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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 261

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 261

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 261

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 261 of the classical Mahābhārata with 62 verses.

Total: 62 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.261.1–62 • 250 Lexicon Terms • Page 1 of 3 (Verses 30 shown)
एतावदनुपश्यन्तो यतयो यान्ति मार्गगाः । नैषां सर्वेषु लोकेषु कश्चिदस्ति व्यतिक्रमः ॥
English Translation
Kapila said Seeing that all the fruits that can be gained by acts are instable instead of being eternal, Yatis, by adopting self-control and tranquallity, attain to Brahma through the path of knowledge. There is nothing in any of the worlds that can stand in their way.
निर्द्वंद्वा निर्नमस्कारा निराशीर्बन्धना बुधाः । विमुक्ताः सर्वपापेभ्यश्चरन्ति शुचयोऽमलाः ॥
English Translation
They are freed from the influence of all pairs of opposites. They never offer their salutation to anything or to any creature. They are above all the fetters of want. Wisdom is theirs. They are purged of every sin. Pure and stainless they live rove about.
अपवर्गेऽथ संत्यागे बुद्धौ च कृतनिश्चयाः । ब्रह्मिष्ठा ब्रह्मभूताश्च ब्रह्मण्येव कृतालयाः ॥
English Translation
They have, in their own understandings, formed fixed conclusions regarding all destructible objects and a life of at are Renunciation. Devoted to Brahma, and already at one with Brahma, they have taken refuge in Brahma.
विशोका नष्टरजसस्तेषां लोकाः सनातनाः । तेषां गतिं परां प्राप्य गार्हस्थ्ये किं प्रयोजनम् ॥
English Translation
Getting over grief, and freed from the quality of darkness, their acquisitions eternal. When the high end of these men is within reach of attainment, what need has one for performing the duties of the domestic mode of life.
यद्येषा परमा निष्ठा यद्येषा परमा गतिः । गृहस्थानव्यपाश्रित्य नाश्रमोऽन्यः प्रवर्तते ॥
English Translation
If, indeed, that be the highest object of acquisition, if that be truly the highest end then the importance of the domestic mode of life becomes clear, because without the domestic mode no other mode of life ever becomes possible.
यथा मातरमाश्रित्य सर्वे जीवन्ति जन्तवः । एवं गृहस्थमाश्रित्य वर्तन्त इतरेऽऽश्रमाः ॥
English Translation
Indeed, as all living creatures live on account of their dependence on their respective mothers, similarly the three other modes of life exist on account of their dependence upon the domestic mode.
गृहस्थ एव यजते गृहस्थस्तप्यते तपः । गार्हस्थ्यमस्य धर्मस्य मूलं यत्किंचिदेजते ॥
English Translation
The householder who lives like a householder, celebrates sacrifices and practise penances. Whatever is done by anybody for acquiring happiness has for its root the domestic mode of life.
प्रजनाद्ध्यभिनिर्वृत्ताः सर्वे प्राणभृतो मुने । प्रजनं चाप्युतान्यत्र न कथंचन विद्यते ॥
English Translation
All living creatures consider the procreation of offspring as a root of great happiness. The procreation of children, however, becomes impossible in any other mode of life.
यास्ताः स्युर्बहिरोषध्यो बह्वरण्यास्तथा द्विज । ओषधिभ्यो बहिर्यस्मात्प्राणी कश्चिन्न विद्यते । कस्यैषा वाग्भवेत्सत्या मोक्षो नास्ति गृहादिति ॥
English Translation
Every sort of grass and straw, all plants and herbs, and others of the same class growing on hills and mountains, have the domestic mode of life for their root. Upon these rests the life of living creatures. And since nothing else is seen than life, domesticity may be regarded as the refuge of the entire universe.
अश्रद्दधानैरप्राज्ञैः सूक्ष्मदर्शनवर्जितैः । निराशैरलसैः श्रान्तैस्तप्यमानैः स्वकर्मभिः । श्रमस्योपरमो दृष्टः प्रव्रज्या नाम पण्डितैः ॥
English Translation
Who then speaks the truth who says that domesticity cannot bring on the acquisition of Liberation? Only those who have no faith and wisdom and penetration, only those who have no reputation, who are idle and toil-worn who have misery in their lot on account of their pristine deeds, only those who are destitute of learning, see the profusion of tranquillity in a life of mendicancy.
त्रैलोक्यस्यैव हेतुर्हि मर्यादा शाश्वती ध्रुवा । ब्राह्मणो नाम भगवाञ्जन्मप्रभृति पूज्यते ॥
English Translation
The central and unfailing (Vedic) distinctions are the causes that keep up the three worlds. That Illustrious person of the highest caste who is conversant with the Vedas, is adored from the very date of his birth.
प्राग्गर्भाधानान्मन्त्रा हि प्रवर्तन्ते द्विजातिषु । अविश्रम्भेषु वर्तन्ते विश्रम्भेष्वप्यसंशयम् ॥
English Translation
Besides the celebration of Garbhadhana, Vedic Mantras become necessary for enabling persons of the twice-born classes to perforin all their acts regarding both this and the oiher world.
दाहः पुनः संश्रयणे संस्थिते पात्रभोजनम् । दानं गवां पशूनां वा पिण्डानां चाप्सु मज्जनम् ॥
English Translation
In cremating his body in attainment of a second body, in that of his drink and food after such attainment, in that of giving away kine and other animals for helping him to cross the river that divides this world from that of Yama, in that of sinking the funeral cakes in water, Vedic Mantras are necessary.
अर्चिष्मन्तो बर्हिषदः क्रव्यादाः पितरः स्मृताः । मृतस्याप्यनुमन्यन्ते मन्त्रा मन्त्राश्च कारणम् ॥
English Translation
Then again the three classes of Pitris, viz., the Archishmats, the Varihshads, and the Kravyads, approve of the necessity of Mantras about the dead, and Mantras are regarded as powerful causes.
एवं क्रोशत्सु वेदेषु कुतो मोक्षोऽस्ति कस्यचित् । ऋणवन्तो यदा मर्त्याः पितृदेवद्विजातिषु ॥
English Translation
When the Vedas proclaim this so loudly and when again human beings are said to owe debts to the Pitris, the Rishis, and the gods, how can any one attain to Liberation.
श्रिया विहीनैरलसैः पण्डितैरपलापितम् । वेदवादापरिज्ञानं सत्याभासमिवानृतम् ॥
English Translation
This false doctrine (of incorporeal existence called Emancipation), seemingly consistent with truth, but subversive of the real meaning of the injunctions of the Vedas, has been introduced by learned men shorn of prosperity and eaten up by idleness.
न वै पापैर्ह्रियते कृष्यते वा; यो ब्राह्मणो यजते वेदशास्त्रैः । ऊर्ध्वं यज्ञः पशुभिः सार्धमेति; संतर्पितस्तर्पयते च कामैः ॥
English Translation
That Brahmana who celebrates sacrifices according to the injunctions of the Vedas, is never seduced by sin. Through sacrifices, such a person acquires high regions of happiness along with the animals he has killed in those sacrifices, and himself, pleased by the acquisition of all his wishes succeeds in pleasing those animals by fulfilling their wishes.
न वेदानां परिभवान्न शाठ्येन न मायया । महत्प्राप्नोति पुरुषो ब्रह्म ब्रह्मणि विन्दति ॥
English Translation
By neglecting the Vedas, by guile, or by deception, one never succeeds in attaining to the Supreme. On the other hand, it is by practising Vedic rites that one succeeds in attaining to Brahina.
दर्शं च पौर्णमासं च अग्निहोत्रं च धीमताम् । चातुर्मास्यानि चैवासंस्तेषु यज्ञः सनातनः ॥
English Translation
Kapila said There are the Darsha, the Pauranmasha, the Agnihotra, the Chaturmashya, and other rites which an intelligent man should perform. Eternal merit consists in their performance.
अनारम्भाः सुधृतयः शुचयो ब्रह्मसंश्रिताः । ब्रह्मणैव स्म ते देवांस्तर्पयन्त्यमृतैषिणः ॥
English Translation
Those that have adopted the Sanyasa mode of life, who abstain from all acts, who are endued with patience, who are cleansed, and who are conversant with Brahma, succeed by such knowledge of Brahma in satisfying the debts to the gods, (also the Pitris and the Rishis), described to be so very fond of libations poured in sacrifices.
सर्वभूतात्मभूतस्य सर्वभूतानि पश्यतः । देवापि मार्गे मुह्यन्ति अपदस्य पदैषिणः ॥
English Translation
The very celestials, in their search after it, become bewildered in the track of that person who rises above all states, the person, viz., who himself is the soul of all creatures and who considers all creatures as identical with his own self.
चतुर्द्वारं पुरुषं चतुर्मुखं; चतुर्धा चैनमुपयाति निन्दा । बाहुभ्यां वाच उदरादुपस्था;त्तेषां द्वारं द्वारपालो बुभूषेत् ॥
English Translation
Through instructions delivered by the preceptor one knows that which lives within this body to be of a four-fold nature, having besides four doors and four mouths. In consequence of two arms the organ of speech, the stomach, and the organ of pleasure, the very duties are said to have four doors. One should, therefore, do his best to keep those doors under control.
नाक्षैर्दीव्येन्नाददीतान्यवित्तं; न वायोनीयस्य शृतं प्रगृह्णेत् । क्रुद्धो न चैव प्रहरेत धीमां;स्तथास्य तत्पाणिपादं सुगुप्तम् ॥
English Translation
One should not gamble with dice. One should not appropriate others properties. One should not officiate at the sacrifice of a person of a mean birth. One should not, yielding to anger, smite another with hands or feet. That intelligent man who acts thus is said to have his hands and feet well-governed.
नाक्रोशमर्छेन्न मृषा वदेच्च; न पैशुनं जनवादं च कुर्यात् । सत्यव्रतो मितभाषोऽप्रमत्त;स्तथास्य वाग्द्वारमथो सुगुप्तम् ॥
English Translation
One should not make loud abuse or censure. Onc should not speak useless words. One should forbear from knavery and from accusing others. One should observe the vow of truthfulness, be sparing of speech, and always careful. By acting thus one will have his organ of speech well-governed.
नानाशनः स्यान्न महाशनः स्या;दलोलुपः साधुभिरागतः स्यात् । यात्रार्थमाहारमिहाददीत; तथास्य स्याज्जाठरी द्वारगुप्तिः ॥
English Translation
One should not abstain entirely from food. One should not eat too much. One should give up covetousness, and always seek company of the good. One should eat only so much as is necessary for keeping life. By acting thus one succeeds in properly governing the door represented by his stomach.
न वीरपत्नीं विहरेत नारीं; न चापि नारीमनृतावाह्वयीत । भार्याव्रतं ह्यात्मनि धारयीत; तथास्योपस्थद्वारगुप्तिर्भवेत ॥
English Translation
One should not, O hero, out of lust take another wife when he has a wedded wife. One should never call a woman to bed except in her season. One should confine himself to her own married spouse without seeking union with other women. By acting thus one is said in have his organ of pleasure properly governed.
द्वाराणि यस्य सर्वाणि सुगुप्तानि मनीषिणः । उपस्थमुदरं बाहू वाक्चतुर्थी स वै द्विजः ॥
English Translation
That wise man is truly a regenerate person who has all his four doors, viz., the organ of pleasure, the stomach, the two arms (and two feet), and the organ of speech, properly governed.
मोघान्यगुप्तद्वारस्य सर्वाण्येव भवन्त्युत । किं तस्य तपसा कार्यं किं यज्ञेन किमात्मना ॥
English Translation
Everything becomes useless of that person whose doors are not well governed. O what avail are the penances of such a man? Of what avail are his sacrifices? What can be gained by his body?
अनुत्तरीयवसनमनुपस्तीर्णशायिनम् । बाहूपधानं शाम्यन्तं तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः ॥
English Translation
The gods consider him a Brahmana who has cast off his upper garment, who sleeps on the naked earth, who makes his arm a pillow, and whose heart is endued with tranquillity.
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