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महाभारतः       mahābhārataḥ - book-3, chapter-177

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वैशंपायन उवाच ।
युधिष्ठिरस्तमासाद्य सर्पभोगाभिवेष्टितम् ।
दयितं भ्रातरं वीरमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥१॥
1. vaiśaṁpāyana uvāca ,
yudhiṣṭhirastamāsādya sarpabhogābhiveṣṭitam ,
dayitaṁ bhrātaraṁ vīramidaṁ vacanamabravīt.
1. vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca yudhiṣṭhiraḥ tam āsādya sarpabhogābhiveṣṭitam
dayitam bhrātaram vīram idam vacanam abravīt
1. Vaiśampāyana said: Upon reaching his beloved, heroic brother, who was encircled by the coils of the serpent, Yudhiṣṭhira spoke these words.
कुन्तीमातः कथमिमामापदं त्वमवाप्तवान् ।
कश्चायं पर्वताभोगप्रतिमः पन्नगोत्तमः ॥२॥
2. kuntīmātaḥ kathamimāmāpadaṁ tvamavāptavān ,
kaścāyaṁ parvatābhogapratimaḥ pannagottamaḥ.
2. kuntīmātaḥ katham imām āpadam tvam avāptavān
kaḥ ca ayam parvatābhogapratimaḥ pannagottamaḥ
2. O son of Kuntī, how did you encounter this misfortune? And who is this excellent serpent, whose immense form resembles a mountain?
स धर्मराजमालक्ष्य भ्राता भ्रातरमग्रजम् ।
कथयामास तत्सर्वं ग्रहणादि विचेष्टितम् ॥३॥
3. sa dharmarājamālakṣya bhrātā bhrātaramagrajam ,
kathayāmāsa tatsarvaṁ grahaṇādi viceṣṭitam.
3. sa dharmarājam ālakṣya bhrātā bhrātaram agrajam
kathayāmāsa tat sarvam grahaṇādi viceṣṭitam
3. Having perceived Yudhiṣṭhira, the king of natural law (dharma), he (the serpent king), addressing him as his elder brother, narrated all the events from the capture onwards.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच ।
देवो वा यदि वा दैत्य उरगो वा भवान्यदि ।
सत्यं सर्प वचो ब्रूहि पृच्छति त्वां युधिष्ठिरः ॥४॥
4. yudhiṣṭhira uvāca ,
devo vā yadi vā daitya urago vā bhavānyadi ,
satyaṁ sarpa vaco brūhi pṛcchati tvāṁ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ.
4. yudhiṣṭhiraḥ uvāca | devaḥ vā
yadi vā daityaḥ uragaḥ vā bhavān
yadi | satyam sarpa vacaḥ
brūhi pṛcchati tvām yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
4. Yudhiṣṭhira said: "Whether you are a god, a demon, or a serpent (uraga), speak the truth, O serpent (sarpa). Yudhiṣṭhira is asking you."
किमाहृत्य विदित्वा वा प्रीतिस्ते स्याद्भुजंगम ।
किमाहारं प्रयच्छामि कथं मुञ्चेद्भवानिमम् ॥५॥
5. kimāhṛtya viditvā vā prītiste syādbhujaṁgama ,
kimāhāraṁ prayacchāmi kathaṁ muñcedbhavānimam.
5. kim āhṛtya viditvā vā prītiḥ te syāt bhujaṅgama |
kim āhāram prayacchāmi katham muñcet bhavān imam
5. O serpent (bhujaṅgama), what should I bring or what knowledge should I acquire that would satisfy you? What food should I offer? How would you release him?
सर्प उवाच ।
नहुषो नाम राजाहमासं पूर्वस्तवानघ ।
प्रथितः पञ्चमः सोमादायोः पुत्रो नराधिप ॥६॥
6. sarpa uvāca ,
nahuṣo nāma rājāhamāsaṁ pūrvastavānagha ,
prathitaḥ pañcamaḥ somādāyoḥ putro narādhipa.
6. sarpaḥ uvāca | nahuṣaḥ nāma rājā aham āsam pūrvaḥ tava
anagha | prathitaḥ pañcamaḥ somāt āyoḥ putraḥ narādhipa
6. The serpent said: "O sinless one (anagha), I was a king named Nahuṣa, your ancestor (pūrva). I was renowned as the fifth (descendant) from Soma, and the son of Āyus, O lord of men (narādhipa)."
क्रतुभिस्तपसा चैव स्वाध्यायेन दमेन च ।
त्रैलोक्यैश्वर्यमव्यग्रं प्राप्तो विक्रमणेन च ॥७॥
7. kratubhistapasā caiva svādhyāyena damena ca ,
trailokyaiśvaryamavyagraṁ prāpto vikramaṇena ca.
7. kratubhiḥ tapasā ca eva svādhyāyena damena ca |
trailokyāiśvaryam avyagram prāptaḥ vikramaṇena ca
7. Through sacrifices (kratu), asceticism (tapas), self-study (svādhyāya), self-control (dama), and valor, I attained undisturbed sovereignty over the three worlds.
तदैश्वर्यं समासाद्य दर्पो मामगमत्तदा ।
सहस्रं हि द्विजातीनामुवाह शिबिकां मम ॥८॥
8. tadaiśvaryaṁ samāsādya darpo māmagamattadā ,
sahasraṁ hi dvijātīnāmuvāha śibikāṁ mama.
8. tadā aiśvaryam samāsādya darpaḥ mām agamat
tadā sahasram hi dvijātīnām uvāha śibikām mama
8. After attaining that prosperity, pride then overcame me. Indeed, a thousand brahmins carried my palanquin.
ऐश्वर्यमदमत्तोऽहमवमन्य ततो द्विजान् ।
इमामगस्त्येन दशामानीतः पृथिवीपते ॥९॥
9. aiśvaryamadamatto'hamavamanya tato dvijān ,
imāmagastyena daśāmānītaḥ pṛthivīpate.
9. aiśvaryamadamattaḥ aham avamanya tataḥ dvijān
imām agastyena daśām ānītaḥ pṛthivīpate
9. O lord of the earth, intoxicated by the pride of my power, I then disrespected the brahmins and was brought to this state by Agastya.
न तु मामजहात्प्रज्ञा यावदद्येति पाण्डव ।
तस्यैवानुग्रहाद्राजन्नगस्त्यस्य महात्मनः ॥१०॥
10. na tu māmajahātprajñā yāvadadyeti pāṇḍava ,
tasyaivānugrahādrājannagastyasya mahātmanaḥ.
10. na tu mām ajahāt prajñā yāvat adya iti pāṇḍava
tasya eva anugrahāt rājan agastyasya mahātmanaḥ
10. But my wisdom (prajñā) did not abandon me until today, O Pandava. This is solely by the grace (anugraha) of that great-souled (mahātman) Agastya, O king.
षष्ठे काले ममाहारः प्राप्तोऽयमनुजस्तव ।
नाहमेनं विमोक्ष्यामि न चान्यमभिकामये ॥११॥
11. ṣaṣṭhe kāle mamāhāraḥ prāpto'yamanujastava ,
nāhamenaṁ vimokṣyāmi na cānyamabhikāmaye.
11. ṣaṣṭhe kāle mama āhāraḥ prāptaḥ ayam anujaḥ tava
na aham enam vimokṣyāmi na ca anyam abhikāmaye
11. This younger brother of yours has become my food at the sixth hour. I will not release him, nor do I desire anyone else.
प्रश्नानुच्चारितांस्तु त्वं व्याहरिष्यसि चेन्मम ।
अथ पश्चाद्विमोक्ष्यामि भ्रातरं ते वृकोदरम् ॥१२॥
12. praśnānuccāritāṁstu tvaṁ vyāhariṣyasi cenmama ,
atha paścādvimokṣyāmi bhrātaraṁ te vṛkodaram.
12. praśnān uccāritān tu tvam vyāhariṣyasi cet mama
atha paścāt vimokṣyāmi bhrātaram te vṛkodaram
12. If you answer the questions I put to you, then I will subsequently release your brother, Vrikodara.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच ।
ब्रूहि सर्प यथाकामं प्रतिवक्ष्यामि ते वचः ।
अपि चेच्छक्नुयां प्रीतिमाहर्तुं ते भुजंगम ॥१३॥
13. yudhiṣṭhira uvāca ,
brūhi sarpa yathākāmaṁ prativakṣyāmi te vacaḥ ,
api cecchaknuyāṁ prītimāhartuṁ te bhujaṁgama.
13. yudhiṣṭhira uvāca brūhi sarpa yathākāmam prativakṣyāmi
te vacaḥ api cet śaknuyām prītim āhartum te bhujaṅgama
13. Yudhishthira said: O serpent, speak as you desire. I will answer your questions, and I hope I may be able to bring you satisfaction.
वेद्यं यद्ब्राह्मणेनेह तद्भवान्वेत्ति केवलम् ।
सर्पराज ततः श्रुत्वा प्रतिवक्ष्यामि ते वचः ॥१४॥
14. vedyaṁ yadbrāhmaṇeneha tadbhavānvetti kevalam ,
sarparāja tataḥ śrutvā prativakṣyāmi te vacaḥ.
14. vedyam yat brāhmaṇena iha tat bhavān vetti kevalam
sarparāja tataḥ śrutvā prativakṣyāmi te vacaḥ
14. O King of Serpents, you alone know what is to be known by a Brahmin (brāhmaṇa) in this world. Therefore, having heard your questions, I will answer them.
सर्प उवाच ।
ब्राह्मणः को भवेद्राजन्वेद्यं किं च युधिष्ठिर ।
ब्रवीह्यतिमतिं त्वां हि वाक्यैरनुमिमीमहे ॥१५॥
15. sarpa uvāca ,
brāhmaṇaḥ ko bhavedrājanvedyaṁ kiṁ ca yudhiṣṭhira ,
bravīhyatimatiṁ tvāṁ hi vākyairanumimīmahe.
15. sarpa uvāca brāhmaṇaḥ kaḥ bhavet rājan vedyam kim ca
yudhiṣṭhira bravīhi atimatim tvām hi vākyaiḥ anumimīmahe
15. The serpent said: O King, who is a Brahmin (brāhmaṇa)? And what, O Yudhishthira, is to be known? Please tell me, for we infer from your words that you are exceedingly wise.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच ।
सत्यं दानं क्षमा शीलमानृशंस्यं दमो घृणा ।
दृश्यन्ते यत्र नागेन्द्र स ब्राह्मण इति स्मृतः ॥१६॥
16. yudhiṣṭhira uvāca ,
satyaṁ dānaṁ kṣamā śīlamānṛśaṁsyaṁ damo ghṛṇā ,
dṛśyante yatra nāgendra sa brāhmaṇa iti smṛtaḥ.
16. yudhiṣṭhira uvāca satyam dānam kṣamā śīlam ānṛśaṃsyam damaḥ
ghṛṇā dṛśyante yatra nāgendra saḥ brāhmaṇaḥ iti smṛtaḥ
16. Yudhiṣṭhira said, "O chief of serpents, the one in whom truth, charity (dāna), forgiveness, virtuous conduct, compassion, self-control, and kindness are observed, is considered a Brahmin."
वेद्यं सर्प परं ब्रह्म निर्दुःखमसुखं च यत् ।
यत्र गत्वा न शोचन्ति भवतः किं विवक्षितम् ॥१७॥
17. vedyaṁ sarpa paraṁ brahma nirduḥkhamasukhaṁ ca yat ,
yatra gatvā na śocanti bhavataḥ kiṁ vivakṣitam.
17. vedyam sarpa param brahma nirduḥkham asukham ca
yat yatra gatvā na śocanti bhavataḥ kim vivakṣitam
17. O serpent, that which is to be known as the supreme (brahman), free from both suffering and (ordinary) pleasure, upon attaining which people do not grieve - what do you intend to say by this?
सर्प उवाच ।
चातुर्वर्ण्यं प्रमाणं च सत्यं च ब्रह्म चैव ह ।
शूद्रेष्वपि च सत्यं च दानमक्रोध एव च ।
आनृशंस्यमहिंसा च घृणा चैव युधिष्ठिर ॥१८॥
18. sarpa uvāca ,
cāturvarṇyaṁ pramāṇaṁ ca satyaṁ ca brahma caiva ha ,
śūdreṣvapi ca satyaṁ ca dānamakrodha eva ca ,
ānṛśaṁsyamahiṁsā ca ghṛṇā caiva yudhiṣṭhira.
18. sarpa uvāca cāturvarṇyam pramāṇam ca
satyam ca brahma ca eva ha śūdreṣu api ca
satyam ca dānam akrodhaḥ eva ca ānṛśaṃsyam
ahiṃsā ca ghṛṇā ca eva yudhiṣṭhira
18. The serpent said, "O Yudhiṣṭhira, the system of four social classes (cāturvarṇya), scriptural authority (pramāṇa), truth, and indeed (brahman) are (important). However, truth, charity (dāna), and indeed freedom from anger, compassion, non-violence (ahiṃsā), and kindness are found even among Śūdras."
वेद्यं यच्चात्थ निर्दुःखमसुखं च नराधिप ।
ताभ्यां हीनं पदं चान्यन्न तदस्तीति लक्षये ॥१९॥
19. vedyaṁ yaccāttha nirduḥkhamasukhaṁ ca narādhipa ,
tābhyāṁ hīnaṁ padaṁ cānyanna tadastīti lakṣaye.
19. vedyam yat ca āttha nirduḥkham asukham ca narādhipa
tābhyām hīnam padam ca anyat na tat asti iti lakṣaye
19. O king of men, concerning that which you referred to as the knowable (brahman), free from suffering and free from (ordinary) pleasure - I perceive that there is no other state (mokṣa) devoid of these two qualities.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच ।
शूद्रे चैतद्भवेल्लक्ष्यं द्विजे तच्च न विद्यते ।
न वै शूद्रो भवेच्छूद्रो ब्राह्मणो न च ब्राह्मणः ॥२०॥
20. yudhiṣṭhira uvāca ,
śūdre caitadbhavellakṣyaṁ dvije tacca na vidyate ,
na vai śūdro bhavecchūdro brāhmaṇo na ca brāhmaṇaḥ.
20. yudhiṣṭhira uvāca śūdre ca etat
bhavet lakṣyam dvije tat ca na
vidyate na vai śūdraḥ bhavet
śūdraḥ brāhmaṇaḥ na ca brāhmaṇaḥ
20. Yudhishthira said: "This characteristic [of good conduct and virtue] may be present in a śūdra, and it may not exist in a dvija (twice-born). Truly, a śūdra is not (defined as) a śūdra by birth, nor is a Brāhmaṇa (defined as) a Brāhmaṇa by birth."
यत्रैतल्लक्ष्यते सर्प वृत्तं स ब्राह्मणः स्मृतः ।
यत्रैतन्न भवेत्सर्प तं शूद्रमिति निर्दिशेत् ॥२१॥
21. yatraitallakṣyate sarpa vṛttaṁ sa brāhmaṇaḥ smṛtaḥ ,
yatraitanna bhavetsarpa taṁ śūdramiti nirdiśet.
21. yatra etat lakṣyate sarpa vṛttam saḥ brāhmaṇaḥ smṛtaḥ
yatra etat na bhavet sarpa tam śūdram iti nirdiśet
21. O serpent, he in whom this characteristic and good conduct is observed is considered a Brāhmaṇa. O serpent, where this is not present, one should declare him to be a śūdra.
यत्पुनर्भवता प्रोक्तं न वेद्यं विद्यतेति ह ।
ताभ्यां हीनमतीत्यात्र पदं नास्तीति चेदपि ॥२२॥
22. yatpunarbhavatā proktaṁ na vedyaṁ vidyateti ha ,
tābhyāṁ hīnamatītyātra padaṁ nāstīti cedapi.
22. yat punaḥ bhavatā proktam na vedyam vidyate iti ha
tābhyām hīnam atītya atra padam na asti iti cet api
22. As for what was said by you, 'indeed, there is nothing truly knowable,' and, 'even if there is no (third) state here for one who is devoid of (the characteristics of) those two (Brāhmaṇa and Śūdra based on conduct), going beyond them...'
एवमेतन्मतं सर्प ताभ्यां हीनं न विद्यते ।
यथा शीतोष्णयोर्मध्ये भवेन्नोष्णं न शीतता ॥२३॥
23. evametanmataṁ sarpa tābhyāṁ hīnaṁ na vidyate ,
yathā śītoṣṇayormadhye bhavennoṣṇaṁ na śītatā.
23. evam etat matam sarpa tābhyām hīnam na vidyate
yathā śītoṣṇayoḥ madhye bhavet na uṣṇam na śītatā
23. Indeed, this is my opinion, O serpent: a state completely devoid of (the characteristics defining) those two (Brāhmaṇa and Śūdra by conduct) does not exist. Just as between cold and heat, there is a state that is neither (extreme) hot nor (extreme) cold.
एवं वै सुखदुःखाभ्यां हीनमस्ति पदं क्वचित् ।
एषा मम मतिः सर्प यथा वा मन्यते भवान् ॥२४॥
24. evaṁ vai sukhaduḥkhābhyāṁ hīnamasti padaṁ kvacit ,
eṣā mama matiḥ sarpa yathā vā manyate bhavān.
24. evaṃ vai sukha-duḥkhābhyām hīnam asti padam kvacit
| eṣā mama matiḥ sarpa yathā vā manyate bhavān
24. Indeed, is there any state whatsoever that is truly devoid of both happiness and sorrow? This is my view, O serpent; or, you may think as you wish.
सर्प उवाच ।
यदि ते वृत्ततो राजन्ब्राह्मणः प्रसमीक्षितः ।
व्यर्था जातिस्तदायुष्मन्कृतिर्यावन्न दृश्यते ॥२५॥
25. sarpa uvāca ,
yadi te vṛttato rājanbrāhmaṇaḥ prasamīkṣitaḥ ,
vyarthā jātistadāyuṣmankṛtiryāvanna dṛśyate.
25. sarpa uvāca | yadi te vṛttataḥ rājan brāhmaṇaḥ prasamīkṣitaḥ
| vyarthā jātiḥ tadā āyuṣman kṛtiḥ yāvat na dṛśyate
25. The serpent said: 'O King, if you consider a brahmin to be defined by his conduct, then, O long-lived one, lineage (jāti) is meaningless as long as his actual deeds (kṛti) are not seen.'
युधिष्ठिर उवाच ।
जातिरत्र महासर्प मनुष्यत्वे महामते ।
संकरात्सर्ववर्णानां दुष्परीक्ष्येति मे मतिः ॥२६॥
26. yudhiṣṭhira uvāca ,
jātiratra mahāsarpa manuṣyatve mahāmate ,
saṁkarātsarvavarṇānāṁ duṣparīkṣyeti me matiḥ.
26. yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | jātiḥ atra mahāsarpa manuṣyatve
mahāmate | saṅkarāt sarvavarṇānām duṣparīkṣyā iti me matiḥ
26. Yudhiṣṭhira said: 'O great serpent, O venerable one, in human society, my opinion is that lineage (jāti) is difficult to determine because of the intermixing of all the social classes (varṇas).'
सर्वे सर्वास्वपत्यानि जनयन्ति यदा नराः ।
वाङ्मैथुनमथो जन्म मरणं च समं नृणाम् ॥२७॥
27. sarve sarvāsvapatyāni janayanti yadā narāḥ ,
vāṅmaithunamatho janma maraṇaṁ ca samaṁ nṛṇām.
27. sarve sarvāsu apatyāni janayanti yadā narāḥ |
vāṅmaithunam atho janma maraṇaṃ ca samam nṛṇām
27. When all men produce offspring in all women, then indeed, speech (vāc), sexual union, birth, and death are common to all humans.
इदमार्षं प्रमाणं च ये यजामह इत्यपि ।
तस्माच्छीलं प्रधानेष्टं विदुर्ये तत्त्वदर्शिनः ॥२८॥
28. idamārṣaṁ pramāṇaṁ ca ye yajāmaha ityapi ,
tasmācchīlaṁ pradhāneṣṭaṁ vidurye tattvadarśinaḥ.
28. idam ārṣam pramāṇam ca ye yajāmahe iti api tasmāt
śīlam pradhāneṣṭam viduḥ ye tattvadarśinaḥ
28. This revealed authority (ārṣam pramāṇam) and the Vedic injunction 'we sacrifice' ("yajāmahe") are also considered, by those who perceive the truth (tattvadarśinaḥ), to establish that good conduct is of primary importance.
प्राङ्नाभिवर्धनात्पुंसो जातकर्म विधीयते ।
तत्रास्य माता सावित्री पिता त्वाचार्य उच्यते ॥२९॥
29. prāṅnābhivardhanātpuṁso jātakarma vidhīyate ,
tatrāsya mātā sāvitrī pitā tvācārya ucyate.
29. prāk nābhi-vardhanāt puṃsaḥ jāta-karma vidhīyate
tatra asya mātā sāvitrī pitā tu ācāryaḥ ucyate
29. The birth ceremony (jātakarma) for a male child is prescribed before the cutting of the umbilical cord. Then, in that (spiritual) context, Sāvitrī (the Gāyatrī mantra) is considered his mother, and the preceptor (ācārya) is said to be his father.
वृत्त्या शूद्रसमो ह्येष यावद्वेदे न जायते ।
अस्मिन्नेवं मतिद्वैधे मनुः स्वायम्भुवोऽब्रवीत् ॥३०॥
30. vṛttyā śūdrasamo hyeṣa yāvadvede na jāyate ,
asminnevaṁ matidvaidhe manuḥ svāyambhuvo'bravīt.
30. vṛttyā śūdra-samaḥ hi eṣaḥ yāvat vede na jāyate
asmin evam mati-dvaidhe manuḥ svāyaṃbhuvaḥ abravīt
30. Indeed, by his status, he is equal to a śūdra until he is born into the Veda (i.e., initiated). In this very doubt concerning different opinions (mati-dvaidhe), Svāyambhuva Manu declared (the definitive statement).
कृतकृत्याः पुनर्वर्णा यदि वृत्तं न विद्यते ।
संकरस्तत्र नागेन्द्र बलवान्प्रसमीक्षितः ॥३१॥
31. kṛtakṛtyāḥ punarvarṇā yadi vṛttaṁ na vidyate ,
saṁkarastatra nāgendra balavānprasamīkṣitaḥ.
31. kṛta-kṛtyāḥ punar varṇāḥ yadi vṛttam na vidyate
saṃkaraḥ tatra nāga-indra balavān prasakmīkṣitaḥ
31. Even if the social classes (varṇāḥ) have fulfilled their prescribed duties (kṛtakṛtyāḥ), yet if proper conduct (vṛttam) is not maintained, then, O best of serpents (Nāgendra), a powerful intermixture (saṃkaraḥ) is observed.
यत्रेदानीं महासर्प संस्कृतं वृत्तमिष्यते ।
तं ब्राह्मणमहं पूर्वमुक्तवान्भुजगोत्तम ॥३२॥
32. yatredānīṁ mahāsarpa saṁskṛtaṁ vṛttamiṣyate ,
taṁ brāhmaṇamahaṁ pūrvamuktavānbhujagottama.
32. yatra idānīm mahāsarpa saṃskṛtam vṛttam iṣyate
tam brāhmaṇam aham pūrvam uktavān bhujagottama
32. O great serpent, now that a sacred story is desired, I (Yudhiṣṭhira) previously spoke to that Brahmin, O best of serpents.
सर्प उवाच ।
श्रुतं विदितवेद्यस्य तव वाक्यं युधिष्ठिर ।
भक्षयेयमहं कस्माद्भ्रातरं ते वृकोदरम् ॥३३॥
33. sarpa uvāca ,
śrutaṁ viditavedyasya tava vākyaṁ yudhiṣṭhira ,
bhakṣayeyamahaṁ kasmādbhrātaraṁ te vṛkodaram.
33. sarpa uvāca śrutam viditavedyasya tava vākyam yudhiṣṭhira
bhakṣayeyam aham kasmāt bhrātaram te vṛkodaram
33. The serpent said: O Yudhiṣṭhira, your statement has been heard and understood by me, who comprehends all that is to be known. Why should I eat your brother, Bhīma (Vṛkodara)?