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Mahābhārata • Parva 13 (Anuśāsanaparva) • Adhyāya 33

Anuśāsanaparva Adhyāya 33

अनुशासनपर्व • अध्यायः 33

Anuśāsanaparva Adhyāya 33 of the classical Mahābhārata with 26 verses.

Total: 26 Verses • Citations: MBh 13.33.1–26 • 250 Lexicon Terms
किं राज्ञः सर्वकृत्यानां गरीयः स्यात्पितामह । किं कुर्वन्कर्म नृपतिरुभौ लोकौ समश्नुते ॥
English Translation
Yudhishthira Said Which act, O grandfather is the foremost of all those that have been laid down for a king? What is that act by doing which a king succeeds in enjoying both this world and the next.
एतद्राज्ञः कृत्यतममभिषिक्तस्य भारत । ब्राह्मणानामनुष्ठानमत्यन्तं सुखमिच्छता । श्रोत्रियान्ब्राह्मणान्वृद्धान्नित्यमेवाभिपूजयेत् ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said Even this, viz., the worship of the Brahmanas, is the foremost of all those deeds, O Bharata, which have been laid down for a king duly installed on the throne if, indeed, he is desirous of acquiring great happiness.
पौरजानपदांश्चापि ब्राह्मणांश्च बहुश्रुतान् । सान्त्वेन भोगदानेन नमस्कारैस्तथार्चयेत् ॥
English Translation
The king should, with bows sweet speeches and gifts of all articles of enjoyment, adore all Brahmanas endued with great learning who may live in his city or provinces.
एतत्कृत्यतमं राज्ञो नित्यमेवेति लक्षयेत् । यथात्मानं यथा पुत्रांस्तथैतान्परिपालयेत् ॥
English Translation
This is the foremost of all acts laid down for the king. Indeed, the king should always keep his eyes fixed on this. He should protect and cherish these, even as he protects his own self or his own children.
ये चाप्येषां पूज्यतमास्तान्दृढं प्रतिपूजयेत् । तेषु शान्तेषु तद्राष्ट्रं सर्वमेव विराजते ॥
English Translation
The king should adore with greater reverence those amongst the Brahmanas who may be worthy of it. When such men are freed from all anxiety, the whole kingdom shines in beauty.
ते पूज्यास्ते नमस्कार्यास्ते रक्ष्याः पितरो यथा । तेष्वेव यात्रा लोकस्य भूतानामिव वासवे ॥
English Translation
Such individuals are worthy of adoration. The king should bow his head to such individuals. Indeed, they should be honoured, even as one honours his father and grandfather. The course of conduct followed by men, depends upon them as the existence of all creatures depends upon Vasava.
अभिचारैरुपायैश्च दहेयुरपि तेजसा । निःशेषं कुपिताः कुर्युरुग्राः सत्यपराक्रमाः ॥
English Translation
Having prowess incapable of being baffled and gifted with great energy, such men if enraged are capable of reducing the entire kingdom to ashes by only their will or by acts of incantation, or by other means.
नान्तमेषां प्रपश्यामि न दिशश्चाप्यपावृताः । कुपिताः समुदीक्षन्ते दावेष्वग्निशिखा इव ॥
English Translation
I do not see anything that can destroy them. Their power seems to be uncontrolled, being capable of reaching to the last end of the universe. When angry, their looks fall upon men and things like a burning flame of fire upon a forest. are
विद्यन्तेषां साहसिका गुणास्तेषामतीव हि । कूपा इव तृणच्छन्ना विशुद्धा द्यौरिवापरे ॥
English Translation
The most courageous men are struck with fear at their name. Their virtues and powers are extraordinary and immeasurable. Some amongst them are like wells and pits with mouths covered by grass and creepers, while others resemble the sky shorn of clouds and darkness.
प्रसह्यकारिणः केचित्कार्पासमृदवोऽपरे । सन्ति चैषामतिशठास्तथान्येऽतितपस्विनः ॥
English Translation
Some amongst them of dreadful dispositions. Some are as mild and soft in disposition as cotton. Some amongst them are very cunning. Some amongst them are given to the practice of penances.
कृषिगोरक्ष्यमप्यन्ये भैक्षमन्येऽप्यनुष्ठिताः । चोराश्चान्येऽनृताश्चान्ये तथान्ये नटनर्तकाः ॥
English Translation
Some amongst them are employed in agricultural pursuits. Some amongst them are engaged in the keep of kine. Some amongst them live upon eleemosynary alms. Some amongst them are even thieves. Some amongst them are found of creating quarrels and disputes. Some again, amongst them are actors and dancers.
सर्वकर्मसु दृश्यन्ते प्रशान्तेष्वितरेषु च । विविधाचारयुक्ताश्च ब्राह्मणा भरतर्षभ ॥
English Translation
Some amongst them are competent to perform all feats ordinary and extraordinary. The Brahmanas, O chief of Bharata's race, are of various aspects and conduct.
नानाकर्मसु युक्तानां बहुकर्मोपजीविनाम् । धर्मज्ञानां सतां तेषां नित्यमेवानुकीर्तयेत् ॥
English Translation
One should always sing the praises of the Brahmanas who are conversant with all duties, who are righteous of conduct, who are given to various kinds of acts, and who are seen to derive their sustenance from various callings.
पितॄणां देवतानां च मनुष्योरगरक्षसाम् । पुरोहिता महाभागा ब्राह्मणा वै नराधिप ॥
English Translation
The Brahmanas, O king, who are highly blessed are older in respect of their origin than the departed manes, the deities human beings, the Snakes, and the Rakshasas.
नैते देवैर्न पितृभिर्न गन्धर्वैर्न राक्षसैः । नासुरैर्न पिशाचैश्च शक्या जेतुं द्विजातयः ॥
English Translation
These twice born persons are incapable of being defeated by the deities or the departed manes, or the Gandharvas or the Rakshasas, or the Asuras or the Pishachas.
अदैवं दैवतं कुर्युर्दैवतं चाप्यदैवतम् । यमिच्छेयुः स राजा स्याद्यं द्विष्युः स पराभवेत् ॥
English Translation
The Brahmanas are competent to make him a god, that is not a god. They can, again, divest one who is a deity of his status as such. He becomes a king, whom they wish to make a king. He on the other hand, is crushed whom they do not love or like.
परिवादं च ये कुर्युर्ब्राह्मणानामचेतसः । निन्दाप्रशंसाकुशलाः कीर्त्यकीर्तिपरावराः । परिकुप्यन्ति ते राजन्सततं द्विषतां द्विजाः ॥
English Translation
Expert in praise and dispraise, and themselves the origin or cause of other people's fame and ignominy, the Brahmanas, O king, always become angry with those who seek to injure others.
ब्राह्मणा यं प्रशंसन्ति पुरुषः स प्रवर्धते । ब्राह्मणैर्यः पराक्रुष्टः पराभूयात्क्षणाद्धि सः ॥
English Translation
That man whom the Brahmanas praise succeeds in becoming prosperous. That man who is censured and renounced by the Brahmanas soon meets with discomfiture.
शका यवनकाम्बोजास्तास्ताः क्षत्रियजातयः । वृषलत्वं परिगता ब्राह्मणानामदर्शनात् ॥
English Translation
It is on account of the absence of Brahmanas from among them that the Shakas, the Yavanas, the Kamvojas and other Kshatriya tribes have become fallen and degraded into Shudras.
द्रमिळाश्च कलिङ्गाश्च पुलिन्दाश्चाप्युशीनराः । कौलाः सर्पा माहिषकास्तास्ताः क्षत्रियजातयः ॥
English Translation
The Dravidas, the Kalingas, the Pulindas the Ushinaras, the Kolisarpas, the Mahishakas, and other Kshatriyas, have, on account of the absence of Brahmanas from among their midst, become degraded into Shudras. Defeat from them is preferable to victory, O foremost of victorious persons.
वृषलत्वं परिगता ब्राह्मणानामदर्शनात् । श्रेयान्पराजयस्तेभ्यो न जयो जयतां वर ॥
English Translation
The Dravidas, the Kalingas, the Pulindas the Ushinaras, the Kolisarpas, the Mahishakas, and other Kshatriyas, have, on account of the absence of Brahmanas from among their midst, become degraded into Shudras. Defeat from them is preferable to victory, O foremost of victorious persons.
यस्तु सर्वमिदं हन्याद्ब्राह्मणं च न तत्समम् । ब्रह्मवध्या महान्दोष इत्याहुः परमर्षयः ॥
English Translation
One killing all other living creatures in this world does not commit a sin so heinous as that of killing a single Brahmana. The great Rishis have said that Brahmanicide is a heinous sin.
परिवादो द्विजातीनां न श्रोतव्यः कथंचन । आसीताधोमुखस्तूष्णीं समुत्थाय व्रजेत वा ॥
English Translation
One should never utter the dispraise or calumny of the Brahmanas. Where the dispraise of Brahmanas is uttered, one should sit with face hanging down or leave that place.
न स जातो जनिष्यो वा पृथिव्यामिह कश्चन । यो ब्राह्मणविरोधेन सुखं जीवितुमुत्सहेत् ॥
English Translation
That man has not as yet been born in this world or will not take birth here who has been or will be able to pass his life happily after quarrelling with the Brahmanas.
दुर्ग्रहो मुष्टिना वायुर्दुःस्पर्शः पाणिना शशी । दुर्धरा पृथिवी मूर्ध्ना दुर्जया ब्राह्मणा भुवि ॥
English Translation
One cannot seize the wind with his hands. One cannot touch the moon with his hand. One cannot support the earth on his arms. Similarly, O king, one is not able to defeat the Brahmanas in this world,
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