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महाभारतः       mahābhārataḥ - book-3, chapter-196

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वैशंपायन उवाच ।
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा मार्कण्डेयं महाद्युतिम् ।
पप्रच्छ भरतश्रेष्ठो धर्मप्रश्नं सुदुर्वचम् ॥१॥
1. vaiśaṁpāyana uvāca ,
tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā mārkaṇḍeyaṁ mahādyutim ,
papraccha bharataśreṣṭho dharmapraśnaṁ sudurvacam.
1. vaiśaṃpāyanaḥ uvāca tataḥ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ rājā mārkaṇḍeyam
mahādyutim papraccha bharataśreṣṭhaḥ dharmapraśnam sudurvacam
1. Vaiśampāyana said: Then King Yudhiṣṭhira, the foremost among the Bhāratas, asked the greatly illustrious Mārkaṇḍeya a question concerning natural law (dharma) which was exceedingly difficult to explain.
श्रोतुमिच्छामि भगवन्स्त्रीणां माहात्म्यमुत्तमम् ।
कथ्यमानं त्वया विप्र सूक्ष्मं धर्मं च तत्त्वतः ॥२॥
2. śrotumicchāmi bhagavanstrīṇāṁ māhātmyamuttamam ,
kathyamānaṁ tvayā vipra sūkṣmaṁ dharmaṁ ca tattvataḥ.
2. śrotum icchāmi bhagavan strīṇām māhātmyam uttamam
kathyamānam tvayā vipra sūkṣmam dharmam ca tattvataḥ
2. O venerable one, O Brahmin, I wish to hear from you the supreme greatness of women, and the subtle essence of natural law (dharma), as it is being narrated by you.
प्रत्यक्षेण हि विप्रर्षे देवा दृश्यन्ति सत्तम ।
सूर्याचन्द्रमसौ वायुः पृथिवी वह्निरेव च ॥३॥
3. pratyakṣeṇa hi viprarṣe devā dṛśyanti sattama ,
sūryācandramasau vāyuḥ pṛthivī vahnireva ca.
3. pratyakṣeṇa hi viprarṣe devāḥ dṛśyanti sattama
sūryācandramasau vāyuḥ pṛthivī vahniḥ eva ca
3. Indeed, O Brahmin-sage, O best of noble ones, the gods are seen directly: the sun and moon, the wind, the earth, and fire, as well.
पिता माता च भगवन्गाव एव च सत्तम ।
यच्चान्यदेव विहितं तच्चापि भृगुनन्दन ॥४॥
4. pitā mātā ca bhagavangāva eva ca sattama ,
yaccānyadeva vihitaṁ taccāpi bhṛgunandana.
4. pitā mātā ca bhagavan gāvaḥ eva ca sattama yat
ca anyat eva vihitam tat ca api bhṛgunandana
4. O venerable one, O best of noble ones, the father, mother, and cows are also directly manifest, and whatever else is ordained, that too (is manifest), O descendant of Bhṛgu.
मन्येऽहं गुरुवत्सर्वमेकपत्न्यस्तथा स्त्रियः ।
पतिव्रतानां शुश्रूषा दुष्करा प्रतिभाति मे ॥५॥
5. manye'haṁ guruvatsarvamekapatnyastathā striyaḥ ,
pativratānāṁ śuśrūṣā duṣkarā pratibhāti me.
5. manye aham guruvat sarvam ekapatnyaḥ tathā
striyaḥ pativratānām śuśrūṣā duṣkarā pratibhāti me
5. I consider all women, particularly those devoted to one husband (ekapatnyaḥ), to be like a revered teacher (guru). Serving such devoted wives (pativratānām) appears arduous to me.
पतिव्रतानां माहात्म्यं वक्तुमर्हसि नः प्रभो ।
निरुध्य चेन्द्रियग्रामं मनः संरुध्य चानघ ।
पतिं दैवतवच्चापि चिन्तयन्त्यः स्थिता हि याः ॥६॥
6. pativratānāṁ māhātmyaṁ vaktumarhasi naḥ prabho ,
nirudhya cendriyagrāmaṁ manaḥ saṁrudhya cānagha ,
patiṁ daivatavaccāpi cintayantyaḥ sthitā hi yāḥ.
6. pativratānām māhātmyam vaktum arhasi
naḥ prabho nirudhya ca indriyagrāmam
manaḥ saṃrudhya ca anagha patim daivatavat
ca api cintayantyaḥ sthitāḥ hi yāḥ
6. O Lord, O sinless one (anagha), please describe to us the greatness of devoted wives (pativratānām). These are women who steadfastly contemplate their husband as if he were a deity, having completely restrained their senses and disciplined their mind.
भगवन्दुष्करं ह्येतत्प्रतिभाति मम प्रभो ।
मातापितृषु शुश्रूषा स्त्रीणां भर्तृषु च द्विज ॥७॥
7. bhagavanduṣkaraṁ hyetatpratibhāti mama prabho ,
mātāpitṛṣu śuśrūṣā strīṇāṁ bhartṛṣu ca dvija.
7. bhagavan duṣkaram hi etat pratibhāti mama prabho
mātāpitṛṣu śuśrūṣā strīṇām bhartṛṣu ca dvija
7. O revered one (bhagavan), O twice-born (dvija), this truly appears difficult to me: devoted service (śuśrūṣā) to parents, and for women, devoted service to their husbands.
स्त्रीणां धर्मात्सुघोराद्धि नान्यं पश्यामि दुष्करम् ।
साध्वाचाराः स्त्रियो ब्रह्मन्यत्कुर्वन्ति सदादृताः ।
दुष्करं बत कुर्वन्ति पितरो मातरश्च वै ॥८॥
8. strīṇāṁ dharmātsughorāddhi nānyaṁ paśyāmi duṣkaram ,
sādhvācārāḥ striyo brahmanyatkurvanti sadādṛtāḥ ,
duṣkaraṁ bata kurvanti pitaro mātaraśca vai.
8. strīṇām dharmāt sughorāt hi na anyam
paśyāmi duṣkaram sādhvācārāḥ striyaḥ
brahman yat kurvanti sadādṛtāḥ duṣkaram
bata kurvanti pitaraḥ mātaraḥ ca vai
8. O Brahmin (brahman), I see nothing else for women more challenging than their extremely severe natural law (dharma). Alas, the difficult duties (duṣkaram) performed by virtuous women (sādhvācārāḥ), who are always revered, are indeed arduous. And parents also certainly undertake difficult tasks.
एकपत्न्यश्च या नार्यो याश्च सत्यं वदन्त्युत ।
कुक्षिणा दश मासांश्च गर्भं संधारयन्ति याः ।
नार्यः कालेन संभूय किमद्भुततरं ततः ॥९॥
9. ekapatnyaśca yā nāryo yāśca satyaṁ vadantyuta ,
kukṣiṇā daśa māsāṁśca garbhaṁ saṁdhārayanti yāḥ ,
nāryaḥ kālena saṁbhūya kimadbhutataraṁ tataḥ.
9. ekapatnyaḥ ca yāḥ nāryaḥ yāḥ ca satyam
vadanti uta kukṣiṇā daśa māsān ca
garbham saṃdhārayanti yāḥ nāryaḥ
kālena saṃbhūya kim adbhutataram tataḥ
9. And those women who are devoted to a single husband (ekapatnyaḥ), and those who speak the truth (satyam) - moreover, those women who carry a fetus (garbham) in their womb for ten months and then give birth (saṃbhūya) in due time - what is more wondrous (adbhutataram) than that?
संशयं परमं प्राप्य वेदनामतुलामपि ।
प्रजायन्ते सुतान्नार्यो दुःखेन महता विभो ।
पुष्णन्ति चापि महता स्नेहेन द्विजसत्तम ॥१०॥
10. saṁśayaṁ paramaṁ prāpya vedanāmatulāmapi ,
prajāyante sutānnāryo duḥkhena mahatā vibho ,
puṣṇanti cāpi mahatā snehena dvijasattama.
10. saṃśayam paramam prāpya vedanām
atulām api prajāyante sutān nāryaḥ
duḥkhena mahatā vibho puṣṇanti ca
api mahatā snehena dvijasattama
10. O mighty one (vibho), O best among twice-born ones (dvijasattama)! Women, having experienced extreme doubt and incomparable pain, give birth to sons with great suffering. And they also nourish them with great affection.
ये च क्रूरेषु सर्वेषु वर्तमाना जुगुप्सिताः ।
स्वकर्म कुर्वन्ति सदा दुष्करं तच्च मे मतम् ॥११॥
11. ye ca krūreṣu sarveṣu vartamānā jugupsitāḥ ,
svakarma kurvanti sadā duṣkaraṁ tacca me matam.
11. ye ca krūreṣu sarveṣu vartamānāḥ jugupsitāḥ
svakarma kurvanti sadā duṣkaram tat ca me matam
11. And those who are present among all cruel and despicable ones, always perform their own (karma) actions; that too is my opinion (matam) that it is difficult (to understand/accomplish).
क्षत्रधर्मसमाचारं तथ्यं चाख्याहि मे द्विज ।
धर्मः सुदुर्लभो विप्र नृशंसेन दुरात्मना ॥१२॥
12. kṣatradharmasamācāraṁ tathyaṁ cākhyāhi me dvija ,
dharmaḥ sudurlabho vipra nṛśaṁsena durātmanā.
12. kṣatradharmasamācāram tathyam ca ākhyāhi me dvija
dharmaḥ sudurlabhaḥ vipra nṛśaṃsena durātmanā
12. O Brahmin (dvija)! Please tell me the truth about the conduct of a warrior's (kṣatra) intrinsic nature (dharma). O learned one (vipra)! Such natural law (dharma) is extremely difficult to obtain for a cruel and evil-minded person.
एतदिच्छामि भगवन्प्रश्नं प्रश्नविदां वर ।
श्रोतुं भृगुकुलश्रेष्ठ शुश्रूषे तव सुव्रत ॥१३॥
13. etadicchāmi bhagavanpraśnaṁ praśnavidāṁ vara ,
śrotuṁ bhṛgukulaśreṣṭha śuśrūṣe tava suvrata.
13. etat icchāmi bhagavan praśnam praśnavidām vara
śrotum bhṛgukulaśreṣṭha śuśrūṣe tava suvrat
13. O venerable one (bhagavan), O best among those who know questions! I wish to hear this question. O best of the Bhṛgu family, O one of good vows (suvrat)! I desire to serve you.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच ।
हन्त ते सर्वमाख्यास्ये प्रश्नमेतं सुदुर्वचम् ।
तत्त्वेन भरतश्रेष्ठ गदतस्तन्निबोध मे ॥१४॥
14. mārkaṇḍeya uvāca ,
hanta te sarvamākhyāsye praśnametaṁ sudurvacam ,
tattvena bharataśreṣṭha gadatastannibodha me.
14. mārkaṇḍeyaḥ uvāca hanta te sarvam ākhyāsye praśnam etam
sudurvacam tattvena bharataśreṣṭha gadataḥ tat nibodha me
14. Mārkaṇḍeya said: "O best among the Bhāratas, indeed, I will explain everything to you concerning this extremely difficult question, in its true nature. Listen to me as I narrate it."
मातरं सदृशीं तात पितॄनन्ये च मन्यते ।
दुष्करं कुरुते माता विवर्धयति या प्रजाः ॥१५॥
15. mātaraṁ sadṛśīṁ tāta pitṝnanye ca manyate ,
duṣkaraṁ kurute mātā vivardhayati yā prajāḥ.
15. mātaram sadṛśīm tāta pitṝn anye ca manyate
duṣkaram kurute mātā vivardhayati yā prajāḥ
15. O dear child, some consider a mother to be on par with fathers and other relatives. Truly, a mother performs a very difficult task, for she is the one who fosters her children.
तपसा देवतेज्याभिर्वन्दनेन तितिक्षया ।
अभिचारैरुपायैश्च ईहन्ते पितरः सुतान् ॥१६॥
16. tapasā devatejyābhirvandanena titikṣayā ,
abhicārairupāyaiśca īhante pitaraḥ sutān.
16. tapasā devatejyābhiḥ vandanena titikṣayā
abhicāraiḥ upāyaiḥ ca īhante pitaraḥ sutān
16. Fathers strive for sons through ascetic practices (tapas), by worshipping deities, by offering reverence, by exercising patience, and by various rites and means.
एवं कृच्छ्रेण महता पुत्रं प्राप्य सुदुर्लभम् ।
चिन्तयन्ति सदा वीर कीदृशोऽयं भविष्यति ॥१७॥
17. evaṁ kṛcchreṇa mahatā putraṁ prāpya sudurlabham ,
cintayanti sadā vīra kīdṛśo'yaṁ bhaviṣyati.
17. evam kṛcchreṇa mahatā putram prāpya sudurlabham
cintayanti sadā vīra kīdṛśaḥ ayam bhaviṣyati
17. Thus, O hero, after obtaining such a very rare son with great difficulty, they constantly ponder, 'What kind of person will he become?'
आशंसते च पुत्रेषु पिता माता च भारत ।
यशः कीर्तिमथैश्वर्यं प्रजा धर्मं तथैव च ॥१८॥
18. āśaṁsate ca putreṣu pitā mātā ca bhārata ,
yaśaḥ kīrtimathaiśvaryaṁ prajā dharmaṁ tathaiva ca.
18. āśaṃsate ca putreṣu pitā mātā ca bhārata yaśaḥ
kīrtim atha aiśvaryam prajā dharmam tathā eva ca
18. A father and mother, O Bhārata, hope for fame, renown, prosperity, and adherence to natural law (dharma) from their sons; and progeny (prajā) is also hoped for.
तयोराशां तु सफलां यः करोति स धर्मवित् ।
पिता माता च राजेन्द्र तुष्यतो यस्य नित्यदा ।
इह प्रेत्य च तस्याथ कीर्तिर्धर्मश्च शाश्वतः ॥१९॥
19. tayorāśāṁ tu saphalāṁ yaḥ karoti sa dharmavit ,
pitā mātā ca rājendra tuṣyato yasya nityadā ,
iha pretya ca tasyātha kīrtirdharmaśca śāśvataḥ.
19. tayoḥ āśām tu saphalām yaḥ karoti saḥ
dharmavit pitā mātā ca rājendra
tuṣyataḥ yasya nityadā iha pretya ca
tasya atha kīrtiḥ dharmaḥ ca śāśvataḥ
19. O king of kings, he who fulfills the hopes of those (parents) is a knower of natural law (dharma). When a father and mother are perpetually pleased with him, his fame and adherence to natural law (dharma) become eternal, both in this world and in the next.
नैव यज्ञः स्त्रियः कश्चिन्न श्राद्धं नोपवासकम् ।
या तु भर्तरि शुश्रूषा तया स्वर्गमुपाश्नुते ॥२०॥
20. naiva yajñaḥ striyaḥ kaścinna śrāddhaṁ nopavāsakam ,
yā tu bhartari śuśrūṣā tayā svargamupāśnute.
20. na eva yajñaḥ striyaḥ kaścit na śrāddham na upavāsakam
yā tu bhartari śuśrūṣā tayā svargam upāśnute
20. For a woman, there is neither any Vedic ritual (yajña) nor ancestral offering (śrāddha) nor fasting. Instead, she attains heaven through her service and devotion to her husband.
एतत्प्रकरणं राजन्नधिकृत्य युधिष्ठिर ।
प्रतिव्रतानां नियतं धर्मं चावहितः शृणु ॥२१॥
21. etatprakaraṇaṁ rājannadhikṛtya yudhiṣṭhira ,
prativratānāṁ niyataṁ dharmaṁ cāvahitaḥ śṛṇu.
21. etat prakaraṇam rājan adhikṛtya yudhiṣṭhira
pativratānām niyatam dharmam ca avahitaḥ śṛṇu
21. O King Yudhiṣṭhira, focusing your attention, listen to this matter concerning the prescribed natural law (dharma) of faithful wives.