युधिष्ठिर उवाच यद्यस्ति दत्तमिष्टं वा तपस्तप्तं तथैव च। गुरूणां वापि शुश्रूषा तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह॥
Yudhishthira said Tell me, O grand-father, if gifts, sacrifices, penances and dutiful services offered to preceptors, yield wisdom and supreme bliss.
भीष्म उवाच आत्मनानर्थयुक्तेन पापे निविशते मनः। स्वकर्मकलुषं कृत्वा कृच्छ्रे लोके विधीयते॥
Bhishma said 'If the mind is stricken with desire, anger and other evil passions, it then inclines towards sin. If one's acts are sullied by sin, he is obliged to dwell in painful regions.
दुर्भिक्षादेव दुर्भिक्षं क्लेशात् क्लेशं भयाद् भयम्। मृतेभ्यः प्रमृतं यान्ति दरिद्राः पापकारिणः॥
Sinful men are born as poor men and suffer again and again the pangs of fainine, woe, fear, and death.
उत्सवादुत्सवं यान्ति स्वर्गात् स्वर्ग सुखात् सुखम्। श्रद्दधानाश्च दान्ताश्च धनाढ्याः शुभकारिणः॥
The virtuous, the faithful, and the selfrestrained, become born as affluent men and continually enjoy festivities and heaven and happiness.
व्यालकुञ्जरदुर्गेषु सर्पचोरभयेषु च। हस्तावापेन गच्छन्ति नास्तिकाः किमतः परम्॥
Unbelievers, with their hands bound, are sent to regions rendered inaccessible by carnivorous beasts and elephants, and dreadful with snakes and robbers, What more should I say of them.
प्रियदेवातिथेयाश्च वदान्याः प्रियसाधवः। क्षेम्यमात्मवतां मार्गमास्थिता हस्तदक्षिणम्॥
They, on the other hand, who respects god and guests, who are liberal who love good and honest men, enjoy for their acts of charity, that happy way which belongs to persons of purified souls.
पुलाका इव धान्येषु पुत्तिका इव पक्षिषु। तद्विधास्ते मनुष्याणां येषां धर्मो न कारणम्॥
They who have no respect for virtue are as vile among men as seedless grains among corn or the gnat among birds.
सुशीघ्रमपि धावन्तं विधानमनुधावति। शेते सह शयानेन येन येन यथा कृतम्॥
The pre-ordained act follows the doer even if the latter tries his best for leaving it behind. It sleeps when he sleeps and does whatever else he does.
उपतिष्ठति तिष्ठन्तं गच्छन्तमनुगच्छति। करोति कुर्वतः कर्म च्छायेवानुविधीयते॥
Like his shadow it takes rest when he rests, goes on when he goes on, and acts when he acts.
येन येन यथा यद् यत् पुरा कर्म समीहितम्। तत्तदेकतरो भुङ्क्ते नित्यं विहितमात्मना॥
Whatever acts a man does in his previous birth, he certainly enjoys the fruits thereof.
स्वकर्मफलनिक्षेपं विधानपरिरक्षितम्। भूतग्राममिमं कालः समन्तात् परिकर्षति॥
Death is dragging all creatures who are destined to take birth according to their deserts and are liable to enjoy or suffer that which has been ordained as the fruit of their acts.
अचोद्यमानानि यथा पुष्पाणि च फलानि च। स्वं कालं नातिवर्तन्ते तथा कर्म पुरा कृतम्॥
Pristine acts develop their consequences in their own proper time even as flowers and fruits, without any outward efforts, never fail to appear when the proper season sets in.
सम्मानश्चावमानश्च लाभालाभौ क्षयोदयौ। प्रवृत्ता विनिवर्तन्ते विधानान्ते पुनः पुनः॥
After the ordained consequences of pristine acts have been dissipated (by enjoyment or sufferance), honour and disgrace, profit and loss, development and decay no longer come. This takes place again and again.
आत्मना विहितं दुःखामात्मना विहितं सुखम्। गर्भशय्यामुपादाय भुज्यते पौर्वदेहिकम्॥
While still in the mother's womb, a creature enjoys or suffers the happiness of the misery that has been ordained for him by his own acts,
बालो युवा च वृद्धश्च यत् करोति शुभाशुभम्। तस्यां तस्यावस्थायां तत्फलं प्रतिपद्यते॥
In childhood or youth or old age whenever a man does a good or bad act the consequences there of surely visit him in his next life at precisely the same period.
यथा धेनुसहस्रेषु वत्सो विन्दति मातरम्। तथा पूर्वकृतं कर्म कर्तारमनुगच्छति॥
As a calf recognises and comes to it mother in the midst of even a thousand kine, so the pristine acts recognise and visit the doer in his new life.
समुन्नमग्रतो वस्त्रं पश्चाच्छुध्यति कर्मणा। उपवासैः प्रतप्तानां दीर्घं सुखमनन्तकम्॥
Washed in water a piece of cloth becomes clean. Likewise, men, repenting (for their past misdeeds), get eternal happiness by proper penances.
दीर्घकालेन तपसा सेवितेन तपोवने। धर्मनिर्धूतपापानां सम्पद्यन्ते मनोरथाः॥
By living in the woods and by practising austerities for a long period, one can wash themselves of their sins, and get the objects of their hearts.
शकुनानामिवाकाशे मत्स्यानामिव चोदके। पदं यथा न दृश्येत तथा ज्ञानविदां गतिः॥
As no one can mark the track of birds in the sky or of fishes in the water, so the track of persons whose souls have been purified by knowledge cannot be seen by any.
अलमन्यैरुपालम्भैः कीर्तितैश्च व्यतिक्रमैः। पेशलं चानुरूपं च कर्तव्यं हितमात्मनः॥
There is no need of speaking more of sinful acts. Suffice it to say that one should, with proper judgement and as best as can, do what is for his well-being. This is the means by which wisdom and great happiness may be acquired." persons whose souls have been purified by knowledge cannot be seen by any.
अलमन्यैरुपालम्भैः कीर्तितैश्च व्यतिक्रमैः। पेशलं चानुरूपं च कर्तव्यं हितमात्मनः॥
There is no need of speaking more of sinful acts. Suffice it to say that one should, with proper judgement and as best as can, do what is for his well-being. This is the means by which wisdom and great happiness may be acquired."