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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 341

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 341

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 341

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 341 of the classical Mahābhārata with 10 verses.

Total: 10 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.341.1–10 • 250 Lexicon Terms
आसीत्किल कुरुश्रेष्ठ महापद्मे पुरोत्तमे । गङ्गाया दक्षिणे तीरे कश्चिद्विप्रः समाहितः ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said "In a beautiful town called by the name of Mahapadma which was situate on the southern side of the river Ganga, there lived, O best of men, a Brahmana of concentrated Soul.
सौम्यः सोमान्वये वेदे गताध्वा छिन्नसंशयः । धर्मनित्यो जितक्रोधो नित्यतृप्तो जितेन्द्रियः ॥
English Translation
Born in the family of Atri, he was amiable by nature. All his doubts had been removed and he was well conversant with the path he was to follow. Ever practising the duties of religion, he had a complete hold over his passion. Always contented, he was the perfect master of his senses.
अहिंसानिरतो नित्यं सत्यः सज्जनसंमतः । न्यायप्राप्तेन वित्तेन स्वेन शीलेन चान्वितः ॥
English Translation
Given to penances and the study of the Vedas, he was respected by all good men. He acquired riches by fair means and his conduct in all things tallied with the mode of life he led and the order to which he belonged.
ज्ञातिसंबन्धिविपुले मित्रापाश्रयसंमते । कुले महति विख्याते विशिष्टां वृत्तिमास्थितः ॥
English Translation
The family to which the belonging was large and famous. He had many kinsmen and relatives, and many children and wives. His conduct was always respectable and faultless.
स पुत्रान्बहुलान्दृष्ट्वा विपुले कर्मणि स्थितः । कुलधर्माश्रितो राजन्धर्मचर्यापरोऽभवत् ॥
English Translation
Observing that he had many children, the Brahmana began to perform religious acts on a large scale. His religious observances, O king, were according to the customs of his own family.
ततः स धर्मं वेदोक्तं यथाशास्त्रोक्तमेव च । शिष्टाचीर्णं च धर्मं च त्रिविधं चिन्त्य चेतसा ॥
English Translation
The Brahmana thought that there were three kinds of duties laid down for observances. There were, first, the duties ordained in the Vedas about the order in which he was born and the mode of life he was leading. There were, secondly, the duties sanctioned in the scriptures, viz., those especially called the Dharmashastras. And, thirdly, there were those duties that eminent and revered men of ancient times have followed, through not laid down either in the Vedas or the Scriptures.
किं नु मे स्याच्छुभं कृत्वा किं क्षमं किं परायणम् । इत्येवं खिद्यते नित्यं न च याति विनिश्चयम् ॥
English Translation
Which of these duties should I follow? Which of thein, again, followed by me, are likely to produce my benefit? Which, indeed, should be my refuge? Thoughts like these always troubled him. He could not solve his doubts.
तस्यैवं खिद्यमानस्य धर्मं परममास्थितः । कदाचिदतिथिः प्राप्तो ब्राह्मणः सुसमाहितः ॥
English Translation
While troubled with such thoughts, a Brahmana of concentrated soul and observant of every superior religion, came to his house as a guest.
स तस्मै सत्क्रियां चक्रे क्रियायुक्तेन हेतुना । विश्रान्तं चैनमासीनमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥
English Translation
The house-holder duly respected his guest according to those ordinances of worship that are laid down in the scriptures. Seeing his guest refreshed and seated at ease, the host addressed him in the following words.
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