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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 174

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 174

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 174

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 174 of the classical Mahābhārata with 21 verses.

Total: 21 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.174.1–21 • 250 Lexicon Terms
यद्यस्ति दत्तमिष्टं वा तपस्तप्तं तथैव च । गुरूणां चापि शुश्रूषा तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥
English Translation
Yudhishthira said Tell me, O grand-father, if gifts, sacrifices, penances and dutiful services offered to preceptors, yield wisdom and supreme bliss.
आत्मनानर्थयुक्तेन पापे निविशते मनः । स कर्म कलुषं कृत्वा क्लेशे महति धीयते ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said 'If the mind is stricken with desire, anger and other evil passions, it then inclines towards sin. If one's acts are sullied by sin, he is obliged to dwell in painful regions.
दुर्भिक्षादेव दुर्भिक्षं क्लेशात्क्लेशं भयाद्भयम् । मृतेभ्यः प्रमृतं यान्ति दरिद्राः पापकारिणः ॥
English Translation
Sinful men are born as poor men and suffer again and again the pangs of fainine, woe, fear, and death.
उत्सवादुत्सवं यान्ति स्वर्गात्स्वर्गं सुखात्सुखम् । श्रद्दधानाश्च दान्ताश्च धनाढ्याः शुभकारिणः ॥
English Translation
The virtuous, the faithful, and the selfrestrained, become born as affluent men and continually enjoy festivities and heaven and happiness.
व्यालकुञ्जरदुर्गेषु सर्पचोरभयेषु च । हस्तावापेन गच्छन्ति नास्तिकाः किमतः परम् ॥
English Translation
Unbelievers, with their hands bound, are sent to regions rendered inaccessible by carnivorous beasts and elephants, and dreadful with snakes and robbers, What more should I say of them.
प्रियदेवातिथेयाश्च वदान्याः प्रियसाधवः । क्षेम्यमात्मवतां मार्गमास्थिता हस्तदक्षिणम् ॥
English Translation
They, on the other hand, who have reverence for gods and guests, who are liberal, who have respect for good men, and who makes gifts in sacrifices, have for theirs the path that belongs to men of purified and subdued souls.
पुलाका इव धान्येषु पुत्तिका इव पक्षिषु । तद्विधास्ते मनुष्येषु येषां धर्मो न कारणम् ॥
English Translation
They who have no respect for virtue are as vile among men as seedless grains among corn or the gnat among birds.
सुशीघ्रमपि धावन्तं विधानमनुधावति । शेते सह शयानेन येन येन यथा कृतम् ॥
English Translation
The acts that one does, follow him even when he runs fast. Whatever act one does, lie down with the doer when the doer lays himself down.
उपतिष्ठति तिष्ठन्तं गच्छन्तमनुगच्छति । करोति कुर्वतः कर्म छायेवानुविधीयते ॥
English Translation
Indeed, the sins one commits, sin when the doer sits, and run when he runs. The sin acts when the doer acts, and, in deed, follow the doer like his shadow.
येन येन यथा यद्यत्पुरा कर्म समाचितम् । तत्तदेव नरो भुङ्क्ते नित्यं विहितमात्मना ॥
English Translation
Whatever acts a man does in his previous birth, he certainly enjoys the fruits thereof.
स्वकर्मफलविक्षिप्तं विधानपरिरक्षितम् । भूतग्राममिमं कालः समन्तात्परिकर्षति ॥
English Translation
Death is dragging all creatures who are destined to take birth according to their deserts and are liable to enjoy or suffer that which has been ordained as the fruit of their acts.
अचोद्यमानानि यथा पुष्पाणि च फलानि च । स्वकालं नातिवर्तन्ते तथा कर्म पुराकृतम् ॥
English Translation
As flowers and fruits, without being compelled, never allow their proper time to pass away without making their appearance, so the acts one has done in past life appear at the proper time.
संमानश्चावमानश्च लाभालाभौ क्षयोदयौ । प्रवृत्ता विनिवर्तन्ते विधानान्ते पुनः पुनः ॥
English Translation
After the ordained consequences of pristine acts have been dissipated (by enjoyment or sufferance), honour and disgrace, profit and loss, development and decay no longer come. This takes place again and again.
आत्मना विहितं दुःखमात्मना विहितं सुखम् । गर्भशय्यामुपादाय भुज्यते पौर्वदेहिकम् ॥
English Translation
While still in the mother's womb, a creature enjoys or suffers the happiness of the misery that has been ordained for him by his own acts,
बालो युवा च वृद्धश्च यत्करोति शुभाशुभम् । तस्यां तस्यामवस्थायां भुङ्क्ते जन्मनि जन्मनि ॥
English Translation
In childhood or youth or old age whenever a man does a good or bad act the consequences there of surely visit him in his next life at precisely the same period.
यथा धेनुसहस्रेषु वत्सो विन्दति मातरम् । तथा पूर्वकृतं कर्म कर्तारमनुगच्छति ॥
English Translation
As the calf recognises its dam even when the latter may stand among thousands of her kind, similarly the acts done by one in his past life come to him in the next life although he may live among thousands of his species.
समुन्नमग्रतो वस्त्रं पश्चाच्छुध्यति कर्मणा । उपवासैः प्रतप्तानां दीर्घं सुखमनन्तकम् ॥
English Translation
Washed in water a piece of cloth becomes clean. Likewise, men, repenting (for their past misdeeds), get eternal happiness by proper penances.
दीर्घकालेन तपसा सेवितेन तपोवने । धर्मनिर्धूतपापानां संसिध्यन्ते मनोरथाः ॥
English Translation
By living in the woods and by practising austerities for a long period, one can wash themselves of their sins, and get the objects of their hearts.
शकुनीनामिवाकाशे मत्स्यानामिव चोदके । पदं यथा न दृश्येत तथा ज्ञानविदां गतिः ॥
English Translation
As no one can mark the track of birds in the sky or of fishes in the water, so the track of persons whose souls have been purified by knowledge cannot be seen by any.
अलमन्यैरुपालम्भैः कीर्तितैश्च व्यतिक्रमैः । पेशलं चानुरूपं च कर्तव्यं हितमात्मनः ॥
English Translation
There is no need of speaking more of sinful acts. Suffice it to say that one should, with proper judgement and as best as can, do what is for his well-being. This is the means by which wisdom and great happiness may be acquired."
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