Critical Edition
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् प्रजानामनुकम्पार्थं गीतं राज्ञा विचख्नुना
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Regarding it is cited an old discourse of what was recited by king Vicharakhu through pity for all creatures.
छिन्नस्थूणं वृषं दृष्ट्वा विरावं च गवां भृशम् गोग्रहे यज्ञवाटस्य प्रेक्षमाणः स पार्थिवः
AI Translation: Seeing the bull with broken horns and the cows crying out loudly, the king looked at the sacrificial enclosure where the cows had been seized.
स्वस्ति गोभ्योऽस्तु लोकेषु ततो निर्वचनं कृतम् हिंसायां हि प्रवृत्तायामाशीरेषानुकल्पिता
AI Translation: May there be welfare for the cows in the worlds. Then the explanation was made. When violence was undertaken, this blessing was prescribed.
अव्यवस्थितमर्यादैर्विमूढैर्नास्तिकैर्नरैः संशयात्मभिरव्यक्तैर्हिंसा समनुकीर्तिता
M. N. Dutt: And the king further said,-Only those who transgress fixed limits, who are shorn of intelligence, who are atheists and sceptics, and who desire the acquisition of celebrity by sacrifices and religious rites, speak highly of the destruction of animals in sacrifices.
सर्वकर्मस्वहिंसा हि धर्मात्मा मनुरब्रवीत् कामरागाद्विहिंसन्ति बहिर्वेद्यां पशून्नराः
M. N. Dutt: The pious Manu has spoken highly of harmlessness in all acts. Indeed, men kill animals in sacrifices, actuated only by the desire of fruit. an a
तस्मात्प्रमाणतः कार्यो धर्मः सूक्ष्मो विजानता अहिंसैव हि सर्वेभ्यो धर्मेभ्यो ज्यायसी मता
M. N. Dutt: Hence, guided by authority one conversant (with the scriptures) should practise the true course of duty which is highly subtile. Harmlessness to all creatures is the highest of all duties.
उपोष्य संशितो भूत्वा हित्वा वेदकृताः श्रुतीः आचार इत्यनाचाराः कृपणाः फलहेतवः
M. N. Dutt: Living near inhabited place and practising rigid vows, and disregarding the fruits of Vedic acts, one should give up the life of house-holder, adopting that of Renunciation. Only they who are mean are actuated by the desire of fruit.
यदि यज्ञांश्च वृक्षांश्च यूपांश्चोद्दिश्य मानवाः वृथा मांसानि खादन्ति नैष धर्मः प्रशस्यते
M. N. Dutt: Mentioning respectfully sacrifices and trees and sacrificial stakes, men do not eat tainted meat. This practice, however, is now worthy of praise.
मांसं मधु सुरा मत्स्या आसवं कृसरौदनम् धूर्तैः प्रवर्तितं ह्येतन्नैतद्वेदेषु कल्पितम्
M. N. Dutt: Knavas have introduced wine, fish, honey, meat, alchohol, and preparations of rice and sesame seeds. The use of these is not sanctioned in the Vedas.
कामान्मोहाच्च लोभाच्च लौल्यमेतत्प्रवर्तितम् विष्णुमेवाभिजानन्ति सर्वयज्ञेषु ब्राह्मणाः पायसैः सुमनोभिश्च तस्यापि यजनं स्मृतम्
M. N. Dutt: The hankering after these originates from pride, error of judgement, and cupidity. The Brahmanas realise the presence of Vishnu in every sacrifice.
यज्ञियाश्चैव ये वृक्षा वेदेषु परिकल्पिताः यच्चापि किंचित्कर्तव्यमन्यच्चोक्षैः सुसंस्कृतम् महासत्त्वैः शुद्धभावैः सर्वं देवार्हमेव तत्
M. N. Dutt: His adoration, it has been laid down, should be made with sweet Payasa. (The leaves and flower of such trees as have been mentioned in the Vedas, whatever act is considered as worthy and whatever else is held as pure by persons of pure hearts and purified natures and those eminent for knowledge and holiness, are well worthy of being offered to the Supreme God and not unworthy of His acceptance.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच शरीरमापदश्चापि विवदन्त्यविहिंसतः कथं यात्रा शरीरस्य निरारम्भस्य सेत्स्यति
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said The body and all sorts of dangers and calamities continually fight with each other, How, therefore, will a person who is absolutely free from the desire of injuring and who on this account will not be able to act succeed in maintaining his body.
भीष्म उवाच यथा शरीरं न ग्लायेन्नेयान्मृत्युवशं यथा तथा कर्मसु वर्तेत समर्थो धर्ममाचरेत्
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said One should, when able, acquire merit and act in such a way that his body may not languish and suffer pain, and that death may not come.