युधिष्ठिर उवाच धार्मिकोऽर्थानसम्प्राप्य राजामात्यैः प्रबाधितः। च्युतः कोशाच्च दण्डाच्च सुखमिच्छन् कथं चरेत्॥
How should a righteous king, who is proposed by his own officers whose treasury and army are not under his control, and who has no wealth, act for acquiring happiness?"
भीष्म उवाच अत्रायं क्षेमदर्शीय इतिहासोऽनुगीयते। तत् तेऽहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि तन्निबोध युधिष्ठिर।॥
Bhishma said “Regarding it the story of Kshemadarshin is often related. I shall describe that story to you. Listen to it, O Yudhishthira.
क्षेमदर्शी नृपसुतो यत्र क्षीणबलः पुरा। मुनि कालकवृक्षीयमाजगामेति नः श्रुतम्। तं पप्रच्छानुसंगृह्य कृच्छ्रामापदमास्थितः॥
We have heard that in days of yore, when prince Kshemadarshin had become weak in strength and fallen into great distress, he went to the sage Kalakavrikshiva and saluting him humbly, said him these words,
राजोवाच अर्थेषु भागी पुरुष ईहमानः पुनः पुनः। अलब्ध्वा मद्विधो राज्यं ब्रह्मन् किं कर्तुमर्हति॥ अन्यत्र मरणाद् दैन्यादन्यत्र परसंश्रयात्। क्षुद्रादन्यत्र चाचारात् तन्ममाचक्ष्व सत्तम॥
What should a person like me who is worthy to have wealth, but who has, after repeated attempts, failed to regain his kingdom, do, O Brahmana, excepting suicide, thieving and robbery, secking refuge with others, and other acts of meanness of a similar nature? O best of men, tell me this.
व्याधिना चाभिपन्नस्य मानसेनेतरेण वा। धर्मज्ञश्च कृतज्ञश्च त्वद्विधः शरणं भवेत्॥
One like you who are conversant with morality and full of gratefulness is the refuge of a person suffering from disease mental or physical.
निर्विद्यति नरः कामानिर्विद्य सुखमेधते। त्यक्त्वा प्रीतिं च शोकं च लब्ध्वा बुद्धिमयं वसु॥
Man should renounce his desires. By acting in that way, by casting off joy and sorrow, and acquiring the wealth of knowledge, he succeeds in acquiring happiness.
सुखपाश्रयं येषामनुशोचामि तानहम्। मम ह्यर्थाः सुबहवो नष्टाः स्वप्न इवागताः॥
I am sorry for them who follow worldly happiness accruing from wealth. All that, however, disappears like a dream.
दुष्करं बत कुर्वन्ति महतोऽस्त्यिजन्ति ये। वयं त्वेतान् परित्यक्तुमसतोऽपि न शक्नुमः॥
They who can renounce vast wealth achieve a most difficult task. As for ourselves we are unable to renounce that wealth which exists no longer.
इमामवस्थां सम्प्राप्तं दीनमार्तं श्रिया च्युतम्। यदन्यत् सुखमस्तीह तद् ब्रह्मन्ननुशाधि माम्॥
I am shorn of prosperity and have been reduced to a miserable and unhappy plight! Instruct me, O Brahmana, what happiness I may yet try to secure.
कौसल्येनैवमुक्तस्तु राजपुत्रेण धीमता। मुनिः कालकवृक्षीयः प्रत्युवाच महाद्युतिः॥
Thus accosted by the intelligent prince of Koshala, the sage Kalakavrikshiya gave the following answer,
मुनिरुवाच पुरस्तादेव ते बुद्धिरियं कार्या विजानता। अनित्यं सर्वमेवैतदहं च मम चास्ति यत्॥
The sage said-You have, it appears, already understood it. Endued with knowledge as you are, you should act as you think. Your belief is correct, namely,-All this that I see is brittle, myself as also everything that I have!
यत् किंचिन्मन्यसेऽस्तीति सर्वं नास्तीति विद्धि तत्। एवं न व्यथते प्राज्ञः कृच्छ्रामप्यापदं गतः॥
Know, O prince, that those things which you consider as existing do not in reality exist. The wise know this very well, and are, therefore, never pained with the distress whatever that may be.
यद्धि भूतं भविष्यं च सर्वं तन्न भविष्यति। एवं विदितवेद्यस्त्वमधर्मेभ्यः प्रमोक्ष्यसे॥
What has taken place and what will bring to pass are all unreal, When you will know this which should be known by all, you will be shorn of unrighteousness.
यच्च पूर्वं समाहारे यच्च पूर्वं परे परे। सर्वं तन्नास्ति ते चैव तज्ज्ञात्वा कोऽनुसंज्वरेत्॥
Whatever things had been acquired by those that came before, and whatever acquired by their successors, have all perished. Thinking of all this, who is there that will give way to grief?
भूत्वा च न भवत्येतदभूत्वा च भविष्यति। शोके न ह्यस्ति सामर्थ्यं शोकं कुर्यात् कथंचन॥
Things that were, are no more. Things that are, will again be no more. Grief cannot restore them. One should not, therefore, succumb to grief.
क्व नु तेऽद्य पिता राजन् क्व नु तेऽद्य पितामहः। न त्वं पश्यसि तानद्य न त्वां पश्यन्ति तेऽपि च॥
Where, O king, is your father to-day and where your grandfather? To-day you see them not, nor do they now see you!
आत्मनोऽध्रुवतां पश्यंस्तांस्त्वं किमनुशोचसि। बुद्ध्या चैवानुबुद्ध्यस्व ध्रुवं हि न भविष्यसि॥
Meditating on your own instability, why do you grieve for them? Think with the help of your intelligence, and you will understand that you will cease to be!
अहं च त्वं च नृपते सुहृदः शत्रवश्च ते। अवश्यं न भविष्यामः सर्वं च न भविष्यति॥
Myself, yourself, O king, your friends, and your foes, shall forsooth, cease to be. Indeed, everything will cease to be.
ये तु विंशतिवर्षा वै त्रिंशद्वर्षाश्च मानवाः। अर्वागेव हि ते सर्वे मरिष्यन्ति शरच्छतात्॥
Those men who are now twenty or thirty years old, will, forsooth, all die within the next hundred years.
अपि चेन्महतो वित्तान्न प्रमुच्येत पूरुषः। नैतन्ममेति तन्मत्वा कुर्वीत प्रियमात्मनः॥
If a man cannot willingly relinquish his immense wealth, he should then try to think that his belongings, are not his own and by that means seek to do good to himself.
अनागतं यन्न ममेति विद्यादतिक्रान्तं यन्न ममेति विद्यात्। दिष्टं बलीय इति मन्यमार्ना स्ते पण्डितास्तत्सतां स्थानमाहुः॥
Future acquisitions should be considered by one as not one's own. Lost properties, should also be regarded by one as not his own. Destiny should be deemed as all powerful. They who think in this wise are considered wise. This mood of regarding all things is an attribute of the good.
अनाढ्याश्चापि जीवन्ति राज्यं चाप्यनुशासति। बुद्धिपौरुषसम्पन्नास्त्वया तुल्याधिका जनाः॥
Many persons who are equal of superior to you in intelligence and inanliness, though bereft of wealth, are not kings but are still alive.
न च त्वमिव शोचन्ति तस्मात् त्वमपि मा शुचः। किं न त्वं तैनरैः श्रेयांस्तुल्यो वा बुद्धिपौरुषैः॥
They are not, like you. They do not indulge in grief like you. Therefore, ceases to grieve in this wise! Are you not superior to those men, or at least equal to them in intelligence and inanliness?
राजोवाच यादृच्छिकं सर्वमासीत् तद् राज्यमिति चिन्तये। ह्रियते सर्वमेवेदं कालेन महता द्विज॥
The king said I consider the kingdom which I had with all its parapharnalia to have been acquired by me without any exertion. Omnipotent Time, however, twice-born one, has swept it away.
तस्यैव ह्रियमाणस्य स्त्रोतसेव तपोधन। फलमेतत् प्रपश्यामि यथालब्धेन वर्तयन्॥
The result, however, that I see, of my kingdom having been carried away by Time as by a stream, is that I am obliged to subsist upon whatever I get as alms.
मुनिरुवाच अनागतमतीतं च याथातथ्यविनिश्चयात्। नानुशोचेत कौसल्य सर्वार्थेषु तथा भव॥
The sage said Actuated by the knowledge of what is true, one should never grieve for either the past or the future. Be you of such a mood of mind, o prince of Koshala, regarding every affair that may arrest your attention!
अवाप्यान् कामयन्नर्थान् नानवाप्यान् कदाचन प्रत्युत्पन्नाननुभवनं मा शुचस्त्वमनागतान्॥
Wishing to possess only that which is obtainable and not what is unobtainable, do you enjoy your present belongings and never grieve for what is absent.
यथालब्धोपपन्नाथस्तथा कौसल्य रंस्यसे। कच्चिच्छुद्धस्वभावेन श्रिया हीनो न शोचसि॥
Be you satisfied, O prince of Koshala, with whatever you can easily get. Even if divested of prosperity, do not grieve for it but try to maintain a pure character.
पुरस्ताद् भूतपूर्वत्वाद्धीनभाग्यो हि दुर्मतिः। धातारं गर्हते नित्यं लब्धार्थश्च न मृष्यते॥
Only an unfortunate and foolish wight when divested of former prosperity, blames the supreme Ordainer, without being contented with his present position.
अनर्हानपि चैवान्यान्मन्यते श्रीमतो जनान्। एतस्मात् कारणादेतद् दुःखं भूयोऽनुवर्तते॥ ईर्ष्याभिमानसम्पत्रा राजन् पुरुषमानिनः। कच्चित् त्वं न तथा राजन् मत्सरी कोसलाधिप।॥
Such a person consider others however undeserving, as men blessed with prosperity. Therefore, those who are possessed of malice and vanity and puffed up with a sense of egoism, suffer more misery still. You however, O king, are not sullied by such vices.
सहस्व श्रियमन्येषां यद्यपि त्वयि नास्ति सा। अन्यत्रापि सती लक्ष्मी कुशला भुञ्जते सदा॥
Bear the prosperity of others, inspite of your being divested of the same. Clever and expert men succeed in enjoying the prosperity of their enemies.
श्रियं च पुत्रपौत्रं च मनुष्या धर्मचारिणः। योगधर्मविदो धीराः स्वयमेव त्यजन्त्युत॥
Prosperity relinquishes the person that hates others. Pious and wise men conversant with the duties of Yoga renounce prosperity and sons and grandsons of their own accord.
बहुसंकुसुकं दृष्ट्वा विधित्सासाधनेन च। तथान्ये संत्यजन्त्येव मत्वा परमदुर्लभम्॥
Others, considering earthly possessions to be exceedingly unstable and unobtainable, and dependent upon continued exertion, are also scen to renounce it.
त्त्वं पुनः प्राज्ञरूप: सन् कृपणं परितप्यसे। अकाम्यान् कामयानोऽर्थान् पराधीनानुपद्रवान्॥
You seem to be endued with wisdom. Why, then, do you grieve so piteously, seeking for things which should not be sought for, since they are unstable and dependent on others?
तां बुद्धिमुपजिज्ञासुस्त्क्मेवैतान् परित्यज। अनर्थाश्चार्थरूपेण ह्यश्चानर्थरूपिणः॥
You wish to know the temperament of mind which would give you happiness. The advice I give you is to renounce all objects of desire! Objects which should be discarded appear to one as those which he should seek to secure, while those which should be secured appear to him as objects which should be avoided.
अर्थायैव हि केषांचिद् धननाशो भवत्युत। आनन्त्यं तत्सुखं मत्वा श्रियमन्यः परीप्सति॥
Some loss their wealth while seeking the same. Others consider wealth, as the source of endless happiness, and, therefore pursue it eagerly.
रममाणः श्रिया कश्चिन्नान्यच्छ्रेयोऽभिमन्यते। तथा तस्येहमानस्य समारम्भो विनश्यति॥
Some again, overjoyed with wealth, think that there is nothing superior to it. While cagerly seeking for the acquisition of wealth, such a person loses all other objects of life. renounce
कृच्छाल्लब्धमभिप्रेतं यदि कौसल्य नश्यति। तदा निर्विद्यते सोऽर्थात् परिभग्नक्रमो नरः॥
If, O prince of Koshala, a person loses that wealth which had been acquired with difficulty and after which he had hankered, he then, overcome by despair, gives up all desire of wealth.
धर्ममेकेऽभिपद्यन्ते कल्याणाभिजना नराः। परत्र सुखमिच्छन्तो निर्विद्येयुश्च लौकिकात्॥
Some righteous and highly-born persons devote themselves to the acquisitions of virtue. These every king of worldly happiness from securing the same in the other world.
जीवितं संत्यजन्त्येके धनलोभपरा जनाः। न जीवितार्थं मन्यन्ते पुरुषा हि धनादृते॥
Some persons sacrifice life itself, actuated by the desire of acquiring wealth. These do not think that life without wealth has any use.
पश्य तेषां कृपणतां पश्य तेषामबुद्धिताम्। अध्रुवे जीविते मोहादर्थदृष्टिमुपाश्रिताः॥
Mark at their pitiable condition! Witness their foolishness! When life is so short and uncertain, these men, actuated by ignorance, seek wealth.
संचये च विनाशान्ते मरणान्ते च जीवित। संयोगे च वियोगान्ते को नु विप्रणयेन्मनः॥
Who is there that would busy himself with boarding when destruction is its end, hanker after life when death is its end, and after union when separation is its end?
धनं वा पुरुषो राजन् पुरुषं वा पुनर्धनम्। अवश्यं प्रजहात्येव तद् विद्वान् कोऽनुसंज्वरेत्॥ अन्येषामपि नश्यन्ति सुहृदश्च धनानि च।
Sometimes man renounces wealth, and sometimes wealth renounces man. What man endued with knowledge is there who would grieve at the loss of wealth? There are many other persons in the world who lose wealth and friends.
पश्य वुद्ध्या मनुष्याणां राजन्नापदमात्मनः॥ नियच्छ यच्छ संयच्छ इन्द्रियाणि मनो गिरम्।
See, O king, with your intelligence, and you will come to learn that the calamities which befall men are all owing to their own conduct! Do you, therefore, control your senses, mind and speech.
प्रतिषेद्धा न चाप्येषु दुर्बलेष्वहितेष्वपि॥ प्राप्तिसृष्टेषु भावेषु व्यपकृष्टेष्वसम्भवे। प्रज्ञानतृप्तो विक्रान्तस्त्वद्विधो नानुशोचति॥
For, if these become weak and productive of evil there is no man who can stand aloof from temptation of external objects by which he is always surrounded. As no one can from a good idea of the past nor of the future, there being many intervals of time and place, a person like you who are endued with such wisdom and such prowess, never grieve for union and separation, for good or evil.
अल्पमिच्छन्नचपलो मृदुर्दान्तः सुनिश्चितः। ब्रह्मचर्योपपन्नश्च त्वद्विधो नैव शोचति॥
A person so mild by nature, of controlled self, and settled conclusions, and observant of Brahmacharya vows, never grieve and never becomes restless from the desire of acquiring from the fear of losing anything insignificant.
न त्वेव जाल्मी कापाली वृत्तिमेषितुमर्हसि। नृशंसवृत्तिं पापिष्ठां दुष्टां कापुरुषोचिताम्॥
It is not proper that such a man should follow a deceitful life of mendicancy, a life that is sinful and wicked and cruel and which benefits only a human wretch.
अपि मूलफलाजीवो रमस्वैको महावने। वाग्यतः संगृहीतात्मा सर्वभूतदयान्वितः॥
Do you go to the great forest and lead a life of happiness there, all alone and subsisting upon fruits and roots, restraining words and soul, and filled with mercy for all creatures.
सदृशं पण्डितस्यैतदीषादन्तेन दन्तिना। यदेको रमतेऽरण्येष्वारण्ये नैव तुष्यति॥
Or He, who cheerfully leads such a life in the forest, having elephants of large tusks for companions, with no human being by his side, and contented with the produce of the forest, is said to follow the footsteps of the wise.
महाह्रदः संक्षुभित आत्मनैव प्रसीदति। एतदेवंगतस्याहं सुखं पश्यामि जीवितुम्॥
A large lake, when it becomes disturbed, becomes silent itself. Likewise, a wise men, when disturbed in such matters, becomes tranquil of himself. I see that a person, who has been reduced to such a plight as yours, may live happily even thus.
असम्भवे श्रियो राजन् हीनस्य सचिवादिभिः। दैवे प्रतिनिविष्टे च किं श्रेयो मन्यते भवान्॥
When it is impossible for you to recover your prosperity and when you are without ministers and counsellors, such a course is open to you. Do you expect to reap any benefit by depending upon destiny?