Critical Edition
भीष्म उवाच पुनरेव तु तं शक्रः प्रहसन्निदमब्रवीत् निःश्वसन्तं यथा नागं प्रव्याहाराय भारत
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Again, laughing at Vali who was sighing like a snake, Shakra addressed him for saying something more painful than what he had said before.
यत्तद्यानसहस्रेण ज्ञातिभिः परिवारितः लोकान्प्रतापयन्सर्वान्यास्यस्मानवितर्कयन्
M. N. Dutt: Shakra said Formerly, attended by a train consisting of thousands of vehicles and kinsmen, you used to march, burning all the worlds with your splendour and disregarding us all.
दृष्ट्वा सुकृपणां चेमामवस्थामात्मनो बले ज्ञातिमित्रपरित्यक्तः शोचस्याहो न शोचसि
M. N. Dutt: You are now, however, deserted by both kinsmen and friends. Beholding this miserable condition of yours, do you or do you not indulge in grief?
प्रीतिं प्राप्यातुलां पूर्वं लोकांश्चात्मवशे स्थितान् विनिपातमिमं चाद्य शोचस्याहो न शोचसि
M. N. Dutt: Formerly all the worlds were under your sway and great was your joy. I ask, do you or you not grieve now, for this loss of your splendour?
बलिरुवाच अनित्यमुपलक्ष्येदं कालपर्यायमात्मनः तस्माच्छक्र न शोचामि सर्वं ह्येवेदमन्तवत्
M. N. Dutt: Vali said Regarding all this as transitory,-due, indeed, to the course of time,-I do not, O Shakra, grieve. These things have an end.
Supplementary Passages:
12.217.5 After the ref., Kumbh. ed. ins.: *640 गर्वं हित्वा तथा मानं देवराज शृणुष्व मे मया च त्वानु सद्भावं पूर्वमाचरितं महत् अवश्यकालपर्यायमात्मनः परिवर्तनम् अविदँल्लोकमाहात्म्य * * * * * * * *
अन्तवन्त इमे देहा भूतानाममराधिप तेन शक्र न शोचामि नापराधादिदं मम
M. N. Dutt: These bodies of creatures, O king of the celestials, are all transitory. Therefore, 0 Shakra, I do not grieve. Nor is this form due to any fault of mine.
जीवितं च शरीरं च प्रेत्य वै सह जायते उभे सह विवर्धेते उभे सह विनश्यतः
M. N. Dutt: The animating principle and the body come into existence simultaneously for their own nature. They grow together and meet with destruction together.
तदीदृशमिदं भावमवशः प्राप्य केवलम् यद्येवमभिजानामि का व्यथा मे विजानतः
M. N. Dutt: Having obtained this form of birth I have not been enslaved by it for good. Since I know this, I have no cause for sorrow.
भूतानां निधनं निष्ठा स्रोतसामिव सागरः नैतत्सम्यग्विजानन्तो नरा मुह्यन्ति वज्रभृत्
AI Translation: The end of beings is like the ocean for the streams. O wielder of the thunderbolt, men who do not know this properly are deluded.
ये त्वेवं नाभिजानन्ति रजोमोहपरायणाः ते कृच्छ्रं प्राप्य सीदन्ति बुद्धिर्येषां प्रणश्यति
AI Translation: Those who do not know this, who are devoted to passion and delusion, They, having attained difficulty, sink, for whose intellect is destroyed.
बुद्धिलाभे हि पुरुषः सर्वं नुदति किल्बिषम् विपाप्मा लभते सत्त्वं सत्त्वस्थः संप्रसीदति
M. N. Dutt: A person wins a keen understanding, succeeds in dissipating all his sins. A sinless person acquires the quality of Goodness, and having acquired it becomes cheerful.
ततस्तु ये निवर्तन्ते जायन्ते वा पुनः पुनः कृपणाः परितप्यन्ते तेऽनर्थैः परिचोदिताः
M. N. Dutt: They, however, that deviate from the quality of Goodness, and go through repeated re-births, are obliged to indulge in sorrow and grief, led on by desire and the objects of the senises,
अर्थसिद्धिमनर्थं च जीवितं मरणं तथा सुखदुःखफलं चैव न द्वेष्मि न च कामये
M. N. Dutt: I neither dislike nor like success or defeat, regarding the attainment of all objects of desire, life, or death, the fruits of action that are represented by pleasure or pain.
हतं हन्ति हतो ह्येव यो नरो हन्ति कंचन उभौ तौ न विजानीतो यश्च हन्ति हतश्च यः
M. N. Dutt: When one kills another, he kills only that other's body. That man who thinks that it is he who kills another, is himself killed. Indeed, both of then do not know the truth, viz., he who kills and he who is killed.
हत्वा जित्वा च मघवन्यः कश्चित्पुरुषायते अकर्ता ह्येव भवति कर्ता त्वेव करोति तत्
M. N. Dutt: O Maghavat, that person, who having killed or defeated any one brags of his manliness, should know that he is not the actor, but that the act has been performed by another who is the real agent.
को हि लोकस्य कुरुते विनाशप्रभवावुभौ कृतं हि तत्कृतेनैव कर्ता तस्यापि चापरः
M. N. Dutt: When it is asked that who is it that brings about the creation and destruction of things in the world, it is generally thought that some person has caused it. Know, however, that the person who is so known has a creator.
पृथिवी वायुराकाशमापो ज्योतिश्च पञ्चमम् एतद्योनीनि भूतानि तत्र का परिदेवना
M. N. Dutt: Earth, light or heat, ether, water, and wind form the fifth-from these do all creatures originate. (When I know this) what sorrow can I feel?
महाविद्योऽल्पविद्यश्च बलवान्दुर्बलश्च यः दर्शनीयो विरूपश्च सुभगो दुर्भगश्च यः
AI Translation: One who is highly learned and one who is not learned, one who is strong and one who is weak, One who is handsome and one who is ugly, one who is fortunate and one who is unfortunate,
सर्वं कालः समादत्ते गम्भीरः स्वेन तेजसा तस्मिन्कालवशं प्राप्ते का व्यथा मे विजानतः
AI Translation: Time takes everything with its deep power. When I am under the power of time, what distress can I have, knowing this?
दग्धमेवानुदहति हतमेवानुहन्ति च नश्यते नष्टमेवाग्रे लब्धव्यं लभते नरः
M. N. Dutt: One that burns anything burns a thing that has been already burnt. One who kills, only kills, a victim already killed. One who is destroyed, has been before destroyed. A thing that is acquired by a person is what is already arrived and intended for his acquirement.
नास्य द्वीपः कुतः पारं नावारः संप्रदृश्यते नान्तमस्य प्रपश्यामि विधेर्दिव्यस्य चिन्तयन्
M. N. Dutt: This Time is like an ocean. There is no island in it. Its other shore is beyond reach. Its boundary cannot be seen. Thinking even deeply, I do not see the end of this continuous steam that is the great ordainer of all things and that is, forsooth celestial.
यदि मे पश्यतः कालो भूतानि न विनाशयेत् स्यान्मे हर्षश्च दर्पश्च क्रोधश्चैव शचीपते
M. N. Dutt: If I did not know that it is Time which destroys all creatures, then, perhaps, I would have experienced the emotions of joy, pride and anger, O husband of Shachi.
तुषभक्षं तु मां ज्ञात्वा प्रविविक्तजने गृहे बिभ्रतं गार्दभं रूपमादिश्य परिगर्हसे
M. N. Dutt: Have you come here to condemn me, having come to know that I am now assuming the form of an ass that lives upon chaff and that is now passing his days in a lonely spot remote from the dwellings of men.
इच्छन्नहं विकुर्यां हि रूपाणि बहुधात्मनः विभीषणानि यानीक्ष्य पलायेथास्त्वमेव मे
M. N. Dutt: If I wish, even now I can assume various dreadful forms, seeing any one of which you would immediately fly away from my presence.
कालः सर्वं समादत्ते कालः सर्वं प्रयच्छति कालेन विधृतं सर्वं मा कृथाः शक्र पौरुषम्
M. N. Dutt: It is Time that gives every thing and again takes away everything. It is Time that ordains all things. Do not, O Shakra, brag of your manliness.
पुरा सर्वं प्रव्यथते मयि क्रुद्धे पुरंदर अवैमि त्वस्य लोकस्य धर्मं शक्र सनातनम्
M. N. Dutt: Formerly, O Purandara, whenever, I used to be angry everything used to become agitated. I know, however, O Shakra, that eternal attributes of all things in the world.
Supplementary Passages:
12.217.26 After 26ab, Kumbh. ed. ins.: *641 विद्रवन्ति त्वया सार्धं सर्व एव दिवौकसः
त्वमप्येवमपेक्षस्व मात्मना विस्मयं गमः प्रभवश्च प्रभावश्च नात्मसंस्थः कदाचन
M. N. Dutt: Do you also know the truth. Do not allow yourself to be filled with wonder. Prosperity and its origin are not under one's control.
कौमारमेव ते चित्तं तथैवाद्य यथा पुरा समवेक्षस्व मघवन्बुद्धिं विन्दस्व नैष्ठिकीम्
M. N. Dutt: Your mind is like that of a child. It is the same as it was before. Open your eyes, O Maghavat and acquire an understanding which is sure and true.
देवा मनुष्याः पितरो गन्धर्वोरगराक्षसाः आसन्सर्वे मम वशे तत्सर्वं वेत्थ वासव
M. N. Dutt: In days gone by, that gods, men, the Pitris, the Gandharvas, the Nagas, and the Rakshasas, were all under my control. You know this, O Vasava.
नमस्तस्यै दिशेऽप्यस्तु यस्यां वैरोचनो बलिः इति मामभ्यपद्यन्त बुद्धिमात्सर्यमोहिताः
AI Translation: Salutations to that direction where Bali, the son of Virochana, Thus, those who were deluded by jealousy and greed attacked me.
नाहं तदनुशोचामि नात्मभ्रंशं शचीपते एवं मे निश्चिता बुद्धिः शास्तुस्तिष्ठाम्यहं वशे
AI Translation: I do not grieve for that, O lord of Shachi, nor for my own downfall. Thus is my resolve fixed. I shall remain under the control of the Teacher.
दृश्यते हि कुले जातो दर्शनीयः प्रतापवान् दुःखं जीवन्सहामात्यो भवितव्यं हि तत्तथा
M. N. Dutt: It is seen that some one of nobly born highly beautiful and powerful, lives in misery, with all his counsellors and friends. This happens because it has been so ordained.
दौष्कुलेयस्तथा मूढो दुर्जातः शक्र दृश्यते सुखं जीवन्सहामात्यो भवितव्यं हि तत्तथा
M. N. Dutt: Likewise, some one born in an ignoble race, devoid of knowledge, and with even a stain on his birth, is seen, O Shakra, to live happily with all his counsellors and friends. This also happens because it has been so oridained.
कल्याणी रूपसंपन्ना दुर्भगा शक्र दृश्यते अलक्षणा विरूपा च सुभगा शक्र दृश्यते
M. N. Dutt: An auspicious and beautiful woman, O Shakra, is seen to pass her life miserably. Likewise, ugly woman with every inauspicious mark is seen to live in great happiness.
नैतदस्मत्कृतं शक्र नैतच्छक्र त्वया कृतम् यत्त्वमेवंगतो वज्रिन्यद्वाप्येवंगता वयम्
M. N. Dutt: That we have now become so is not owing to any act of ours, O Shakra. That you are now so is not owing, O holder of the thunderbolt, to any act of yours?
न कर्म तव नान्येषां कुतो मम शतक्रतो ऋद्धिर्वाप्यथ वा नर्द्धिः पर्यायकृतमेव तत्
M. N. Dutt: You have not done anything, O you of a hundred sacrifices, for which you are now an enjoying this prosperity. Nor have I done anything for which I have now been shorn of prosperity. Prosperity and adversity come in succession.
पश्यामि त्वा विराजन्तं देवराजमवस्थितम् श्रीमन्तं द्युतिमन्तं च गर्जन्तं च ममोपरि
M. N. Dutt: I now see you blazing with splendour, endued with prosperity, possessed of beauty, placed at the head of all the gods, and thus roaring at me.
एतच्चैवं न चेत्कालो मामाक्रम्य स्थितो भवेत् पातयेयमहं त्वाद्य सवज्रमपि मुष्टिना
M. N. Dutt: This would never be but for the Time standing near after having attacked me. Indeed, if Time had not attacked me I would have today slain you with only a blow of my fists albeit you are armed with the thunder.
न तु विक्रमकालोऽयं क्षमाकालोऽयमागतः कालः स्थापयते सर्वं कालः पचति वै तथा
M. N. Dutt: This, however, is not the time for displaying my prowess. On the other hand, the time that has come when I should conduct myself with peace and tranquillity. It is Time which establishes all things. Time acts upon all things and brings about their final consummation.
मां चेदभ्यागतः कालो दानवेश्वरमूर्जितम् गर्जन्तं प्रतपन्तं च कमन्यं नागमिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: I was the adored king of the Danavas. Consuming all with my energy, I used to roar in strength and pride. When Time has attacked even myself, who is there whom he will not attack.
द्वादशानां हि भवतामादित्यानां महात्मनाम् तेजांस्येकेन सर्वेषां देवराज हृतानि मे
M. N. Dutt: Formerly, O king of the gods, singly I bore the energy of all the twelve illustrious Adityas with yourself amongst them.
अहमेवोद्वहाम्यापो विसृजामि च वासव तपामि चैव त्रैलोक्यं विद्योताम्यहमेव च
M. N. Dutt: It was I that used to bear up water and then to shower it as rain. O Vasava! It was I who used to give both light and heat to the three worlds.
संरक्षामि विलुम्पामि ददाम्यहमथाददे संयच्छामि नियच्छामि लोकेषु प्रभुरीश्वरः
M. N. Dutt: It was I who used to protect and it was I that used to destroy. It was I who gave and it was I who took. It was I who used to bind and it was I who used to unbind. In all the worlds I was the one powerful master.
तदद्य विनिवृत्तं मे प्रभुत्वममराधिप कालसैन्यावगाढस्य सर्वं न प्रतिभाति मे
M. N. Dutt: That sovereign control which I had, O king of the gods, is now gone. I am now attacked by the foreces of Time. Those things, therefore, are no longer seen to shine in me.
नाहं कर्ता न चैव त्वं नान्यः कर्ता शचीपते पर्यायेण हि भुज्यन्ते लोकाः शक्र यदृच्छया
M. N. Dutt: I am not the actor. You are not the actor. None else, O husband of Sachi, is the doer. It is Time, O Shakra, that protects or destroys all things.
मासार्धमासवेश्मानमहोरात्राभिसंवृतम् ऋतुद्वारं वर्षमुखमाहुर्वेदविदो जनाः
M. N. Dutt: Persons well-read in the Vedas say that me is Brahma. The fortnights and months are his body. That body is clothed with days and nights as its dresses. The seasons are his senses. The year is his mouth.
आहुः सर्वमिदं चिन्त्यं जनाः केचिन्मनीषया अस्याः पञ्चैव चिन्तायाः पर्येष्यामि च पञ्चधा
M. N. Dutt: Some people, on account of their superior intelligence, say that the entire universe should be conceived as Brahma. The Vedas, however, teach, that the five sacs that cover the Soul should be known as Brahma.
Supplementary Passages:
12.217.47 After 47ab, Kumbh. ed. Cv ins.: *642 अनित्यं पञ्चवर्षाणि षष्ठो दृश्यति देहिनाम् After 47, T2 reads 53ef, while Kumbh. ed. Cv ins. after 47: *643 ततस्तानि न पश्यामि काले तमपि वृत्रहन्
गम्भीरं गहनं ब्रह्म महत्तोयार्णवं यथा अनादिनिधनं चाहुरक्षरं परमेव च
M. N. Dutt: Brahma is deep and inaccessible like a deep ocean. It is said that it has neither beginning nor end, and that it is both indestructible and destructible.
सत्त्वेषु लिङ्गमावेश्य नलिङ्गमपि तत्स्वयम् मन्यन्ते ध्रुवमेवैनं ये नरास्तत्त्वदर्शिनः
M. N. Dutt: Though it is by nature without attributes yet it enters all existent objects and as such is clothed with attributes. Those persons who know truth consider Brahma as eternal.
भूतानां तु विपर्यासं मन्यते गतवानिति न ह्येतावद्भवेद्गम्यं न यस्मात्प्रकृतेः परः
M. N. Dutt: Through the force of Ignorance, Brahma makes the attribute of materiality to invest the Chit or Soul which is immaterial spirit. Materiality, however, is not the true attribute of the Soul.
गतिं हि सर्वभूतानामगत्वा क्व गमिष्यसि यो धावता न हातव्यस्तिष्ठन्नपि न हीयते तमिन्द्रियाणि सर्वाणि नानुपश्यन्ति पञ्चधा
M. N. Dutt: Brahma in the form of Time is the refuge of all creatures. Where can you go transcending that Time? Time or Brahma, indeed, cannot be shunned by running nor by standing still.
आहुश्चैनं केचिदग्निं केचिदाहुः प्रजापतिम् ऋतुमासार्धमासांश्च दिवसांस्तु क्षणांस्तथा
AI Translation: Some call him Agni, some call him Prajapati, The seasons, months, half-months, days, and moments.
पूर्वाह्णमपराह्णं च मध्याह्नमपि चापरे मुहूर्तमपि चैवाहुरेकं सन्तमनेकधा तं कालमवजानीहि यस्य सर्वमिदं वशे
AI Translation: Some say it is the morning, others the afternoon, others the midday, and others say it is just one moment. But the wise know it to be many. Know that time is under the control of him who is the master of all this.
बहूनीन्द्रसहस्राणि समतीतानि वासव बलवीर्योपपन्नानि यथैव त्वं शचीपते
M. N. Dutt: Many thousands of Indras have gone away, O Vasava, cach of whom was endued with great strength and prowess. Similarly you also, O lord of Shachi, shall have to pass away.
त्वामप्यतिबलं शक्रं देवराजं बलोत्कटम् प्राप्ते काले महावीर्यः कालः संशमयिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: The omnipotent Time will destroy you too, O Shakra, who are endued with swelling might and that are the chief of the deities, when your hour comes.
य इदं सर्वमादत्ते तस्माच्छक्र स्थिरो भव मया त्वया च पूर्वैश्च न स शक्योऽतिवर्तितुम्
M. N. Dutt: Time carries away all things. Therefore, O Indra, do not brag! Time cannot be quieted by either you or me or by those gone before us.
यामेतां प्राप्य जानीषे राजश्रियमनुत्तमाम् स्थिता मयीति तन्मिथ्या नैषा ह्येकत्र तिष्ठति
M. N. Dutt: This kingly prosperity which you have acquired and which you consider incomparable, had formerly been possessed by me. It is unsubstantial and unreal. She does not live long in one place.
स्थिता हीन्द्रसहस्रेषु त्वद्विशिष्टतमेष्वियम् मां च लोला परित्यज्य त्वामगाद्विबुधाधिप
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, she had lived in thousands of Indras before you, all of whom, again, were, very much superior to you! Unstable as she is, leaving me she has now approached you, O king of the gods.
मैवं शक्र पुनः कार्षीः शान्तो भवितुमर्हसि त्वामप्येवंगतं त्यक्त्वा क्षिप्रमन्यं गमिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: Do not, O Shakra, brag again! You should become tranquil! Knowing you to be full of vanity, she will very soon leave you.'
Supplementary Passages:
12.217.59 After 59, Kumbh. ed. ins.: *644 कालेन चोदिता शक्र मा ते गर्वः शतक्रतो क्षमस्व कालयोगं तमागतं विद्धि देवप निर्लज्जश्चैव कस्मात्त्वं देवराज विकत्थसे सर्वासुराणामधिपः सर्वदेवभयंकरः जितवान्ब्रह्मणो लोकं को विद्यादागतं गतिम्