Critical Edition
गुरुरुवाच प्रवृत्तिलक्षणो धर्मो यथायमुपपद्यते तेषां विज्ञाननिष्ठानामन्यत्तत्त्वं न रोचते
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said more Persons who perform acts consider the performance of acts highly. Likewise, those who are devoted to Knowledge do not regard anything other than Knowledge.
दुर्लभा वेदविद्वांसो वेदोक्तेषु व्यवस्थिताः प्रयोजनमतस्त्वत्र मार्गमिच्छन्ति संस्तुतम्
M. N. Dutt: Rare are persons fully conversant with the Vedas and depending upon the injunctions contained therein. The intelligent however consider the abstention from acts as the better of the two, viz., heaven and liberation.
Supplementary Passages:
12.205.2 After 2, Kumbh. ed. ins.: *574 वेदस्य न विदुर्भावं ज्ञानमार्गप्रतिष्ठितम्
सद्भिराचरितत्वात्तु वृत्तमेतदगर्हितम् इयं सा बुद्धिरन्येयं यया याति परां गतिम्
M. N. Dutt: Abstention of acts is observed by highly wise That conduct, therefore, is praiseworthy. The intelligence which advocates abstention from acts, is that by which one attains to liberation. men.
शरीरवानुपादत्ते मोहात्सर्वपरिग्रहान् कामक्रोधादिभिर्भावैर्युक्तो राजसतामसैः
M. N. Dutt: Endued with body, a person, through folly, and endued with anger and cupidity and all the propensities born of Darkness and Ignorance, cherishes attachment for all earthly objects.
नाशुद्धमाचरेत्तस्मादभीप्सन्देहयापनम् कर्मणो विवरं कुर्वन्न लोकानाप्नुयाच्छुभान्
M. N. Dutt: One, therefore, who wishes to destroy his connection with the body, should never perforin any impure act. On the other hand, one should create by his acts a path for attaining to Liberation, without wishing for regions of happiness.
लोहयुक्तं यथा हेम विपक्वं न विराजते तथापक्वकषायाख्यं विज्ञानं न प्रकाशते
M. N. Dutt: As gold, when united with iron, losses its purity and cannot shine, so Knowledge, when existing with attachment to earthly objects and such other shortcomings, fails to display its splendour.
Supplementary Passages:
12.205.6 After 6, Kumbh. ed. Cv ins.: *575 केचिदात्मगुणं प्राप्तास्ते मुक्ताश्चक्रबन्धनात् इतरे दुःखसद्वंद्वास्तथा दुःखपरायणाः शुकाकर्मानुरूपं ते जायमानाः पुनः पुनः क्रोधलोभमदाविष्टा मूढान्तःकरणाः सदा यथा.......संछाया नास्ति नित्यतया पुरा गुणानेव तथा चिन्त्या सन्त्येति च विदुर्बुधाः
यश्चाधर्मं चरेन्मोहात्कामलोभावनु प्लवन् धर्म्यं पन्थानमाक्रम्य सानुबन्धो विनश्यति
M. N. Dutt: He who, influenced by cupidity, desire and anger, practises unrighteousness, transgressing the path of righteousness, is completely destroyed.
Supplementary Passages:
12.205.7 After 7, Kumbh. ed. ins.: *576 अचलं ज्ञानमप्राप्य चलचित्तश्चलानियात्
शब्दादीन्विषयांस्तस्मादसंरागादनुप्लवेत् क्रोधहर्षौ विषादश्च जायन्ते हि परस्परम्
M. N. Dutt: One who is desirous of benefiting oneself should never seek, with too much attachment, earthly possessions representing by the objects of the senses. If one does it, anger and joy and sorrow arise from one another.
Supplementary Passages:
12.205.8 After 8, Kumbh. ed. ins.: *577 गुणाः कार्याः क्रोधहर्षौ सुखदुःखे प्रियाप्रिये द्वंद्वान्यथैवमादीनि विजयेच्चैव सर्ववित्
पञ्चभूतात्मके देहे सत्त्वराजसतामसे कमभिष्टुवते चायं कं वा क्रोशति किं वदेत्
M. N. Dutt: When every one's body is made up of the five original elements as also of the three qualities of Goodness. Darkness, and Ignorance, whom shall one worship and whom shall one censure with what words?
स्पर्शरूपरसाद्येषु सङ्गं गच्छन्ति बालिशाः नावगच्छन्त्यविज्ञानादात्मजं पार्थिवं गुणम्
M. N. Dutt: Only the fools become attached to the objects of the senses. On account of folly they do not know that their bodies are only modifications of earth.
मृन्मयं शरणं यद्वन्मृदैव परिलिप्यते पार्थिवोऽयं तथा देहो मृद्विकारैर्विलिप्यते
M. N. Dutt: As a house made of earth is covered over with earth, so this body which is made of earth is saved from destruction by food which is only a change of earth.
मधु तैलं पयः सर्पिर्मांसानि लवणं गुडः धान्यानि फलमूलानि मृद्विकाराः सहाम्भसा
M. N. Dutt: Honey, oil, milk, butter, meat, salt, treacle and grain of all kinds and fruit and roots are all modifications of earth and water.
यद्वत्कान्तारमातिष्ठन्नौत्सुक्यं समनुव्रजेत् श्रमादाहारमादद्यादस्वाद्वपि हि यापनम्
M. N. Dutt: Giving up all desire (for rich food) herinits living in the forest take simple and unsavoury food, for only keeping up the body.
तद्वत्संसारकान्तारमातिष्ठञ्श्रमतत्परः यात्रार्थमद्यादाहारं व्याधितो भेषजं यथा
M. N. Dutt: Likewise, a person who lives in the forest of the world, should be ready for labour and should take food for passing life, like a patient taking medicine.
Supplementary Passages:
12.205.14 After 14, Kumbh. ed. ins.: *578 भक्षणे श्वापदैर्मार्गादिति चारं करोति चेत् एवं संसारमार्गेण यात्रार्थं विषयाणि च न गच्छेद्भोगविज्ञानादुन्मार्गे पद्यते तदा तस्माददुःखतो मार्गमास्थितस्तमनुस्मरेत् नानापर्णफला वृक्षा बहवः सन्ति तत्र हि भोक्तारो मुनयश्चैव तस्मात्परतरं वनम् अनुमानैस्तथा शास्त्रैर्यशसा विक्रमेण च
सत्यशौचार्जवत्यागैर्यशसा विक्रमेण च क्षान्त्या धृत्या च बुद्ध्या च मनसा तपसैव च
AI Translation: By truth, purity, uprightness, renunciation, fame, and valor, By patience, fortitude, intelligence, mind, and austerity,
भावान्सर्वान्यथावृत्तान्संवसेत यथाक्रमम् शान्तिमिच्छन्नदीनात्मा संयच्छेदिन्द्रियाणि च
AI Translation: One should live with all the emotions as they occur, in the proper order. One who desires peace, with a mind free from desire, should restrain the senses.
सत्त्वेन रजसा चैव तमसा चैव मोहिताः चक्रवत्परिवर्तन्ते ह्यज्ञानाज्जन्तवो भृशम्
M. N. Dutt: All creatures, stupefied by Ignorance by the qualities of Goodness, Darkness, and Ignorance and continually revolving like a wheel.
तस्मात्सम्यक्परीक्षेत दोषानज्ञानसंभवान् अज्ञानप्रभवं नित्यमहंकारं परित्यजेत्
M. N. Dutt: All faults, begotten of Ignorance should be closely examined and the idea of Self, which originates from Ignorance, and creates misery, should be avoided.
महाभूतानीन्द्रियाणि गुणाः सत्त्वं रजस्तमः त्रैलोक्यं सेश्वरं सर्वमहंकारे प्रतिष्ठितम्
M. N. Dutt: The five elements, the senses, the qualities of Goodness, Darkness and Ignorance, the three worlds with the Supreme Being himself, and acts, all rest on Self-consciousness.
Supplementary Passages:
12.205.19 After 19ab, Kumbh. ed. ins.: *579 देहमूलं विजानीहि नैतानि भगवानतः उपायतः प्रवक्ष्यामि तं च मृत्युं दुरासदम्
यथेह नियतं कालो दर्शयत्यार्तवान्गुणान् तद्वद्भूतेष्वहंकारं विद्याद्भूतप्रवर्तकम्
M. N. Dutt: As Time, under its own laws, always creates the seasons one after another, so one should know that Consciousness in all creatures is the mover of acts.
संमोहकं तमो विद्यात्कृष्णमज्ञानसंभवम् प्रीतिदुःखनिबद्धांश्च समस्तांस्त्रीनथो गुणान् सत्त्वस्य रजसश्चैव तमसश्च निबोध तान्
M. N. Dutt: Ignorance produces delusions. It is like Darkness and is born of Ignorance. All the joys and sorrows belong to the three qualities of Goodness, Darkness, and Ignorance.
Supplementary Passages:
12.205.21 After 21ab, Kumbh. ed. ins.: *580 प्रकृतेर्गुणसंजातो महानहंक्रिया ततः अहंकारात्पुनः पश्चाद्भूतग्राममुदाहृतम् अव्यक्तस्य गुणेभ्यस्तु तद्गुणांश्च निबोध तान्
प्रमोहो हर्षजः प्रीतिरसंदेहो धृतिः स्मृतिः एतान्सत्त्वगुणान्विद्यादिमान्राजसतामसान्
M. N. Dutt: Listen now to those consequences that spring from the qualities of Goodness, Darkness and Ignorance. Contentment, the satisfaction that arises from joy, certainty, intelligence, and memory,-these are the results of the quality of Goodness. I shall now describe the consequences of Darkness and Ignorance.
Supplementary Passages:
12.205.22 After 22, Kumbh. ed. ins.: *581 असंतोषोऽक्षमा धैर्यमतृप्तिर्विषयादिषु राजसाश्च गुणा ह्येते तत्परं तामसाञ्शृणु मोहस्तन्द्री तथा दुःखं निद्रालस्यं प्रमादता विषादी दीर्घसूत्रश्च तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्
कामक्रोधौ प्रमादश्च लोभमोहौ भयं क्लमः विषादशोकावरतिर्मानदर्पावनार्यता
M. N. Dutt: Desire, anger, error, cupidity stupefaction, fear, and fatigue, belong to the quality of Darkness. Cheerlessness, grief discontent, vanity, pride, and wickedness, all belong to Ignorance.
दोषाणामेवमादीनां परीक्ष्य गुरुलाघवम् विमृशेदात्मसंस्थानामेकैकमनुसंततम्
M. N. Dutt: Examining the weight or lightness of these and other evils that exist in the Soul, one should reflect upon each of them one after another.
Supplementary Passages:
12.205.24 After 24, Kumbh. ed. ins.: *582 यस्मिन्प्रतिष्ठितं चेदं यस्मिन्सज्ज्ञाननिर्गतिः सर्वभूताधिकं नित्यमहंकारं विलोकयेत् विलोकमानः स तदा स्वबुद्ध्या सूक्ष्मया पुनः तदेव भाति तद्रूपमात्मना यत्सुनिर्मलम्
शिष्य उवाच के दोषा मनसा त्यक्ताः के बुद्ध्या शिथिलीकृताः के पुनः पुनरायान्ति के मोहादफला इव
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said, What eviis are shunned by persons sceking Liberation? What are those that are weakened by them? What are the evils that come again and again? What, again, are regarded as week, through stupefaction.
केषां बलाबलं बुद्ध्या हेतुभिर्विमृशेद्बुधः एतत्सर्वं समाचक्ष्व यथा विद्यामहं प्रभो
AI Translation: By whom is the strength and weakness of these to be examined by means of intellect and reasons? Please tell me all this, so that I may know, O Lord.
Supplementary Passages:
12.205.26 After 26, Kumbh. ed. Cv ins.: *583 मह्यं शुश्रूषवे विद्वन्वक्ष्येतद्बुद्धिनिश्चितम् शान्तत्वादपरान्ताच्च आरम्भादपि चैकतः प्रोक्तो ह्यत्र यथा हेतुरेवमाहुर्मनीषिणः
गुरुरुवाच दोषैर्मूलादवच्छिन्नैर्विशुद्धात्मा विमुच्यते विनाशयति संभूतमयस्मयमयो यथा तथाकृतात्मा सहजैर्दोषैर्नश्यति राजसैः
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said-‘By rooting out all evils, a person of pure Soul succeeds in obtaining Liberation. As an axe made of steel cuts a steel chain, similarly, a person of cleansed Soul, destroying all the evils that originate from Darkness and that are born with the Soul, succeeds in cutting off his connection with the body.
Supplementary Passages:
12.205.27 After the ref., M1.5-7 ins.: *584 गौरवं तु गुणानां स्यात्तद्धेतूनां बलाबलात् After 27cd, D7 T G1-3.6 M5 Kumbh. ed. ins.: *585 सहजैरविशुद्धात्मा दोषैर्नश्यति राजसैः
राजसं तामसं चैव शुद्धात्माकर्मसंभवम् तत्सर्वं देहिनां बीजं सर्वमात्मवतः समम्
M. N. Dutt: The qualities having their origin in Darkness, those that originate from Ignorance, and those stainless ones characterised by purity, form as it were the seed from which all embodied creatures have sprung. Amongst these, the quality of Goodness alone is the cause through which persons of pure souls succeed in attaining to Liberation.
Supplementary Passages:
12.205.28 After 28ab, D7 T G1-3.6 M1.5-7 Kumbh. ed. ins.: *586 शमयेत्सत्त्वमास्थाय स्वबुद्ध्या केवलं द्विजः M5 Kumbh. ed. cont.: *587 त्यजेच्च मनसा चैतौ शुद्धात्मा बुद्धिमास्थितः
तस्मादात्मवता वर्ज्यं रजश्च तम एव च रजस्तमोभ्यां निर्मुक्तं सत्त्वं निर्मलतामियात्
M. N. Dutt: A person of pure soul, therefore, should cast off all the qualities begotten of Darkness and Ignorance. Then again when the quality of Goodness becomes frced from those of Darkness and Ignorance it shines the more.
Supplementary Passages:
12.205.29 After 29, D7 T G1-3.6 M1.5-7 Kumbh. ed. ins.: *588 आहारान्वर्जयेन्नित्यं राजसांस्तामसानपि Kumbh. ed. cont.: *589 ते ब्रह्म पुनरायान्ति न मोहादचला इव
अथ वा मन्त्रवद्ब्रूयुर्मांसादानां यजुष्कृतम् हेतुः स एवानादाने शुद्धधर्मानुपालने
M. N. Dutt: Some say that sacrifices and other acts performed with the help of Mantras, and which bring about the purification of the Soul, are evil or cruel acts. On the other hand, those acts are the chief instruments for dissociating the Soul from all worldly attachments, and for the observance of the religion of peace.
रजसा धर्मयुक्तानि कार्याण्यपि समाप्नुयात् अर्थयुक्तानि चात्यर्थं कामान्सर्वांश्च सेवते
M. N. Dutt: Through the influence of the qualities born of Darkness, all impious acts are perpetrated and all earthly acts as well as such acts as originate from desire are performed.
तमसा लोभयुक्तानि क्रोधजानि च सेवते हिंसाविहाराभिरतस्तन्द्रीनिद्रासमन्वितः
M. N. Dutt: Through qualities born of Ignorance, one does all acts fraught with cupidity and springing from anger. In consequence of the attribute of Ignorance, one feels sleep and procrastination and becomes addicted to all acts of crucily and carnality.
सत्त्वस्थः सात्त्विकान्भावाञ्शुद्धान्पश्यति संश्रितः स देही विमलः श्रीमाञ्शुद्धो विद्यासमन्वितः
M. N. Dutt: That person, however, who endued with faith and scriptural knowledge, follows the quality of Goodness, attends only to all good things and becomes endued with beauty and a soul free froin every corruption.