The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 13.8.4
Mahābhārata 13.8.4
- Language
- Sanskrit
13.8.4
yeṣāṃ vṛddhāśca bālāśca pitṛpaitāmahīṃ dhuram |
udvahanti na sīdanti teṣāṃ vai spṛhayāmyaham || 4 ||
"Bhishma said, 'I like those regenerate persons whose highest wealth is Brahman, whose heaven consists in the knowledge of the soul, and whose penances are constituted by their diligent study of the Vedas. My heart yearns after those in whose race persons, young and old diligently bear the ancestral burthens without languishing under them. Brahmanas well-trained in several branches of knowledge, self-controlled, mild-speeched, conversant with the scriptures, well-behaved, possessed of the knowledge of Brahman and righteous in conduct, discourse in respectable assemblies like flights of swans. Auspicious, agreeable, excellent, and well-pronounced are the words, O Yudhishthira, which they utter with a voice as deep as that of the clouds. Fraught with happiness both temporal and spiritual, such words are uttered by them in the courts of monarchs, themselves being received with honour and attention and served with reverence by those rulers of men. Indeed, my heart yearns after them who listen to the words uttered in assemblies or the courts of kings by persons endued with knowledge and all desirable attributes, and are respected by others. My heart, O monarch, always yearns after them who, for the gratification of Brahmanas, O Yudhishthira, give unto them, with devotion, food that is well-cooked and clean and wholesome. It is easy to fight in battle, but not so to make a gift without pride or vanity. In this world, O Yudhishthira, there are brave men and heroes by hundreds.
Translations (1)
- The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, English
Commentaries (5)
- Jñānadīpikā — Devabodha, Sanskrit
- Bhāratabhāvadīpa — Nīlakaṇṭha Caturdhara, Sanskrit
- Lakṣaślokālaṅkāra — Vādirāja, Sanskrit
- Mahābhārataṭīkā — Nīlakaṇṭha Dīkṣita, Sanskrit
- Lakṣābharaṇa — Vādirāja Sūri, Sanskrit
Other recensions (1)
- Vulgate (Nīlakaṇṭha's text) — Sanskrit