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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 230

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 230

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 230

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 230 of the classical Mahābhārata with 22 verses.

Total: 22 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.230.1–22 • 250 Lexicon Terms
एषा पूर्वतरा वृत्तिर्ब्राह्मणस्य विधीयते । ज्ञानवानेव कर्माणि कुर्वन्सर्वत्र सिध्यति ॥
English Translation
This preliminary course of conduct is first sanctioned for a Brahmana. Subsequently, when knowledge comes, he should begin work, for success lies in works.
तत्र चेन्न भवेदेवं संशयः कर्मनिश्चये । किं नु कर्म स्वभावोऽयं ज्ञानं कर्मेति वा पुनः ॥
English Translation
If no doubt is entertained about acts, then acis done are sure to lead to success. The doubt we speak of is whether acts are obligatory or optional.
तत्र चेह विवित्सा स्याज्ज्ञानं चेत्पुरुषं प्रति । उपपत्त्युपलब्धिभ्यां वर्णयिष्यामि तच्छृणु ॥
English Translation
About this if acts, are ordained for man for gaining knowledge, they should be considered as obligatory. I shall now describe them by the light of inferences and experience. Here me. some
पौरुषं कारणं केचिदाहुः कर्मसु मानवाः । दैवमेके प्रशंसन्ति स्वभावं चापरे जनाः ॥
English Translation
Regarding acts men hold that Exertion is their root. Others say that Necessity is their cause. Others, again, hold that Nature is the cause.
पौरुषं कर्म दैवं च फलवृत्तिस्वभावतः । त्रयमेतत्पृथग्भूतमविवेकं तु केचन ॥
English Translation
Others hold that Acts flowing from Exertion and Destiny, produce effects, helped by Nature. Instead of considering any of these as alone powerful for the production of effects, they say that it is the union of all three that produces all effects.
एवमेतन्न चाप्येवमुभे चापि न चाप्युभे । कर्मस्था विषमं ब्रूयुः सत्त्वस्थाः समदर्शिनः ॥
English Translation
About this subject, some say that such is the case; some, that such is not the case; some, that both of these are not the case; and some that it is not that the reverse of both are not. These, of course, are the contentions of those who depend on Acts, with reference to objects. They, however, whose see the truth consider Brahma as the causes.
त्रेतायां द्वापरे चैव कलिजाश्च ससंशयाः । तपस्विनः प्रशान्ताश्च सत्त्वस्थाश्च कृते युगे ॥
English Translation
The men of the Treta, the Dvapara, and the Kali Yugas, are filled with doubts. The men, however, the Krita Yuga, are given to penances, endued with tranquil souls, and observant of righteousness,
अपृथग्दर्शिनः सर्वे ऋक्सामसु यजुःषु च । कामद्वेषौ पृथग्दृष्ट्वा तपः कृत उपासते ॥
English Translation
In that age all men consider the Richs, the Samans, and the Yajushes as Identical, despite their seeming diversity. Analysing desire and hatred, they adore only penance.
तपोधर्मेण संयुक्तस्तपोनित्यः सुसंशितः । तेन सर्वानवाप्नोति कामान्यान्मनसेच्छति ॥
English Translation
Given to the practice of penances, firm in them, and rigid in their observance, one acquires the fruition of all desires by penances alone.
तपसा तदवाप्नोति यद्भूत्वा सृजते जगत् । तद्भूतश्च ततः सर्वो भूतानां भवति प्रभुः ॥
English Translation
By penance one attains to that Being who creates the universe. He who thus succeeds in attaining to that Being becomes the powerful lord of all beings.
तदुक्तं वेदवादेषु गहनं वेददर्शिभिः । वेदान्तेषु पुनर्व्यक्तं क्रमयोगेन लक्ष्यते ॥
English Translation
That incomprehensible Brahma which has been described in the words of the Vedas, and which has been described more clearly in the Upanishads by those who have an insight into the Vedas, can be realised by gradually following the practices referred to above.
आरम्भयज्ञाः क्षत्रस्य हविर्यज्ञा विशः स्मृताः । परिचारयज्ञाः शूद्राश्च जपयज्ञा द्विजातयः ॥
English Translation
The destruction of animals is the sacrifice sanctioned for the Kshatriyas. The growing of corn is the sacrifice sanctioned for the Vaisshyas. Serving the three other orders is the sacrifice sanctioned for the Shudras. Penance is the sacrifice sanctioned for the Brahmanas.
परिनिष्ठितकार्यो हि स्वाध्यायेन द्विजो भवेत् । कुर्यादन्यन्न वा कुर्यान्मैत्रो ब्राह्मण उच्यते ॥
English Translation
By observing the duties sanctioned for him, and by studying the Vedas and other scriptures, one becomes a twice-born one whether one does any other deed or not, he becomes a Brahmana by becoming the friend of all creatures.
त्रेतादौ सकला वेदा यज्ञा वर्णाश्रमास्तथा । संरोधादायुषस्त्वेते व्यस्यन्ते द्वापरे युगे ॥
English Translation
Accordingly, in that age, the Vedas, and sacrifices, and the distinctions between the several orders, and the four modes of life, existed in a body. On account, however, of the decrease in the period of life in Dvapara, all these, it that age, fall off from that compact condition.
द्वापरे विप्लवं यान्ति वेदाः कलियुगे तथा । दृश्यन्ते नापि दृश्यन्ते कलेरन्ते पुनः पुनः ॥
English Translation
In Dvapara age as also in the Kali, the Vedas become of doubtful interpretation. Towards the close of Kali again, it is doubtful if they ever can be seen by the eye.
उत्सीदन्ति स्वधर्माश्च तत्राधर्मेण पीडिताः । गवां भूमेश्च ये चापामोषधीनां च ये रसाः ॥
English Translation
In that age, the duties of the respective castes disappear, and men become possessed by sin, the juicy attributes of kine, of the earth, of water, and of herbs, disappear.
अधर्मान्तर्हिता वेदा वेदधर्मास्तथाश्रमाः । विक्रियन्ते स्वधर्मस्थाः स्थावराणि चराणि च ॥
English Translation
Through (universal) sin the Vedas disappear, and with them all the duties laid down in them, as also the duties of the four imodes of life. They who follow the duties, of their own order become afflicted, and all mobile and immobile objects suffer a change for the worse.
यथा सर्वाणि भूतानि वृष्टिर्भौमानि वर्षति । सृजते सर्वतोऽङ्गानि तथा वेदा युगे युगे ॥
English Translation
As the rain from the sky causes all products of the Earth to grow, likewise the Veda develops all its auxilliaries.
विसृतं कालनानात्वमनादिनिधनं च यत् । कीर्तितं तत्पुरस्तान्मे यतः संयान्ति यान्ति च ॥
English Translation
I have, before this, spoken to you of Time which is without beginning and without end, which ordains this variety in the universe. It is that Time which creates and destroys all creatures.
धातेदं प्रभवस्थानं भूतानां संयमो यमः । स्वभावेन प्रवर्तन्ते द्वंद्वसृष्टानि भूरिशः ॥
English Translation
All the numberless creatures which exist subject to pairs of opposites and according to their respective natures, have Time for their refuge. It is Time that puts on those forms and it is Time which upholds them.]
सर्गः कालो धृतिर्वेदाः कर्ता कार्यं क्रिया फलम् । एतत्ते कथितं तात यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि ॥
English Translation
Time is the origin of all creatures; it is Time which makes them grow; Time is their destroyer; and lastly it is Time which is their ruler. Subject to pairs of opposites, innumerable sorts of creatures rest on Time, according to their own natures.
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