Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच नाभागधेयः प्राप्नोति धनं सुबलवानपि भागधेयान्वितस्त्वर्थान्कृशो बालश्च विन्दति
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said It is seen that if a person happens to be unfortunate, he fails to acquire riches how greatsoever his strength. On the other hand, if he happens to be fortunate, he amasses riches, even if he be a weak or a foolish wight.
Supplementary Passages:
13.149.1 After 1, T1 ins.: *687 तत्कथं लभते केन तन्मे त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि
नालाभकाले लभते प्रयत्नेऽपि कृते सति लाभकालेऽप्रयत्नेन लभते विपुलं धनम् कृतयत्नाफलाश्चैव दृश्यन्ते शतशो नराः
M. N. Dutt: When, again, the time does not come for acquisition, one cannot make an acquisition, even if he tries his best. When, however, the time comes for acquisition, one acquires great wealth without any exertion.
Supplementary Passages:
13.149.2 For 2ef, T1 subst.: *688 सदा प्रयत्नं कृत्वैव दृश्यते ह्यधनो नरः After 2, V1 B1-4 Dn ins.: *689 अयत्नेनैधमानाश्च दृश्यन्ते बहवो जनाः
यदि यत्नो भवेन्मर्त्यः स सर्वं फलमाप्नुयात् नालभ्यं चोपलभ्येत नृणां भरतसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: If riches were the result of exertion, then one could, with exertion, acquire it forthwith. Among men, that which is not to be attained, O chief of the Bharatas, is never attained. Men are seen to fail in gaining results even if they try their best.
यदा प्रयत्नं कृतवान्दृश्यते ह्यफलो नरः मार्गन्नयशतैरर्थानमार्गंश्चापरः सुखी
AI Translation: When one makes an effort, one is seen to be fruitless. One who follows the path of a hundred ways is happy, and another who does not follow the path.
अकार्यमसकृत्कृत्वा दृश्यन्ते ह्यधना नराः धनयुक्तास्त्वधर्मस्था दृश्यन्ते चापरे जनाः
AI Translation: Those who have done many wrong deeds are seen to be poor. And others who are rich are seen to be in the grip of vice.
अधीत्य नीतिं यस्माच्च नीतियुक्तो न दृश्यते अनभिज्ञश्च साचिव्यं गमितः केन हेतुना विद्यायुक्तो ह्यविद्यश्च धनवान्दुर्गतस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: One, again, may be seen appointed as the prime minister of a king without having at all studied the moral and political sciences. A learned man may be seen who has wealth. An ignorant man may be seen having wealth. Both kinds of men, again, may be seen who has wealth.
यदि विद्यामुपाश्रित्य नरः सुखमवाप्नुयात् न विद्वान्विद्यया हीनं वृत्त्यर्थमुपसंश्रयेत्
M. N. Dutt: If by the acquisition of learning one could acquire the happiness of riches then no man of learning could be found living, for the very means of his livelihood, under the protection of one shorn of learning.
यथा पिपासां जयति पुरुषः प्राप्य वै जलम् दृष्टार्थो विद्ययाप्येवमविद्यां प्रजहेन्नरः
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, if one could obtain, by the acquisition of learning, all desirable objects like a thirsty individual having his thirst satisfied upon getting water, then none in this world would have shown idleness in acquiring learning.
नाप्राप्तकालो म्रियते विद्धः शरशतैरपि तृणाग्रेणापि संस्पृष्टः प्राप्तकालो न जीवति
M. N. Dutt: If one's time has not come, one does not die even if cut with hundreds of shafts. On the other hand, one dies if his hour has come, even if it be a blade of grass with which he is struck.
भीष्म उवाच ईहमानः समारम्भान्यदि नासादयेद्धनम् उग्रं तपः समारोहेन्न ह्यनुप्तं प्ररोहति
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said If one, by performing arduous works, fails to acquire wealth, he should then practise severe austeritics. Unless seeds be sown, no crops appear.
दानेन भोगी भवति मेधावी वृद्धसेवया अहिंसया च दीर्घायुरिति प्राहुर्मनीषिणः
M. N. Dutt: It is by making gifts that one gets numerous objects of enjoyment; one becomes endued with intelligence and wisdom by waiting upon the elders. The wise have said that one becomes longlived by practising the duty of abstention from cruelty to all creatures.
तस्माद्दद्यान्न याचेत पूजयेद्धार्मिकानपि स्वाभाषी प्रियकृच्छुद्धः सर्वसत्त्वाविहिंसकः
M. N. Dutt: Hence, one should make gifts and not solicit and one should adore individuals. Indeed one should be sweet-speeched towards all, and always do what is agreeable to others. One should seek to attain to purity; one should always abstain from doing injury 10 any crcature,
यदा प्रमाणप्रभवः स्वभावश्च सुखासुखे मशकीटपिपीलानां स्थिरो भव युधिष्ठिर
M. N. Dutt: It is but proper, O Yudhishthira, that you should be possessed by peaceful sentiments, since their deeds and Nature are the ruling causes of happiness and misery to even insects and ants.