जम्बुकः ॥
English Translation
My bulls are carried away, rising and falling, as the camel is running in the uneven course. This event seems to be an accident like the one brought about by the crow to a ripe fruit while perching on a palmyra free.
मणी वोष्ट्रस्य लम्बेते प्रियौ वत्सतरौ मम । शुद्धं हि दैवमेवेदमतो नैवास्ति पौरुषम् ॥
English Translation
Alas, those dear bulls of mine are dangling on the camel's neck like a couple of gems! This is the result of Destiny alone. Exertion is of no avail in what is due to Chance.
यदि वाप्युपपद्येत पौरुषं नाम कर्हिचित् । अन्विष्यमाणं तदपि दैवमेवावतिष्ठते ॥
English Translation
Or, if the existence of anything like Exertion (as a resulting factor) be admitted, a little more scrutiny would find that Destiny is at the bottom.
तस्मान्निर्वेद एवेह गन्तव्यः सुखमीप्सता । सुखं स्वपिति निर्विण्णो निराशश्चार्थसाधने ॥
English Translation
Therefore, he who is desirous of happiness, should renounce all attachment. He who is indifferent to worldly surroundings, has renounced all desires for acquiring wealth, can sleep happily.
अहो सम्यक्शुकेनोक्तं सर्वतः परिमुच्यता । प्रतिष्ठता महारण्यं जनकस्य निवेशनात् ॥
English Translation
He, it was well-said by Shuka while going to the great forest from his father's house, renouncing everything.
यः कामान्प्राप्नुयात्सर्वान्यश्चैनान्केवलांस्त्यजेत् । प्रापणात्सर्वकामानां परित्यागो विशिष्यते ॥
English Translation
Amongst these two, viz., one who obtains the fruition of all his desires, and one who renounces all desires, the latter, who casts off everything is superior to the first who obtains the fruition of all his desires.
नान्तं सर्वविवित्सानां गतपूर्वोऽस्ति कश्चन । शरीरे जीविते चैव तृष्णा मन्दस्य वर्धते ॥
English Translation
No one could ever attain to the end of desire. Only he who is destitute of knowledge and judgement feels and avidity for protecting his body and life.
निवर्तस्व विवित्साभ्यः शाम्य निर्विद्य मामक । असकृच्चासि निकृतो न च निर्विद्यसे तनो ॥
English Translation
Renounce all desire for action. O my Soul which has become a prey of cupidity, adopt tranquillity by freeling yourself from all worldly attachments. Repeatedly have you been cheated (by phantomis of hope). How is it that you do not still free yourself from attachments?
यदि नाहं विनाश्यस्ते यद्येवं रमसे मया । मा मां योजय लोभेन वृथा त्वं वित्तकामुक ॥
English Translation
If I am not one who deserves to be crushed by you, if I am one with whom you should play in delight, then, O my wealth-coveting Soul, do not induce me towards cupidity.
संचितं संचितं द्रव्यं नष्टं तव पुनः पुनः । कदा विमोक्ष्यसे मूढ धनेहां धनकामुक ॥
English Translation
You have now and again lost your hoarded wealth! O my wealth-covering and foolish Soul, when will you succeed in getting rid of your desire for wealth?
अहो नु मम बालिश्यं योऽहं क्रीडनकस्तव । किं नैव जातु पुरुषः परेषां प्रेष्यतामियात् ॥
English Translation
Shame on my foolishness. I have become a toy of yours. It is thus that one becomes a slave of others.
न पूर्वे नापरे जातु कामानामन्तमाप्नुवन् । त्यक्त्वा सर्वसमारम्भान्प्रतिबुद्धोऽस्मि जागृमि ॥
English Translation
No one born on Earth did ever attain to the end of desire, and no one who will be born hereafter will succeed in attaining to it. Renouncing all acts, I have at last been roused from sleep. I am now awake.
नूनं ते हृदयं काम वज्रसारमयं दृधम् । यदनर्थशताविष्टं शतधा न विदीर्यते ॥
English Translation
Without doubt, O Desire, your heart is hard like that of an adamant, since though affected by a hundred reverses, you do not break into as many fragments.
त्यजामि काम त्वां चैव यच्च किंचित्प्रियं तव । तवाहं सुखमन्विच्छन्नात्मन्युपलभे सुखम् ॥
English Translation
I know you, O Desire, and all those things that are dear to you. Seeking what is dear to you, I shall feel happiness in my own Self.
काम जानामि ते मूलं संकल्पात्किल जायसे । न त्वां संकल्पयिष्यामि समूलो न भविष्यसि ॥
English Translation
O desire, I know your origin. You originate from Will. I shall, therefore, avoid Will. You will then be rooted out.
ईहा धनस्य न सुखा लब्ध्वा चिन्ता च भूयसी । लब्धनाशो यथा मृत्युर्लब्धं भवति वा न वा ॥
English Translation
The desire for wealth can never yield happiness. If acquired, the acquirer feels great anxiety. If lost after acquisition it is felt like death. Again acquisition itself, is very uncertain.
परेत्य यो न लभते ततो दुःखतरं नु किम् । न च तुष्यति लब्धेन भूय एव च मार्गति ॥
English Translation
Wealth cannot be secured by even the surrender of one's person. What can be more painful than this? When acquired, one is never gratified with its quantity, but one continues to hanker after it.
अनुतर्षुल एवार्थः स्वादु गाङ्गमिवोदकम् । मद्विलापनमेतत्तु प्रतिबुद्धोऽस्मि संत्यज ॥
English Translation
Like the sweet water of the Ganges, riches only enhances one's hankering. It is my destruction. I am now awakened. Do you, O desire, leave me.
य इमं मामकं देहं भूतग्रामः समाश्रितः । स यात्वितो यथाकामं वसतां वा यथासुखम् ॥
English Translation
May that desire which resides in this my body,-this compound of (five), elements,-go wherever it likes and live happily wherever it likes.
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