Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच तं विवक्षन्तमालक्ष्य कुरुराजो महामुनिम् कथासंजननार्थाय चोदयामास पाण्डवः
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said: (Then) the son of Pandu, the king of the Kurus, seeing that the great sage was desirous of speaking, asked him, with the intention of suggesting topics for narration.
भवान्दैवतदैत्यानामृषीणां च महात्मनाम् राजर्षीणां च सर्वेषां चरितज्ञः सनातनः
M. N. Dutt: “You are ancient in age and are therefore conversant with the events relating to all the gods, the demons, the high-souled sages and the royal saints.
सेव्यश्चोपासितव्यश्च मतो नः काङ्क्षितश्चिरम् अयं च देवकीपुत्रः प्राप्तोऽस्मानवलोककः
M. N. Dutt: We consider you deserve all honour and adoration; and we have, for a long time, been desirous of seeing you. This son of Devaki too has come here to pay us a visit.
भवत्येव हि मे बुद्धिर्दृष्ट्वात्मानं सुखाच्च्युतम् धार्तराष्ट्रांश्च दुर्वृत्तानृध्यतः प्रेक्ष्य सर्वशः
M. N. Dutt: When I consider that I have been deprived of happiness for no fault of mine and when I see the wicked sons of Dhritarashtra prospering in every respect it strikes me that man is the agent of his meritorious or wicked acts and that he reaps the fruits of his own deeds. How can then God be the agent?
कर्मणः पुरुषः कर्ता शुभस्याप्यशुभस्य च स्वफलं तदुपाश्नाति कथं कर्ता स्विदीश्वरः
AI Translation: The person is the doer of action, good or bad. He enjoys the fruit of that. How can the Lord be the doer?
अथ वा सुखदुःखेषु नृणां ब्रह्मविदां वर इह वा कृतमन्वेति परदेहेऽथ वा पुनः
M. N. Dutt: And O the best of those conversant with the Supreme Being, why does man become subject to pleasure or pain? Is it in this world or in another existence that he reaps the fruits of his acts?
देही च देहं संत्यज्य मृग्यमाणः शुभाशुभैः कथं संयुज्यते प्रेत्य इह वा द्विजसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: O best of Brahmanas, how is it that the consequences of the good or evil acts of an embodied being follow him in this world or after his death in the next?
ऐहलौकिकमेवैतदुताहो पारलौकिकम् क्व च कर्माणि तिष्ठन्ति जन्तोः प्रेतस्य भार्गव
M. N. Dutt: Do we reap the fruits of our acts in this life or in another existence? And O descendant of Bhrigu, where do the results of the acts of an animated creature rest after his death?”
Supplementary Passages:
3.181.8 After 8, G1 ins.: *897 एतत्सर्वं यथावृत्तं मुने वक्तुमिहार्हसि
मार्कण्डेय उवाच त्वद्युक्तोऽयमनुप्रश्नो यथावद्वदतां वर विदितं वेदितव्यं ते स्थित्यर्थमनुपृच्छसि
M. N. Dutt: Markandeya said : "O the best of speakers, this question is worthy of you and is just what you should ask. You are well informed of whatever is fit to be known But it is for the sake of form that you are asking the question.
अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि तदिहैकमनाः शृणु यथेहामुत्र च नरः सुखदुःखमुपाश्नुते
M. N. Dutt: I will now narrate to you how men experience pleasure and pain in this world and in the next. Listen to me with an undivided attention.
निर्मलानि शरीराणि विशुद्धानि शरीरिणाम् ससर्ज धर्मतन्त्राणि पूर्वोत्पन्नः प्रजापतिः
M. N. Dutt: Prajapati (the lord of all created beings) who first sprang into existence, created for the corporeal beings, bodies, stainless, pure and given to virtue.
अमोघबलसंकल्पाः सुव्रताः सत्यवादिनः ब्रह्मभूता नराः पुण्याः पुराणाः कुरुनन्दन
M. N. Dutt: O the most exalted of the Kurus, the primary men had all their desires gratified, were given to virtuous deeds and were truthful, godly and pure.
सर्वे देवैः समायान्ति स्वच्छन्देन नभस्तलम् ततश्च पुनरायान्ति सर्वे स्वच्छन्दचारिणः
M. N. Dutt: They were all as good as the gods themselves, could soar to the heavens, come down again and range at pleasure wherever they liked.
स्वच्छन्दमरणाश्चासन्नराः स्वच्छन्दजीविनः अल्पबाधा निरातङ्का सिद्धार्था निरुपद्रवाः
M. N. Dutt: They had control over their life and death, had few difficulties and no fear had all their desires gratified, were free from troubles.
द्रष्टारो देवसंघानामृषीणां च महात्मनाम् प्रत्यक्षाः सर्वधर्माणां दान्ता विगतमत्सराः
M. N. Dutt: Could visit the high-souled gods and the saints; were well-versed in all the religious ordinances; had self-control and were devoid of envy.
आसन्वर्षसहस्राणि तथा पुत्रसहस्रिणः ततः कालान्तरेऽन्यस्मिन्पृथिवीतलचारिणः
M. N. Dutt: They lived for a thousand years and had as many sons. But in process of time their powers, were limited to walking solely on the earth's surface.
कामक्रोधाभिभूतास्ते मायाव्याजोपजीविनः लोभमोहाभिभूताश्च त्यक्ता देवैस्ततो नराः
M. N. Dutt: And they became subject to lust and anger, practised falsehood and duplicity for subsistence and were overpowered by greed and ignorance. And when these (wicked) men died,
अशुभैः कर्मभिः पापास्तिर्यङ्नरकगामिनः संसारेषु विचित्रेषु पच्यमानाः पुनः पुनः
M. N. Dutt: They were born among lower animals or driven to hell and again and again had to suffer the pain of rebirth in this wonderful world on account of their vicious deeds.
मोघेष्टा मोघसंकल्पा मोघज्ञाना विचेतसः सर्वातिशङ्किनश्चैव संवृत्ताः क्लेशभागिनः अशुभैः कर्मभिश्चापि प्रायशः परिचिह्निताः
M. N. Dutt: Then their desires, their aims, their knowledge and their rituals bore up fruit; They were afraid of everything their reason was clouded and they were oppressed with sorrow.
Supplementary Passages:
3.181.19 After 19ab, T1 G1 M1 read 20ef; while G2.4 ins.: *898 काङ्क्षिणः सर्वकामानां नास्तिका भिन्नसेतवः
दौष्कुल्या व्याधिबहुला दुरात्मानोऽप्रतापिनः भवन्त्यल्पायुषः पापा रौद्रकर्मफलोदयाः नाथन्तः सर्वकामानां नास्तिका भिन्नसेतवः
M. N. Dutt: Their life became short and wicked and they paid the penalty of their terrible deeds; were covetous of everything, became atheists and indifferent in mind.
जन्तोः प्रेतस्य कौन्तेय गतिः स्वैरिह कर्मभिः प्राज्ञस्य हीनबुद्धेश्च कर्मकोशः क्व तिष्ठति
M. N. Dutt: O son of Kunti, the fate of a creature after death depends upon his acts in this world. As regards your question as to where the treasure of the acts of the wise and the ignorant remains,
क्वस्थस्तत्समुपाश्नाति सुकृतं यदि वेतरत् इति ते दर्शनं यच्च तत्राप्यनुनयं शृणु
M. N. Dutt: And where they reap the fruits of their own meritorious or vicious deeds, hear the decisions on the subject.
Supplementary Passages:
3.181.22 After 22ab, B Dc ins.: *899 मार्कण्डेय उवाच त्वद्युक्तोऽयमनुप्रश्नः शृणु भारत तत्त्वतः
अयमादिशरीरेण देवसृष्टेन मानवः शुभानामशुभानां च कुरुते संचयं महत्
M. N. Dutt: Man by his original subtle frame, made by the creator, accumulates a great store of good and evil deeds.
आयुषोऽन्ते प्रहायेदं क्षीणप्रायं कलेवरम् संभवत्येव युगपद्योनौ नास्त्यन्तराभवः
M. N. Dutt: When his days are numbered he leaves this frail body and is immediately born among another order of creation, and he never remains disembodied even for a single moment.
तत्रास्य स्वकृतं कर्म छायेवानुगतं सदा फलत्यथ सुखार्हो वा दुःखार्हो वापि जायते
M. N. Dutt: In that new existence his (good and evil) acts always follow him like his shadow and the consequences thereof make his existence either pleasurable or painful.
Supplementary Passages:
3.181.25 After 25ab, D1 ins.: *900 अनुशेते शयानं च तिष्ठन्तं चानुतिष्ठति अनुधावति धावन्तं पूर्वकर्म कृतं नरम्
कृतान्तविधिसंयुक्तः स जन्तुर्लक्षणैः शुभैः अशुभैर्वा निरादानो लक्ष्यते ज्ञानदृष्टिभिः
M. N. Dutt: The wise only by means of spiritual insight know that every creature is chained to an unchangeable fate by the destroyer (Yama) for his virtue or vice and that he is unable to get rid of the consequences of his acts in good or evil fortune.
एषा तावदबुद्धीनां गतिरुक्ता युधिष्ठिर अतः परं ज्ञानवतां निबोध गतिमुत्तमाम्
M. N. Dutt: O Yudhishthira, I have related (to you) the fate of those whose intelligence has been clouded with ignorance. Now hear of the excellent state attained to by the wise.
मनुष्यास्तप्ततपसः सर्वागमपरायणाः स्थिरव्रताः सत्यपरा गुरुशुश्रूषणे रताः
M. N. Dutt: These men are of great ascetic merits, learned in all the religious books (i.e. the Vedas and the Tantras), firm in duty, devoted to truth, engaged in ministering to the comforts of their elders;
सुशीलाः शुक्लजातीयाः क्षान्ता दान्ताः सुतेजसः शुभयोन्यन्तरगताः प्रायशः शुभलक्षणाः
M. N. Dutt: Are well behaved, given to the practice of yoga, of forgiving spirit, self-controlled, energetic, well-born and are endowed with the signs of greatness.
जितेन्द्रियत्वाद्वशिनः शुक्लत्वान्मन्दरोगिणः अल्पबाधपरित्रासाद्भवन्ति निरुपद्रवाः
M. N. Dutt: Owing to their control over their passions they are well-governed in mind; by practising Yoga they are devoid of disease and by the absence of sorrow and fear they are free from (mental troubles).
च्यवन्तं जायमानं च गर्भस्थं चैव सर्वशः स्वमात्मानं परं चैव बुध्यन्ते ज्ञानचक्षुषः कर्मभूमिमिमां प्राप्य पुनर्यान्ति सुरालयम्
M. N. Dutt: In course of birth whether timely or premature or while confined in the womb, (in short) in every state, they know the relation subsisting between their own souls and the eternal spirit, by spiritual insight.
Supplementary Passages:
3.181.31 After 31cd, N ins.: *901 ऋषयस्ते महात्मानः प्रत्यक्षागमबुद्धयः After 31, S ins.: *902 कृत्वा शुभानि कर्माणि ज्ञानेन भरतर्षभ
किंचिद्दैवाद्धठात्किंचित्किंचिदेव स्वकर्मभिः प्राप्नुवन्ति नरा राजन्मा तेऽस्त्वन्या विचारणा
M. N. Dutt: O monarch, by practising Yoga or by Destiny or by their own acts, men attain to (happiness or misery). Do not thing otherwise.
इमामत्रोपमां चापि निबोध वदतां वर मनुष्यलोके यच्छ्रेयः परं मन्ये युधिष्ठिर
M. N. Dutt: O the best of speakers, O Yudhishthira, hear an instance of what I deem to be the highest good in this world.
इह वैकस्य नामुत्र अमुत्रैकस्य नो इह इह चामुत्र चैकस्य नामुत्रैकस्य नो इह
M. N. Dutt: Some men enjoy happiness in this world but not in the next; some attain it in the next world but not in this; while others neither in this world nor in that to come.
धनानि येषां विपुलानि सन्ति; नित्यं रमन्ते सुविभूषिताङ्गाः तेषामयं शत्रुवरघ्न लोको; नासौ सदा देहसुखे रतानाम्
M. N. Dutt: They, that possess vast wealth, sport themselves every day richly adorning their persons (with ornaments and dresses). Such men, O destroyer of powerful enemies being addicted to physical enjoyment, attain to happiness in this world but not in the next.
ये योगयुक्तास्तपसि प्रसक्ताः; स्वाध्यायशीला जरयन्ति देहान् जितेन्द्रिया भूतहिते निविष्टा;स्तेषामसौ नायमरिघ्न लोकः
M. N. Dutt: O slayer of foes, those who are absorbed in spiritual thoughts, devoted to asceticism, engaged in the study of the Vedas and who mortify their bodies, have a control over their passions and abstain from killing animals, enjoy happiness in the next world but not in this.
ये धर्ममेव प्रथमं चरन्ति; धर्मेण लब्ध्वा च धनानि काले दारानवाप्य क्रतुभिर्यजन्ते; तेषामयं चैव परश्च लोकः
M. N. Dutt: Those that first lead a virtuous life and honestly acquire wealth in due time and then marry and perform sacrificial rites, attain happiness both in this world and in that to come.
ये नैव विद्यां न तपो न दानं; न चापि मूढाः प्रजने यतन्ते न चाधिगच्छन्ति सुखान्यभाग्या;स्तेषामयं चैव परश्च नास्ति
M. N. Dutt: And those stupid persons who have neither learning nor asceticism, nor charity and who do not multiply their kind and are not given to worldly joys attain to happiness neither in this world nor in the next.
सर्वे भवन्तस्त्वतिवीर्यसत्त्वा; दिव्यौजसः संहननोपपन्नाः लोकादमुष्मादवनिं प्रपन्नाः; स्वधीतविद्याः सुरकार्यहेतोः
M. N. Dutt: You are highly powerful, vigorous, endued with celestials energy, well read and in order to serve the purpose of the gods have come down (from the heavens) and been born in this world for the extirpation (of the wicked people).
कृत्वैव कर्माणि महान्ति शूरा;स्तपोदमाचारविहारशीलाः देवानृषीन्प्रेतगणांश्च सर्वा;न्संतर्पयित्वा विधिना परेण
M. N. Dutt: Having achieved glorious deeds and having gratified all the gods, the saints and the Pitris, you, who are so heroic, devoted to spiritual meditation, self-controlled, given to purity and engaged in self-extertion will at length in due course.
स्वर्गं परं पुण्यकृतां निवासं; क्रमेण संप्राप्स्यथ कर्मभिः स्वैः मा भूद्विशङ्का तव कौरवेन्द्र; दृष्ट्वात्मनः क्लेशमिमं सुखार्ह
M. N. Dutt: Gradually attain to that excellent heavenly region, the abode of the virtuous, by means of your own (meritorious) deeds. O the lord of the Kurus, let no doubt, trouble your mind on account of your misfortune, for this affliction will lead to your (ultimate) happiness.