Shanti Parva

हिन्दी अर्थ

अतत्तेषां गुणक्रीता वसुधा स्वयमागता

English

"Bhishma said, 'The king, O Yudhishthira, should always be ready for action. That king is not worth of praise who, like a woman, is destitute of exertion. In this connection, the holy Usanas has sting a Sloka, O monarch. Listen to it with attention, O king, as I recite it to thee: 'Like a snake swallowing up mice, the earth swallows tip these two, the king that is averse to battle and the Brahmana that is exceedingly attached to wives and children, l It behoveth thee, O tiger among kings, to bear this always in thy heart. Make peace with those foes with whom (according to the ordinance) peace should be made, and wage war with them with whom war should be waged. Be he thy preceptor or be he thy friend, he that acts inimically towards thy kingdom consisting of seven limbs, should be slain. 2 There is an ancient Sloka sung by king Marutta, agreeable to Vrihaspati's opinion, O monarch, about the duty of kings. According to the eternal provision, there is punishment for even the preceptor if he becomes haughty and disregardful of what should be done and what should not, and if he transgresses all restraints. Jadu's son, king Sagara, of great intelligence, from desire of doing good to the citizens, exiled his own eldest son Asamanjas. Asamanjas, O king, used to drown the children of the citizens in the Sarayu. His sire, therefore, rebuked him and sent him to exile. The Rishi Uddalaka cast off his favourite son Swetaketu (afterwards) of rigid penances, because the latter used to invite Brahmanas with deceptive promises of entertainment. The happiness of their subjects, observance of truth, and sincerity of behaviour are the eternal duty of kings. The king should not covet the wealth of others. He should in time give what should be given, If the king becomes possessed of prowess, truthful in speech, and forgiving in temper, he would never fall away from prosperity. With soul cleansed of vices, the king should be able to govern his wrath, and all his conclusions should be conformable to the scriptures. He should also always pursue morality and profit and pleasure and salvation (judiciously). The king should always conceal his counsels in respect of these three, (viz., morality, profit, and pleasure). No greater evil can befall the king than the disclosure of his counsels. Kings should protect the four orders in the discharge of their duties. It is the eternal duty of kings to prevent a confusion of duties in respect of the different orders. The king should not repose confidence (on others than his own servants), nor should he repose full confidence (on even his servants).

हिन्दी अर्थ

ज्ञानमस्ति विशेषेणेत्युक्तो हृष्टश्न सो5भवत्

English

[Yudhishthira said:] "When the limits are broken down, the settled determination of dharma disturbed, and the world oppressed by kings or by thieves, lord of the people,

हिन्दी अर्थ

प्रह्मादस्त्वब्रवीत् प्रीतो गृह्ुतां वर इत्युत

English

when all the stages of life are bewildered and rites are spoiled, and people see fear from desire, delusion and greed, Bharata,

हिन्दी अर्थ

तस्मिंस्तेजसि याते तु तादृग्रूपस्ततो5पर:

English

when all are distrustful and ever afraid, being slain by deceit and cheating one another,

हिन्दी अर्थ

सुरेन्द्रने तुम्हारे शीलका अपहरण कर लिया है

English

when regions are ablaze, brahminhood is oppressed, the rain does not fall, and mutual division has arisen,

हिन्दी अर्थ

न भुज्जते चिरं तात समूलाश्च न सन्ति ते

English

when the whole livelihood of the earth has fallen to robbers, by what may a brahmana live when a base time has come,

हिन्दी अर्थ

दुर्लभ और क्या है?

English

not wishing to abandon his sons and grandsons out of compassion, lord of men? How should he conduct himself in calamity? Tell me that, grandsire.

हिन्दी अर्थ

अतीत्यातीत्य राजेन्द्र पुनरभ्येति चान्तिकम्

English

And how should a king conduct himself when the world has fallen into corruption? How would he not fall from wealth and from dharma, scourge of foes?"

हिन्दी अर्थ

ऋषयो राजशार्दूलं तमपृच्छन् प्रयोजनम्

English

[Bhishma said:] "Security and welfare and good rain have the king as their root, great king; and in the subjects, diseases, death and fears likewise.

हिन्दी अर्थ

पृथ्वी स्वयं ही उनके पास आयी थी

English

He should, by his own intelligence, took after the merits and defects of the six essential requisites of sovereignty. I The king who is observant of the laches of his foes, and judicious in the pursuit of morality, profit, and pleasure, who sets clever spies for ascertaining secrets and seeks to wean away the officers of his enemies by presents of wealth, deserves applause. The king should administer justice like Yama and amass wealth like Kuvera. He should also be observant of the merits and defects of his own acquisitions and losses and of his own dominions. He should feed those that have not been fed, and enquire after those that have been fed. Possessed of sweet speech, he could speak with a smiling (and not with a sour) countenance. He should always wait upon those that are old in years and repress

हिन्दी अर्थ

प्राप्त कर लिया, वह शील कैसे प्राप्त होता है? यह मैं सुनना चाहता हूँ

English

When such a time arrives that brings fault upon the people, then one must live by relying on the strength of knowledge.

हिन्दी अर्थ

जाता है, जिसे नारदजीने पहले शीलके प्रसंगमें कहा था

English

Here too they cite this ancient tale, the dialogue of Vishvamitra with a chandala in a village of outcastes.

हिन्दी अर्थ

शीलमाश्रित्य हैत्येन त्रैलोक्यं च वशे कृतम्

English

Long ago, at the junction of the Treta and Dvapara ages, by the course of divine ordinance, a terrible drought of twelve years came about, king.

हिन्दी अर्थ

तमुवाच महाप्राज्ञ: श्रेय इच्छामि वेदितुम्

English

When the subjects had greatly multiplied, at the approach of the end of the age, at the close of the Treta and the onset of the Dvapara,

हिन्दी अर्थ

बोले--“भगवन्! मैं अपने कल्याणका उपाय जानना चाहता हूँ/

English

the thousand-eyed Indra did not rain; Jupiter turned retrograde; the moon, its mark reversed, went to the southern path.

हिन्दी अर्थ

कथयामास भगवान् देवेन्द्राय कुरूद्गह

English

There was no dew even at night's end, how then rows of clouds; the rivers, their floods of water shrunk, vanished somewhere within.

हिन्दी अर्थ

अत्रागमय भद्र ते भूय एव सुरर्षभ

English

Lakes, rivers, wells and springs were seen robbed of their lustre, by a nature caused by fate.

हिन्दी अर्थ

ज्ञानमागमयत् प्रीत्या पुन: स परमद्मयुति:

English

The water-stands dried up, the assemblies and drinking-booths ceased, sacrifice and study stopped, and the vashat call and auspicious rites were gone.

हिन्दी अर्थ

इससे भी विशेष श्रेय है"?

English

Farming and cow-keeping were ruined, markets and shops closed, guild agreements ended, and great festivals perished.

हिन्दी अर्थ

कारण मेरे पास समय नहीं है, अतः मैं आपको उपदेश नहीं दे सकूँगा”

English

Strewn with bones and skeletons, filled with people crying "alas," with cities mostly empty and villages burnt out,

हिन्दी अर्थ

तदोपादेष्टुमिच्छामि यदाचर्यमनुत्तमम्

English

by thieves in some places, by weapons in others, by afflicted kings elsewhere, and from fear of one another, the land was mostly empty and deserted.

हिन्दी अर्थ

तथेत्युक्त्वा शुभे काले ज्ञानतत्त्वं ददौ तदा

English

The thoughts of the gods were gone, old and young were lost, cattle, sheep and buffaloes were gone, and people robbed one another.

हिन्दी अर्थ

चकार सर्वभावेन यदस्य मनसेप्सितम्

English

Brahmanas slain, protection slain, stores of herbs destroyed, the earth then became mostly filled with pale human forms.

हिन्दी अर्थ

मनकी रुचिके अनुसार सब प्रकारसे उनकी सेवा की

English

In that terrifying time, with dharma failing, Yudhishthira, hungry mortals wandered, eating one another.

हिन्दी अर्थ

प्रह्दोडपि महाराज ब्राह्म॒णं वाक्यमब्रवीत्

English

Sages abandoned their vows, forsook the fires and gods, left their hermitages, and ran about here and there.

हिन्दी अर्थ

काव्यानि वदतां तेषां संयच्छामि वहामि च

English

Then the blessed great sage Vishvamitra, homeless, seized by hunger, the wise one, ran about on every side.

हिन्दी अर्थ

ते मां काव्यपथे युक्त शुश्रुषुमनसूयकम्

English

Once, as he wandered, he came upon a settlement of dog-eaters, cruel killers of living things, somewhere in the forest.

हिन्दी अर्थ

समासिज्चन्ति शास्तार: क्षौद्रं मथ्विव मक्षिका:

English

It was strewn with broken pots, covered with dog-skins, crowded with the bones of boars and asses and with skulls and jars,

हिन्दी अर्थ

शुश्रूषितस्तेन तदा हैत्येन्द्रो वाक्यमब्रवीत्

English

spread with the clothes of the dead, with ornaments made from offerings, its huts and cells marked with garlands of snakes' slough,

हिन्दी अर्थ

सुनकर प्रह्नाद और भी प्रसन्न हुए और बोले--“कोई वर अवश्य माँगो'

English

surrounded by shrines with owl-feather banners, furnished with iron bells, and encircled by packs of dogs.

हिन्दी अर्थ

भवत: शीलमिच्छामि प्राप्तुमेष वरो मम

English

Entering it, seized by hunger, the great sage, the son of Gadhi, engaged in searching for food, made the greatest effort.

हिन्दी अर्थ

आपका ही शील प्राप्त करनेकी इच्छा है, यही मेरा वर है

English

Though begging, Kaushika found nothing anywhere there: no meat, no grain, no roots or fruit, nor anything else.

हिन्दी अर्थ

वरे प्रदिष्टे विप्रेण नाल्पतेजायमित्युत

English

"Alas, I have met with hardship," Kaushika determined, and from weakness fell to the ground in that outcaste village.

हिन्दी अर्थ

उपाकृत्य तु विप्राय वरं दुःखान्वितो5भवत्

English

The sage thought, "What good deed of mine could there be? How can death not be in vain?" best of kings.

हिन्दी अर्थ

प्रह्ादस्य महाराज निश्चयं न च जग्मिवान्

English

The sage saw in the chandala's house, king, a stretched-out string of dog-meat, of a dog just killed by a weapon.

हिन्दी अर्थ

तेजो विग्रहवत् तात शरीरमजहात् तदा

English

He thought then, "Theft must be done by me from here; there is now no other means of sustaining life.

हिन्दी अर्थ

मूर्तिमान् होकर प्रकट हुआ। उसने उनके शरीरको त्याग दिया था

English

Theft is prescribed in calamities: from the superior, the equal and the lower, each later one is permitted before the earlier; this is settled: not-stealing comes first.

हिन्दी अर्थ

यो5सौ शिष्यत्वमागम्य त्वयि नित्यं समाहित:

English

From the lowly one should first take; then from an equal; when that is not possible, one may take even from a superior and righteous man.

हिन्दी अर्थ

तुम्हारा शिष्य बनकर यहाँ बड़ी सावधानीके साथ रहता था”

English

Taking from the dwellers of the lowest end, from their possessions, I see no fault of theft; I shall take this meat."

हिन्दी अर्थ

ततो5परो महाराज प्रज्वलन्निव तेजसा

English

Resolving thus, the great sage Vishvamitra fell asleep in that place, where he had fallen, Bharata.

हिन्दी अर्थ

को भवानिति पृष्टश्न तमाह स महाद्युति:

English

Seeing the night deep and the chandala village asleep, the blessed one rose slowly and entered the hut.

हिन्दी अर्थ

सत्य समझो! मैं अब धर्मके पीछे-पीछे जाऊँगा'

English

The chandala, though asleep, his eyes covered with phlegm, in a broken voice, rough and ugly to see, said:

हिन्दी अर्थ

तस्मिन्ननुगते सत्ये महान् वै पुरुषो5पर:

English

"Who is disturbing the string while the chandala village sleeps? I am awake, I am not asleep; you are dead," said the dreadful man.

हिन्दी अर्थ

वृत्तं प्रह्द मां विद्धि यतः सत्यं ततो हाहम्

English

"I am Vishvamitra," he said to him suddenly, in sudden fear at his arrival, and distressed by that deed.

हिन्दी अर्थ

पृष्टश्नाह बल॑ विद्धि यतो वृत्तमहं तत:

English

Hearing those words of the great sage of purified soul, the chandala, startled, rose from his bed and wished to spring up.

हिन्दी अर्थ

ततः प्रभामयी देवी शरीरात् तस्य निर्यया

English

Letting tears fall from his eyes, with great respect and folded hands, he said to Kaushika in the night, "Brahmana, what do you wish to do?"

हिन्दी अर्थ

उषितास्मि स्वयं वीर त्वयि सत्यपराक्रम

English

Vishvamitra, soothing the Matanga, said, "I am hungry, my life is gone; I shall take the dog's haunch.

हिन्दी अर्थ

ततो भयं प्रादुरासीत् प्रहादस्य महात्मन:

English

My life-breaths are sinking, my memory is lost from hunger; though I know my own dharma, I shall take the dog's haunch.

हिन्दी अर्थ

तद्विज्ञाय सुरेन्द्रेण तव शीलं हतं प्रभो

English

Wandering, I found no alms in your dwellings; then my mind turned to sin; I shall take the dog's haunch.

हिन्दी अर्थ

शीलमूला महाप्राज्ञ सदा नास्त्यत्र संशय:

English

The thirsty drink foul water; for one who seeks food there is no 'take'; hunger spoils dharma here; I shall take the dog's haunch.

हिन्दी अर्थ

आधारपर रहते हैं--शील ही इन सबकी जड़ है। इसमे संशय नहीं है

English

Fire is the mouth and the leader of the gods, the pure-footed lord; as he, Brahma, devours all, so know me, in dharma."

हिन्दी अर्थ

दुर्योधनस्तु पितरं भूय एवाब्रवीद् वच:

English

The chandala said to him, "Great sage, hear my words; hearing them, act so that you are not lost from dharma.

हिन्दी अर्थ

प्राप्पते च यथा शीलं त॑ं चोपायं वदस्व मे

English

The wise say the dog is the lowest of animals; and the lowest part of that is the haunch of the body.

हिन्दी अर्थ

संक्षेपेण तु शीलस्य शुणु प्राप्तिं नरेश्वर

English

This is not rightly resolved, great sage; this act is perverse: a chandala's property taken, and especially of what is not to be eaten.

हिन्दी अर्थ

अनुग्रहश्च दानं च शीलमेतत् प्रशस्यते

English

Look for another good means of sustaining life; let not your austerity be destroyed through greed for meat, great sage.

हिन्दी अर्थ

अपन्रपेत वा येन न तत् कुर्यात् कथंचन

English

A knower should not follow a path not prescribed, a mixing of dharma; do not abandon dharma, for you are the best knower of dharma."

हिन्दी अर्थ

संकोचका अनुभव होता हो, उसे किसी तरह नहीं करना चाहिए

English

Thus addressed, king, Vishvamitra, bull of the Bharatas, the great sage, afflicted by hunger, answered him again:

हिन्दी अर्थ

शीलं समासेनैतत् ते कथितं कुरुसत्तम

English

"A very long time has passed for me, running without food; and there is no means for me of sustaining life.

हिन्दी अर्थ

चाहिए। कुरुश्रेष्ठ! यह तुम्हें थोड़ेमें शीलका स्वरूप बताया गया है

English

By whatever special deed, by whatever means, one who is sinking should revive himself; and when able, practise dharma.

हिन्दी अर्थ

यदीच्छसि श्रियं तात सुविशिष्टां युधिष्ठिरात्

English

The dharma of Indra is for kshatriyas, that of Agni for brahmanas; my strength is Brahman and fire; I shall eat, to end my hunger.

हिन्दी अर्थ

चतुर्विशत्यधिकशततमोध्याय:

English

In whatever way one may live, that must be done without harm; life is better than death; living, one may gain dharma.

हिन्दी अर्थ

कथं त्वाशा समुत्पन्ना या चाशा तद् वदस्व मे

English

So, desiring life, I resolve deliberately to eat even what is not to be eaten; let you approve it.

हिन्दी अर्थ

छेत्ता च तस्य नान्योस्ति त्वत्त: परपुरञ्जय

English

Living, I shall practise dharma and drive away the inauspicious, by austerities and knowledge, as lights drive away great darkness."

हिन्दी अर्थ

इसका निवारण करनेवाला आपके सिवा दूसरा कोई नहीं है

English

[The dog-eater said:] "Eating this you will not gain life or another breath, nor long life, nor satisfaction like that of nectar; let your mind turn to other alms; eating dog is forbidden to the twice-born."

हिन्दी अर्थ

प्राप्ते युद्धे तु तद् युक्त तत् कर्तायमिति प्रभो

English

[Vishvamitra said:] "In famine other meat is not easy to get, dog-eater, nor grain, nor have I any wealth; afflicted by hunger, without recourse and hopeless, I regard this dog-flesh as having all six tastes."

हिन्दी अर्थ

तस्यां विहन्यमानायां दु:खो मृत्युर्न संशय:

English

[The dog-eater said:] "Five five-nailed animals may be eaten by brahmanas and kshatriyas, twice-born; if the scripture is your authority, do not set your mind on the forbidden."

हिन्दी अर्थ

धार्तराष्ट्रेण राजेन्द्र पश्य मन्दात्मतां मम

English

[Vishvamitra said:] "Agastya, hungry, ate the asura Vatapi; I too, fallen into calamity and distressed, shall eat the dog's haunch."

हिन्दी अर्थ

आकाशादपि वा राजजन्नप्रमेयैव वा पुन:

English

[The dog-eater said:] "Fetch other alms; you should not do this; surely it is not to be done; take, if you wish, the dog's haunch."

हिन्दी अर्थ

दुर्लभत्वाच्च पश्यामि किमन्यद् दुर्लभं ततः

English

[Vishvamitra said:] "The good are the authority in dharma; I follow their conduct; I regard this dog's haunch as edible, more than food that is pure."

हिन्दी अर्थ

पूर्वघटित इतिहास तुम्हें बताऊँगा। उसे ध्यान देकर सुनो

English

[The dog-eater said:] "What is practised by the bad is not eternal dharma; one should not imitate impure conduct; do not make a falsehood by trickery."

हिन्दी अर्थ

सच राजा बलात् तूर्ण ससार मृगयूथपम्

English

[Vishvamitra said:] "You should not, being a sage, do what is sinful or disapproved; I consider a dog and a deer equal, therefore the dog's haunch is edible."

हिन्दी अर्थ

भी बलपूर्वक मृगोंके उस यूथपतिका तुरंत पीछा किया

English

[The dog-eater said:] "What was done by a sage when asked for a brahmana's sake gives that deed the right to be eaten; that is dharma wherein there is no sin, and it must be guarded by every means."

हिन्दी अर्थ

मुहूर्तमिव राजेन्द्र समेन स पथागमत्

English

[Vishvamitra said:] "This brahmana is my friend and my own self, dear and most worthy of honour in the world; wishing to feed him, I shall take this; I do not fear cruel men such as these."

हिन्दी अर्थ

ससार बाणासनभूत् सखड्गोडसौ तनुत्रवान्

English

[The dog-eater said:] "Men may well give up their lives, but they do not make good with the forbidden; there they obtain all desires here, learned one; be dear to desire, united with hunger."

हिन्दी अर्थ

धनुष-बाण और तलवार लिये उसका पीछा करने लगे

English

[Vishvamitra said:] "There is doubt in the matter of existence after death, but destruction of deeds is without doubt; I, with a spirit that says 'I live,' protecting the root, shall eat what is not to be eaten.

हिन्दी अर्थ

अतिक्रम्याभ्यतिक्रम्य ससारैको वनेचर:

English

Content that what is spoken of in the intellect exists, as the leather eye has oneness through delusion, even if I commit a sin through doubt, I shall not be as you are."

हिन्दी अर्थ

बारंबार लाँघता हुआ आगे-आगे भागता जा रहा था

English

[The dog-eater said:] "My mind is that this sorrow is a cause of falling; I, a sinner, reproach you, though you are a brahmana of the good."

हिन्दी अर्थ

पुनरभ्येति जवनो जवेन महता ततः

English

[Vishvamitra said:] "Cows drink water even while frogs croak; you have no authority in dharma; do not be a self-praiser."

हिन्दी अर्थ

प्रक्रीडन्निव राजेन्द्र पुनरभ्येति चान्तिकम्

English

[The dog-eater said:] "Having become your friend, I instruct you, for I have compassion for you, twice-born; so take this better course; do not out of greed take the dog."

हिन्दी अर्थ

समादाय शरं श्रेष्ठ कार्मुके तु तथासृजत्

English

[Vishvamitra said:] "If you are my friend and wish me happiness, lift me out of calamity; I know myself in dharma; give up the dog's haunch."

हिन्दी अर्थ

तस्य बाणपथं मुक्‍्त्वा तस्थिवान् प्रहसन्निव

English

[The dog-eater said:] "I cannot bear to give you this, nor to overlook my own food being taken; both of us would be stained by our own filth, I the giver and you, brahmana, the receiver."

हिन्दी अर्थ

और हँसता हुआ-सा खड़ा हो गया

English

[Vishvamitra said:] "Having done this sinful deed today, I shall live and practise great purity; with purified self I shall pursue dharma; tell me which of the two is the heavier."

हिन्दी अर्थ

प्रविवेश महारण्यं मृगो राजाप्यथाद्रवत्

English

[The dog-eater said:] "The self alone is witness in the world's doings; you yourself know what is wrong in this; whoever esteems dog-flesh as food, I think, has nothing to avoid."

हिन्दी अर्थ

पज्चविंशत्यधिकशततमोध्याय:

English

[Vishvamitra said:] "The fault lies in taking or eating, and the exception here is always to be made by just reasoning; where there is no violence and no trace of falsehood in speech, the act of eating is not so grave."

हिन्दी अर्थ

आससाद ततो राजा श्रान्तश्नोपाविशत् तदा

English

[The dog-eater said:] "If this is your reason for eating, neither the Veda is your ground nor any other dharma; therefore, best of the twice-born, I see no fault in eating the forbidden, as you say."

हिन्दी अर्थ

आश्रमपर जा पहुँचे और वहाँ थककर बैठ गये

English

[Vishvamitra said:] "No sin is seen in eating it; the saying here is that one falls by drinking liquor; so with other deeds, each is different; a mere trace does not destroy the act."

हिन्दी अर्थ

समेत्य ऋषयस्तस्मिन् पूजां चक्कुर्यथाविधि

English

[The dog-eater said:] "From a wrong place, from lowness, or from a despicable source, the learned man of good conduct is troubled; but he who gains his place again through attachment must endure the punishment as well."

हिन्दी अर्थ

विधिपूर्वक स्वागत-सत्कार किया

English

[Bhishma said:] "Having spoken thus, the Matanga turned back from Kaushika; and Vishvamitra, his mind made up, took the dog's haunch.

हिन्दी अर्थ

तापसोंसे उनकी तपस्याकी भलीभाँति वृद्धि होनेका समाचार पूछा

English

Then the great sage, desiring life, took the five-limbed thing, and with his wife, having prepared it, went off to the forest.

हिन्दी अर्थ

आनेका प्रयोजन पूछा

English

At that very time Vasava rained, reviving all the subjects, and caused the herbs to grow.

हिन्दी अर्थ

पदातिर्बद्धनिस्त्रिंशो धन्‍वी बाणी नरेश्वर

English

The blessed Vishvamitra too, his sins burnt away by austerity, after a long time attained a wondrous perfection.

हिन्दी अर्थ

और बाण लिये पैदल ही चले आये हैं?

English

So, one who knows, of undismayed spirit, in calamity and wishing to live, skilled in means, should lift up his distressed self by every means.

हिन्दी अर्थ

कस्मिन् कुले तु जातस्त्वं किनामा चासि ब्रूहि न:

English

Resorting to this wisdom, one should always live; living, a man gains merit and sees good things.

हिन्दी अर्थ

आचचक्षे यथान्यायं परिचर्या च भारत

English

Therefore, Kaunteya, a wise man in deciding dharma and adharma should rely on intelligence and conduct himself in this world with a controlled self."