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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 226

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 226

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 226

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 226 of the classical Mahābhārata with 39 verses.

Total: 39 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.226.1–39 • 250 Lexicon Terms
भूतग्रामे नियुक्तं यत्तदेतत्कीर्तितं मया । ब्राह्मणस्य तु यत्कृत्यं तत्ते वक्ष्यामि पृच्छते ॥
English Translation
Vyasa said-I have described to you fully that which you had asked me about the Creation of all beings. Listen to me as I tell you now what the duties are of a Brahmana.
जातकर्मप्रभृत्यस्य कर्मणां दक्षिणावताम् । क्रिया स्यादा समावृत्तेराचार्ये वेदपारगे ॥
English Translation
The rituals of all ceremonies for which sacrificial fees are sanctioned, beginning with birth-rite and ending with Sama-vartana (return from preceptor's house) depend for their performance upon a preceptor well-versed in the Vedas.
अधीत्य वेदानखिलान्गुरुशुश्रूषणे रतः । गुरूणामनृणो भूत्वा समावर्तेत यज्ञवित् ॥
English Translation
Having read all the Vedas and having showed submission towards his preceptor while living with him, and having paid the preceptor's fee, the youth should return home with a perfect knowledge of all sacrifices.
आचार्येणाभ्यनुज्ञातश्चतुर्णामेकमाश्रमम् । आ विमोक्षाच्छरीरस्य सोऽनुतिष्ठेद्यथाविधि ॥
English Translation
Obtaining the permission of his preceptor, he should follow one of the four modes of life and live in it duly satisfying its duties till he renounces his body.
प्रजासर्गेण दारैश्च ब्रह्मचर्येण वा पुनः । वने गुरुसकाशे वा यतिधर्मेण वा पुनः ॥
English Translation
He should either live like a house-holder with wives and engaged in creating offspring, or live the life of celibacy or in the forest in the company of his preceptor, or follow the duties of a Yati.
गृहस्थस्त्वेव सर्वेषां चतुर्णां मूलमुच्यते । तत्र पक्वकषायो हि दान्तः सर्वत्र सिध्यति ॥
English Translation
A house-holder's life is said to be the root of all the other modes of life. A self-controlled house-holder who has mastered all his attachments of worldly objects always becomes successful.
प्रजावाञ्श्रोत्रियो यज्वा मुक्तो दिव्यैस्त्रिभिरृणैः । अथान्यानाश्रमान्पश्चात्पूतो गच्छति कर्मभिः ॥
English Translation
By procreating children, by gaining a knowledge of the Vedas, and by celebrating sacrifices, a Brahmana satisfies the three debts he owes. He should then enter the other inodes of life, having purified himself by his acts.
यत्पृथिव्यां पुण्यतमं विद्यास्थानं तदावसेत् । यतेत तस्मिन्प्रामाण्यं गन्तुं यशसि चोत्तमे ॥
English Translation
He should live for good in that place which he may ascertain to be the most sacred spot on earth, and he should try, in all matters leading to fame, for attaining to an eminent position.
तपसा वा सुमहता विद्यानां पारणेन वा । इज्यया वा प्रदानैर्वा विप्राणां वर्धते यशः ॥
English Translation
The fame of Brahmanas increases through austere penances, through mastery of the various branches of knowledge, through sacrifices, and through gifts.
यावदस्य भवत्यस्मिँल्लोके कीर्तिर्यशस्करी । तावत्पुण्यकृताँल्लोकाननन्तान्पुरुषोऽश्नुते ॥
English Translation
Truly, a person enjoys endless regions of the righteous as long as his deeds or the memory thereof exists in this world.
अध्यापयेदधीयीत याजयेत यजेत च । न वृथा प्रतिगृह्णीयान्न च दद्यात्कथंचन ॥
English Translation
A Brahmana should teach, study, officiate at other people's sacrifices, and offer sacrifices himself. He should not give away uselessly or accept other people's gifts uselessly.
याज्यतः शिष्यतो वापि कन्यया वा धनं महत् । यद्यागच्छेद्यजेद्दद्यान्नैकोऽश्नीयात्कथंचन ॥
English Translation
Profuse wealth, that may come from one who is assisted in a sacrifice, from a pupil, or from marriage of a daughter, should be spent in the celebration of a sacrifice, or in making gifts. Wealth coming from any of these sources should never be enjoyed by a Brahmana alone.
गृहमावसतो ह्यस्य नान्यत्तीर्थं प्रतिग्रहात् । देवर्षिपितृगुर्वर्थं वृद्धातुरबुभुक्षताम् ॥
English Translation
For a Brahmana living like a house-holder, there is no means save the acceptance of gifts for the sake of the gods, or the Rishis, or the Pitris, or the preceptor, or the aged, or the diseased, or the hungry.
अन्तर्हिताभितप्तानां यथाशक्ति बुभूषताम् । द्रव्याणामतिशक्त्यापि देयमेषां कृतादपि ॥
English Translation
One should make gifts from his own siock, including even cooked food, more than he can fairly afford, to those who are persecuted by unseen foes, or those who are trying to the best of their power to acquire Knowledge.
अर्हतामनुरूपाणां नादेयं ह्यस्ति किंचन । उच्चैःश्रवसमप्यश्वं प्रापणीयं सतां विदुः ॥
English Translation
There is nothing that cannot be given to a deserving person. The good and the wise deserve to have even the best of horses, called Uchchaishravas, belonging to Indra himself.
अनुनीय तथा काव्यः सत्यसंधो महाव्रतः । स्वैः प्राणैर्ब्राह्मणप्राणान्परित्राय दिवं गतः ॥
English Translation
Of high vows, Satyasanaha, having, with due humility, offered his own life for saving a Brahmana, ascended to heaven.
रन्तिदेवश्च सांकृत्यो वसिष्ठाय महात्मने । अपः प्रदाय शीतोष्णा नाकपृष्ठे महीयते ॥
English Translation
Sankriti's son Rantideva, having given only lukewarm water to the great Vasistha, ascended to heaven and received great honours there.
आत्रेयश्चन्द्रदमयोरर्हतोर्विविधं धनम् । दत्त्वा लोकान्ययौ धीमाननन्तान्स महीपतिः ॥
English Translation
Aftri's royal and highly intelligent son Indradamana, having given various kinds of wealth to a deserving person, acquired various regions of felicity in the next world,
शिबिरौशीनरोऽङ्गानि सुतं च प्रियमौरसम् । ब्राह्मणार्थमुपाकृत्य नाकपृष्ठमितो गतः ॥
English Translation
Ushinara's son Shivi, having given away his own limbs and his dear son for the sake of a Brahmana, ascended to heaven from this world.
प्रतर्दनः काशिपतिः प्रदाय नयने स्वके । ब्राह्मणायातुलां कीर्तिमिह चामुत्र चाश्नुते ॥
English Translation
Having given away his very eyes to a Brahmana, Pratarddana, the king of Kasi, enjoyed great fame both here and hereafter.
दिव्यं मृष्टशलाकं तु सौवर्णं परमर्द्धिमत् । छत्रं देवावृधो दत्त्वा सराष्ट्रोऽभ्यपतद्दिवम् ॥
English Translation
Having given away a very beautiful and costly umbrella, with eight golden ribs, King Devavriddha proceeded to heaven with all the denizens of his kingdom.
सांकृतिश्च तथात्रेयः शिष्येभ्यो ब्रह्म निर्गुणम् । उपदिश्य महातेजा गतो लोकाननुत्तमान् ॥
English Translation
Having given instruction to his disciples on the subject of Impersonal Brahma, Sanskriti of Atri's race, endued with great energy, proceeded to the regions of great felicity.
अम्बरीषो गवां दत्त्वा ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रतापवान् । अर्बुदानि दशैकं च सराष्ट्रोऽभ्यपतद्दिवम् ॥
English Translation
Having given to the Brahmanas eleven Arvudas of kine, Amvarisha of great prowess, proceeded to heaven with all the denizens of his kingdom.
सावित्री कुण्डले दिव्ये शरीरं जनमेजयः । ब्राह्मणार्थे परित्यज्य जग्मतुर्लोकमुत्तमम् ॥
English Translation
By giving away her ear-rings, Savitri, and, by giving away his own body, king Janamejaya both proceeded to high regions of felicity.
सर्वरत्नं वृषादर्भो युवनाश्वः प्रियाः स्त्रियः । रम्यमावसथं चैव दत्त्वामुं लोकमास्थितः ॥
English Translation
By giving away various kinds of gems, a fine palace, and inany beautiful women, Yuvanashva the son of Vrishadabha ascended to heaven.
निमी राष्ट्रं च वैदेहो जामदग्न्यो वसुंधराम् । ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददौ चापि गयश्चोर्वीं सपत्तनाम् ॥
English Translation
Nimi, the king the Videhas, gave away his kingdom, Jamadagni's son (Rama) gave away the whole Earth; and Gaya gave away the Earth with all her towns and cities, to the Brahmanas.
अवर्षति च पर्जन्ये सर्वभूतानि चासकृत् । वसिष्ठो जीवयामास प्रजापतिरिव प्रजाः ॥
English Translation
Once when the clouds ceased to pour, Vashishtha, resembling Brahman himself, kept alive all creatures like Prajapati (by his power and kindness).
करंधमस्य पुत्रस्तु मरुत्तो नृपतिस्तथा । कन्यामङ्गिरसे दत्त्वा दिवमाशु जगाम ह ॥
English Translation
By giving away his daughter to Angiras, Karandha's son Marutta of purified soul, quickly ascended to heaven.
ब्रह्मदत्तश्च पाञ्चाल्यो राजा बुद्धिमतां वरः । निधिं शङ्खं द्विजाग्र्येभ्यो दत्त्वा लोकानवाप्तवान् ॥
English Translation
Brahmadatta, the king of the Panchalas, possessed of great intelligence, by giving away two costly jewels called Nidhi and Shankha to some of the foremost of the Brahmanas, acquired many regions of felicity.
राजा मित्रसहश्चापि वसिष्ठाय महात्मने । मदयन्तीं प्रियां दत्त्वा तया सह दिवं गतः ॥
English Translation
Having given his own dear wife Mayadanti to the great Vasistha, King Mitrasaha ascenued to heaven with that wife of his.
सहस्रजिच्च राजर्षिः प्राणानिष्टान्महायशाः । ब्राह्मणार्थे परित्यज्य गतो लोकाननुत्तमान् ॥
English Translation
The royal and highly illustrious sage Shasrajit, having cast off his own dear life for the sake of a Brahmana, ascended to regions of great happiness.
सर्वकामैश्च संपूर्णं दत्त्वा वेश्म हिरण्मयम् । मुद्गलाय गतः स्वर्गं शतद्युम्नो महीपतिः ॥
English Translation
Having given to Mudgala a golden palace furnished with every object of comfort and use, king shatadyumna ascended to heaven.
नाम्ना च द्युतिमान्नाम शाल्वराजः प्रतापवान् । दत्त्वा राज्यमृचीकाय गतो लोकाननुत्तमान् ॥
English Translation
The king of the Shalvas, named Dyatimat, endued with great prowess gave to Richika his entire kingdom and ascended to heaven.
मदिराश्वश्च राजर्षिर्दत्त्वा कन्यां सुमध्यमाम् । हिरण्यहस्ताय गतो लोकान्देवैरभिष्टुतान् ॥
English Translation
By giving away daughter Shanta to Rishyarshringa, the highly powerful royal sage Lomapada obtained the fruition of all his wishes. By giving away his slender waisted daughter of Hiranyahasta, the royal sage Madirashva, ascended to regions esteemed of the very gods.
लोमपादश्च राजर्षिः शान्तां दत्त्वा सुतां प्रभुः । ऋश्यशृङ्गाय विपुलैः सर्वकामैरयुज्यत ॥
English Translation
By giving away daughter Shanta to Rishyarshringa, the highly powerful royal sage Lomapada obtained the fruition of all his wishes. By giving away his slender waisted daughter of Hiranyahasta, the royal sage Madirashva, ascended to regions esteemed of the very gods.
दत्त्वा शतसहस्रं तु गवां राजा प्रसेनजित् । सवत्सानां महातेजा गतो लोकाननुत्तमान् ॥
English Translation
By giving away a hundred thousand kine with calves, the highly energetic king Prasenajit ascended to excellent regions of happiness.
एते चान्ये च बहवो दानेन तपसा च ह । महात्मानो गताः स्वर्गं शिष्टात्मानो जितेन्द्रियाः ॥
English Translation
These and many others, endued with great and well-ordered souls, and having their senses under control, ascended, by means of gifts and penances, to heaven.
तेषां प्रतिष्ठिता कीर्तिर्यावत्स्थास्यति मेदिनी । दानयज्ञप्रजासर्गैरेते हि दिवमाप्नुवन् ॥
English Translation
Their fame will last as long as the Earth lierself will exist. All of them have, by gifts and sacrifices and procreation of children proceeded to heaven.
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