The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 5.33: trayastriṃśo'dhyāyaḥ

5.33.1

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
dvāḥsthaṃ prāha mahāprājño dhṛtarāṣṭro mahīpatiḥ |
viduraṃ draṣṭumicchāmi tamihānaya māciram || 1 ||

"Vaisampayana said, 'King Dhritarashtra endued with great wisdom (then) said to the orderly-in-waiting, 'I desire to see Vidura. Bring him here without delay.' Despatched by Dhritarashtra, the messenger went to Kshatri and said, 'O thou of great wisdom, our lord the mighty king desireth to see thee.' Thus addressed, Vidura (set out and) coming to the palace, spoke unto the orderly, 'Apprise Dhritarashtra of my arrival.' Thereupon the orderly went to Dhritarashtra, and said, O, foremost of kings, Vidura is here at thy command. He wisheth to behold thy feet.

5.33.2

prahito dhṛtarāṣṭreṇa dūtaḥ kṣattāramabravīt |
īśvarastvāṃ mahārājo mahāprājña didṛkṣati || 2 ||

5.33.3

evamuktastu viduraḥ prāpya rājaniveśanam |
abravīddhṛtarāṣṭrāya dvāḥstha māṃ prativedaya || 3 ||

5.33.4

dvāḥstha uvāca |
viduro'yamanuprāpto rājendra tava śāsanāt |
draṣṭumicchati te pādau kiṃ karotu praśādhi mām || 4 ||

[paragraph continues] Command me as to what he is to do.' Thereupon Dhritarashtra said, 'Let Vidura of great wisdom and foresight enter. I am never unwilling or unprepared to see Vidura.' The orderly then went out and spoke unto Vidura, 'O Kshatri, enter the inner apartments of the wise king. The king says that he is never unwilling to see thee.'

5.33.5

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca |
praveśaya mahāprājñaṃ viduraṃ dīrghadarśinam |
ahaṃ hi vidurasyāsya nākālyo jātu darśane || 5 ||

5.33.6

dvāḥstha uvāca |
praviśāntaḥpuraṃ kṣattarmahārājasya dhīmataḥ |
na hi te darśane'kālyo jātu rājā bravīti mām || 6 ||

5.33.7

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
tataḥ praviśya viduro dhṛtarāṣṭraniveśanam |
abravītprāñjalirvākyaṃ cintayānaṃ narādhipam || 7 ||

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Having entered Dhritarashtra's chamber, Vidura said with joined hands unto that ruler of men who was then plunged in thought, 'O thou of great wisdom, I am Vidura, arrived here at thy command. If there is anything to be done, here I am, command me!'

5.33.8

viduro'haṃ mahāprājña saṃprāptastava śāsanāt |
yadi kiṃcana kartavyamayamasmi praśādhi mām || 8 ||

5.33.9

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca |
saṃjayo vidura prāpto garhayitvā ca māṃ gataḥ |
ajātaśatroḥ śvo vākyaṃ sabhāmadhye sa vakṣyati || 9 ||

"Dhritarashtra said, 'O Vidura, Sanjaya hath come back. He hath gone away after rebuking me. Tomorrow he will deliver, in the midst of the court, Ajatasatru's message. I have not been able today to ascertain what the message is of the Kuru hero. Therefore, my body is burning, and that hath produced sleeplessness. Tell us what may be good for a person that is sleepless and burning. Thou art, O child, versed in both religion and profit. Ever since, Sanjaya hath returned from the Pandavas, my heart knoweth no peace. Filled with anxiety about what he may deliver, all my senses have been disordered'.

5.33.10

tasyādya kuruvīrasya na vijñātaṃ vaco mayā |
tanme dahati gātrāṇi tadakārṣītprajāgaram || 10 ||

5.33.11

jāgrato dahyamānasya śreyo yadiha paśyasi |
tadbrūhi tvaṃ hi nastāta dharmārthakuśalo hyasi || 11 ||

5.33.12

yataḥ prāptaḥ saṃjayaḥ pāṇḍavebhyo na me yathāvanmanasaḥ praśāntiḥ |
sarvendriyāṇyaprakṛtiṃ gatāni kiṃ vakṣyatītyeva hi me'dya cintā || 12 ||

5.33.13

vidura uvāca |
abhiyuktaṃ balavatā durbalaṃ hīnasādhanam |
hṛtasvaṃ kāminaṃ coramāviśanti prajāgarāḥ || 13 ||

"Vidura said, 'Sleeplessness overtaketh thief, a lustful person, him that hath lost all his wealth, him that hath failed to achieve success, and him also that is weak and hath been attacked by a strong person. I hope, O king, that none of these grave calamities have overtaken thee. I hope, thou dost not grieve, coveting the wealth of others.'

5.33.14

kaccidetairmahādoṣairna spṛṣṭo'si narādhipa |
kaccinna paravitteṣu gṛdhyanviparitapyase || 14 ||

5.33.15

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca |
śrotumicchāmi te dharmyaṃ paraṃ naiḥśreyasaṃ vacaḥ |
asminrājarṣivaṃśe hi tvamekaḥ prājñasaṃmataḥ || 15 ||

"Dhritarashtra said, 'I desire to hear from thee words that are beneficial and fraught with high morality. In this race of royal Rishis thou alone art reverenced by the wise.' Vidura replied, 'King (Yudhishthira), graced with every virtue, is worthy of being the sovereign of the three worlds; yet, O Dhritarashtra, however worthy of being kept by thy side, he was exiled by thee. Thou art, however, possessed of qualities which are thy very reverse of those possessed by him. Although virtuous and versed in morality, thou hast yet no right to a share in the kingdom owing to thy loss of sight. In consequence of his inoffensiveness and kindness, his righteousness, love of truth and energy, and his remembering the reverence that is due to thee, Yudhishthira patiently bears innumerable wrongs. Having bestowed on Duryodhana and Suvala's son and Karna, and Dussasana the management of the empire, how canst thou hope for prosperity? He that is not served from the high ends of life by the aid of self-knowledge, exertion, forbearance and steadiness in virtue, is called wise. These again are the marks of a wise man, viz., adherence to acts, worthy of praise and rejection of what is blamable, faith, and reverence. He whom neither anger nor joy, nor pride, nor false modesty, nor stupefaction, nor vanity, can draw away from the high ends of life, is considered as wise.

5.33.16

vidura uvāca |
niṣevate praśastāni ninditāni na sevate |
anāstikaḥ śraddadhāna etatpaṇḍitalakṣaṇam || 16 ||

5.33.17

krodho harṣaśca darpaśca hrīstambho mānyamānitā |
yamarthānnāpakarṣanti sa vai paṇḍita ucyate || 17 ||

5.33.18

yasya kṛtyaṃ na jānanti mantraṃ vā mantritaṃ pare |
kṛtamevāsya jānanti sa vai paṇḍita ucyate || 18 ||

He whose intended acts, and proposed counsels remain concealed from foes, and whose acts become known only after they have been done, is considered wise. He whose proposed actions are never obstructed by heat or cold, fear of attachment, prosperity or adversity, is considered wise. He whose judgment dissociated from desire, followeth both virtue and profit, and who disregarding pleasure chooseth such ends as are serviceable in both worlds, is considered wise. They that exert to the best of their might, and act also to the best of their might, and disregard nothing as insignificant, are called wise. He that understandeth quickly, listeneth patiently, pursueth his objects with judgment and not from desire and spendeth not his breath on the affairs of others without being asked, is said to possess the foremost mark of wisdom. They that do not strive for objects that are unattainable, that do not grieve for what is lost and gone, that do not suffer their minds to be clouded amid calamities, are regarded to possess intellects endued with wisdom. He who striveth, having commenced anything, till it is completed, who never wasteth his time, and who hath his soul under control, is regarded wise. They that are wise, O bull of the Bharata race, always delight in honest deeds, do what tendeth to their happiness and prosperity, and never sneer at what is good.

5.33.19

yasya kṛtyaṃ na vighnanti śītamuṣṇaṃ bhayaṃ ratiḥ |
samṛddhirasamṛddhirvā sa vai paṇḍita ucyate || 19 ||

5.33.20

yasya saṃsāriṇī prajñā dharmārthāvanuvartate |
kāmādarthaṃ vṛṇīte yaḥ sa vai paṇḍita ucyate || 20 ||

5.33.21

yathāśakti cikīrṣanti yathāśakti ca kurvate |
na kiṃcidavamanyante paṇḍitā bharatarṣabha || 21 ||

5.33.22

kṣipraṃ vijānāti ciraṃ śṛṇoti vijñāya cārthaṃ bhajate na kāmāt |
nāsaṃpṛṣṭo vyupayuṅkte parārthe tatprajñānaṃ prathamaṃ paṇḍitasya || 22 ||

5.33.23

nāprāpyamabhivāñchanti naṣṭaṃ necchanti śocitum |
āpatsu ca na muhyanti narāḥ paṇḍitabuddhayaḥ || 23 ||

5.33.24

niścitya yaḥ prakramate nāntarvasati karmaṇaḥ |
avandhyakālo vaśyātmā sa vai paṇḍita ucyate || 24 ||

5.33.25

āryakarmaṇi rajyante bhūtikarmāṇi kurvate |
hitaṃ ca nābhyasūyanti paṇḍitā bharatarṣabha || 25 ||

5.33.26

na hṛṣyatyātmasaṃmāne nāvamānena tapyate |
gāṅgo hrada ivākṣobhyo yaḥ sa paṇḍita ucyate || 26 ||

He who exulteth not at honours, and grieveth not at slights, and remaineth cool and unagitated like a lake in the course of Ganga, is reckoned as wise. That man who knoweth the nature of all creatures (viz., that everything is subject to destruction), who is cognisant also of the connections of all acts, and who is proficient in the knowledge of the means that men may resort to (for attaining their objects), is reckoned as wise. He who speaketh boldly, can converse on various subjects, knoweth the science of argumentation, possesseth genius, and can interpret the meaning of what is writ in books, is reckoned as wise. He whose studies are regulated by reason, and whose reason followeth the scriptures, and who never abstaineth from paying respect to those that are good, is called a wise man. He, on the other hand, who is ignorant of scripture yet vain, poor yet proud, and who resorteth to unfair means for the acquisition of his objects, is a fool. He who, forsaking his own, concerneth himself with the objects of others, and who practiseth deceitful means for serving his friends, is called a fool. He who wisheth for those things that should not be desired, and forsaketh those that may legitimately be desired, and who beareth malice to those that are powerful, is regarded to be a foolish soul. He who regardeth his foe as his friend, who hateth and beareth malice to his friend, and who committeth wicked deeds, is said to be a person of foolish soul.

5.33.27

tattvajñaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ yogajñaḥ sarvakarmaṇām |
upāyajño manuṣyāṇāṃ naraḥ paṇḍita ucyate || 27 ||

5.33.28

pravṛttavākcitrakatha ūhavānpratibhānavān |
āśu granthasya vaktā ca sa vai paṇḍita ucyate || 28 ||

5.33.29

śrutaṃ prajñānugaṃ yasya prajñā caiva śrutānugā |
asaṃbhinnāryamaryādaḥ paṇḍitākhyāṃ labheta saḥ || 29 ||

5.33.30

aśrutaśca samunnaddho daridraśca mahāmanāḥ |
arthāṃścākarmaṇā prepsurmūḍha ityucyate budhaiḥ || 30 ||

5.33.31

svamarthaṃ yaḥ parityajya parārthamanutiṣṭhati |
mithyā carati mitrārthe yaśca mūḍhaḥ sa ucyate || 31 ||

5.33.32

akāmānkāmayati yaḥ kāmayānānparidviṣan |
balavantaṃ ca yo dveṣṭi tamāhurmūḍhacetasam || 32 ||

5.33.33

amitraṃ kurute mitraṃ mitraṃ dveṣṭi hinasti ca |
karma cārabhate duṣṭaṃ tamāhurmūḍhacetasam || 33 ||

5.33.34

saṃsārayati kṛtyāni sarvatra vicikitsate |
ciraṃ karoti kṣiprārthe sa mūḍho bharatarṣabha || 34 ||

O bull of the Bharata race, he who divulgeth his projects, doubteth in all things, and spendeth a long time in doing what requireth a short time, is a fool. He who doth not perform the Sraddha for the Pitris, nor worshippeth the deities, nor acquireth noble-minded friends, is said to be a person of foolish soul. That worst of men who entereth a place uninvited, and talketh much without being asked, and reposeth trust on untrustworthy wights, is a fool. That man who being himself guilty casteth the blame on others, and who though impotent giveth vent to anger, is the most foolish of men. That man, who, without knowing his own strength and dissociated from both virtue and profit, desireth an object difficult of acquisition, without again adopting adequate means, is said to be destitute of intelligence. O king, he who punisheth one that is undeserving of punishment, payeth homage to persons without their knowledge, and waiteth upon misers, is said to be of little sense. But he that, having attained immense wealth and prosperity or acquired (vast) learning, doth not bear himself haughtily, is reckoned as wise. Who, again, is more heartless than he, who, though possessed of affluence, eateth himself and weareth excellent robes himself without distributing his wealth among his dependents? While one person committeth sins, many reap the advantage resulting therefrom; (yet in the end) it is the doer alone to whom the sin attacheth while those that enjoy the fruit escape unhurt.

5.33.35

anāhūtaḥ praviśati apṛṣṭo bahu bhāṣate |
viśvasatyapramatteṣu mūḍhacetā narādhamaḥ || 35 ||

5.33.36

paraṃ kṣipati doṣeṇa vartamānaḥ svayaṃ tathā |
yaśca krudhyatyanīśaḥ sansa ca mūḍhatamo naraḥ || 36 ||

5.33.37

ātmano balamajñāya dharmārthaparivarjitam |
alabhyamicchannaiṣkarmyānmūḍhabuddhirihocyate || 37 ||

5.33.38

aśiṣyaṃ śāsti yo rājanyaśca śūnyamupāsate |
kadaryaṃ bhajate yaśca tamāhurmūḍhacetasam || 38 ||

5.33.39

arthaṃ mahāntamāsādya vidyāmaiśvaryameva vā |
vicaratyasamunnaddho yaḥ sa paṇḍita ucyate || 39 ||

5.33.40

ekaḥ saṃpannamaśnāti vaste vāsaśca śobhanam |
yo'saṃvibhajya bhṛtyebhyaḥ ko nṛśaṃsatarastataḥ || 40 ||

5.33.41

ekaḥ pāpāni kurute phalaṃ bhuṅkte mahājanaḥ |
bhoktāro vipramucyante kartā doṣeṇa lipyate || 41 ||

5.33.42

ekaṃ hanyānna vā hanyādiṣurmukto dhanuṣmatā |
buddhirbuddhimatotsṛṣṭā hanyādrāṣṭraṃ sarājakam || 42 ||

When a bowman shooteth an arrow, he may or may not succeed in slaying even a single person, but when an intelligent individual applieth his intelligence (viciously); it may destroy an entire kingdom with the king. Discriminating the two by means of the one, bring under thy subjection the three by means of four, and also conquering the five and knowing the six, and abstaining from the seven, be happy. Poison slayeth but one person, and a weapon also but one; wicked counsels, however, destroy an entire kingdom with king and subject. Alone one should not partake of any savoury viand, nor alone reflect on concerns of profit, nor alone go upon a journey, nor alone remain awake among sleeping companions. That Being who is One without a second, and whom, O king, thou hast not been able to comprehend, is Truth's self, and the Way to heaven, even like a boat in the ocean. There is one only defect in forgiving persons, and not another; that defect is that people take a forgiving person to be weak. That defect, however, should not be taken into consideration, for forgiveness is a great power. Forgiveness is a virtue of the weak, and an ornament of the strong. Forgiveness subdueth (all) in this world; what is there that forgiveness cannot achieve? What can a wicked person do unto him who carrieth the sabre of forgiveness in his hand? Fire falling on a grassless ground is extinguished of itself. And unforgiving individual defileth himself with many enormities.

5.33.43

ekayā dve viniścitya trīṃścaturbhirvaśe kuru |
pañca jitvā viditvā ṣaṭsapta hitvā sukhī bhava || 43 ||

5.33.44

ekaṃ viṣaraso hanti śastreṇaikaśca vadhyate |
sarāṣṭraṃ saprajaṃ hanti rājānaṃ mantravisravaḥ || 44 ||

5.33.45

ekaḥ svādu na bhuñjīta ekaścārthānna cintayet |
eko na gacchedadhvānaṃ naikaḥ supteṣu jāgṛyāt || 45 ||

5.33.46

ekamevādvitīyaṃ tadyadrājannāvabudhyase |
satyaṃ svargasya sopānaṃ pārāvārasya nauriva || 46 ||

5.33.47

ekaḥ kṣamāvatāṃ doṣo dvitīyo nopalabhyate |
yadenaṃ kṣamayā yuktamaśaktaṃ manyate janaḥ || 47 ||

5.33.48

eko dharmaḥ paraṃ śreyaḥ kṣamaikā śāntiruttamā |
vidyaikā paramā dṛṣṭirahiṃsaikā sukhāvahā || 48 ||

Righteousness is the one highest good; and forgiveness is the one supreme peace; knowledge is one supreme contentment; and benevolence, one sole happiness. Even as a serpent devoureth animals living in holes, the earth devoureth these two, viz., a king who is incompetent to fight, and a Brahmana who doth not sojourn to holy places. A man may attain renown in this world by doing two things, viz., by refraining from harsh speech, and by disregarding those that are wicked. O tiger among men, these two have not a will of their own, viz., those women who covet men simply because the latter are coveted by others of their sex, and that person who worships another simply because the latter is worshipped by others. These two are like sharp thorns afflicting the body, viz., the desires of a poor man, and the anger of the impotent. These two persons never shine because of their incompatible acts, viz., a householder without exertion, and a beggar busied in schemes. These two, O king, live (as it were) in a region higher than heaven itself, viz., a man of power endued with forgiveness, and poor man that is charitable. Of things honestly got, these two must be looked upon as misuse, viz., making gifts to the unworthy and refusing the worthy. These two should be thrown into the water, tightly binding weights to their necks, viz., a wealthy man that doth not give away, and a poor man that is proud.

5.33.49

dvāvimau grasate bhūmiḥ sarpo bilaśayāniva |
rājānaṃ cāviroddhāraṃ brāhmaṇaṃ cāpravāsinam || 49 ||

5.33.50

dve karmaṇī naraḥ kurvannasmim̐lloke virocate |
abruvanparuṣaṃ kiṃcidasato nārthayaṃstathā || 50 ||

5.33.51

dvāvimau puruṣavyāghra parapratyayakāriṇau |
striyaḥ kāmitakāminyo lokaḥ pūjitapūjakaḥ || 51 ||

5.33.52

dvāvimau kaṇṭakau tīkṣṇau śarīrapariśoṣaṇau |
yaścādhanaḥ kāmayate yaśca kupyatyanīśvaraḥ || 52 ||

5.33.53

dvāvimau puruṣau rājansvargasyopari tiṣṭhataḥ |
prabhuśca kṣamayā yukto daridraśca pradānavān || 53 ||

5.33.54

nyāyāgatasya dravyasya boddhavyau dvāvatikramau |
apātre pratipattiśca pātre cāpratipādanam || 54 ||

5.33.55

trayo nyāyā manuṣyāṇāṃ śrūyante bharatarṣabha |
kanīyānmadhyamaḥ śreṣṭha iti vedavido viduḥ || 55 ||

These two, O tiger among men, can pierce the orb itself of the sun, viz., a mendicant accomplished in yoga, and a warrior that hath fallen in open fight. O bull of the Bharata race, persons versed in the Vedas have said that men's means are good, middling, and bad. Men also, O king, are good, indifferent, and bad. They should, therefore, be respectively employed in that kind of work for which they may be fit. These three, O king, cannot have wealth of their own, viz., the wife, the slave, and the son, and whatever may be earned by them would be his to whom they belong. Great fear springeth from these three crimes, viz., theft of other's property, outrage on other's wives, and breach with friend. These three, besides, being destructive to one's own self, are the gates of hell, viz., lust, anger, and covetousness. Therefore, every one should renounce them. These three should never be forsaken even in imminent danger, viz., a follower, one who seeks protection, saying,--I am thine,--and lastly one who hath come to your abode. Verily, O Bharata, liberating a foe from distress, alone amounteth in point of merit, to these three taken together, viz., conferring a boon, acquiring a kingdom, and obtaining a son. Learned men have declared that a king, although powerful, should never consult with these four, viz., men of small sense, men that are procrastinating, men that are indolent, and men that are flatterers.

5.33.56

trividhāḥ puruṣā rājannuttamādhamamadhyamāḥ |
niyojayedyathāvattāṃstrividheṣveva karmasu || 56 ||

5.33.57

traya evādhanā rājanbhāryā dāsastathā sutaḥ |
yatte samadhigacchanti yasya te tasya taddhanam || 57 ||

5.33.58

catvāri rājñā tu mahābalena varjyānyāhuḥ paṇḍitastāni vidyāt |
alpaprajñaiḥ saha mantraṃ na kuryānna dīrghasūtrairalasaiścāraṇaiśca || 58 ||

5.33.59

catvāri te tāta gṛhe vasantu śriyābhijuṣṭasya gṛhasthadharme |
vṛddho jñātiravasannaḥ kulīnaḥ sakhā daridro bhaginī cānapatyā || 59 ||

O sire, crowned with prosperity and leading the life of a householder, let these four dwell with thee, viz., old consanguineous, relatives, high-born persons fallen into adversity, poor friends, and issueless sisters. On being asked by the chief of the celestials, Vrihaspati, O mighty king declared four things capable of fructifying or occurring within a single day, viz., the resolve of the gods, the comprehensions of intelligent persons, the humility of learned men, and the destruction of the sinful. These four that are calculated to remove fear, bring on fear when they are improperly performed, viz., the Agni-hotra, the vow of silence, study, and sacrifice (in general). O bull of the Bharata race, these five fires, should be worshipped with regard by a person, viz., father, mother, fire (proper), soul and preceptor. By serving these five, men attain great fame in this world, viz., the gods, the Pitris, men, beggars, and guests. These five follow thee wherever thou goest, viz., friends, foes, those that are indifferent, dependants, and those that are entitled to maintenance. Of the five senses beholding to man, if one springeth a leak, then from that single hole runneth out all his intelligence, even like water running out from a perforated leathern vessel. The six faults should be avoided by a person who wisheth to attain prosperity, viz., sleep, drowsiness, fear, anger, indolence and procrastination.

5.33.60

catvāryāha mahārāja sadyaskāni bṛhaspatiḥ |
pṛcchate tridaśendrāya tānīmāni nibodha me || 60 ||

5.33.61

devatānāṃ ca saṃkalpamanubhāvaṃ ca dhīmatām |
vinayaṃ kṛtavidyānāṃ vināśaṃ pāpakarmaṇām || 61 ||

5.33.62

pañcāgnayo manuṣyeṇa paricaryāḥ prayatnataḥ |
pitā mātāgnirātmā ca guruśca bharatarṣabha || 62 ||

5.33.63

pañcaiva pūjayam̐lloke yaśaḥ prāpnoti kevalam |
devānpitṝnmanuṣyāṃśca bhikṣūnatithipañcamān || 63 ||

5.33.64

pañca tvānugamiṣyanti yatra yatra gamiṣyasi |
mitrāṇyamitrā madhyasthā upajīvyopajīvinaḥ || 64 ||

5.33.65

pañcendriyasya martyasya chidraṃ cedekamindriyam |
tato'sya sravati prajñā dṛteḥ pādādivodakam || 65 ||

5.33.66

ṣaḍdoṣāḥ puruṣeṇeha hātavyā bhūtimicchatā |
nidrā tandrī bhayaṃ krodha ālasyaṃ dīrghasūtratā || 66 ||

5.33.67

ṣaḍimānpuruṣo jahyādbhinnāṃ nāvamivārṇave |
apravaktāramācāryamanadhīyānamṛtvijam || 67 ||

These six should be renounced like a splitting vessel in the sea, viz., a preceptor that cannot expound the scriptures, a priest that is illiterate, a king that is unable to protect, a wife that speaketh disagreeable words, a cow-herd that doth not wish to go to the fields, and a barber that wisheth to renounce a village for the woods. Verily, those six qualities should never be forsaken by men, viz., truth, charity, diligence, benevolence, forgiveness and patience. These six are instantly destroyed, if neglected, viz., kine, service, agriculture, a wife, learning, and the wealth of a Sudra. These six forget those who have bestowed obligations on them, viz., educated disciples, their preceptors; married persons, their mothers; persons whose desires have been gratified, women; they who have achieved success, they who had rendered aid; they who have crossed a river, the boat (that carried them over); and patients that have been cured, their physicians. Health, unindebtedness, living at home, companionship with good men, certainty as regards the means of livelihood, and living without fear, these six. O king, conduce to the happiness of men. These six are always miserable, viz., the envious, the malicious, the discontented, the irascible, the ever-suspicious, and those depending upon the fortunes of others.

5.33.68

arakṣitāraṃ rājānaṃ bhāryāṃ cāpriyavādinīm |
grāmakāmaṃ ca gopālaṃ vanakāmaṃ ca nāpitam || 68 ||

5.33.69

ṣaḍeva tu guṇāḥ puṃsā na hātavyāḥ kadācana |
satyaṃ dānamanālasyamanasūyā kṣamā dhṛtiḥ || 69 ||

5.33.70

ṣaṇṇāmātmani nityānāmaiśvaryaṃ yo'dhigacchati |
na sa pāpaiḥ kuto'narthairyujyate vijitendriyaḥ || 70 ||

These six, O king, comprise the happiness of men, viz., acquirement of wealth, uninterrupted health, a beloved and a sweet-speeched wife, an obedient son, and knowledge that is lucrative. He that succeedeth in gaining the mastery over the six that are always present in the human heart, being thus the master of his senses, never committeth sin, and therefore suffereth calamity. These six may be seen to subsist upon other six, viz., thieves, upon persons that are careless; physicians, on persons that are ailing; women, upon persons suffering from lust; priests, upon them that sacrifice; a king, upon persons that quarrel; and lastly men of learning, upon them that are without it. A king should renounce these seven faults that are productive of calamity, inasmuch as they are able to effect the ruin of even monarchs firmly established; these are women, dice, hunting, drinking, harshness of speech, severity of punishment, and misuse of wealth. These eight are the immediate indications of a man destined to destruction, viz., hating the Brahmanas, disputes with Brahmanas, appropriation of a Brahmana's possessions, taking the life of Brahmana, taking a pleasure in reviling Brahmanas, grieving to hear the praises of Brahmanas, forgetting them on ceremonious occasions, and giving vent to spite when they ask for anything. These transgressions a wise man should understand, and understanding, eschew.

5.33.71

ṣaḍime ṣaṭsu jīvanti saptamo nopalabhyate |
corāḥ pramatte jīvanti vyādhiteṣu cikitsakāḥ || 71 ||

5.33.72

pramadāḥ kāmayāneṣu yajamāneṣu yājakāḥ |
rājā vivadamāneṣu nityaṃ mūrkheṣu paṇḍitāḥ || 72 ||

5.33.73

sapta doṣāḥ sadā rājñā hātavyā vyasanodayāḥ |
prāyaśo yairvinaśyanti kṛtamūlāśca pārthivāḥ || 73 ||

5.33.74

striyo'kṣā mṛgayā pānaṃ vākpāruṣyaṃ ca pañcamam |
mahacca daṇḍapāruṣyamarthadūṣaṇameva ca || 74 ||

5.33.75

aṣṭau pūrvanimittāni narasya vinaśiṣyataḥ |
brāhmaṇānprathamaṃ dveṣṭi brāhmaṇaiśca virudhyate || 75 ||

5.33.76

brāhmaṇasvāni cādatte brāhmaṇāṃśca jighāṃsati |
ramate nindayā caiṣāṃ praśaṃsāṃ nābhinandati || 76 ||

5.33.77

naitānsmarati kṛtyeṣu yācitaścābhyasūyati |
etāndoṣānnaraḥ prājño buddhyā buddhvā vivarjayet || 77 ||

5.33.78

aṣṭāvimāni harṣasya navanītāni bhārata |
vartamānāni dṛśyante tānyeva susukhānyapi || 78 ||

These eight, O Bharata, are the very cream of happiness, and these only are attainable here, viz., meeting with friends, accession of immense wealth, embracing a son, union for intercourse, conversation with friends in proper times, the advancement of persons belong to one's own party, the acquisition of what had been anticipated, and respect in society. These eight qualities glorify a man, viz., wisdom, high birth, self-restraint, learning, prowess, moderation in speech gift according to one's power, and gratitude. This house hath nine doors, three pillars, and five witnesses. It is presided over by the soul. That learned man who knoweth all this is truly wise. O Dhritarashtra, these ten do not know what virtue is viz., the intoxicated, inattentive, the raving, the fatigued, the angry, the starving, the hasty, the covetous, the frightened, and the lustful. Therefore, he that is wise must eschew the company of these. In this connection is cited the old story about what transpired between Suyodhana and (Prahlada), the chief of the Asuras in relation to the latter's son. That king who renounceth lust and anger, who bestoweth wealth upon proper recipients, and is discriminating, learned, and active, is regarded as an authority of all men.

5.33.79

samāgamaśca sakhibhirmahāṃścaiva dhanāgamaḥ |
putreṇa ca pariṣvaṅgaḥ saṃnipātaśca maithune || 79 ||

5.33.80

samaye ca priyālāpaḥ svayūtheṣu ca saṃnatiḥ |
abhipretasya lābhaśca pūjā ca janasaṃsadi || 80 ||

5.33.81

navadvāramidaṃ veśma tristhūṇaṃ pañcasākṣikam |
kṣetrajñādhiṣṭhitaṃ vidvānyo veda sa paraḥ kaviḥ || 81 ||

5.33.82

daśa dharmaṃ na jānanti dhṛtarāṣṭra nibodha tān |
mattaḥ pramatta unmattaḥ śrāntaḥ kruddho bubhukṣitaḥ || 82 ||

5.33.83

tvaramāṇaśca bhīruśca lubdhaḥ kāmī ca te daśa |
tasmādeteṣu bhāveṣu na prasajjeta paṇḍitaḥ || 83 ||

5.33.84

atraivodāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam |
putrārthamasurendreṇa gītaṃ caiva sudhanvanā || 84 ||

5.33.85

yaḥ kāmamanyū prajahāti rājā pātre pratiṣṭhāpayate dhanaṃ ca |
viśeṣavicchrutavānkṣiprakārī taṃ sarvalokaḥ kurute pramāṇam || 85 ||

5.33.86

jānāti viśvāsayituṃ manuṣyānvijñātadoṣeṣu dadhāti daṇḍam |
jānāti mātrāṃ ca tathā kṣamāṃ ca taṃ tādṛśaṃ śrīrjuṣate samagrā || 86 ||

Great prosperity attends upon that king who knoweth how to inspire confidence in others, who inflicteth punishment on those whose guilt hath been proved, who is acquainted with the proper measure of punishment, and who knoweth when mercy is to be shown. He is a wise person who doth not disregard even a weak foe; who proceeds with intelligence in respect of a foe, anxiously watching for an opportunity; who doth not desire hostilities with persons stronger than himself; and who displayeth his prowess in season. That illustrious person who doth not grieve when a calamity hath already come upon him, who exerteth with all his senses collected, and who patiently beareth misery in season, is certainly the foremost of persons, and all his foes are vanquished. He who doth not live away from hope uselessly, who doth not make friends with sinful persons, who never outrageth another's wife, who never betrayeth arrogance, and who never committeth a theft or showeth ingratitude or indulgeth in drinking is always happy. He who never boastfully striveth to attain the three objects of human pursuit, who when asked, telleth the truth, who quarreleth not even for the sake of friends, and who never becometh angry though slighted, is reckoned as wise. He who beareth not malice towards others but is kind to all, who being weak disputeth not with others, who speaketh not arrogantly, and forgeteth a quarrel, is praised everywhere.

5.33.87

sudurbalaṃ nāvajānāti kaṃcidyukto ripuṃ sevate buddhipūrvam |
na vigrahaṃ rocayate balasthaiḥ kāle ca yo vikramate sa dhīraḥ || 87 ||

5.33.88

prāpyāpadaṃ na vyathate kadācidudyogamanvicchati cāpramattaḥ |
duḥkhaṃ ca kāle sahate jitātmā dhuraṃdharastasya jitāḥ sapatnāḥ || 88 ||

5.33.89

anarthakaṃ vipravāsaṃ gṛhebhyaḥ pāpaiḥ saṃdhiṃ paradārābhimarśam |
dambhaṃ stainyaṃ paiśunaṃ madyapānaṃ na sevate yaḥ sa sukhī sadaiva || 89 ||

5.33.90

na saṃrambheṇārabhate'rthavargamākāritaḥ śaṃsati tathyameva |
na mātrārthe rocayate vivādaṃ nāpūjitaḥ kupyati cāpyamūḍhaḥ || 90 ||

5.33.91

na yo'bhyasūyatyanukampate ca na durbalaḥ prātibhāvyaṃ karoti |
nātyāha kiṃcitkṣamate vivādaṃ sarvatra tādṛglabhate praśaṃsām || 91 ||

5.33.92

yo noddhataṃ kurute jātu veṣaṃ na pauruṣeṇāpi vikatthate'nyān |
na mūrcchitaḥ kaṭukānyāha kiṃcitpriyaṃ sadā taṃ kurute jano'pi || 92 ||

That man who never assumeth a haughty mien, who never censureth others praising himself the while, and never addresseth harsh words to others for getting himself, is ever loved by all. He who raketh not up old hostilities, who behaveth neither arrogantly nor with too much humility, and who even when distressed never committeth an improper act, is considered by respectable men a person of good conduct. He who exulteth not at his own happiness, nor delighteth in another's misery, and who repenteth not after having made a gift, is said to be a man of good nature and conduct. He who desireth to obtain a knowledge of the customs of different countries, and also the languages of different nations, and of the usages of different orders of men, knoweth at once all that is high and low; and wherever he may go, he is sure to gain an ascendancy over even those that are glad. The intelligent man who relinquisheth pride, folly, insolence, sinful acts, disloyalty towards the king, crookedness of behaviour, enmity with many, and also quarrels with men that are drunk, mad and wicked, is the foremost of his species. The very gods bestow prosperity upon him who daily practiseth self-restraint, purification, auspicious rites, worship of the gods, expiatory ceremonies, and other rites of universal observance.

5.33.93

na vairamuddīpayati praśāntaṃ na darpamārohati nāstameti |
na durgato'smīti karoti manyuṃ tamāryaśīlaṃ paramāhuragryam || 93 ||

5.33.94

na sve sukhe vai kurute praharṣaṃ nānyasya duḥkhe bhavati pratītaḥ |
dattvā na paścātkurute'nutāpaṃ na katthate satpuruṣāryaśīlaḥ || 94 ||

5.33.95

deśācārānsamayāñjātidharmānbubhūṣate yastu parāvarajñaḥ |
sa tatra tatrādhigataḥ sadaiva mahājanasyādhipatyaṃ karoti || 95 ||

5.33.96

dambhaṃ mohaṃ matsaraṃ pāpakṛtyaṃ rājadviṣṭaṃ paiśunaṃ pūgavairam |
mattonmattairdurjanaiścāpi vādaṃ yaḥ prajñāvānvarjayetsa pradhānaḥ || 96 ||

5.33.97

damaṃ śaucaṃ daivataṃ maṅgalāni prāyaścittaṃ vividhām̐llokavādān |
etāni yaḥ kurute naityakāni tasyotthānaṃ devatā rādhayanti || 97 ||

5.33.98

samairvivāhaṃ kurute na hīnaiḥ samaiḥ sakhyaṃ vyavahāraṃ kathāśca |
guṇairviśiṣṭāṃśca purodadhāti vipaścitastasya nayāḥ sunītāḥ || 98 ||

The acts of that learned man are well-conceived, and well-applied who formeth matrimonial alliances with persons of equal positions and not with those that are inferior, who placeth those before him that are more qualified, and who talketh, behaveth and maketh friendships with persons of equal position. He who eateth frugally after dividing the food amongst his dependants, who sleepeth little after working much, and who, when solicited giveth away even unto his foes, hath his soul under control, and calamities always keep themselves aloof from him. He whose counsels are well-kept and well-carried out into practice, and whose acts in consequence thereof are never known by others to injure men, succeedeth in securing even his most trifling objects. He who is intent upon abstaining from injury to all creatures, who is truthful, gentle, charitable, and pure in mind, shineth greatly among his kinsmen like a precious gem of the purest ray having its origin in an excellent mine. That man who feeleth shame even though his faults be not known to any save himself, is highly honoured among all men. Possessed of a pure heart and boundless energy and abstracted within himself, he shineth in consequence of his energy like the very sun. King Pandu consumed by a (Brahmana's) curse, had five sons born unto him in the woods that are like five Indras. O son of Ambika, thou hast brought up those children and taught them everything. They are obedient to thy commands.

5.33.99

mitaṃ bhuṅkte saṃvibhajyāśritebhyo mitaṃ svapityamitaṃ karma kṛtvā |
dadātyamitreṣvapi yācitaḥ saṃstamātmavantaṃ prajahatyanarthāḥ || 99 ||

5.33.100

cikīrṣitaṃ viprakṛtaṃ ca yasya nānye janāḥ karma jānanti kiṃcit |
mantre gupte samyaganuṣṭhite ca svalpo nāsya vyathate kaścidarthaḥ || 100 ||

5.33.101

yaḥ sarvabhūtapraśame niviṣṭaḥ satyo mṛdurdānakṛcchuddhabhāvaḥ |
atīva saṃjñāyate jñātimadhye mahāmaṇirjātya iva prasannaḥ || 101 ||

5.33.102

ya ātmanāpatrapate bhṛśaṃ naraḥ sa sarvalokasya gururbhavatyuta |
anantatejāḥ sumanāḥ samāhitaḥ svatejasā sūrya ivāvabhāsate || 102 ||

5.33.103

vane jātāḥ śāpadagdhasya rājñaḥ pāṇḍoḥ putrāḥ pañca pañcendrakalpāḥ |
tvayaiva bālā vardhitāḥ śikṣitāśca tavādeśaṃ pālayantyāmbikeya || 103 ||

5.33.104

pradāyaiṣāmucitaṃ tāta rājyaṃ sukhī putraiḥ sahito modamānaḥ |
na devānāṃ nāpi ca mānuṣāṇāṃ bhaviṣyasi tvaṃ tarkaṇīyo narendra || 104 ||

Giving them back their just share of the kingdom, O sire, filled with joy, be thou happy with thy sons. Then, O monarch, thou shalt inspire confidence in both the gods and men.'"