Critical Edition
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच सुभाषितैर्महाप्राज्ञ शोकोऽयं विगतो मम भुय एव तु वाक्यानि श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said "O you of great wisdom, by grief has been removed by your excellent words. I wish you, however, to speak again.
अनिष्टानां च संसर्गादिष्टानां च विवर्जनात् कथं हि मानसैर्दुःखैः प्रमुच्यन्तेऽत्र पण्डिताः
M. N. Dutt: How, indeed, do the wise free themselves from mental grief begotten by evil deeds and the bereavement of dear objects."
विदुर उवाच यतो यतो मनो दुःखात्सुखाद्वापि प्रमुच्यते ततस्ततः शमं लब्ध्वा सुगतिं विन्दते बुधः
AI Translation: Vidura said: From wherever the mind is freed from suffering or happiness, from that place it attains peace and finds a good state.
अशाश्वतमिदं सर्वं चिन्त्यमानं नरर्षभ कदलीसंनिभो लोकः सारो ह्यस्य न विद्यते
AI Translation: O bull among men, when this is contemplated, it is all impermanent. The world is like a plantain tree, for it has no essence.
Supplementary Passages:
11.3.4 After 4, N (Ś2 K4 D8 missing) ins.: *12 यदा प्राज्ञाश्च मूढाश्च धनवन्तोऽथ निर्धनाः सर्वे पितृवशं प्राप्य स्वपन्ति विगतज्वराः निर्मांसैरस्थिभूयिष्ठैर्गात्रैः स्नायुनिबन्धनैः किं विशेषं प्रपश्यन्ति तत्र तेषां परे जनाः येन प्रत्यवगच्छेयुः कुलरूपविशेषणम् कस्मादन्योन्यमिच्छन्ति विप्रलब्धधियो नराः
गृहाण्येव हि मर्त्यानामाहुर्देहानि पण्डिताः कालेन विनियुज्यन्ते सत्त्वमेकं तु शोभनम्
M. N. Dutt: The learned say that the bodies of men are like house, which are destroyed in time. There is one being, however, that is eternal.
यथा जीर्णमजीर्णं वा वस्त्रं त्यक्त्वा तु वै नरः अन्यद्रोचयते वस्त्रमेवं देहाः शरीरिणाम्
M. N. Dutt: As a person casting off an old cloth puts on a fresh one, so is the case with the bodies of all embodied beings.
वैचित्रवीर्य वासं हि दुःखं वा यदि वा सुखम् प्राप्नुवन्तीह भूतानि स्वकृतेनैव कर्मणा
M. N. Dutt: O son of Vichitravirja creatures reap happiness or misery, as the fruit of their own acts.
कर्मणा प्राप्यते स्वर्गं सुखं दुःखं च भारत ततो वहति तं भारमवशः स्ववशोऽपि वा
M. N. Dutt: By their acts they secure heaven, O Bharata, or happiness, or misery. Whether competent or otherwise, they have to bear their burdens which are the result of their own acts.
यथा च मृन्मयं भाण्डं चक्रारूढं विपद्यते किंचित्प्रक्रियमाणं वा कृतमात्रमथापि वा
AI Translation: Just as a clay pot, when put on the wheel, breaks, or while being made, or as soon as it is made,
छिन्नं वाप्यवरोप्यन्तमवतीर्णमथापि वा आर्द्रं वाप्यथ वा शुष्कं पच्यमानमथापि वा
AI Translation: Whether cut, planted, fallen, or wet or dry, or being cooked,
अवतार्यमाणमापाकादुद्धृतं वापि भारत अथ वा परिभुज्यन्तमेवं देहाः शरीरिणाम्
AI Translation: O descendant of Bharata, whether it is being taken out of the womb or being taken out of the womb, or being eaten, or being eaten, the bodies of embodied beings are like this.
गर्भस्थो वा प्रसूतो वाप्यथ वा दिवसान्तरः अर्धमासगतो वापि मासमात्रगतोऽपि वा
AI Translation: One who is in the womb, one who is born, one who is a day old, One who is half a month old, or one who is a month old,
संवत्सरगतो वापि द्विसंवत्सर एव वा यौवनस्थोऽपि मध्यस्थो वृद्धो वापि विपद्यते
AI Translation: One may be in the prime of youth, in the middle of life, or old, and still one may fall ill.
प्राक्कर्मभिस्तु भूतानि भवन्ति न भवन्ति च एवं सांसिद्धिके लोके किमर्थमनुतप्यसे
M. N. Dutt: Creatures are born or destroyed according to their pristine acts. When such is the course of the world, why do you grieve?
यथा च सलिले राजन्क्रीडार्थमनुसंचरन् उन्मज्जेच्च निमज्जेच्च किंचित्सत्त्वं नराधिप
AI Translation: Just as a king, while swimming in the water for sport, emerges and submerges, O lord of men, without any harm to any being,
एवं संसारगहनादुन्मज्जननिमज्जनात् कर्मभोगेन बध्यन्तः क्लिश्यन्ते येऽल्पबुद्धयः
AI Translation: Thus, from the depths of saṃsāra, from rising and sinking, Those of little intellect are bound and tormented by the experience of karma.
Supplementary Passages:
11.3.16 For 16cd, Ś1 K (K4 missing) D2.5 subst., while B1.2.4 ins. after 16cd: *13 ज्ञानयोगेन महता समुत्तीर्णा महर्षयः
ये तु प्राज्ञाः स्थिताः सत्ये संसारान्तगवेषिणः समागमज्ञा भूतानां ते यान्ति परमां गतिम्
M. N. Dutt: They, however, that are wise, virtuous and desirous of doing good to all living creatures, who are acquainted with the real nature of beings in this world, attain at last to the highest end."