Skip to content
אתר זה לא תומך בגרסאות ישנות של אינטרנט אקספלורר
מומלץ להשתמש בדפדפן גוגל כרום או פיירפוקס מוזילה
(או באינטרנט אקספלורר / edge עדכני)
Enjoy Learning Sanskrit tips, tools, resources and more...

महाभारतः       mahābhārataḥ - book-13, chapter-121

Use the following checkboxes to set the display options for this chapter (You can also control the display of each verse separately):
what would you like to see in each verse:
युधिष्ठिर उवाच ।
विद्या तपश्च दानं च किमेतेषां विशिष्यते ।
पृच्छामि त्वा सतां श्रेष्ठ तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥१॥
1. yudhiṣṭhira uvāca ,
vidyā tapaśca dānaṁ ca kimeteṣāṁ viśiṣyate ,
pṛcchāmi tvā satāṁ śreṣṭha tanme brūhi pitāmaha.
1. yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | vidyā tapaḥ ca dānam ca kim eteṣām
viśiṣyate | pṛcchāmi tvā satām śreṣṭha tat me brūhi pitāmaha
1. yudhiṣṭhira uvāca satām śreṣṭha pitāmaha,
vidyā tapaḥ ca dānam ca eteṣām kim viśiṣyate? tat me brūhi
1. Yudhishthira said: "O Grandfather, best among the virtuous, I ask you: among knowledge, asceticism (tapas), and charity (dāna), which of these is considered superior? Please tell me that."
भीष्म उवाच ।
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् ।
मैत्रेयस्य च संवादं कृष्णद्वैपायनस्य च ॥२॥
2. bhīṣma uvāca ,
atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṁ purātanam ,
maitreyasya ca saṁvādaṁ kṛṣṇadvaipāyanasya ca.
2. bhīṣma uvāca | atra api udāharanti imam itihāsam
purātanam | maitreyasya ca saṃvādam kṛṣṇadvaipāyanasya ca
2. bhīṣma uvāca atra api purātanam imam itihāsam
udāharanti: maitreyasya ca kṛṣṇadvaipāyanasya ca saṃvādam
2. Bhishma said: "Regarding this, people also narrate this ancient account (itihāsa): the dialogue between Maitreya and Krishna Dvaipayana."
कृष्णद्वैपायनो राजन्नज्ञातचरितं चरन् ।
वाराणस्यामुपातिष्ठन्मैत्रेयं स्वैरिणीकुले ॥३॥
3. kṛṣṇadvaipāyano rājannajñātacaritaṁ caran ,
vārāṇasyāmupātiṣṭhanmaitreyaṁ svairiṇīkule.
3. kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaḥ rājan ajñātacaritam caran |
vārāṇasyām upātiṣṭhat maitreyam svairiṇīkule
3. rājan,
kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaḥ ajñātacaritam caran,
vārāṇasyām svairiṇīkule maitreyam upātiṣṭhat
3. O King, Krishna Dvaipayana (Vyasa), moving about with an unknown character, came to Varanasi and stayed with Maitreya in a household of independent women.
तमुपस्थितमासीनं ज्ञात्वा स मुनिसत्तमम् ।
अर्चित्वा भोजयामास मैत्रेयोऽशनमुत्तमम् ॥४॥
4. tamupasthitamāsīnaṁ jñātvā sa munisattamam ,
arcitvā bhojayāmāsa maitreyo'śanamuttamam.
4. tam upasthitam āsīnam jñātvā saḥ munisattamam
| arcitvā bhojayāmāsa maitreyaḥ aśanam uttamam
4. saḥ maitreyaḥ upasthitam āsīnam munisattamam tam jñātvā,
arcitvā uttamam aśanam bhojayāmāsa
4. Maitreya, recognizing him (Krishna Dvaipayana) as the foremost among sages (muni), knowing him to be present and seated, first honored him and then offered him an excellent meal.
तदन्नमुत्तमं भुक्त्वा गुणवत्सार्वकामिकम् ।
प्रतिष्ठमानोऽस्मयत प्रीतः कृष्णो महामनाः ॥५॥
5. tadannamuttamaṁ bhuktvā guṇavatsārvakāmikam ,
pratiṣṭhamāno'smayata prītaḥ kṛṣṇo mahāmanāḥ.
5. tat annam uttamam bhuktvā guṇavat sārvakāmikam
pratiṣṭhamānaḥ asmāyata prītaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ mahāmanāḥ
5. mahāmanāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ tat uttamam guṇavat sārvakāmikam
annam bhuktvā pratiṣṭhamānaḥ prītaḥ asmāyata
5. Having consumed that excellent, wholesome, and all-desire-fulfilling food, the great-souled Kṛṣṇa, feeling content, was delighted and smiled.
तमुत्स्मयन्तं संप्रेक्ष्य मैत्रेयः कृष्णमब्रवीत् ।
कारणं ब्रूहि धर्मात्मन्योऽस्मयिष्ठाः कुतश्च ते ।
तपस्विनो धृतिमतः प्रमोदः समुपागतः ॥६॥
6. tamutsmayantaṁ saṁprekṣya maitreyaḥ kṛṣṇamabravīt ,
kāraṇaṁ brūhi dharmātmanyo'smayiṣṭhāḥ kutaśca te ,
tapasvino dhṛtimataḥ pramodaḥ samupāgataḥ.
6. tam utsmāyantam samprekṣya maitreyaḥ
kṛṣṇam abravīt kāraṇam brūhi dharmātman
yat asmāyiṣṭhāḥ kutaḥ ca te
tapasvinaḥ dhṛtimataḥ pramodaḥ samupāgataḥ
6. maitreyaḥ tam utsmāyantam samprekṣya kṛṣṇam
abravīt he dharmātman yat (tvam)
asmāyiṣṭhāḥ tasya kāraṇam brūhi ca te tapasvinaḥ
dhṛtimataḥ pramodaḥ kutaḥ samupāgataḥ
6. Seeing him smile, Maitreya said to Kṛṣṇa: "O righteous one (dharmātman), please tell me the reason why you smiled, and how this great joy (pramoda) has come to you, who are an ascetic (tapasvin) and steadfast."
एतत्पृच्छामि ते विद्वन्नभिवाद्य प्रणम्य च ।
आत्मनश्च तपोभाग्यं महाभाग्यं तथैव च ॥७॥
7. etatpṛcchāmi te vidvannabhivādya praṇamya ca ,
ātmanaśca tapobhāgyaṁ mahābhāgyaṁ tathaiva ca.
7. etat pṛcchāmi te vidvan abhivādya praṇamya ca
ātmanaḥ ca tapaḥbhāgyam mahābhāgyam tathā eva ca
7. he vidvan abhivādya ca praṇamya
ca te (tvām) etat pṛcchāmi
aham ātmanaḥ tapaḥbhāgyam ca
tathā eva mahābhāgyam ca pṛcchāmi
7. "O wise one, having saluted and bowed, I ask you this: (tell me) about your personal share of ascetic merit (tapas), and your great fortune as well."
पृथगाचरतस्तात पृथगात्मनि चात्मनोः ।
अल्पान्तरमहं मन्ये विशिष्टमपि वा त्वया ॥८॥
8. pṛthagācaratastāta pṛthagātmani cātmanoḥ ,
alpāntaramahaṁ manye viśiṣṭamapi vā tvayā.
8. pṛthak ācarataḥ tāta pṛthak ātmani ca ātmanoḥ
alpa antaram aham manye viśiṣṭam api vā tvayā
8. he tāta pṛthak ācarataḥ ca pṛthak ātmani ātmanoḥ api
(satsu) aham alpa antaram manye vā tvayā viśiṣṭam (manye)
8. "O dear one (tāta), even though we both engage in actions separately, and are distinct in our individual selves (ātman), I perceive little difference between us, or rather, I consider you to be superior."
व्यास उवाच ।
अतिच्छेदातिवादाभ्यां स्मयोऽयं समुपागतः ।
असत्यं वेदवचनं कस्माद्वेदोऽनृतं वदेत् ॥९॥
9. vyāsa uvāca ,
aticchedātivādābhyāṁ smayo'yaṁ samupāgataḥ ,
asatyaṁ vedavacanaṁ kasmādvedo'nṛtaṁ vadet.
9. vyāsa uvāca aticchedātivādābhyām smayaḥ ayam samupāgataḥ
asatyam vedavacanam kasmāt vedaḥ anṛtam vadet
9. vyāsa uvāca aticchedātivādābhyām ayam smayaḥ samupāgataḥ
vedavacanam asatyam kasmāt vedaḥ anṛtam vadet
9. Vyasa said: "This pride has arisen due to excessive cutting and excessive disputation. How could a Vedic statement be false? Why would the Veda ever speak untruth?"
त्रीण्येव तु पदान्याहुः पुरुषस्योत्तमं व्रतम् ।
न द्रुह्येच्चैव दद्याच्च सत्यं चैव परं वदेत् ।
इदानीं चैव नः कृत्यं पुरस्ताच्च परं स्मृतम् ॥१०॥
10. trīṇyeva tu padānyāhuḥ puruṣasyottamaṁ vratam ,
na druhyeccaiva dadyācca satyaṁ caiva paraṁ vadet ,
idānīṁ caiva naḥ kṛtyaṁ purastācca paraṁ smṛtam.
10. trīṇi eva tu padāni āhuḥ puruṣasya
uttamam vratam na druhye ca eva dadyāt ca
satyam ca eva param vadet idānīm ca
eva naḥ kṛtyam purastāt ca param smṛtam
10. tu trīṇi eva padāni puruṣasya uttamam
vratam āhuḥ na druhye ca eva ca dadyāt
ca satyam eva param vadet ca idānīm ca
eva naḥ kṛtyam purastāt ca param smṛtam
10. They say that a person's (puruṣa) supreme vow consists of just three things: one should never injure, one should always give (dāna), and one should always speak the highest truth. This is our duty (kṛtya) both now and has been remembered as supreme in the past.
अल्पोऽपि तादृशो दायो भवत्युत महाफलः ।
तृषिताय च यद्दत्तं हृदयेनानसूयता ॥११॥
11. alpo'pi tādṛśo dāyo bhavatyuta mahāphalaḥ ,
tṛṣitāya ca yaddattaṁ hṛdayenānasūyatā.
11. alpaḥ api tādṛśaḥ dāyaḥ bhavati uta mahāphalaḥ
tṛṣitāya ca yat dattam hṛdayena anasūyatā
11. api alpaḥ tādṛśaḥ dāyaḥ uta mahāphalaḥ bhavati
ca yat tṛṣitāya hṛdayena anasūyatā dattam
11. Even a small such gift becomes greatly fruitful, and that which is given to a thirsty person by a heart free from envy.
तृषितस्तृषिताय त्वं दत्त्वैतदशनं मम ।
अजैषीर्महतो लोकान्महायज्ञैरिवाभिभो ।
अतो दानपवित्रेण प्रीतोऽस्मि तपसैव च ॥१२॥
12. tṛṣitastṛṣitāya tvaṁ dattvaitadaśanaṁ mama ,
ajaiṣīrmahato lokānmahāyajñairivābhibho ,
ato dānapavitreṇa prīto'smi tapasaiva ca.
12. tṛṣitaḥ tṛṣitāya tvam dattvā etat
aśanam mama ajaiṣīḥ mahataḥ lokān
mahāyajñaiḥ iva abhibho ataḥ
dānapavitreṇa prītaḥ asmi tapasā eva ca
12. tvam tṛṣitaḥ mama etat aśanam tṛṣitāya
dattvā mahataḥ lokān ajaiṣīḥ
abhibho iva mahāyajñaiḥ ataḥ
dānapavitreṇa ca tapasā eva prītaḥ asmi
12. You, though thirsty, by giving this food of mine to a thirsty person, have conquered great worlds, just as if through great Vedic rituals (yajña), O lord (abhibho)! Therefore, I am pleased by the purity of your gift (dāna), and also by your asceticism (tapas).
पुण्यस्यैव हि ते गन्धः पुण्यस्यैव च दर्शनम् ।
पुण्यश्च वाति गन्धस्ते मन्ये कर्मविधानतः ॥१३॥
13. puṇyasyaiva hi te gandhaḥ puṇyasyaiva ca darśanam ,
puṇyaśca vāti gandhaste manye karmavidhānataḥ.
13. puṇyasya eva hi te gandhaḥ puṇyasya eva ca darśanam
puṇyaḥ ca vāti gandhaḥ te manye karmavidhānataḥ
13. te gandhaḥ hi puṇyasya eva ca darśanam puṇyasya
eva te gandhaḥ ca puṇyaḥ vāti karmavidhānataḥ manye
13. Indeed, your fragrance is purely of merit (puṇya), and your very sight is also imbued with merit. Your fragrance, I believe, emanates meritoriously due to the intrinsic nature of your actions (karma).
अधिकं मार्जनात्तात तथैवाप्यनुलेपनात् ।
शुभं सर्वपवित्रेभ्यो दानमेव परं भवेत् ॥१४॥
14. adhikaṁ mārjanāttāta tathaivāpyanulepanāt ,
śubhaṁ sarvapavitrebhyo dānameva paraṁ bhavet.
14. adhikam mārjanāt tāta tathā eva api anulepanāt
śubham sarvapavitrebhyaḥ dānam eva param bhavet
14. tāta mārjanāt adhikam tathā eva api anulepanāt
sarvapavitrebhyaḥ śubham dānam eva param bhavet
14. O dear one, more than mere cleansing and even more than anointing, auspicious giving (dāna) alone is indeed supreme among all purifiers.
यानीमान्युत्तमानीह वेदोक्तानि प्रशंससि ।
तेषां श्रेष्ठतमं दानमिति मे नास्ति संशयः ॥१५॥
15. yānīmānyuttamānīha vedoktāni praśaṁsasi ,
teṣāṁ śreṣṭhatamaṁ dānamiti me nāsti saṁśayaḥ.
15. yāni imānī uttamānī iha vedoktāni praśaṃsasi
teṣām śreṣṭhatamam dānam iti me na asti saṃśayaḥ
15. iha yāni imānī vedoktāni uttamānī praśaṃsasi
teṣām dānam śreṣṭhatamam iti me saṃśayaḥ na asti
15. Whatever excellent Vedic teachings you praise here, among all of them, giving (dāna) is the most superior; of this, I have no doubt.
दानकृद्भिः कृतः पन्था येन यान्ति मनीषिणः ।
ते हि प्राणस्य दातारस्तेषु धर्मः प्रतिष्ठितः ॥१६॥
16. dānakṛdbhiḥ kṛtaḥ panthā yena yānti manīṣiṇaḥ ,
te hi prāṇasya dātārasteṣu dharmaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ.
16. dānakṛdbhiḥ kṛtaḥ panthā yena yānti manīṣiṇaḥ te
hi prāṇasya dātāraḥ teṣu dharmaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ
16. dānakṛdbhiḥ panthā kṛtaḥ yena manīṣiṇaḥ yānti hi
te prāṇasya dātāraḥ teṣu dharmaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ
16. The path is laid by those who perform acts of giving (dāna), a path by which the wise proceed. Indeed, they are givers of life (prāṇa), and in them, natural law (dharma) is firmly established.
यथा वेदाः स्वधीताश्च यथा चेन्द्रियसंयमः ।
सर्वत्यागो यथा चेह तथा दानमनुत्तमम् ॥१७॥
17. yathā vedāḥ svadhītāśca yathā cendriyasaṁyamaḥ ,
sarvatyāgo yathā ceha tathā dānamanuttamam.
17. yathā vedāḥ svadhītāḥ ca yathā ca indriyasaṃyamaḥ
sarvatyāgaḥ yathā ca iha tathā dānam anuttamam
17. yathā svadhītāḥ vedāḥ ca yathā indriyasaṃyamaḥ ca
yathā iha sarvatyāgaḥ ca tathā dānam anuttamam
17. Just as the Vedas, when properly studied, and just as the control of the senses, and just as complete renunciation in this world, so too is giving (dāna) considered supreme.
त्वं हि तात सुखादेव सुखमेष्यसि शोभनम् ।
सुखात्सुखतरप्राप्तिमाप्नुते मतिमान्नरः ॥१८॥
18. tvaṁ hi tāta sukhādeva sukhameṣyasi śobhanam ,
sukhātsukhataraprāptimāpnute matimānnaraḥ.
18. tvam hi tāta sukhāt eva sukham eṣyasi śobhanam
sukhāt sukhantara-prāptim āpnute matimān naraḥ
18. tāta tvam hi sukhāt eva śobhanam sukham eṣyasi
matimān naraḥ sukhāt sukhantara-prāptim āpnute
18. O dear son, you will surely attain excellent happiness solely through happiness. Indeed, a discerning person achieves the acquisition of even greater happiness through happiness.
तन्नः प्रत्यक्षमेवेदमुपलब्धमसंशयम् ।
श्रीमन्तमाप्नुवन्त्यर्था दानं यज्ञस्तथा सुखम् ॥१९॥
19. tannaḥ pratyakṣamevedamupalabdhamasaṁśayam ,
śrīmantamāpnuvantyarthā dānaṁ yajñastathā sukham.
19. tat naḥ pratyakṣam eva idam upalabdham asaṃśayam
śrīmantam āpnuvanti arthāḥ dānam yajñaḥ tathā sukham
19. tat naḥ idam eva pratyakṣam asaṃśayam upalabdham
arthāḥ dānam yajñaḥ tathā sukham śrīmantam āpnuvanti
19. This is indeed clearly evident and undoubtedly perceived by us: wealth and advantages come to the prosperous, as do giving (dāna), Vedic rituals (yajña), and happiness.
सुखादेव परं दुःखं दुःखादन्यत्परं सुखम् ।
दृश्यते हि महाप्राज्ञ नियतं वै स्वभावतः ॥२०॥
20. sukhādeva paraṁ duḥkhaṁ duḥkhādanyatparaṁ sukham ,
dṛśyate hi mahāprājña niyataṁ vai svabhāvataḥ.
20. sukhāt eva param duḥkham duḥkhāt anyat param sukham
dṛśyate hi mahāprājña niyatam vai svabhāvataḥ
20. mahāprājña hi sukhāt eva param duḥkham duḥkhāt
anyat param sukham dṛśyate niyatam vai svabhāvataḥ
20. From happiness itself arises supreme sorrow, and from sorrow, in turn, supreme happiness. This is indeed invariably observed, O great sage, by the intrinsic nature (svabhāva) of things.
त्रिविधानीह वृत्तानि नरस्याहुर्मनीषिणः ।
पुण्यमन्यत्पापमन्यन्न पुण्यं न च पापकम् ॥२१॥
21. trividhānīha vṛttāni narasyāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ ,
puṇyamanyatpāpamanyanna puṇyaṁ na ca pāpakam.
21. trividhāni iha vṛttāni narasya āhuḥ manīṣiṇaḥ
puṇyam anyat pāpam anyat na puṇyam na ca pāpakam
21. manīṣiṇaḥ iha narasya vṛttāni trividhāni āhuḥ
anyat puṇyam anyat pāpam na puṇyam na ca pāpakam
21. The wise (manīṣiṇaḥ) declare that there are three kinds of conduct (vṛttāni) for a person (narasya) in this world (iha): one is righteous, another is unrighteous, and a third is neither righteous nor unrighteous.
न वृत्तं मन्यतेऽन्यस्य मन्यतेऽन्यस्य पापकम् ।
तथा स्वकर्मनिर्वृत्तं न पुण्यं न च पापकम् ॥२२॥
22. na vṛttaṁ manyate'nyasya manyate'nyasya pāpakam ,
tathā svakarmanirvṛttaṁ na puṇyaṁ na ca pāpakam.
22. na vṛttam manyate anyasya manyate anyasya pāpakam
tathā svakarmanirvṛttam na puṇyam na ca pāpakam
22. anyasya vṛttam na manyate anyasya pāpakam manyate
tathā svakarmanirvṛttam na puṇyam na ca pāpakam
22. One does not value the virtuous conduct of another, yet one takes note of another's sinful actions. Similarly, that which arises from one's own actions (karma) is sometimes neither righteous nor unrighteous.
रमस्वैधस्व मोदस्व देहि चैव यजस्व च ।
न त्वामभिभविष्यन्ति वैद्या न च तपस्विनः ॥२३॥
23. ramasvaidhasva modasva dehi caiva yajasva ca ,
na tvāmabhibhaviṣyanti vaidyā na ca tapasvinaḥ.
23. ramasva edhasva modasva dehi ca eva yajasva ca
na tvām abhibhaviṣyanti vaidyāḥ na ca tapasvinaḥ
23. ramasva edhasva modasva ca eva dehi ca yajasva
vaidyāḥ ca tapasvinaḥ tvām na abhibhaviṣyanti
23. Delight yourself, prosper, rejoice! Give gifts and indeed perform Vedic rituals (yajña). Then, neither the learned scholars nor the ascetics (tapasvinaḥ) will ever overpower you.