युधिष्ठिर उवाच मुह्यामीव निशम्याध चिन्तयानः पुनः पुनः। हीनां पार्थिवसंघातैः श्रीमद्भिः पृथिवीमिमाम्॥
Yudhishthira said I am stupefied, O grandfather, to hear your words! Thinking that the Earth is now destitute of a very large number of kings all of whom were gifted with great prosperity, my heart becomes filled with grief.
प्राप्य राज्यानि शतशो महीं जित्वाथ भारत। कोटिशः पुरुषान् हत्वा परितप्ये पितामह॥
Having conquered the Earth and acquired hundreds of kingdoms, O Bharata, I turn with grief, O grandfather, at the thought of the millions of men I have killed.
का नु तासां वरस्त्रीणां समवस्था भविष्यति। या हीनाः पतिभिः पुत्रैर्मातुलैर्भ्रातृभिस्तथा॥
Alas, what will the condition be of those foremost ladies who have been deprived by us of husbands and sons and maternal uncles and brothers?
वयं हि तान् कुरून् हत्वा ज्ञातींश्च सुहृदोऽपि वा। अवाक्शीर्षाः पतिष्यामो नरके नात्र संशयः॥
Having killed those Kurus our kinsmen, that is, and our friends and wellwisherswe shall have to sink in hell with heads hanging downwards. There is no doubt of this.
शरीरं योक्तुमिच्छामि तपसोग्रेण भारत। उपदिष्टमिहेच्छामि तत्त्वतोऽहं विशाम्पते॥
I wish, O Bharata, to afflict my body with, severe, penances. With that end in view, O king. I wish to receive instructions from you.
वैशम्पायन उवाच युधिष्ठिरस्य तद् वाक्यं श्रुत्वा भीष्मो महामनाः। परीक्ष्य निपुणं बुद्ध्या युधिष्ठिरमभाषत॥
Vaishampayana said The great Bhishma, hearing these words of Yudhishthira, reflected upon them acutely with the help of his understanding, and addressed Yudhishthira in reply.
भीष्म उवाच शृणु वक्ष्यामि यत् त्वयि। या गतिः प्राप्यते येन प्रेत्यभावे विशाम्पते॥
Bhishma said Hear what I say to you. It is highly wonderful and is a great mystery. The subject is the ends that creatures acquire after death as the rewards of particular acts or courses of conduct they follow.
तपसा प्राप्यते स्वर्गस्तपसा प्राप्यते यशः। आयुः प्रकृर्षो भोगाश्च लभ्यन्ते तपसा विभो॥
One goes to Heaven by penances. By penances one acquires fame. By penances, O mighty king, one lives long and gets all articles of enjoyment.
रहस्यमद्भुतं चैव ज्ञानं विज्ञानमारोग्यं रूपं सम्पत् तथैव च। सौभाग्यं चैव तपसा प्राप्यते भरतर्षभ।॥
By penances one acquires knowledge, science, health and freedom from disease, beauty of person, prosperity and blessedness, O chief of Bharata's race.
धनं प्राप्नोति तपसा मौनेनाज्ञां प्रयच्छति। उपभोगांस्तु दानेन ब्रह्मचर्येण जीवितम्॥ अहिंसायाः फलं रूपं दीक्षाया जन्म वै कुले। फलमूलाशिनां राज्यं स्वर्गः पर्णाशिनां भवेत्॥
By penances one acquires riches. By observing the vow of silence one succeeds in bringing the whole world under his sway. By making gifts one gets all kinds of enjoyable articles. By observing the rite of Diksha one acquires birth in a good and high family. Those who spend their lives living upon only fruits and roots succeed in acquiring kingdom and sovereignty. Those who live upon the leaves of plants and trees as their food succeed in going to Heaven.
पयोभक्षो दिवं याति दानेन द्रविणाधिकः। गुरुशुश्रूषया विद्या नित्यश्राद्धेन संततिः॥
One who live upon water only attains to Heaven. By making gifts one simply increases his wealth. By serving with reverence his preceptor, acquires learning. By performing Shraddhas every day in honour of his Departed Manes, one acquires a large number of children.
गवाढ्यः शाकदीक्षाभिः स्वर्गमाहुस्तृणाशिनाम्। स्त्रियस्त्रिषवणं स्नात्वा वायुं पीत्वा क्रतुं लभेत्॥
By observing Diksha upon potherbs and vegetables, one acquires a large number of kine. Those who live upon grass and straw succeed in going to Heaven. By bathing thrice every day with necessary rites, one acquires a large number of waves. By drinking the air alone, one acquires residence in the regions of Prajapati.
नित्यस्नायी भवेद् दक्षः संध्ये तु द्वे जपन् द्विजः। मरूं साधयतो राजन् नाकपृष्ठमनाशके॥
one The Brahmana who bathes every day and recites sacred Mantras in the two twilights, becomes possessed of the position of Daksha himself. By adoring the deities in a forest or desert, one acquires a kingdom or sovereignty, and by observing the vow of relinquishing the body by a long fast, one goes to the celestial region.
स्थण्डिले शयमानानां गृहाणि शयनानि च। चीरवल्कलवासोभिर्वासांस्याभरणानि च।॥
One having penances for wealth and always passing his days in Yoga obtains good beds and seats and Vehicles. Renouncing the body by entering a burning fire, one becomes an object of respect in the region of Brahman.
शय्यासनानि यानानि योगयुक्ते तपोधने। अग्निप्रवेशे नियतं ब्रह्मलोके महीयते॥
Those who lie on the hard and bare ground acquire houses and beds. Those who clothe themselves in rags and barks get good dresses and ornaments.
रसानां प्रतिसंहारात् सौभाग्यमिह विन्दति। आमिषप्रतिसंहारात् प्रजा ह्यायुष्मती भवेत्॥
By avoiding the several agreeable tastes one succeeds in winning great prosperity. By abstaining from meat and fish, one gets longlived children.
उदवासं वसेद् यस्तु स नराधिपतिर्भवेत्। सत्यवादी नररेष्ठ दैवतैः सह मोदते॥
One who passes sometime in Udavasa, mode of life, becomes the very lord of the celestial region. The man who speaks the truth, O best of men, succeeds in sporting happily with the celestials themselves.
कीर्तिर्भवति दानेन तथाऽऽरोग्यमहिंसया। द्विजशुश्रूधया राज्यं द्विजत्वं चापि पुष्कलम्॥
By making gifts one acquires great fame on account of his high achievements. By abstention from cruelty, one acquires health and freedom from disease. By serving the Brahmanas with respect, one acquires kingdom and sovereignty, and the high position of a Brahmana.
पानीयस्य प्रदानेन कीर्तिर्भवति शाश्वती। अन्नस्य तु प्रदानेन तृप्यन्ते कामभोगतः॥
By making gifts of water and other drinks, one acquires eternal fame on account of high achievements. By making gifts of food, one acquires various articles of enjoyment.
सान्त्वदः सर्वभूतानां सर्वशोकैर्विमुच्यते। देवशुश्रूषया राज्यं दिव्यं रूपं नियच्छति॥
One who gives peace to all creatures, (by refraining to do them any injury), becomes freed from every region. By serving the gods, one obtains a kingdom and celestial beauty,
दीपालोकप्रदानेन चक्षुष्मान् भवते नरः। प्रेक्षणीयप्रदानेन स्मृति मेधां च विन्दति।॥
By presenting lights at places which are dark and frequented by men, one acquires a good eyesight. By giving away good and beautiful objects, one acquires a good memory and understanding.
गन्धमाल्यप्रदानेन कीर्तिर्भवति पुष्कला। केशश्मश्रु धारयतामग्र्या भवति संततिः॥
By distributing scents and garlands, one acquires farreaching fame. Those who abstain from shaving off their hair and beards, get excellent children.
उपवासं च दीक्षां च अभिषेकं च पार्थिव। कृत्वा द्वादशवर्षाणि वीरस्थानाद् विशिष्यते॥
By observing fasts and initiation and baths, O Bharata, for twelve years one acquires a region which is superior to that attainable by unreturning heroes.
दासीदासमलङ्करान् क्षेत्राणि च गृहाणि च। ब्रह्मदेयां सुतां दत्त्वा प्राप्नोति मनुजर्षभ॥
By conferring one's daughter on an eligible bridegroom according to the Brahma form, one gets, O best of men, male and female slaves and ornaments and fields and houses.
क्रतुभिश्चोपवासैश्च त्रिदिवं याति भारत। लभते च शिवं ज्ञानं फलपुष्पप्रदो नरः॥
By celebrating sacrifices and observing fasts, one goes to the celestial region, O Bharata. The man who gives away fruits and flowers succeeds in gaining sacred knowledge.
सुवर्णशृङ्गैस्तु विराजितानां गवां सहस्रस्य नरः प्रदानात्। मित्येवमाहुर्दिवि देवसंघाः॥
The man who gives away a thousand kine with horns bedecked with gold, succeeds in acquiring Heaven. This has been declared by the very deities in a celestial assemblage.
प्रयच्छते यः कपिलां सवत्सां कांस्योपदोहां कनकाग्रशृङ्गीम्। तैस्तैर्गुणैः कामदुहास्य भूत्वा नरं प्रदातारमुपैति सा गौः॥
One who gives away a Kapila cow with her calf, with a brazen pot for milking, with horns bedecked with gold, and possessed of various other accomplishments, obtains the fruition of all his desires from that cow.
स्तावत् कालं प्राप्य स गोप्रदानात्। मासप्तमं तारयते परत्र॥
Such a person, on account of that act of gift, lives in the celestial region for as many years as there are hairs on the body of the cow and rescues in the next world his sons and grandsons and all his family to the seventh degree.
सदक्षिणां काञ्चनारुशृङ्गी कांस्योपदोहां द्रविणोत्तरीयाम्। धेनुं तिलानां ददतो द्विजाय लोका वसूनां सुलभा भवन्ति॥
That man gets to the regions of the Vasus who gives away a cow with horns beautifully decorated with gold, accompanied with a brazen jar for milking, along with a piece of cloth embroidered with gold, a measure of sesame and a sum of money as gift.
स्वकर्मभिर्मानवं संनिरुद्धं तीव्रान्धकारे नरके पतन्तम्। महार्णवे नौरिव वायुयुक्ता दानं गवां तारयते परत्र॥
A gift of kine rescues the giver in the next world when he finds himself falling into the deep darkness of hell and fettered by his own deeds in this world, like a boat with sails that have caught the air rescuing a person drowning in the ocean.
यो ब्रह्मदेयां तु ददाति कन्यां भूमिप्रदानं च करोति विप्रे। ददाति चान्नं विधिवच्च यश्च स लोकमाप्नोति पुरंदरस्य॥
He who confers a daughter according to the Brahma form upon an eligible person, or who makes a gift of land to a Brahmana, or who gives food according to due rites, succeeds in attaining to the region of Indra.
नैवेशिकं सर्वगुणोपपन्नं ददाति वै यस्तु नरो द्विजाय। स्वाध्यायचारित्र्यगुणान्विताय तस्यापि लोकाः कुरुघूत्तरेषु॥
That man who presents a house, furnished with every sort of furniture to Brahmana given to Vedic studies and endued with every accomplishment and good behaviour, lives in the country of UttaraKurus.
धुर्यप्रदानेन गवां तथा वै लोकानवाप्नोति नरो वसूनाम्। स्वर्गाय चाहस्तु हिरण्यदानं ततो विशिष्टं कनकप्रदानम्॥
By making gifts of draft bullocks, a person acquires the region of the Vasus. Gift of gold secures Heaven. Gift of pure gold yields greater merit still.
छत्रप्रदानेन गृहं वरिष्ठं यानं तथोपानहसम्प्रदाने। वस्त्रप्रदानेन फलं स्वरूपं गन्धप्रदानात् सुरभिर्नरः स्यात्॥
By making gift of an umbrella, one acquires a palatial residence. By making gift of a pair of sandals or shoes, one acquires good cars, The reward of cloths, is personal beauty, and by making gifts of scents, one gets a fragrant body in next life.
पुष्पोपगं वाथ फलोपंग वा यः पादपं स्पर्शयते द्विजाया सश्रीकमृद्धं बहुरत्नपूर्ण लभत्ययत्नोपगतं गृहं वै॥
One who gives flowers and fruits and plants and trees to a Brahmana, acquires, without any toil, a palatial residence containing beautiful women and plenty of riches.
भक्ष्यानपानीयरसप्रदाता सर्वान् समाप्नोति रसान् प्रकामम्। प्रतिश्रयाच्छादनसम्प्रदाता प्राप्नोति तान्येव न संशयोऽत्र॥
The giver of food and drink of different tastes and other articles of enjoyment succeeds in acquiring profuse supply of such articles. The giver, again, of houses and cloths get articles of a similar nature. There is no doubt in this.
स्रग्धूपगन्धाननुलेपनानि स्नानानि माल्यानि च मानवो यः। स्तथाभिरूपश्च नरेन्द्र लोके॥
That person who makes gifts of garlands and incense and scents and unguents and the articles needed by men after a bath, and garlands to Brahmanas, becomes freed from cvery disease and, possessed of personal beauty, sports in joy in the region reserved for great kings.
बीजैरशून्यं शयनैरुपेतं दद्याद् गृहं यः पुरुषो द्विजाय। पुण्याभिरामं बहुरत्नपूर्ण लभत्यधिष्ठानवरं स राजन्॥
That man, O king, who presents to a Brahmana a house that is stored with grain, furnished with beds, full of riches, auspicious, and delightful, acquires a palatial residence.
सुगन्धचित्रास्तरणोपधानं दद्यान्नरो यः शयनं द्विजाय। रूपान्वितां पक्षवती मनोज्ञां भार्यामयत्नोपगतां लभेत् सः।
He who gives to a Brahmana a good bed perfumed with fragrant scents, covered with an excellent sheet, and pillows, gets without any effort on his part a beautiful wife, belonging to a respectable family and of agreeable manners.
पितामहस्यानवरो वीरशायी भवेन्नरः। नाधिकं विद्यते यस्मादित्याहुः परमर्षयः॥
The man who takes to a hero's bed on the field of battle becomes the equal of the Grandfather Brahman himself. There is no end that is higher than this. Even this is what the great Rishis have said,
वैशम्पायन उवाच तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रीतात्मा कुरुनन्दनः। नाश्रमेऽरोचयद् वासं वीरमार्गाभिकाझ्या॥
Vaishampayana said Hearing these words of his grandfather, Yudhishthira, the delighter of the Kurus, became anxious to get the end reserved for heroes and no longer expressed any disgust for leading a domestic mode of life.
ततो युधिष्ठिरः प्राह पाण्डवान् पुरुषर्षभा पितामहस्य यद् वाक्यं तद् वो रोचत्विति प्रभुः।।४३
Then, O foremost of men, Yudhishthira, addressing all the other sons of Pandu, said to them Let the words which our grandfather has said, command your faith.'
ततस्तु पाण्डवाः सर्वे द्रौपदी च यशस्विनी। युधिष्ठिरस्य तद् वाक्यं बाढमित्यभ्यपूजयन्॥
At this, all the Pandavas with the famous Draupadi amongst them, highly spoke of the words of Yudhishthira and said, yes.'