Critical Edition
भीष्म उवाच एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच तं मुनिं जनमेजयः गर्ह्यं भवान्गर्हयति निन्द्यं निन्दति मा भवान्
M. N. Dutt: Thus accusted, Janamejaya replied to the sage, saying,-You chastise one who deserves to be chastised. You censure one who is worthy of being censured.
धिक्कार्यं मा धिक्कुरुते तस्मात्त्वाहं प्रसादये सर्वं हीदं स्वकृतं मे ज्वलाम्यग्नाविवाहितः
M. N. Dutt: You blame me and my acts. I beg you to be kind to me! All my acts have been sinful. I burn, however, with repentance as if I am in the midst of burning fire.
स्वकर्माण्यभिसंधाय नाभिनन्दति मे मनः प्राप्तं नूनं मया घोरं भयं वैवस्वतादपि
M. N. Dutt: Remembering my deeds, I am cheerless. Indeed, I am much afraid of Yama.
तत्तु शल्यमनिर्हृत्य कथं शक्ष्यामि जीवितुम् सर्वमन्यून्विनीय त्वमभि मा वद शौनक
M. N. Dutt: How can I live without taking out that dart from my heart! O Shaunaka, suppressing all your anger, instruct me now!
महानसं ब्राह्मणानां भविष्याम्यर्थवान्पुनः अस्तु शेषं कुलस्यास्य मा पराभूदिदं कुलम्
M. N. Dutt: Formerly I used to show a great reverence to Brahmanas. I solemnly say that I shall once more show.the same respect to them. Let not my family be extinct. Let not the family in which I am born be reduced to the dust.
न हि नो ब्रह्मशप्तानां शेषो भवितुमर्हति श्रुतीरलभमानानां संविदं वेदनिश्चयात्
M. N. Dutt: It is not proper that they who have injured Brahmanas and have for that, on account of Védic injunctions, forfeited all claim to the I arn respect of the world and to social intercourse with their fellowmen, should have any one who will continue the name of their family.
निर्विद्यमानः सुभृशं भूयो वक्ष्यामि सांप्रतम् भूयश्चैवाभिनङ्क्षन्ति निर्धर्मा निर्जपा इव
M. N. Dutt: I am overwhelmed with despair. I, therefore, repeat my promises. I pray you to protect me like sages who always protect the poor.
अर्वाक्च प्रतितिष्ठन्ति पुलिन्दशबरा इव न ह्ययज्ञा अमुं लोकं प्राप्नुवन्ति कथंचन
AI Translation: They stand below, like Pulindas and Sabaras. For those who do not perform sacrifices do not in any way reach that world.
अविज्ञायैव मे प्रज्ञां बालस्येव सुपण्डितः ब्रह्मन्पितेव पुत्रेभ्यः प्रति मां वाञ्छ शौनक
M. N. Dutt: Ignorant as I am, give me wisdom like a learned preceptor to his pupil or like a father to his son. Be pleased with ine, O Shaunaka!
शौनक उवाच किमाश्चर्यं यतः प्राज्ञो बहु कुर्याद्धि सांप्रतम् इति वै पण्डितो भूत्वा भूतानां नोपतप्यति
M. N. Dutt: Shaunaka said What wonder is there that an ignorant wight should do many improper acts? Knowing this, a really wise person is never angry with foolish creatures.
प्रज्ञाप्रासादमारुह्य अशोच्यः शोचते जनान् जगतीस्थानिवाद्रिस्थः प्रज्ञया प्रतिपश्यति
M. N. Dutt: By getting upon the top of wisdom's palace, one grieves for others, his own self being then too pure to be grieved by others. For his wisdom one surveys all creatures in the world like a person on a mountain-top seeing people below.
न चोपलभते तत्र न च कार्याणि पश्यति निर्विण्णात्मा परोक्षो वा धिक्कृतः सर्वसाधुषु
M. N. Dutt: The person who is censured by good men, who hates good men and who hides himself from their view, never acquires any blessing and never understands the fitness of acts.
विदित्वोभयतो वीर्यं माहात्म्यं वेद आगमे कुरुष्वेह महाशान्तिं ब्रह्मा शरणमस्तु ते
AI Translation: Knowing the power of both, the greatness of the Vedas and the scriptures, Do this great peace here. May Brahma be your refuge.
तद्वै पारत्रिकं चारु ब्राह्मणानामकुप्यताम् अथ चेत्तप्यसे पापैर्धर्मं चेदनुपश्यसि
AI Translation: Let the Brahmanas be patient, for that is the most excellent thing for the next world. But if you are tormented by sins, and see Dharma,
जनमेजय उवाच अनुतप्ये च पापेन न चाधर्मं चराम्यहम् बुभूषुं भजमानं च प्रतिवाञ्छामि शौनक
M. N. Dutt: Janamejaya said, I am repenting for my sins. I will never again try to suppress virtue. I wish to obtain blessedness. Be you pleased with me.
शौनक उवाच छित्त्वा स्तम्भं च मानं च प्रीतिमिच्छामि ते नृप सर्वभूतहिते तिष्ठ धर्मं चैव प्रतिस्मर
M. N. Dutt: Shaunaka said Removing arrogance and pride, O king, I wish you to respect me. Do good to all creatures, always remembering the dictates of virtue.
न भयान्न च कार्पण्यान्न लोभात्त्वामुपाह्वये तां मे देवा गिरं सत्यां शृण्वन्तु ब्राह्मणैः सह
M. N. Dutt: I am not blaming you from fear or narrowness of mind or covetousness. Listen now, with these Brahmanas here, to the words of truth.
सोऽहं न केनचिच्चार्थी त्वां च धर्ममुपाह्वये क्रोशतां सर्वभूतानामहो धिगिति कुर्वताम्
M. N. Dutt: I do not ask for anything. I shall, however, instruct you in the ways of virtue. All persons will croak and bray and cry fie on me.
वक्ष्यन्ति मामधर्मज्ञा वक्ष्यन्त्यसुहृदो जनाः वाचस्ताः सुहृदः श्रुत्वा संज्वरिष्यन्ति मे भृशम्
M. N. Dutt: They will even call me sinful. My kinsmen and friends will renounce me. However, hearing the words I speak, my kinsmen and friends will surely succeed in vigorously crossing the difficulties of life.
केचिदेव महाप्राज्ञाः परिज्ञास्यन्ति कार्यताम् जानीहि मे कृतं तात ब्राह्मणान्प्रति भारत
AI Translation: Some very wise ones will know the purpose. Know, O son, what I have done for the Brahmanas, O descendant of Bharata.
यथा ते मत्कृते क्षेमं लभेरंस्तत्तथा कुरु प्रतिजानीहि चाद्रोहं ब्राह्मणानां नराधिप
AI Translation: Do whatever is necessary to ensure their safety. And promise to refrain from harming the brahmins.
जनमेजय उवाच नैव वाचा न मनसा न पुनर्जातु कर्मणा द्रोग्धास्मि ब्राह्मणान्विप्र चरणावेव ते स्पृशे
M. N. Dutt: Janamejaya said I swear, touching even your feet, that I shall never again, in thought, word, or deed, harm the Brahmanas.