Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच किं कुर्वन्सुखमाप्नोति किं कुर्वन्दुःखमाप्नुते किं कुर्वन्निर्भयो लोके सिद्धश्चरति भारत
M. N. Dutt: By doing what does one gain happiness, and what is that by doing which one meets with misery? What also is that, O Bharata, by doing which one becomes freed from fear and sojourns here successfully,
भीष्म उवाच दममेव प्रशंसन्ति वृद्धाः श्रुतिसमाधयः सर्वेषामेव वर्णानां ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषतः
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said The ancients who had there minds, directed to the Shrutis, spoke highly of the duty of selfcontrol for all the castes in general, but for the Brahmanas in especial.
नादान्तस्य क्रियासिद्धिर्यथावदुपलभ्यते क्रिया तपश्च वेदाश्च दमे सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्
M. N. Dutt: One who is not self-controlled never enjoys success in religious rites. Religious rites, penances, truth, all these depend upon selfcontrol.
दमस्तेजो वर्धयति पवित्रं दम उच्यते विपाप्मा निर्भयो दान्तः पुरुषो विन्दते महत्
M. N. Dutt: Self-control increases one's energy. Self-। control is said to be sacred. The man of selfcontrol becomes sinless and fearless and acquires great results.
सुखं दान्तः प्रस्वपिति सुखं च प्रतिबुध्यते सुखं लोके विपर्येति मनश्चास्य प्रसीदति
M. N. Dutt: One who is self-controlled sleeps happily and wakes happily. He lives happily in the world and his mind always remains cheerful
तेजो दमेन ध्रियते न तत्तीक्ष्णोऽधिगच्छति अमित्रांश्च बहून्नित्यं पृथगात्मनि पश्यति
M. N. Dutt: Every sort of excitement is quietly controlled by self-control. One who is not selfcontrolled fails in a similar endeavour. The self-controlled man sees his numberless focs (such as lust, desire, and anger, etc.') as if these dwell in a separate body.
क्रव्याद्भ्य इव भूतानामदान्तेभ्यः सदा भयम् तेषां विप्रतिषेधार्थं राजा सृष्टः स्वयंभुवा
M. N. Dutt: Like tigers and other carnivorous animals, persons shorn of self-control always strike all creatures with fear. For controlling these men, the Self-create (Brahma) created kings.
आश्रमेषु च सर्वेषु दम एव विशिष्यते यच्च तेषु फलं धर्मे भूयो दान्ते तदुच्यते
M. N. Dutt: In all the modes of life, the practice of selfcontrol is distinguished above all other virtues. The fruits of self-control are much greater than those obtainable in all the modes of life.
Supplementary Passages:
12.213.8 After 8ab, Kumbh. ed. ins.: *625 धर्मः संरक्ष्यते तैस्तु यतस्ते धर्मसेतवः
तेषां लिङ्गानि वक्ष्यामि येषां समुदयो दमः अकार्पण्यमसंरम्भः संतोषः श्रद्दधानता
AI Translation: I shall describe their characteristics, the combination of which is self-control. Non-avarice, non-violence, contentment, faith,
अक्रोध आर्जवं नित्यं नातिवादो न मानिता गुरुपूजानसूया च दया भूतेष्वपैशुनम्
AI Translation: Non-anger, honesty, always non-excessive speech, non-arrogance, Worship of the guru, non-envy, compassion for beings, non-malice,
जनवादमृषावादस्तुतिनिन्दाविवर्जनम् साधुकामश्चास्पृहयन्नायाति प्रत्ययं नृषु
AI Translation: Avoiding idle talk, false speech, praise, and blame, And being virtuous and not desiring, one does not come to have faith in people.
अवैरकृत्सूपचारः समो निन्दाप्रशंसयोः सुवृत्तः शीलसंपन्नः प्रसन्नात्मात्मवान्बुधः प्राप्य लोके च सत्कारं स्वर्गं वै प्रेत्य गच्छति
M. N. Dutt: Shom of vindictiveness and all sorts of guile, and unaffected by praise and censure, such a man is well-behaved, has good manners is pure of soul, had fortitude, and is a complete master of his passions.
Supplementary Passages:
12.213.12 After 12, K6 V1 B0.6-9 Da3.a4 Dn1.n4 Ds D2.3.5-8 Cn Kumbh. ed. ins.: *626 दुर्गमं सर्वभूतानां प्राप्य यन्मोदते सुखी
सर्वभूतहिते युक्तो न स्मयाद्द्वेष्टि वै जनम् महाह्रद इवाक्षोभ्य प्रज्ञातृप्तः प्रसीदति
M. N. Dutt: Devoted to universal benevolence, such a man never feels animosity for any one. Tranquil like a calm ocean, wisdom feels his soul and he is ever cheerful.
अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यः सर्वेषामभयं यतः नमस्यः सर्वभूतानां दान्तो भवति ज्ञानवान्
M. N. Dutt: Endued with intelligence, and deserving of universal reverence, the self-controlled man never fears any creature and is feared by no creature in return.
न हृष्यति महत्यर्थे व्यसने च न शोचति स वै परिमितप्रज्ञः स दान्तो द्विज उच्यते
M. N. Dutt: That man who never rejoices even at large accessions and never feels sorrow when overtaken by misfortune, is said to be endued with contented wisdom. Such a man is said to he self-controlled. Indeed, such a man is said to be a twice-born man.
कर्मभिः श्रुतसंपन्नः सद्भिराचरितैः शुभैः सदैव दमसंयुक्तस्तस्य भुङ्क्ते महत्फलम्
M. N. Dutt: Well-read in the scriptures and gifted with a pure soul, the man of self-controi, performing all those acts that are done by the good, enjoys their high fruits.
अनसूया क्षमा शान्तिः संतोषः प्रियवादिता सत्यं दानमनायासो नैष मार्गो दुरात्मनाम्
M. N. Dutt: The wicked men, however, never follow the path of benevolence, forgiveness, tranquillity, contentment, sweetness of speech, trutli, liberality, and comfort.
Supplementary Passages:
12.213.17 After 17, K6.7 V1 B0.6-9 Da3.a4 Dn1.n4 Ds D2-9 T G1-3.6 M1.5-7 Kumbh. ed. ins.: *627 कामक्रोधौ च लोभश्च परस्येर्ष्या विकत्थना T1 G1-3.6 M5.6 cont.: *628 दम्भो दर्पश्च मानश्च नैष मार्गो महात्मनाम् For 628*, Kumbh. ed. subst.: *629 अतुष्टिरनृतं मोह एष मार्गो दुरात्मनाम्
कामक्रोधौ वशे कृत्वा ब्रह्मचारी जितेन्द्रियः विक्रम्य घोरे तपसि ब्राह्मणः संशितव्रतः कालाकाङ्क्षी चरेल्लोकान्निरपाय इवात्मवान्
M. N. Dutt: They follow the path of lust, anger, cupidity, envy of others, and boastfulness. Overcoming lust and anger, practising the vow of Brahmacharya and becoming a complete master of his senses, the Brahman practising patiently the austerest penances, and observing the most rigid restraints, should live in this world, calmly waiting for his time like one seeming to have a body through fully knowing that he is not subject to destruction.