Critical Edition
पराशर उवाच पिता सखायो गुरवः स्त्रियश्च; न निर्गुणा नाम भवन्ति लोके अनन्यभक्ताः प्रियवादिनश्च; हिताश्च वश्याश्च तथैव राजन्
M. N. Dutt: Parashara said The father, the friends, the preceptors, and the wishes of the preceptors of men who are shorn of devotion, are unable to give to those men the merits derivable from devotion. Only they who are firmly devoted to such elders, who speak what is agreeable to them, who speek their well-being, and who are submissive to them in conduct, can acquire the merit to devotion.
पिता परं दैवतं मानवानां; मातुर्विशिष्टं पितरं वदन्ति ज्ञानस्य लाभं परमं वदन्ति; जितेन्द्रियार्थाः परमाप्नुवन्ति
M. N. Dutt: That father is the highest of gods with his children. It is said that the father is superior to the mother. The acquirement of Knowledge is are considered as the hightest acquisition. They who have subjugating the objects of the senses, acquire what is highest.
रणाजिरे यत्र शराग्निसंस्तरे; नृपात्मजो घातमवाप्य दह्यते प्रयाति लोकानमरैः सुदुर्लभा;न्निषेवते स्वर्गफलं यथासुखम्
M. N. Dutt: That Kshatriya prince, who going to the battle-field, receives wounds amid fiery arrows shooting in all directions and burns therewith, certainly goes to regions which unattainable by the very gods and, arrived there enjoys the happiness of heaven in perfect contentiment.
श्रान्तं भीतं भ्रष्टशस्त्रं रुदन्तं; पराङ्मुखं परिबर्हैश्च हीनम् अनुद्यतं रोगिणं याचमानं; न वै हिंस्याद्बालवृद्धौ च राजन्
M. N. Dutt: A Kshatriya should not, O king, strike one who is fatigued, or one who is terrified, or one who has been disarmed, or one who is weeping, or one who is reluctant to fight, or one who is unequipped with mail and cars and horse and infantry, or one who has ceased to exert in the fight, or one who is ill, or one who cries for quarter. Or one who is of tender years, or one who is old.
परिबर्हैः सुसंपन्नमुद्यतं तुल्यतां गतम् अतिक्रमेत नृपतिः संग्रामे क्षत्रियात्मजम्
M. N. Dutt: A Kshatriya should, in battle, fight one of his order, who is equipped with mail and cars and horse and infantry who is ready for battle, and who is a compeer.
तुल्यादिह वधः श्रेयान्विशिष्टाच्चेति निश्चयः निहीनात्कातराच्चैव नृपाणां गर्हितो वधः
M. N. Dutt: Death at the hands of one who is equal or of a superior is praiseworthy, but not that at the hands of one that is low, or of one who is a coward, or of one who is a wretch. This is well known.
पापात्पापसमाचारान्निहीनाच्च नराधिप पाप एव वधः प्रोक्तो नरकायेति निश्चयः
M. N. Dutt: Death at the hands of one who is sinful, or of one who is of low birth and wicked conduct, O king is infamous and leads to hell.
न कश्चित्त्राति वै राजन्दिष्टान्तवशमागतम् सावशेषायुषं चापि कश्चिदेवापकर्षति
M. N. Dutt: One whose lease of life has run out, cannot be saved by any body. Likewise, one whose lease of life has not run out can never be killed by any one.
स्निग्धैश्च क्रियमाणानि कर्माणीह निवर्तयेत् हिंसात्मकानि कर्माणि नायुरिच्छेत्परायुषा
M. N. Dutt: One should prevent his affectionate elders from doing to his such acts as done by menials, as also all such acts as can injure others. One should never wish to extend his own life by taking the lives of others.
गृहस्थानां तु सर्वेषां विनाशमभिकाङ्क्षताम् निधनं शोभनं तात पुलिनेषु क्रियावताम्
M. N. Dutt: When they sacrifice their lives, it is laudable for all householders observing the duties of men living in sacred places to give up their lives on the banks of sacred rivers.
आयुषि क्षयमापन्ने पञ्चत्वमुपगच्छति नाकारणात्तद्भवति कारणैरुपपादितम्
M. N. Dutt: When one lease of life is over, his body dissolved into the five elements. Sometimes this occurs suddenly and some times it is brought about by (natural) causes.
तथा शरीरं भवति देहाद्येनोपपादितम् अध्वानं गतकश्चायं प्राप्तश्चायं गृहाद्गृहम्
M. N. Dutt: He who having obtained a body, destroys it himself becomes invested with another body of a similar nature. Though set on the path of Liberation, he yet becomes a traveller and acquires another body like a person going from one room into another.
द्वितीयं कारणं तत्र नान्यत्किंचन विद्यते तद्देहं देहिनां युक्तं मोक्षभूतेषु वर्तते
M. N. Dutt: About such a man's attainment of a second body the only cause is his accidental death. There is no second cause. That new body which embodied creatures obtain, comes into existence and becomes attached to Rudras and Pishachas.
सिरास्नाय्वस्थिसंघातं बीभत्सामेध्यसंकुलम् भूतानामिन्द्रियाणां च गुणानां च समागमम्
AI Translation: A mass of veins, tendons, and bones, full of disgusting and impure substances, The coming together of the elements, senses, and qualities,
त्वगन्तं देहमित्याहुर्विद्वांसोऽध्यात्मचिन्तकाः गुणैरपि परिक्षीणं शरीरं मर्त्यतां गतम्
AI Translation: The wise who reflect on the Self say that the body is covered by the skin. The body, even when endowed with qualities, is subject to death.
शरीरिणा परित्यक्तं निश्चेष्टं गतचेतनम् भूतैः प्रकृतिमापन्नैस्ततो भूमौ निमज्जति
M. N. Dutt: Left off by the owner, the body becomes inanimate and motionless. Indeed, when the principal ingredients return to their respective natures, the body is mixed up with the dust.
भावितं कर्मयोगेन जायते तत्र तत्र ह इदं शरीरं वैदेह म्रियते यत्र तत्र ह तत्स्वभावोऽपरो दृष्टो विसर्गः कर्मणस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: Caused by its union with deeds, this body reappears under circumstances determined by its deeds. Indeed O king of the Videhas, under whatever circumstances this body is dissolved, its next birth, determined by the these circumstances, is seen to enjoy and endure the fruits of all its pristine deeds.
न जायते तु नृपते कंचित्कालमयं पुनः परिभ्रमति भूतात्मा द्यामिवाम्बुधरो महान्
AI Translation: O king, the soul is not born again for a while. The soul wanders like a great cloud in the sky.
स पुनर्जायते राजन्प्राप्येहायतनं नृप मनसः परमो ह्यात्मा इन्द्रियेभ्यः परं मनः
AI Translation: Again, O king, he is born, O king, having attained this body. The mind is supreme among the senses, and the mind is supreme among the senses.
द्विविधानां च भूतानां जङ्गमाः परमा नृप जङ्गमानामपि तथा द्विपदाः परमा मताः द्विपदानामपि तथा द्विजा वै परमाः स्मृताः
M. N. Dutt: Amongst mobile creatures the two legged are superior. Amongst two-legged creatures, those that are are twice-born are superior.
द्विजानामपि राजेन्द्र प्रज्ञावन्तः परा मताः प्राज्ञानामात्मसंबुद्धाः संबुद्धानाममानिनः
M. N. Dutt: Amongst those that are twice-born they who are endued with wisdom are superior. Amongst them who are endued with wisdom they that have succeeded in acquiring a knowledge of the soul are superior. Amongst those who are endued with a knowledge of the soul, those who are endued with humility are superior.
जातमन्वेति मरणं नृणामिति विनिश्चयः अन्तवन्ति हि कर्माणि सेवन्ते गुणतः प्रजाः
M. N. Dutt: Death follows birth in all men. This is settled. Creatures, influenced by the qualities of Goodness, Darkness and Ignorance, pursue acts which have an end.
आपन्ने तूत्तरां काष्ठां सूर्ये यो निधनं व्रजेत् नक्षत्रे च मुहूर्ते च पुण्ये राजन्स पुण्यकृत्
AI Translation: If one dies in the north when the sun is in the north, and in the auspicious constellation and auspicious moment, O king, one who has done good deeds,
अयोजयित्वा क्लेशेन जनं प्लाव्य च दुष्कृतम् मृत्युनाप्राकृतेनेह कर्म कृत्वात्मशक्तितः
AI Translation: Without tormenting the people, and having washed away the evil deeds, Having performed a deed here by one's own power with an extraordinary death,
विषमुद्बन्धनं दाहो दस्युहस्तात्तथा वधः दंष्ट्रिभ्यश्च पशुभ्यश्च प्राकृतो वध उच्यते
M. N. Dutt: The death that one meets with by taking poision, by hanging, by burning, at the hands of robbers and at the teeth of animals, is said to be an infamous one.
न चैभिः पुण्यकर्माणो युज्यन्ते नाभिसंधिजैः एवंविधैश्च बहुभिरपरैः प्राकृतैरपि
M. N. Dutt: Those man who are righteous never meet with such or similar deaths even if they be afflicted with mental and physical diseases of the most painful sort.
ऊर्ध्वं हित्वा प्रतिष्ठन्ते प्राणाः पुण्यकृतां नृप मध्यतो मध्यपुण्यानामधो दुष्कृतकर्मणाम्
AI Translation: The vital airs of those who have performed meritorious deeds rise up and then settle down, O king. Those of middling merit settle down in the middle, and those of evil deeds settle down below.
एकः शत्रुर्न द्वितीयोऽस्ति शत्रु;रज्ञानतुल्यः पुरुषस्य राजन् येनावृतः कुरुते संप्रयुक्तो; घोराणि कर्माणि सुदारुणानि
AI Translation: There is no second enemy like ignorance, O king. By whom one is covered, one performs terrible and very terrible deeds.
प्रबोधनार्थं श्रुतिधर्मयुक्तं; वृद्धानुपास्यं च भवेत यस्य प्रयत्नसाध्यो हि स राजपुत्र; प्रज्ञाशरेणोन्मथितः परैति
M. N. Dutt: That enemy for resisting which one should display his energy waiting upon the aged according to the duties laid down in the Shrutis,-~-that enemy which cannot be Overcome except by steady endeavours,-meets with destruction, O king, only when it is crushed by the arrows of wisdom. One
अधीत्य वेदांस्तपसा ब्रह्मचारी; यज्ञाञ्शक्त्या संनिसृज्येह पञ्च वनं गच्छेत्पुरुषो धर्मकामः; श्रेयश्चित्वा स्थापयित्वा स्ववंशम्
M. N. Dutt: The man desirous of acquiring merit should at first study the Vedas and practise penances, becoming a Brahimacharin. He should next, becoming a householder, perform the usual Sacrifices. Establishing his race, he should then enter the forest, controlling his senses, and desirous of acquiring Liberation.
उपभोगैरपि त्यक्तं नात्मानमवसादयेत् चण्डालत्वेऽपि मानुष्यं सर्वथा तात दुर्लभम्
M. N. Dutt: One should never emaciate himself by abstaining from every enjoyment. Of all births, that of a human being is preferable even if one has to become a Chandala.
इयं हि योनिः प्रथमा यां प्राप्य जगतीपते आत्मा वै शक्यते त्रातुं कर्मभिः शुभलक्षणैः
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, O king, that order of birth (viz., humanity) is the foremost, since by becoming a human being one succeeds in rescuing his self by meritorious acts.
कथं न विप्रणश्येम योनितोऽस्या इति प्रभो कुर्वन्ति धर्मं मनुजाः श्रुतिप्रामाण्यदर्शनात्
M. N. Dutt: Men always perform righteous acts, O lord, guided by the authority of the Shrutis, so that they may not deviate from the status of humanity.
यो दुर्लभतरं प्राप्य मानुष्यमिह वै नरः धर्मावमन्ता कामात्मा भवेत्स खलु वञ्च्यते
M. N. Dutt: That man who, having been born as a man that is so difficult of attainment, indulges in malice, disregards righteousness and gives way :o desire, is certainly betrayed by his desires.
यस्तु प्रीतिपुरोगेण चक्षुषा तात पश्यति दीपोपमानि भूतानि यावदर्चिर्न नश्यति
AI Translation: But he who sees with eyes preceded by joy, The beings are like a lamp, as long as the flame does not perish.
सान्त्वेनानुप्रदानेन प्रियवादेन चाप्युत समदुःखसुखो भूत्वा स परत्र महीयते
AI Translation: By means of conciliation, by means of giving, and by means of speaking pleasantly, and by becoming one who shares the sorrows and joys of others, one is honored in the next world.
दानं त्यागः शोभना मूर्तिरद्भ्यो; भूयः प्लाव्यं तपसा वै शरीरम् सरस्वतीनैमिषपुष्करेषु; ये चाप्यन्ये पुण्यदेशाः पृथिव्याम्
M. N. Dutt: Repairing to the Sarasvati, the Naimisha forest, the Pushkara lake, and the other sacred spots on Earth, one should make gifts, practise renunciation, render his aspect amiable, O king, and purify his body with baths and penances.
गृहेषु येषामसवः पतन्ति; तेषामथो निर्हरणं प्रशस्तम् यानेन वै प्रापणं च श्मशाने; शौचेन नूनं विधिना चैव दाहः
M. N. Dutt: Those men who meet with death within their houses should have their bodies cremated. Their bodies bodies should should be be taken to the crematorium on cars and there they should be burnt according to the rites of purification that have been laid down in the scriptures,
इष्टिः पुष्टिर्यजनं याजनं च; दानं पुण्यानां कर्मणां च प्रयोगः शक्त्या पित्र्यं यच्च किंचित्प्रशस्तं; सर्वाण्यात्मार्थे मानवो यः करोति
M. N. Dutt: Religious rites, beneficial ceremonies, the performance of sacrifices, officiation at the sacrifices of others, gifts, the doing of other meritorious deeds, the performance according to the best of his power, of all that has been ordained in in the case of his deceased ancestors,-all these one does for benefiting his own self.
धर्मशास्त्राणि वेदाश्च षडङ्गानि नराधिप श्रेयसोऽर्थे विधीयन्ते नरस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः
M. N. Dutt: O king! All the scriptures of righteousness and the Vedas with six angas proceed for the welfare of sinless one.
भीष्म उवाच एतद्वै सर्वमाख्यातं मुनिना सुमहात्मना विदेहराजाय पुरा श्रेयसोऽर्थे नराधिप
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma continued All this was said by that great sage to the king of the Videhas, O king, in days of yore for his well-being.