Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच ततः पुनः स गाङ्गेयमभिवाद्य पितामहम् प्राञ्जलिर्नियतो भूत्वा पर्यपृच्छद्युधिष्ठिरः
AI Translation: Vaishampayana said: Then, having again bowed to the grandfather, the son of Ganga, Yudhishthira, with folded hands and restrained, asked.
के धर्माः सर्ववर्णानां चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य के पृथक् चतुर्णामाश्रमाणां च राजधर्माश्च के मताः
AI Translation: What are the duties of all the castes, and what are the duties of the four castes separately? And what are the duties of the four stages of life, and what are the duties of kings considered to be?
केन स्विद्वर्धते राष्ट्रं राजा केन विवर्धते केन पौराश्च भृत्याश्च वर्धन्ते भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: By what means does a kingdom prosper and what are the means by which the king himself prospers? How also, O foremost of Bharata's race, do the citizens and the servants of the king prosper?
कोशं दण्डं च दुर्गं च सहायान्मन्त्रिणस्तथा ऋत्विक्पुरोहिताचार्यान्कीदृशान्वर्जयेन्नृपः
M. N. Dutt: What sorts of wealth, punishments, forts, allies, counsellors, priests and preceptors, should a king avoid?
केषु विश्वसितव्यं स्याद्राज्ञां कस्यांचिदापदि कुतो वात्मा दृढो रक्ष्यस्तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह
M. N. Dutt: Whom should the king trust in what sorts of distress and danger? What evils should the king avoid? Tell me all this, O grandfather.
Supplementary Passages:
12.60.5 After 5, D7 S ins.: *134 द्वैधीभावे च भूतानां शपथः कीदृशो भवेत् अधर्मस्य फलं यच्च शपथस्य विलङ्घने सर्वमेतद्यथातत्त्वं व्यवहारं च तादृशम् समासव्यासयोगेन कथयस्व पितामह
भीष्म उवाच नमो धर्माय महते नमः कृष्णाय वेधसे ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नमस्कृत्वा धर्मान्वक्ष्यामि शाश्वतान्
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said I salute Dharma who is great and Krishna who is Brahma. Having saluted also the Brahmanas (assembled here) I shall describe the eternal duties.
अक्रोधः सत्यवचनं संविभागः क्षमा तथा प्रजनः स्वेषु दारेषु शौचमद्रोह एव च
M. N. Dutt: The control of anger, truthfulness of speech, justice, forgiveness, begetting children upon one's own married wives, purity of conduct, avoidance of quarrel, simplicity, and maintenance of dependents,—these are the nine duties which all the four orders should follow.
आर्जवं भृत्यभरणं नवैते सार्ववर्णिकाः ब्राह्मणस्य तु यो धर्मस्तं ते वक्ष्यामि केवलम्
AI Translation: Arjava, maintenance of servants, and these nine are common to all castes. I shall now tell you the duties of a Brahmin only.
दममेव महाराज धर्ममाहुः पुरातनम् स्वाध्यायोऽध्यापनं चैव तत्र कर्म समाप्यते
AI Translation: Restraint alone, O great king, is said to be the ancient Dharma. Vedic study and teaching are the duties to be performed there.
तं चेद्वित्तमुपागच्छेद्वर्तमानं स्वकर्मणि अकुर्वाणं विकर्माणि शान्तं प्रज्ञानतर्पितम्
AI Translation: If he comes to you, O king, in the course of his duties, not performing wrong deeds, tranquil, satisfied with knowledge,
कुर्वीतापत्यसंतानमथो दद्याद्यजेत च संविभज्य हि भोक्तव्यं धनं सद्भिरितीष्यते
AI Translation: One should beget offspring, give gifts, and perform sacrifices. For it is considered proper for the good to enjoy wealth after sharing it.
परिनिष्ठितकार्यस्तु स्वाध्यायेनैव ब्राह्मणः कुर्यादन्यन्न वा कुर्यान्मैत्रो ब्राह्मण उच्यते
M. N. Dutt: By his study of the Vedas all the pious acts are done. Whether he does or does not acquire anything else, if he only studies the Vedas, he becomes known as a Brahmana or the friend of all creatures.
क्षत्रियस्यापि यो धर्मस्तं ते वक्ष्यामि भारत दद्याद्राजा न याचेत यजेत न तु याजयेत्
M. N. Dutt: I shall also tell you, O Bharata, what the duties of a Kshatriya are. A Kshatriya, O king, should give but not beg, should himself celebrate sacrifices but not officiate as a priest in the sacrifices of others.
नाध्यापयेदधीयीत प्रजाश्च परिपालयेत् नित्योद्युक्तो दस्युवधे रणे कुर्यात्पराक्रमम्
M. N. Dutt: He should never teach the Veda but study the same with a Brahmana teacher. He should protect the people. Always trying his best for the destruction of robbers and wicked people, he should display his prowess in battle.
ये च क्रतुभिरीजानाः श्रुतवन्तश्च भूमिपाः य एवाहवजेतारस्त एषां लोकजित्तमाः
M. N. Dutt: Those among Kshatriya kings who celebrate great sacrifices, who have a knowledge of the Vedas and who gain victories in battle, become foremost of those who acquire many blessed regions hereafter by their merit.
अविक्षतेन देहेन समराद्यो निवर्तते क्षत्रियो नास्य तत्कर्म प्रशंसन्ति पुराविदः
M. N. Dutt: Persons well read in the scriptures do not speak highly of a Kshatriya who returns unscathed from battle.
वधं हि क्षत्रबन्धूनां धर्ममाहुः प्रधानतः नास्य कृत्यतमं किंचिदन्यद्दस्युनिबर्हणात्
M. N. Dutt: This is the conduct of a wretched Kshatriya. There is no greater duty for him than the suppression of robbers.
दानमध्ययनं यज्ञो योगः क्षेमो विधीयते तस्माद्राज्ञा विशेषेण योद्धव्यं धर्ममीप्सता
AI Translation: Giving, studying, sacrifice, yoga, and security are prescribed. Therefore, a king who desires dharma should fight, especially.
स्वेषु धर्मेष्ववस्थाप्य प्रजाः सर्वा महीपतिः धर्मेण सर्वकृत्यानि समनिष्ठानि कारयेत्
M. N. Dutt: Compelling all his subjects to follow their respective duties, a king should make all of them do everything according to the dictates of righteousness.
परिनिष्ठितकार्यः स्यान्नृपतिः परिपालनात् कुर्यादन्यन्न वा कुर्यादैन्द्रो राजन्य उच्यते
AI Translation: The king who has accomplished his duty is called the protector. He may do something or not do anything. He is called the king.
वैश्यस्यापीह यो धर्मस्तं ते वक्ष्यामि भारत दानमध्ययनं यज्ञः शौचेन धनसंचयः
M. N. Dutt: I shall now tell you, O Yudhishthira, what the eternal duties of the Vaishyas are.-A Vaishya should make gifts, study the Vedas, celebrate sacrifices, and acquire wealth by fair means.
पितृवत्पालयेद्वैश्यो युक्तः सर्वपशूनिह विकर्म तद्भवेदन्यत्कर्म यद्यत्समाचरेत् रक्षया स हि तेषां वै महत्सुखमवाप्नुयात्
AI Translation: The Vaishya should protect the cattle like a father. If he performs any other act, it would be a wrong act. By protecting them, he would attain great happiness.
प्रजापतिर्हि वैश्याय सृष्ट्वा परिददे पशून् ब्राह्मणाय च राज्ञे च सर्वाः परिददे प्रजाः
AI Translation: Prajapati, having created, gave the cattle to the Vaishya, and to the Brahmana and the king he gave all the subjects.
तस्य वृत्तिं प्रवक्ष्यामि यच्च तस्योपजीवनम् षण्णामेकां पिबेद्धेनुं शताच्च मिथुनं हरेत्
AI Translation: I shall describe his livelihood and what he subsists on. He should drink the milk of one cow from among six and take a pair from a hundred.
Supplementary Passages:
12.60.24 After 24ab, M1.3 ins.: *135 अवश्यभरणीयो हि वैश्यो राज्ञा जनाधिप
लये च सप्तमो भागस्तथा शृङ्गे कला खुरे सस्यस्य सर्वबीजानामेषा सांवत्सरी भृतिः
AI Translation: In the dissolution, the seventh part, and in the horn, the digit, in the hoof, This is the annual rent of all seeds of crops.
न च वैश्यस्य कामः स्यान्न रक्षेयं पशूनिति वैश्ये चेच्छति नान्येन रक्षितव्याः कथंचन
M. N. Dutt: A Vaishya should never wish that he should not tend cattle. If a Vaishya desires to tend cattle no one else should undertake that task.
शूद्रस्यापि हि यो धर्मस्तं ते वक्ष्यामि भारत प्रजापतिर्हि वर्णानां दासं शूद्रमकल्पयत्
M. N. Dutt: I should tell you, O Bharata, what the duties of a Shudra are. The Creator intended the Shudra as the servant of the other three castes.
तस्माच्छूद्रस्य वर्णानां परिचर्या विधीयते तेषां शुश्रूषणाच्चैव महत्सुखमवाप्नुयात्
M. N. Dutt: Therefore, the service of the three other classes is the duty of the Shudra. By thus serving the other three, a Shudra may acquire great happiness.
शूद्र एतान्परिचरेत्त्रीन्वर्णाननसूयकः संचयांश्च न कुर्वीत जातु शूद्रः कथंचन
AI Translation: The Śūdra should serve these three castes without envy. And the Śūdra should never accumulate anything.
पापीयान्हि धनं लब्ध्वा वशे कुर्याद्गरीयसः राज्ञा वा समनुज्ञातः कामं कुर्वीत धार्मिकः
AI Translation: For a sinner, having obtained wealth, would bring under his control the most important. Or, with the king's permission, a righteous person may do what he wants.
तस्य वृत्तिं प्रवक्ष्यामि यच्च तस्योपजीवनम् अवश्यभरणीयो हि वर्णानां शूद्र उच्यते
M. N. Dutt: I shall now describe the profession, he should pursue and the means by which he may earn his subsistence. It is said that the Shudras should be maintained by the three other castes.
छत्रं वेष्टनमौशीरमुपानद्व्यजनानि च यातयामानि देयानि शूद्राय परिचारिणे
M. N. Dutt: Used umbrellas, hed-gears, beds, seats, shoes and fans, should be given to the Shudra servants.
अधार्याणि विशीर्णानि वसनानि द्विजातिभिः शूद्रायैव विधेयानि तस्य धर्मधनं हि तत्
M. N. Dutt: Torn clothes, which are no longer fit for wear, should be given by the upper three castes to the Shudra. These are the latter's rightful acquisitions.
यश्च कश्चिद्द्विजातीनां शूद्रः शुश्रूषुराव्रजेत् कल्प्यां तस्य तु तेनाहुर्वृत्तिं धर्मविदो जनाः देयः पिण्डोऽनपेताय भर्तव्यौ वृद्धदुर्बलौ
M. N. Dutt: Men, well read in the science of duties, hold that if the Shudra approaches anyone belonging to the three twice-born orders for doing menial service, the latter should give him proper work.
शूद्रेण च न हातव्यो भर्ता कस्यांचिदापदि अतिरेकेण भर्तव्यो भर्ता द्रव्यपरिक्षये न हि स्वमस्ति शूद्रस्य भर्तृहार्यधनो ह्यसौ
M. N. Dutt: If the master loses his wealth, he should with greatest care be maintained by the Shudra servant. A Shudra cannot enjoy wealth even if it be his own. Whatever he possesses belongs lawfully to his master.
उक्तस्त्रयाणां वर्णानां यज्ञस्त्रय्यैव भारत स्वाहाकारनमस्कारौ मन्त्रः शूद्रे विधीयते
M. N. Dutt: Sacrifice has been laid down as a duty of the three other castes, it has been laid down for the Shudra also, O Bharata, but he is not competent to utter svaha and svadha or any other Vedic mantra.
ताभ्यां शूद्रः पाकयज्ञैर्यजेत व्रतवान्स्वयम् पूर्णपात्रमयीमाहुः पाकयज्ञस्य दक्षिणाम्
M. N. Dutt: Therefore the Shudra, without observing the vows laid down in the Vedas, should adore the gods in minor sacrifices, called Pakayajnas. The gift called Purnapatra is known as the Dakshina of such sacrifices,
शूद्रः पैजवनो नाम सहस्राणां शतं ददौ ऐन्द्राग्नेन विधानेन दक्षिणामिति नः श्रुतम्
M. N. Dutt: We have heard that in days of yore a Shudra of the name of Paijavana gave Dakshina (in one of his sacrifices) consisting of a hundred thousand Purnapatras, according to the ordinance called Aindragni, (i.e., a hundred thousand animals).
अतो हि सर्ववर्णानां श्रद्धायज्ञो विधीयते दैवतं हि महच्छ्रद्धा पवित्रं यजतां च यत्
AI Translation: Therefore, for all castes, the sacrifice of faith is prescribed. For the faithful, faith is the deity, the purifier, and the sacrifice.
Supplementary Passages:
12.60.39 V1 B1 ins. after 38: B0.3-5 Da Dn D2.3.5.6.8, after 39a: *136 यज्ञस्तस्यैव भारत अग्रे सर्वेषु यज्ञेषु
दैवतं परमं विप्राः स्वेन स्वेन परस्परम् अयजन्निह सत्रैस्ते तैस्तैः कामैः सनातनैः
AI Translation: The Brahmanas, the supreme deities, worshipped each other with their own and others' desires, with those eternal desires, in these sacrifices.
संसृष्टा ब्राह्मणैरेव त्रिषु वर्णेषु सृष्टयः देवानामपि ये देवा यद्ब्रूयुस्ते परं हि तत् तस्माद्वर्णैः सर्वयज्ञाः संसृज्यन्ते न काम्यया
M. N. Dutt: The Brahmanas are the gods of the very gods. Whatever they would say would be for your great good. Therefore all kinds of sacrifices naturally belong to all the four orders. The celebration of these sacrifices is obligatory and not optional.
ऋग्यजुःसामवित्पूज्यो नित्यं स्याद्देववद्द्विजः अनृग्यजुरसामा तु प्राजापत्य उपद्रवः
M. N. Dutt: The Brahmana, who is conversant with Richs, Yajus, and Samans, should always be adored as a god. The Shudra, who is without Richs and Yajus and Samans, has Prajapati for his god.
यज्ञो मनीषया तात सर्ववर्णेषु भारत नास्य यज्ञहनो देवा ईहन्ते नेतरे जनाः तस्मात्सर्वेषु वर्णेषु श्रद्धायज्ञो विधीयते
M. N. Dutt: Mental sacrifice, O sire, is sanctioned for all the orders, O Bharata. It is not true that the gods and other persons do not express a desire to share the offerings in such sacrifices ofs even the Shudra. For this reason, the sacrifice of devotion is laid down for all the castes.
स्वं दैवतं ब्राह्मणाः स्वेन नित्यं; परान्वर्णानयजन्नेवमासीत् आरोचिता नः सुमहान्स धर्मः; सृष्टो ब्रह्मणा त्रिषु वर्णेषु दृष्टः
M. N. Dutt: The Brahmana is the foremost of gods. It is not true that they that belong to that order do not celebrate the sacrifices of the other orders. The fire called Vitana, though procured from Vaishyas and inspired with mantras, is stili inferior. The Brahmana can celebrate the sacrifices of the three other castes.
Supplementary Passages:
12.60.44 After 44, B4 ins. 138*. D4 ins. after 44: *137 संपूज्यो वै ब्राह्मणस्त्रिषु वर्णेषु हृष्टः
तस्माद्वर्णा ऋजवो जातिधर्माः; संसृज्यन्ते तस्य विपाक एषः एकं साम यजुरेकमृगेका; विप्रश्चैकोऽनिश्चयस्तेषु दृष्टः
M. N. Dutt: Therefore, all the four castes are holy. All the castes are allied to one another by blood through the intermediate classes. They have all originated from Brahmanas. In ascertaining (the priority of origin) it will be seen that amongst all the cases the Brahmana was created first. Originally Saman was one; Yajus was one, and Rich was one.
Supplementary Passages:
12.60.45 For 45ab, B0.5 subst.: B4 ins. after 44: *138 तस्माद्वर्णस्तत[तो] वै जातिधर्मः संसृज्यते तस्य वै कोप एषः
अत्र गाथा यज्ञगीताः कीर्तयन्ति पुराविदः वैखानसानां राजेन्द्र मुनीनां यष्टुमिच्छताम्
M. N. Dutt: Regarding it, persons, conversant with ancient histories, cite a verse, O king, sung in praise of sacrifice by the Vaikhanasa Munis on the occasion of performing a sacrifice of theirs.
उदितेऽनुदिते वापि श्रद्दधानो जितेन्द्रियः वह्निं जुहोति धर्मेण श्रद्धा वै कारणं महत्
M. N. Dutt: Before or after sun rise, a person of controlled senses, with heart filled with devotion poured libations on the (sacrificial) fire according to the Vedic prescription. Devotion is a powerful agent.
यत्स्कन्नमस्य तत्पूर्वं यदस्कन्नं तदुत्तरम् बहूनि यज्ञरूपाणि नानाकर्मफलानि च
M. N. Dutt: Respecting homas again, that variety which is called skanna is the first one, while that which is called askanna is the last though the most important. Sacrifices are many, their rites and fruits again are many.
तानि यः संविजानाति ज्ञाननिश्चयनिश्चितः द्विजातिः श्रद्धयोपेतः स यष्टुं पुरुषोऽर्हति
M. N. Dutt: That Brahmana, possessed of devotion who, gifted with scriptural learning, knows all the rites, is competent to celebrate sacrifices.
स्तेनो वा यदि वा पापो यदि वा पापकृत्तमः यष्टुमिच्छति यज्ञं यः साधुमेव वदन्ति तम्
M. N. Dutt: That person who desires to celebrate a sacrifice is regarded as righteous even if he happens to be a thief, a sinner or the worst of sinners.
ऋषयस्तं प्रशंसन्ति साधु चैतदसंशयम् सर्वथा सर्ववर्णैर्हि यष्टव्यमिति निश्चयः न हि यज्ञसमं किंचित्त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते
M. N. Dutt: The Rishis speak highly of such a man. Forsooth they are right. This then is the conclusion that all the castes should always and by every means in their power celebrate sacrifices.
तस्माद्यष्टव्यमित्याहुः पुरुषेणानसूयता श्रद्धापवित्रमाश्रित्य यथाशक्ति प्रयच्छता
M. N. Dutt: There is nothing in the three worlds equal to sacrifice. Therefore, it has been said that every one,-with heart shorn of malice, should celebrate sacrifices, helped by devotion which is sacred to the best of his ability and as he pleases.