Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच धर्माः पितामहेनोक्ता राजधर्माश्रिताः शुभाः धर्ममाश्रमिणां श्रेष्ठं वक्तुमर्हसि पार्थिव
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said You have, O grandfather, described the sacred duties of kings regarding the persons in distress. O king, you should tell me now those foremost of duties of those who lead the (four) modes of life.
भीष्म उवाच सर्वत्र विहितो धर्मः स्वर्ग्यः सत्यफलं तपः बहुद्वारस्य धर्मस्य नेहास्ति विफला क्रिया
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Religion has many doors. The observance of the duties sanctioned by religion can never be useless. Duties have been laid down regarding every mode of life. The fruits of Penance with regard to the development of the Soul, are to be had in this worid.
यस्मिन्यस्मिंस्तु विनये यो यो याति विनिश्चयम् स तमेवाभिजानाति नान्यं भरतसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: The object to which one devotes oneself, whatever it may be, O Bharata, and nothing else, appears to as the highest of acquisitions fraught with the greatest of blessings.
यथा यथा च पर्येति लोकतन्त्रमसारवत् तथा तथा विरागोऽत्र जायते नात्र संशयः
M. N. Dutt: When one meditates properly, one comes to know that the things of this world are useless one as straw. Forsooth, one is then freed from attachment of those things.
एवं व्यवसिते लोके बहुदोषे युधिष्ठिर आत्ममोक्षनिमित्तं वै यतेत मतिमान्नरः
M. N. Dutt: When the world, O Yudhishthira, which is full of shortcomings, is so framed, every intelligent man, should try to acquire the liberation of his soul.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच नष्टे धने वा दारे वा पुत्रे पितरि वा मृते यया बुद्ध्या नुदेच्छोकं तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said Tell me, O grandfather, by what condition of mind should one kill his grief when he loses his riches, or his wife, or son, or father.
भीष्म उवाच नष्टे धने वा दारे वा पुत्रे पितरि वा मृते अहो दुःखमिति ध्यायञ्शोकस्यापचितिं चरेत्
AI Translation: Bhishma said: When wealth is lost, or a wife, or a son, or a father dies, One should reflect, "Alas, what sorrow!" and perform the rites for the alleviation of grief.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् यथा सेनजितं विप्रः कश्चिदित्यब्रवीद्वचः
M. N. Dutt: Regarding it is mentioned the old story of the speech that a twice-born friend of his, coming to Senajit's court, made to that king.
पुत्रशोकाभिसंतप्तं राजानं शोकविह्वलम् विषण्णवदनं दृष्ट्वा विप्रो वचनमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Seeing the monarch stricken with grief and burning with sorrow on account of the death of his son, the Brahmana said to that king of very
किं नु खल्वसि मूढस्त्वं शोच्यः किमनुशोचसि यदा त्वामपि शोचन्तः शोच्या यास्यन्ति तां गतिम्
M. N. Dutt: Why are you stupefied? You are without any intelligence. You are yourself an object of grief, why do you grieve (for others)? A few days hence others will grieve for you, and in their turn they will be grieved for by others still.
त्वं चैवाहं च ये चान्ये त्वां राजन्पर्युपासते सर्वे तत्र गमिष्यामो यत एवागता वयम्
M. N. Dutt: Yourself, myself, and others who wait upon you, O king, shall all repair whence all of us have come.
सेनजिदुवाच का बुद्धिः किं तपो विप्र कः समाधिस्तपोधन किं ज्ञानं किं श्रुतं वा ते यत्प्राप्य न विषीदसि
M. N. Dutt: Senajit said What is that intelligence, what that penance, O learned Brahmana, what that concentration of mind, O you having asceticism for wealth, what that knowledge, and what that learning, by gaining which you do not give way to grief?
ब्राह्मण उवाच पश्य भूतानि दुःखेन व्यतिषक्तानि सर्वशः आत्मापि चायं न मम सर्वा वा पृथिवी मम
M. N. Dutt: The Brahmana said See, all creatures-the superior, the middling, and the inferiorm-on account of their respective acts, and entangled in sorrow.
Supplementary Passages:
12.168.13 K6 D7 T G1-3.6 ins. after the ref.: Ds2 M1.5-7 after 12: *457 हृष्यन्तमवसीदन्तं सुखदुःखविपर्यये आत्मानमनुशोचामि यो ममैष हृदि स्थितः After 13ab, K6 V1 B0.8.9 Da3.a4 Dn1.n4 Ds D2.3.5.6.8 ins.: *458 उत्तमाधममध्यानि तेषु तेष्विह कर्मसु while G2 ins. after 13ab: *459 अहमेको न मे कश्चिन्नाहमन्यस्य कस्यचित् न तं पश्यामि यस्याहं तं न पश्यामि यो मम
यथा मम तथान्येषामिति बुद्ध्या न मे व्यथा एतां बुद्धिमहं प्राप्य न प्रहृष्ये न च व्यथे
AI Translation: Just as it is for me, so it is for others. Having attained this understanding, I neither rejoice nor grieve.
यथा काष्ठं च काष्ठं च समेयातां महोदधौ समेत्य च व्यपेयातां तद्वद्भूतसमागमः
M. N. Dutt: Having gained such an understanding, I do not give way to joy or to grief. As two pieces of wood floating on the sea meet together at one time and are again separated, so is the union of (living) creatures in this world.
एवं पुत्राश्च पौत्राश्च ज्ञातयो बान्धवास्तथा तेषु स्नेहो न कर्तव्यो विप्रयोगो हि तैर्ध्रुवम्
M. N. Dutt: Sons, grandsons, kinsmen relatives, are all of this nature. One should One should never feel attachment for them, for separation with them is inevitable.
अदर्शनादापतितः पुनश्चादर्शनं गतः न त्वासौ वेद न त्वं तं कः सन्कमनुशोचसि
M. N. Dutt: Your son came from an invisible quarter. He has gone away and become invisible. He did not know you. You did not know him. Who are you and for whom do you grieve.
तृष्णार्तिप्रभवं दुःखं दुःखार्तिप्रभवं सुखम् सुखात्संजायते दुःखमेवमेतत्पुनः पुनः सुखस्यानन्तरं दुःखं दुःखस्यानन्तरं सुखम्
M. N. Dutt: Grief is the child of the disease created by desire. Happiness again comes when the disease of desire is cured. From joy originates sorrow, and sorrow comes again and again.
Supplementary Passages:
12.168.18 After 18, K6 Dn1.n4 Ds2 D2.3.6.8 ins.: *460 सुखदुःखे मनुष्याणां चक्रवत्परिवर्ततः
सुखात्त्वं दुःखमापन्नः पुनरापत्स्यसे सुखम् न नित्यं लभते दुःखं न नित्यं लभते सुखम्
M. N. Dutt: After happiness sorrow has come to you. You will again enjoy happiness for good and no one enjoys happiness for good.
Supplementary Passages:
12.168.19 After 19, K6.7 Da4 (line 17 only) Dn1.n4 Ds1 (line 17 only).s2 D2-6.8.9 ins.: *461 शरीरमेवायतनं सुखस्य दुःखस्य चाप्यायतनं शरीरम् यद्यच्छरीरेण करोति कर्म तेनैव देही समुपाश्नुते तत् जीवितं च शरीरं च जात्यैव सह जायते उभे सह विवर्धेते उभे सह विनश्यतः स्नेहपाशैर्बहुविधैराविष्टविषया जनाः अकृतार्थाश्च सीदन्ते जलैः सैकतसेतवः स्नेहेन तिलवत्सर्वं सर्गचक्रे निपीड्यते तिलपीडैरिवाक्रम्य क्लेशैरज्ञानसंभवैः संचिनोत्यशुभं कर्म कलत्रापेक्षया नरः एकः क्लेशानवाप्नोति परत्रेह च मानवः पुत्रदारकुटुम्बेषु प्रसक्ताः सर्वमानवाः शोकपङ्कार्णवे मग्ना जीर्णा वनगजा इव पुत्रनाशे वित्तनाशे ज्ञातिसंबन्धिनामपि प्राप्यते सुमहद्दुःखं दावाग्निप्रतिमं विभो दैवायत्तमिदं सर्वं सुखदुःखे भवाभवौ असुहृत्ससुहृच्चापि सशत्रुर्मित्रवानपि सप्रज्ञः प्रज्ञया हीनो दैवेन लभते सुखम्
नालं सुखाय सुहृदो नालं दुःखाय शत्रवः न च प्रज्ञालमर्थानां न सुखानामलं धनम्
M. N. Dutt: Friends are not the root of one's happiness. Enemies are not the root of one's misery. Wisdom cannot bring on wealth; wealth cannot give happiness.
न बुद्धिर्धनलाभाय न जाड्यमसमृद्धये लोकपर्यायवृत्तान्तं प्राज्ञो जानाति नेतरः
M. N. Dutt: Intelligence cannot give wealth, nor is stupidity the cause of poverty. Only a wise man, and none else, understands the order of the world.
बुद्धिमन्तं च मूढं च शूरं भीरुं जडं कविम् दुर्बलं बलवन्तं च भागिनं भजते सुखम्
M. N. Dutt: Of the intelligent, the heroic, the foolish, the cowardly, the idiotic, the earned, the weak, or the strong, happiness comes to him only for whom it is ordained.
धेनुर्वत्सस्य गोपस्य स्वामिनस्तस्करस्य च पयः पिबति यस्तस्या धेनुस्तस्येति निश्चयः
M. N. Dutt: The cow belongs to the calf, to the cowherd who is her master, and to the thief. Indeed, she is his who drinks her milk.
ये च मूढतमा लोके ये च बुद्धेः परं गताः ते नराः सुखमेधन्ते क्लिश्यत्यन्तरितो जनः
M. N. Dutt: They whose understandings are dormant, and they who have that state of the mind which lies beyond the range of the intellect, succeed in enjoying happiness. Only they who are between these two classes, suffer misery.
अन्त्येषु रेमिरे धीरा न ते मध्येषु रेमिरे अन्त्यप्राप्तिं सुखामाहुर्दुःखमन्तरमन्तयोः
M. N. Dutt: The wise find pleasure in the two extremes but not in the intermediate states. The sages have said that the attainment of any of these two extremes form happiness. Misery lies in the intermediate states between the two.
Supplementary Passages:
12.168.25 After 25, D7 T G1-3.6 M1.5-7 ins.: *462 सुखं स्वपिति दुर्मेधाः स्वानि कर्माण्यचिन्तयन् अविज्ञानेन महता कम्बलेनेव संवृतः
ये तु बुद्धिसुखं प्राप्ता द्वंद्वातीता विमत्सराः तान्नैवार्था न चानर्था व्यथयन्ति कदाचन
M. N. Dutt: Those who have succeeded in acquiring real happiness, and who have become freed from the pleasures and pains of this world, and who are shorn of envy, are never moved by either the accession of wealth or its loss.
अथ ये बुद्धिमप्राप्ता व्यतिक्रान्ताश्च मूढताम् तेऽतिवेलं प्रहृष्यन्ति संतापमुपयान्ति च
M. N. Dutt: Those who have not gained that intelligence which brings on real happiness, but who have got over folly and ignorance yield to excessive joy and excessive misery.
नित्यप्रमुदिता मूढा दिवि देवगणा इव अवलेपेन महता परिदृब्धा विचेतसः
M. N. Dutt: Men who have no ideas of right or wrong, who are beside themselves with pride and with success over others, give way to transports of delight like the celestials.
सुखं दुःखान्तमालस्यं दुःखं दाक्ष्यं सुखोदयम् भूतिश्चैव श्रिया सार्धं दक्षे वसति नालसे
M. N. Dutt: Happiness must terminate in misery. Idleness is misery; while cleverness (in action) is the root of felicity. Affluence and prosperity live in a clever man, but not in an idle wight.
सुखं वा यदि वा दुःखं द्वेष्यं वा यदि वा प्रियम् प्राप्तं प्राप्तमुपासीत हृदयेनापराजितः
M. N. Dutt: Be it happiness or be it misery, be it pleasant or be it otherwise, what comes to one should be enjoyed or put up with an unconquered heart.
शोकस्थानसहस्राणि हर्षस्थानशतानि च दिवसे दिवसे मूढमाविशन्ति न पण्डितम्
M. N. Dutt: Every day a thousand occasions for sorrow, and a hundred occasions for fear attack an ignorant and foolish man but a wise man is never so affected.
बुद्धिमन्तं कृतप्रज्ञं शुश्रूषुमनसूयकम् दान्तं जितेन्द्रियं चापि शोको न स्पृशते नरम्
M. N. Dutt: Sorrow can never touch an intelligent man, one who has acquired wisdom, one who obeys the instructions of his elders, one who has no envy, and one who has controlled his self.
एतां बुद्धिं समास्थाय गुप्तचित्तश्चरेद्बुधः उदयास्तमयज्ञं हि न शोकः स्प्रष्टुमर्हति
M. N. Dutt: Depending upon such an understanding, and guarding his heart (against the influences of desire and the passions), the wise man should work on in this world. Indeed, sorrow cannot affect him who knows that Supreme Self from which everything emanate and to which everything disappears.
Supplementary Passages:
12.168.33 D7 ins. after 31: T after 33ab: *463 शुक्लकृष्णगतिज्ञं तं देवासुरविनिर्गमम्
यन्निमित्तं भवेच्छोकस्त्रासो वा दुःखमेव वा आयासो वा यतोमूलस्तदेकाङ्गमपि त्यजेत्
M. N. Dutt: The very root of grief, or heart-burning, or sorrow or of action, should, even if it be a part of one's body, the cast off.
यद्यत्त्यजति कामानां तत्सुखस्याभिपूर्यते कामानुसारी पुरुषः कामाननु विनश्यति
M. N. Dutt: If objects, of desire, are renounced they become sources of happiness. The man who follows objects of desire is ruined in that pursuit.
यच्च कामसुखं लोके यच्च दिव्यं महत्सुखम् तृष्णाक्षयसुखस्यैते नार्हतः षोडशीं कलाम्
M. N. Dutt: Neither the happiness which is derived from a gratification of the senses nor that great happiness which one may enjoy in heaven, even comes up to a sixteenth part of the happiness which originates from the destruction of all desire.
पूर्वदेहकृतं कर्म शुभं वा यदि वाशुभम् प्राज्ञं मूढं तथा शूरं भजते यादृशं कृतम्
M. N. Dutt: The consequences of pristine decds, right or wrong, affect the wise and the foolish, the brave and the mind.
एवमेव किलैतानि प्रियाण्येवाप्रियाणि च जीवेषु परिवर्तन्ते दुःखानि च सुखानि च
M. N. Dutt: Thus joy and sorrow, the agreeable and the disagreeable, continually revolve among living creatures.
तदेवं बुद्धिमास्थाय सुखं जीवेद्गुणान्वितः सर्वान्कामाञ्जुगुप्सेत सङ्गान्कुर्वीत पृष्ठतः वृत्त एष हृदि प्रौढो मृत्युरेष मनोमयः
AI Translation: Thus, having established this in the mind, one should live happily, endowed with qualities. One should despise all desires and keep attachments behind. This is the practice that has become established in the heart, this death that is of the nature of the mind.
Supplementary Passages:
12.168.39 After 39, K6 V1 B0.7 (damaged).8.9 Da3.a4 Dn1.n4 Ds D2-9 T G1-3.6 M1.5-7 ins.: *464 क्रोधो नाम शरीरस्थो देहिनां प्रोच्यते बुधैः
यदा संहरते कामान्कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वशः तदात्मज्योतिरात्मा च आत्मन्येव प्रसीदति
M. N. Dutt: When a person withdraws all his desires like a tortoise withdrawing all its limbs, then its soul, which is self-luminous, can see itself.
किंचिदेव ममत्वेन यदा भवति कल्पितम् तदेव परितापार्थं सर्वं संपद्यते तदा
AI Translation: When something is imagined as mine, then all that becomes a cause of torment.
न बिभेति यदा चायं यदा चास्मान्न बिभ्यति यदा नेच्छति न द्वेष्टि ब्रह्म संपद्यते तदा
M. N. Dutt: When a person himself feels no fear and is feared by no one, when he has no desire and no hatred, he is then said to attain to the state of Brahima.
उभे सत्यानृते त्यक्त्वा शोकानन्दौ भयाभये प्रियाप्रिये परित्यज्य प्रशान्तात्मा भविष्यसि
M. N. Dutt: Renouncing both truth and falsehood, grief and joy, fear and courage, the agreeable and the disagreeable, you may acquire equanimity of soul.
यदा न कुरुते धीरः सर्वभूतेषु पापकम् कर्मणा मनसा वाचा ब्रह्म संपद्यते तदा
M. N. Dutt: When a person does no wrong to any creature, in thought, word, or deed, he is then said to attain to a state of Brahma.
या दुस्त्यजा दुर्मतिभिर्या न जीर्यति जीर्यतः योऽसौ प्राणान्तिको रोगस्तां तृष्णां त्यजतः सुखम्
M. N. Dutt: He alone enjoys true happiness who can renounce that thirst which cannot be cast off by the misguided, which does not decay with decrepitude, and which is considered as a fatal disease.
अत्र पिङ्गलया गीता गाथाः श्रूयन्ति पार्थिव यथा सा कृच्छ्रकालेऽपि लेभे धर्मं सनातनम्
M. N. Dutt: About it, O king, are heard the verses sung by Pingala regarding the way in which she had acquired eternal inerit even at a very unfavourable time.
संकेते पिङ्गला वेश्या कान्तेनासीद्विनाकृता अथ कृच्छ्रगता शान्तां बुद्धिमास्थापयत्तदा
M. N. Dutt: Having gone to the appointed place, a fallen woman of the name of Pingala could not enjoy the company of her lover through an accident. At that time of great misery, she acquired equanimity of soul.
पिङ्गलोवाच उन्मत्ताहमनुन्मत्तं कान्तमन्ववसं चिरम् अन्तिके रमणं सन्तं नैनमध्यगमं पुरा
M. N. Dutt: Pingala said Alas, I have for many years lived ignorantly, by the side of tha dear Self in whom there is nothing but tranquility. Death has been at my door. Ere this, I did not, however, approach that Essence of Purity.
एकस्थूणं नवद्वारमपिधास्याम्यगारकम् का हि कान्तमिहायान्तमयं कान्तेति मंस्यते
M. N. Dutt: I shall cover this house of one column and nine doors, i.e., body, (by means of true knowledge). What woman is there who considers that dear. Supreme Soul, even when He is so near, as really dear.
अकामाः कामरूपेण धूर्ता नरकरूपिणः न पुनर्वञ्चयिष्यन्ति प्रतिबुद्धास्मि जागृमि
M. N. Dutt: I am now awake. I have been roused from the sleep of ignorance. I am no longer under the influence of desire. Human lovers, who are, in fact, so many embodiments of hell, shall no longer impose upon me by approaching me lustfully.
अनर्थोऽपि भवत्यर्थो दैवात्पूर्वकृतेन वा संबुद्धाहं निराकारा नाहमद्याजितेन्द्रिया
M. N. Dutt: Evil yields good through destiny or through pristine deeds. Roused from the sleep of ignorance, I have renounced all desire for worldly objects. I have gained a complete mastery over my senses.
सुखं निराशः स्वपिति नैराश्यं परमं सुखम् आशामनाशां कृत्वा हि सुखं स्वपिति पिङ्गला
M. N. Dutt: One freed from desire and hope sleeps happily. Freedom from hope and desire is happiness. Having renounced desire and hope, Pingala sleeps happily.
भीष्म उवाच एतैश्चान्यैश्च विप्रस्य हेतुमद्भिः प्रभाषितैः पर्यवस्थापितो राजा सेनजिन्मुमुदे सुखम्
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Consoled with these and other words of the learned Brahmana, king Senajit enjoyed delight and became very happy.