युधिष्ठिर उवाच श्रुता मे कथताः पूर्वे चत्वारो मानवाश्रमाः। व्याख्यानयित्वा व्याख्यानमेषामाचक्ष्व पृच्छतः॥शा
Yudhishthira said You have described to me the four modes of life. I desire to know more of them. Do you describe them.'
भीष्म उवाच विदिताः सर्व एवेह धर्मास्तव युधिष्ठिर। यथा मम महाबाहो विदिताः साधुसम्मताः॥
Bhishma said 'O Yudhishthira of mighty-arms, all th duties which are practised in this world by the righteous are known to you and me.
यत्तु लिङ्गान्तरगतं पृच्छसे मां युधिष्ठिर। धर्मं धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ तन्निबोध नराधिप॥
O foremost of virtuous persons, hear now what you ask viz., the merit that a king acquires when the duties are practised by others leading other modes of life.
सर्वाण्येतानि कौन्तेय विद्यन्ते मनुजर्षभ। साध्वाचारप्रवृत्तानां चातुराश्रम्यकारिणाम्॥
All the merits, O son of Kunti, which accrue to persons practising the duties of the four modes of life, are partaken of, O foremost of men, by righteous kings.
अकामद्वेषयुक्तस्य दण्डनीत्या युधिष्ठिर। समदर्शिनश्च भूतेषु भैक्ष्याश्रमपदं भवेत्॥
A king who is not under the influence of lust and hate, who rules with the help of the science of punishment, and who regards all creatures impartially, Yudhishthira, attains to the object of a mendicant's life.
वेत्ति ज्ञानविसर्ग च निग्रहानुग्रहं तथा। यथोक्तवृत्तेधीरस्य क्षेमाश्रमपदं भवेत्॥
That king, who is possessed of knowledge, who makes gifts to worthy persons on proper occasions, who knows how to favour and punish, who follows the injunctions of the scriptures in all his dealings, and who has tranquility of soul, attains to the object of the Garhasthya mode of life.
अर्हान् पूजयतो नित्यं संविभागेन पाण्डव। सर्वतस्तस्य कौन्तेय भैक्ष्याश्रमपदं भवेत्॥
That king, who always adores those who are worthy of adorations by having paid them their due, attains, O son of Kunti, to the object of the Bhaikshya mode of life.
ज्ञातिसम्बन्धिमित्राणि व्यापन्नानि युधिष्ठिर। समभ्युद्धरमाणस्य दीक्षाश्रमपदं भवेत्॥
That king, O Yudhishthira, who saves from distress, to the best of his ability, the kinsmen and relatives and friends, attains to the object of the Vanaprastha mode of life.
लोकमुख्येषु सत्कारं लिङ्गिमुख्येषु चासकृत्। कुर्वतस्तस्य कौन्तेय वन्याश्रमपदं भवेत्॥
That king, who on every occasion honours the foremost men and foremost of Yatis, attains, O son of Kunti, to the object of the Vanaprastha mode of life.
आह्निकं पितृयज्ञांश्च भृतयज्ञान् समानुषान्। कुर्वतः पार्थ विपुलान् वन्याश्रमपदं भवेत्॥ संविभागेन भूतानामतिथीनां तथार्चनात्। देवयज्ञैश्च राजेन्द्र वन्याश्रमपदं भवेत्॥
That king, O Partha, who daily presents offerings to the departed manes and large offerings to all living creatures including men, attains to the object of the same mode of life.
मर्दनं परराष्ट्राणां शिष्टार्थं सत्यविक्रम। कुर्वतः पुरुषव्याघ्र वन्याश्रमपदं भवेत्॥
That king, O foremost of men, who attacks the kingdoms of others for protecting the pious, attains to the object of the same mode of life.
पालनात् सर्वभूतानां स्वराष्ट्रपरिपालनात्। दीक्षा बहुविधा राजन् सत्याश्रमपदं भवेत्॥
For the protection of all the creatures as also of the proper protection of his own kingdom, a king acquires the merit of as many sacrifices as the number of creatures protected, and therefore attains to the object of Sannyasa mode of life.
वेदाध्ययननित्यत्वं क्षमाथाचार्यपूजनम्। अथोपाध्यायशुश्रूषा ब्रह्माश्रमपदं भवेत्॥
Study of the Vedas every day, forgiveness, and worship of preceptors and services rendered to one's own teacher, secure the attainment of the object of Brahmacharya.
आह्निकं जपमानस्य देवान् पूजयतः सदा। धर्मेण पुरुषव्याघ्र धर्माश्रमपदं भवेत्॥
That king silently recites his mantras every day and who adores the gods according to the ordinance, attains, O foremost of men, to the object of the Garhasthya mode of life.
मृत्युर्वा रक्षणं वेति यस्य राज्ञो विनिश्चयः। प्राणद्यूते ततस्तस्य ब्रह्माश्रमपदं भवेत्॥
That king, who fights with the object of protecting his kingdom or meeting with death, attains to the object of the Vanaprastha mode of life.
अजिह्ममशठं मार्ग वर्तमानस्य भारत। सर्वदा सर्वभूतेषु ब्रह्माश्रमपदं भवेत्॥
That king, O Bharata, who always treats all creatures with fairness and sincerity, attains to the object of Vanaprastha mode of life.
वानप्रस्थेषु विप्रेषु त्रैविद्येषु च भारत। प्रयच्छतोऽर्थान् विपुलान् वन्याश्रमपदं भवेत्॥
That king, who gives to persons leading a Vanaprastha mode of life and to Brahmanas versed in the three Vedas, attains to the object of the Vanaprastha mode of life.
सर्वभूतेष्वनुक्रोशं कुर्वतस्तस्य भारत। आनृशंस्यप्रवृत्तस्य सर्वावस्थं पदं भवेत्॥
That king, who shows mercy towards all creatures and abstains entirely from cruelty, O Bharata, attains to the object of all the modes of life.
बालवृद्धेषु कौन्तेय सर्वावस्थं युधिष्ठिर। अनुक्रोशक्रिया पार्थ सर्वावस्थं पदं भवेत्॥
That king, O Yudhishthira, who shows mercy to the young and the old, O son of Kunti, under every circumstance, attains to the objects of all modes of life.
बलात्कृतेषु भूतेषु परित्राणं कुरूद्वह। शरणागतेषु कौरव्य कुर्वन् गार्हस्थ्यमावसेत्॥
That king, O perpetuator of Kuru's race, who relieves the oppressed who seek refuge with him, attains to the object of the Garhasthya mode of life.
चराचराणां भूतानां रक्षणं चापि सर्वशः। यथार्हपूजां च तथा कुर्वन् गाहस्थ्यमावसेत्॥
That king, who protects all creatures mobile and immobile, and honours them duly, attains to the object of the Garhasthya mode of life.
ज्येष्ठानुज्येष्ठपत्नीनां भ्रातृणां पुत्रनप्तृणाम्। निग्रहानुग्रहौ पार्थ गार्हस्थ्यमिति तत् तपः॥
Granting favours and inflicting punishments upon the wives of brothers elder and younger and upon their sons and grandsons, constitute the domestic duties of a king and these are also his best penances.
साधूनामर्चनीयानां पूजा सुविदितात्मनाम्। पालनं पुरुषव्याघ्र गृहाश्रमपदं भवेत्॥
By honouring those who are pious and worthy of adorations and protecting those who have (by their penances) acquired a knowledge of self, a king, O foremost of men, attains to the object of the Garhasthya mode of life.
आश्रमस्थानि भूतानि यस्तु वेश्मनि भारत। आददीतेह भोज्येन तद् गार्हस्थ्यं युधिष्ठिर॥
Inviting to his home, O Bharata, persons who have adopted the Vanaprastha and other modes of life, and feasting them form the domestic duties of a king.
यः स्थितः पुरुषो धर्मे धात्रा सृष्टे यथार्थवत्। आश्रमाणां हि सर्वेषां फलं प्राप्नोत्यनामयम्॥
That king who duly follows the duties laid down by the Creator, acquires the blessed merits of all the modes of life.
यस्मिन्न नश्यन्ति गुणाः कौन्तेय पुरुषे सदा। आश्रमस्थं तमप्याहुनरश्रेष्ठं युधिष्ठिर॥
That king, O son of Kunti, who has all the virtues, that foremost of men, O Yudhishthira, is said by the learned to be a person who follows the Vanaprastha and all the other modes of life.
स्थानमानं कुले मानं वयोमानं तथैव च। कुर्वन् वसति सर्वेषु ह्याश्रमेषु युधिष्ठिर॥
That king who duly honours the office or rank worthy of honour, the race or family worthy of honour, and those old men who deserve honour, is said, O Yudhishthira, to live in all the modes of life.
देशधर्मांच कौन्तेय कुलधर्मांस्तथैव च। पालयन् पुरुषव्याघ्र राजा सर्वाश्रमी भवेत्॥
A king, O son of Kunti, by following the duties of his country and those of his family, acquires, O foremost of men the merits of all the modes of life.
काले विभूतिं भूतानामुपहारांस्तथैव च। अर्हयन् पुरुषव्याघ्र साधूनामाश्रमे वसेत्॥
That king, who at proper seasons gives to pious men riches and precious gifts, earns the merits, O king, of all the modes of life.
दशधर्मगतश्चापि यो धर्मं प्रत्यवेक्षते। सर्वलोकस्य कौन्तेय राजा भवति सोऽऽश्रमी॥
That king, O son of Kunti, who even when beset with danger and fear still keeps his eye on the duties of all men, earns the merits of all the modes of life.
ये धर्मकुशला लोके धर्मं कुर्वन्ति भारत। पालिता यस्य विषये धर्मांशस्तस्य भूपते॥
The king partakes of the merits acquired under his protection by righteous people of his territories.
धर्मारामान् धर्मपरान् ये न रक्षन्ति मानवाान्। पार्थिवाः पुरुषव्याघ्र तेषां पापं हरन्ति ते॥
On the other hand, if kings, O foremost of men, do not protect the righteous people within their territories they then visited by the sins of the latter.
ये चाप्यत्र सहायाः स्युः पार्थिवानां युधिष्ठिर। ते चैवांशहराः सर्वे धर्मे परकृतेऽनघ॥
Those men also, O Yudhishthira, who assist kings (in protecting their subjects), are equally entitled, O sinless one, to a share of the merits acquired by others.
सर्वाश्रमपदेऽप्याहुर्गार्हस्थ्यं दीप्तनिर्णयम्। पावनं पुरुषव्याघ्र यं धर्मं पर्युपास्महे॥
The learned declare that the Garhasthya, which we follow, is superior to all the other modes of life. The conclusions regarding it are very clear. It is certainly sacred, O foremost of men.
आत्मोपमस्तु भूतेषु यो वै भवति मानवः। न्यस्तदण्डो जितक्रोधः प्रेत्येह लभते सुखम्॥
That man, who regards all creatures as his own self, who never does any harm and has his anger under control, enjoys great happiness both here and here after.
धर्मे स्थिता सत्त्ववीर्या धर्मसेतुवटारका। त्यागवाताध्वगा शीघ्रा नौस्तं संतारयिष्यति॥
A king can easily cross the ocean of the world having kingly duties as his fleet boat urged on by the breeze of gifts,, having the scriptures for its tackle and intelligence for the strength of its helmsman, and kept afloat by the power of virtue.
यदा निवृत्तः सर्वस्मात् कामो योऽस्य हृदि स्थितः। तदा भवति सत्त्वस्थस्ततो ब्रह्म समश्नुते॥
When all attachment for every earthly object, is withdrawn from his heart he is then regarded as one leaving in his understanding alone. In this state he soon attains to Brahma.
सुप्रसन्नस्तु भावेन योगेन च नराधिप। धर्मं पुरुषशार्दूल प्राप्स्यते पालने रतः॥
Becoming cheerful by meditation and by controlling desire and other passions of the heart, O foremost of men, a king, engaged in discharging the duty of protection, succeeds in acquiring great merit.
वेदाध्ययनशीलानां विप्राणां साधुकर्मणाम्। पालने यत्नमातिष्ठ सर्वलोकस्य चैव ह॥
Do you, therefore, O Yudhishthira, try your best to protect Brahmanas of pious deeds and devoted to the study of the Vedas, as also all other men.
वने चरन्ति ये धर्ममाश्रमेषु च भारत। रक्षणात् तच्छतगुणं धर्मं प्राप्नोति पार्थिवः॥
By following the duty of protection only, o Bharata, the king acquires merit that is a hundred times greater than what is earned by hermits in their asylums in the forest.
एष ते विविधो धर्मः पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ कीर्तितः। अनुतिष्ठ त्वमेनं वै पूर्वदृष्टं सनातनम्॥
I have now described, O eldest son of Pandu, the various duties of men. Do you follow kingly duties which are eternal and that have been practised by great men since days of yore.
चातुराश्रम्यमैकाग्रयं चातुर्वर्यं च पाण्डव। धर्मं पुरुषशार्दूल प्राप्स्यसे पालने रतः॥
If you devote yourself head and soul to the duty of protecting (your subjects), O foremost of men, you may then, O son of Pandu, acquire the merits of all the four modes of life and of all the four orders of men.