Matsya Purana 212: adhyāyaḥ 212

212.1

sāvitryupākhyānam.
sāvitryuvāca.
dharmārjane suraśreṣṭha! kuto glāniḥ klamastathā.
tvapādamūlasevā ca paramaṃ dharmakāraṇam .. 212.1 ..

Sâvitrî said —There is no suffering in the pursuit of Dharma especially to adore your feet is the highest virtue —1

212.2

dharmārjanantathā kāryaṃ puruṣeṇa vijānatā.
tallābhaḥ sarvalābhebhyo yadā deva viśiṣyate .. 212.2 ..

A wise man should acquire Dharma by all means, for its attainment is superior to all achievements —2

212.3

dharmaścārthaśca kāmaśca trivargo janmanaḥ phalam.
dharmahīnasya kāmārthau vandhyāsutasamau prabho! .. 212.3 ..

Dharma, Artha and Kâma are to be acquired by taking a human birth, to one who is bereft of Dharma, Kâma and Artha are like progeny to a barren woman —3

212.4

dharmādarthastathā kāmo dharmāllokadvayaṃ tathā.
dharmaeko'nuyātyenaṃ yatra kvacana gāminam .. 212.4 ..

From Dharma is obtained wealth and from Dharma again is obtained Kâma the fulfilment of desires, it is through Dharma that this world and the next are enjoyed —4 It is Dharma only that accompanies the embodied soul wherever it goes, friends and relatives do not follow All other things excepting Dharma perish with the body The soul comes into existence by itself and leaves the body similarly It is only followed by Dharma. It is not followed by any brother, friend, wife, son &c Fortune &c are begotten by Dharma.—5-6

212.5

śarīreṇa samaṃ nāśaṃ sarvamanyaddhi gacchati.
eko hi jāyate jantureka eva vipadyate .. 212.5 ..

212.6

dharmastamanuyātyeko na suhṛnna ca bāndhavāḥ.
kriyā saubhāgyalāvaṇyaṃ sarvaṃ dharmeṇa labhyate .. 212.6 ..

Cleverness in works, fortune, beauty, all spring from Dharma The prosperous realms of Brahmâ, Indra, Upendra, Śiva, Chandramâ, Yama, Sun Agni, Vayu, Water, Vasu, Aśvanikumâra, and Kuvera &c. are all attained by means of Dharma and by virtue of it men are born amidst comfortable surroundings—7 8

212.7

brahmondropendraśarvenduryamārkāgnyanilāmbhasām.
vasvaśvidhanadādyānāṃ ye lokāḥ sarvakāmadāḥ .. 212.7 ..

212.8

dharmeṇa tānavāpnoti puruṣaḥ puruṣāntaka!.
manoharāṇi dvīpāni varṣāṇi susukhāni ca .. 212.8 ..

Men attain Swarga, beautiful islands, pleasant Varsas, heavenly Nandan etc., by means of Dharma Handsome Vimânas and nymphs are also attained through Dharma The virtuous always get resplendent complexion like gold They attain kingdoms and accomplish their desires by means of Dharma—9 11

212.9

prayānti dharmeṇa narāstathaiva naragaṇḍikāḥ.
nandanādīni mukhyāni devodyānāni yāni ca .. 212.9 ..

212.10

tāni puṇyena labhyante nākapṛṣṭhantathā naraiḥ.
vimānāni vicitrāṇi tathaivāpsarasaḥ śubhāḥ .. 212.10 ..

212.11

taijasāni śarīrāṇi sadā puṇyavatāṃ phalam.
rājyaṃ nṛpatipūjā ca kāmasiddhistathepsitā .. 212.11 ..

High attributes are the fruits of Dharma kingdom, kingly worship, success of one’s will and especial rise are seen in the virtuous The regal sceptre of gold and silver studded with vaidûrya gem is in the hands of the righteous and their faces always shine like the moon—12 13

212.12

saṃskārāṇi ca mukhyāni phalaṃ puṇyasya dṛśyate.
rurkmavaidūryadaṇḍāni caṇḍāṃśusadṛśānica .. 212.12 ..

212.13

cāmarāṇi surādhyakṣa! bhavanti śubhakarmaṇām.
pūrṇondumaṇḍalābhena ratnāṃśukavikāśinā .. 212.13 ..

Only the righteous become kings and are entitled to sit on the throne under a canopy, looking like a full moon have garments studded with jewels and fanned by chowries bright as the sun It is they who are aroused from their slumber by the chorus of ‘victory’, the blowing of the conches and by the praises sung by the bards—14

212.14

dhāryatāṃ yāti chatreṇa naraḥ puṇyena karmaṇā.
jayaśaṅkhasvaraugheṇa sūtamāgadhaniḥsvanaiḥ .. 212.14 ..

212.15

varāsanaṃ sabhṛṅgaraṃ phalaṃ puṇyasya karmaṇaḥ.
varānnapānaṃ gītañca bhṛtyamālyānulepanam .. 212.15 ..

High class seats, golden vases, good food and drink, music, servants, smell, grain &c seek the virtuous persons only—15

212.16

ratnavastrāṇi mukhyāni phalaṃ puṇyasya karmaṇaḥ.
rūpaudāryaguṇopetāstriyaścātimanoharāḥ .. 212.16 ..

Jewels, fine garments handsome form, generosity, high attributes, beautiful wife, these are all attained by virtuous persons The virtuous are blessed with palacial mansions that are decorated with the perforated work in gold They also get beautiful steeds to ride upon Asceticism, sacrifices, charities control of passions, forgiveness celibacy, travelling in sacred places, the reading of the Vedas, the service of the good, worship of God, devotion and service of the Gurû, veneration of the Brâhmaṇas humility, these are all the signs of virtue The learned should always follow them For Death never waits whether one has done such things or not.—16 21

212.17

vāsaḥ prāsādapṛṣṭheṣu bhavanti śubhakarmiṇaḥ.
suvarṇakiṅkiṇīmiśracāmarāpīḍadhāriṇaḥ .. 212.17 ..

212.18

vahanti turagā deva naraṃ puṇyena karmaṇā.
tasya dvārāṇi yajanantapodānandamaḥ kṣamā.. 212.18 ..

212.19

brahmacaryaṃ tathā satyantīrthānumaraṇaṃ śubham.
svādhyāya-sevā-sādhūnāṃ sahavāsaḥ surārcanam .. 212.19 ..

212.20

guruṇāṃ caiva śuśrūṣā brāhmaṇānāṃ ca pūjanam.
indriyāṇāṃ jayaścaiva brahmacaryamamatsaram .. 212.20 ..

212.21

tasmāddharmaḥ sadā kāryo nityameva vijānatā.
nahi pratīkṣate mṛtyuḥ kṛtamasya ca vā kṛtam .. 212.21 ..

212.22

bāla-eva-careddharmamanityaṃ deva! jīvitam.
kohi jānāti kasyādya mṛtyurevāpatiṣyati .. 212.22 ..

This body and life are quite uncertain, therefore one should begin to accomplish virtue from childhood Who knows when he is going to die?—22

212.23

paśyato'pyasya lokasya maraṇaṃ purataḥ sthitam.
amarasyeva caritamatyāścaryaṃ surottama! .. 212.23 ..

Death comes to all, defying every body Is it not so very strange that man although he foresees death, leads a life as if he was immortal?—23

212.24

yuvatvāpekṣayā bālo vṛddhatvāpekṣayā yuvā.
mṛtyorutsaṅgamārūḍhaḥ sthaviraḥ kimapekṣate .. 212.24 ..

Children see young persons and young persons see aged ones and may consider death far distant, but old ones do not see any body before them.—24

212.25

tatrāpi vindatastrāṇāṃ mṛtyunā tasya kā gatiḥ.
na bhayaṃ maraṇañcaiva prāṇināmabhayaṃ kvacit .. 212.25 ..

All are afraid of Death, nowhere there is fearlessness. But the virtuous saints never fear death and the state after death—25. Dharmarâja said :—'I am very much pleased with you. Ask for any other boon excepting Satyavân's life! Do not make any delay.—26

212.26

yama uvāca.
tuṣṭo'smi te viśālākṣi! vacanairdharmasaṅgataiḥ.
vinā satyavataḥ prāṇān varaṃ varayamāciram .. 212.26 ..

212.27

sāvitryuvāca.
varayāmi tvayā dattaṃ putrāṇāṃ śatamaurasam.
anapatyasya lokeṣu gatiḥ kila na vidyate .. 212.27 ..

Sâvitrî said :—'Deva! I wish to beget a hundred sons through Satyavân by your favour as there is no relief in the next world without sons.—27

212.28

yama uvāca.
kṛtena kāmena nivarta bhadre! bhaviṣyatīdaṃ sakalaṃ yathoktam.
mamoparodhastava ca klamaḥ syāttathā'dhunā tena tava bravīmi .. 212.28 ..

Dharmarâja said :—'You will have your desires fulfilled, but do not follow Satyavâna. You are feeling worry and fatigue. Therefore I am saying so. Go back.'—28