Critical Edition
देवस्थान उवाच अत्रैवोदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् इन्द्रेण समये पृष्टो यदुवाच बृहस्पतिः
M. N. Dutt: Regarding this subject is cited an old history, viz., the discourse that Brihaspati, asked by Indra, delivered to him.
संतोषो वै स्वर्गतमः संतोषः परमं सुखम् तुष्टेर्न किंचित्परतः सुसम्यक्परितिष्ठति
M. N. Dutt: Brihaspati said 'Contentment is the highest heaven, and the greatest bliss. There is nothing superior to Contentment. Contentment heads all.
यदा संहरते कामान्कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वशः तदात्मज्योतिरात्मैव स्वात्मनैव प्रसीदति
M. N. Dutt: When one contracts all his desires like a tortoise drawing in all his limbs, then the native cffulgence of his soul soon manifests itself.
न बिभेति यदा चायं यदा चास्मान्न बिभ्यति कामद्वेषौ च जयति तदात्मानं प्रपश्यति
M. N. Dutt: When one does not fear any creature, nor any creature is frightened at one, when one contracts onc's desire and hatred, then is one said to see one's soul.
यदासौ सर्वभूतानां न क्रुध्यति न दुष्यति कर्मणा मनसा वाचा ब्रह्म संपद्यते तदा
M. N. Dutt: When one, seeks to injure nobody in deed, word, and thought, and cherishes no desire, he is said to attain to Brahma.
एवं कौन्तेय भूतानि तं तं धर्मं तथा तथा तदा तदा प्रपश्यन्ति तस्माद्बुध्यस्व भारत
M. N. Dutt: Thus, O son of Kunti, creatures reap fruits according to the religion they follow-Awaken yourself by this thought, O Bharata.
अन्ये शमं प्रशंसन्ति व्यायाममपरे तथा नैकं न चापरं केचिदुभयं च तथापरे
AI Translation: Some praise tranquility, others praise exertion. Some do not praise either one or the other, and others praise both.
यज्ञमेके प्रशंसन्ति संन्यासमपरे जनाः दानमेके प्रशंसन्ति केचिदेव प्रतिग्रहम् केचित्सर्वं परित्यज्य तूष्णीं ध्यायन्त आसते
AI Translation: Some praise sacrifice, others renunciation, Some praise giving, others receiving. Some, having renounced everything, sit in silence, meditating.
राज्यमेके प्रशंसन्ति सर्वेषां परिपालनम् हत्वा भित्त्वा च छित्त्वा च केचिदेकान्तशीलिनः
AI Translation: Some praise the state of protecting all. Some are of the nature of killing, piercing, and cutting.
एतत्सर्वं समालोक्य बुधानामेष निश्चयः अद्रोहेणैव भूतानां यो धर्मः स सतां मतः
AI Translation: Having seen all this, this is the conclusion of the wise: The dharma that is not harming any being is considered to be the dharma of the good.
अद्रोहः सत्यवचनं संविभागो धृतिः क्षमा प्रजनः स्वेषु दारेषु मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम्
AI Translation: Non-violence, truthfulness, sharing, fortitude, forbearance, Procreation with one's own wives, gentleness, modesty, non-frivolity,
धनं धर्मप्रधानेष्टं मनुः स्वायंभुवोऽब्रवीत् तस्मादेवं प्रयत्नेन कौन्तेय परिपालय
AI Translation: Manu, the self-born, said that wealth is the most desired thing for one who is devoted to Dharma. Therefore, O son of Kunti, protect it in this way with all your effort.
यो हि राज्ये स्थितः शश्वद्वशी तुल्यप्रियाप्रियः क्षत्रियो यज्ञशिष्टाशी राजशास्त्रार्थतत्त्ववित्
AI Translation: One who is established in the kingdom, always in control, equal in love and dislike, A kshatriya who eats the remnants of the sacrifice, knows the truth of the principles of royal policy,
असाधुनिग्रहरतः साधूनां प्रग्रहे रतः धर्मे वर्त्मनि संस्थाप्य प्रजा वर्तेत धर्मवित्
AI Translation: One who is devoted to restraining the unrighteous and promoting the righteous, and who, knowing the Dharma, establishes the people in the path of Dharma, should rule.
पुत्रसंक्रामितश्रीस्तु वने वन्येन वर्तयन् विधिना श्रामणेनैव कुर्यात्कालमतन्द्रितः
AI Translation: Having transferred his glory to his son, he should live in the forest, subsisting on forest fare. He should diligently perform the rites of a recluse, and pass his time.
य एवं वर्तते राजा राजधर्मविनिश्चितः तस्यायं च परश्चैव लोकः स्यात्सफलो नृप निर्वाणं तु सुदुष्पारं बहुविघ्नं च मे मतम्
AI Translation: One who acts in this way, the king who is certain in the royal Dharma, For him this world and the next would be fruitful, O king. But nirvana is very difficult to attain, and I think it is full of many obstacles.
एवं धर्ममनुक्रान्ताः सत्यदानतपःपराः आनृशंस्यगुणैर्युक्ताः कामक्रोधविवर्जिताः
AI Translation: Thus, those who follow the Dharma, devoted to truth, giving, and austerity, Endowed with the qualities of non-violence, free from desire and anger,
प्रजानां पालने युक्ता दममुत्तममास्थिताः गोब्राह्मणार्थं युद्धेन संप्राप्ता गतिमुत्तमाम्
AI Translation: Engaged in protecting the subjects, they have resorted to the highest self-control. For the sake of cows and Brahmins, they have attained the highest goal through battle.
एवं रुद्राः सवसवस्तथादित्याः परंतप साध्या राजर्षिसंघाश्च धर्ममेतं समाश्रिताः अप्रमत्तास्ततः स्वर्गं प्राप्ताः पुण्यैः स्वकर्मभिः
M. N. Dutt: For this the Rudras, with the Vasus and the Adityas, O destroyer of foes, and the Sadhyas and innumerable other kings adopt this religion. practising carefully the duties laid down by that religion, they attain to heaven through those acts of theirs.