The Fruits of Deeds and Austerities

Verse 1 (13.10.1)

कर्मणां च समस्तानां फलिनां भरतर्षभ । फलानि महतां श्रेष्ठ प्रब्रूहि परिपृच्छतः ॥

karmaṇāṃ ca samastānāṃ phalināṃ bharatarṣabha | phalāni mahatāṃ śreṣṭha prabrūhi paripṛcchataḥ

Yudhishthira said: Of all deeds that bear fruit, O best of the Bharatas, tell me the fruits, O foremost of the great, as I ask you.

Note on the text: Corrected श्रेष्ट → श्रेष्ठ (misprint in Wikisource: ट for ठ; CE śreṣṭha). The alignment found no match; the verse is CE 13.7.1 (karmaṇāṃ me samastānāṃ śubhānāṃ bharatarṣabha / phalāni mahatāṃ śreṣṭha prabrūhi paripṛcchataḥ), with Wikisource कर्मणां च / फलिनां for karmaṇāṃ me / śubhānāṃ, a recension variant, kept.

Verse 2 (13.10.2)

हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि यन्मां पृच्छसि भारत । रहस्यं यदृषीणां तु तच्छृणुष्व युधिष्ठिर । या गतिः प्राप्यते येन प्रेत्यभावे चिरेप्सिता ॥

hanta te kathayiṣyāmi yanmāṃ pṛcchasi bhārata | rahasyaṃ yadṛṣīṇāṃ tu tacchṛṇuṣva yudhiṣṭhira | yā gatiḥ prāpyate yena pretyabhāve cirepsitā

Bhishma said: Gladly, Bharata, I shall tell you what you ask of me, the secret of the sages. Listen to it, Yudhishthira: the goal, long desired, that is reached in the next life, and by what means it is reached.

Note on the text: Three-line verse, as on the page (labelled 10-2a/b/c). Line 1 = the CE star line 13.7.2*0038_01 (hanta te kathayiṣyāmi yan māṃ pṛcchasi bhārata), line 2 = CE 13.7.2a (rahasyaṃ yad ṛṣīṇāṃ tu tac chṛṇuṣva yudhiṣṭhira), line 3 = CE 13.7.2c. The alignment found no match because of the extra line.

Verse 3 (13.10.3)

येनयेन शरीरेण यद्यत्कर्म करोति यः । तेनतेन शरीरेण तत्तत्फलमुपाश्नुते ॥

yenayena śarīreṇa yadyatkarma karoti yaḥ | tenatena śarīreṇa tattatphalamupāśnute

In whatever body a man does whatever deed, in that very body he reaps the fruit of each such deed.

Verse 4 (13.10.4)

यस्यांयस्यामवस्थायां यत्करोति शुभाशुभम् । तस्यांतस्यामवस्थायां भुङ्क्ते जन्मनिजन्मनि ॥

yasyāṃyasyāmavasthāyāṃ yatkaroti śubhāśubham | tasyāṃtasyāmavasthāyāṃ bhuṅkte janmanijanmani

In whatever state he does what is good or bad, in that very state, birth after birth, he enjoys the result.

Verse 5 (13.10.5)

न नश्यति कृतं कर्म चित्तपञ्चेन्द्रियैरिह । ते ह्यस्य साक्षिणो नित्यं षष्ठ आत्मा शुभाशुभे ॥

na naśyati kṛtaṃ karma cittapañcendriyairiha | te hyasya sākṣiṇo nityaṃ ṣaṣṭha ātmā śubhāśubhe

A deed done with the mind and the five senses is never lost here; they are its constant witnesses, and the self is the sixth, in good and in evil.

Note on the text: Recension variants, kept: चित्त- for sadā in line 1 and शुभाशुभे for tathaiva ca in line 2 (CE 13.7.5).

Verse 6 (13.10.6)

चक्षुर्दद्यान्मनो दद्याद्वाचं दद्याच्च सूनृताम् । अनुव्रजेदुपासीत स यज्ञः पञ्चदक्षिणः ॥

cakṣurdadyānmano dadyādvācaṃ dadyācca sūnṛtām | anuvrajedupāsīta sa yajñaḥ pañcadakṣiṇaḥ

Let him give the eye, give the mind, give kind speech; let him follow the guest on his way and wait upon him: that is a sacrifice with five gifts.

Verse 7 (13.10.7)

यो दद्यादपरिक्लिष्टमन्नमध्वनि वर्तते । श्रान्तायादृष्टपूर्वाय तस्य पुण्यफलं महत् ॥

yo dadyādaparikliṣṭamannamadhvani vartate | śrāntāyādṛṣṭapūrvāya tasya puṇyaphalaṃ mahat

One who gives food, without grudging, to a tired traveller on the road, a man never seen before, gains great merit.

Verse 8 (13.10.8)

स्थण्डिलेषु शयानानां गृहाणि शयनानि च । चीरवल्कलसंवीते वासांस्याभरणानि च ॥

sthaṇḍileṣu śayānānāṃ gṛhāṇi śayanāni ca | cīravalkalasaṃvīte vāsāṃsyābharaṇāni ca

For those who sleep on bare ground there are houses and beds; for one wrapped in rags and bark, garments and ornaments;

Verse 9 (13.10.9)

वाहनानि च यानानि योगात्मनि तपोधने । अग्नीनुपशयानस्य राज्ञः पौरुषमेव च ॥

vāhanāni ca yānāni yogātmani tapodhane | agnīnupaśayānasya rājñaḥ pauruṣameva ca

and conveyances and vehicles for the ascetic whose self is in yoga, rich in austerity; and for him who lies down among fires, a king's manly power.

Note on the text: The alignment found no match; the verse is a recension variant of CE 13.7.9 (vāhanāsanayānāni yogātmani tapodhane / agnīn upaśayānasya rājapauruṣam ucyate); Wikisource राज्ञः पौरुषमेव च for rājapauruṣam ucyate, kept.

Verse 10 (13.10.10)

रसानां प्रतिसंहारे सौभाग्यमनुगच्छति । आमिषप्रतिसंहारे पशून्पुत्रांश्च विन्दति ॥

rasānāṃ pratisaṃhāre saubhāgyamanugacchati | āmiṣapratisaṃhāre paśūnputrāṃśca vindati

By holding back the tastes, good fortune follows; by holding back from meat, he gains cattle and sons.

Verse 11 (13.10.11)

अवाक्शिरास्तु यो लम्बेदुदवासं च यो वसेत् । मण्डूकशायी च नरो लभते चेप्सितां गतिम् ॥

avākśirāstu yo lambedudavāsaṃ ca yo vaset | maṇḍūkaśāyī ca naro labhate cepsitāṃ gatim

The man who hangs with his head downward, or lives in water, or sleeps in the frog's posture, obtains the goal he desires.

Note on the text: Recension variant, kept: मण्डूकशायी च नरो लभते चेप्सितां गतिम् for CE satataṃ caikaśāyī yaḥ sa labhetepsitāṃ gatim (13.7.11c); the page's footnote notes the CE-type reading as a variant.

Verse 12 (13.10.12)

पाद्यमासनमेवाथ दीपमन्नं प्रतिश्रयम् । दद्यादतिथिपूजार्थं स यज्ञः पञ्चदक्षिणः ॥

pādyamāsanamevātha dīpamannaṃ pratiśrayam | dadyādatithipūjārthaṃ sa yajñaḥ pañcadakṣiṇaḥ

Water for the feet, a seat, a lamp, food and shelter: he who gives these in honour of a guest performs a sacrifice with five gifts.

Verse 13 (13.10.13)

वीरासनं वीरशय्यां वीरस्थानमुपासतः । अक्षयास्तस्य वै लोकाः सर्वकामगमास्तथा ॥

vīrāsanaṃ vīraśayyāṃ vīrasthānamupāsataḥ | akṣayāstasya vai lokāḥ sarvakāmagamāstathā

For one who resorts to the hero's seat, the hero's bed and the hero's station, there are imperishable worlds that grant every wish.

Verse 14 (13.10.14)

धनं लभेत दानेन मौनेनाज्ञां विशांपते । उपभोगांश्च तपसा ब्रह्मचर्येण जीवितम् ॥

dhanaṃ labheta dānena maunenājñāṃ viśāṃpate | upabhogāṃśca tapasā brahmacaryeṇa jīvitam

By giving one gains wealth; by silence, authority, O lord of men; by austerity, enjoyments; by chastity, life.

Verse 15 (13.10.15)

रूपमैश्वर्यमारोग्यमहिंसाफलमश्नुते । फलमूलाशिनो राज्यं स्वर्गः पर्णाशिनां भवेत् ॥

rūpamaiśvaryamārogyamahiṃsāphalamaśnute | phalamūlāśino rājyaṃ svargaḥ parṇāśināṃ bhavet

He gains beauty, lordship and health as the fruit of non-violence; those who live on fruits and roots gain a kingdom, and those who live on leaves gain heaven.

Note on the text: Recension variant, kept: line 2 against CE 13.7.15c (phalamūlāśināṃ rājyaṃ svargaḥ parṇāśināṃ tathā).

Verse 16 (13.10.16)

प्रायोपवेशिनो राजन्सर्वत्र सुखमुच्यते । गवाढ्यः शाकदीक्षायां स्वर्गगामी तृणाशनः ॥

prāyopaveśino rājansarvatra sukhamucyate | gavāḍhyaḥ śākadīkṣāyāṃ svargagāmī tṛṇāśanaḥ

For one who fasts unto death, O king, happiness everywhere is declared; one who takes the vow of eating only vegetables becomes rich in cattle, and one who lives on grass goes to heaven.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 13.7.16a (prāyopaveśanād rājyaṃ sarvatra sukham ucyate; Wikisource प्रायोपवेशिनो राजन्, a variant); line 2 = CE 13.7.17a (gavāḍhyaḥ śākadīkṣāyāṃ svargagāmī tṛṇāśanaḥ). The alignment found no match because the halves are ordered differently from the CE.

Verse 17 (13.10.17)

स्त्रियस्त्रिषवणं स्नात्वा वायुं पीत्वा क्रतुं लभेत् । स्वर्गं सत्येन लभते दीक्षया कुलमुत्तमम् ॥

striyastriṣavaṇaṃ snātvā vāyuṃ pītvā kratuṃ labhet | svargaṃ satyena labhate dīkṣayā kulamuttamam

Women who bathe at the three pressings and live on air would gain the fruit of a sacrifice; heaven is gained by truth, and the best of families by consecration.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 13.7.17c (striyas triṣavaṇaṃ snātvā vāyuṃ pītvā kratuṃ labhet); line 2 = CE 13.7.16c (svargaṃ satyena labhate dīkṣayā kulam uttamam). Wikisource orders the halves differently from the CE; the alignment found no match.

Verse 18 (13.10.18)

सलिलाशी भवेद्यस्तु सदाग्निः संस्कृतो द्विजः । मरुत्साधयतो राज्यं नाकपृष्ठमनाशिने ॥

salilāśī bhavedyastu sadāgniḥ saṃskṛto dvijaḥ | marutsādhayato rājyaṃ nākapṛṣṭhamanāśine

For the twice-born who lives on water alone and, duly consecrated, keeps his fire always lit, and for one who masters the breath, there is a kingdom; for one who fasts, the summit of heaven.

Note on the text: Recension variants, kept: सलिलाशी भवेद्यस्तु (CE bhaved yaś ca) and मरुत्साधयतः (CE maruṃ sādhayataḥ) in CE 13.7.18.

Verse 19 (13.10.19)

उपवासं च दीक्षायामभिषेकं च पार्थिव । कृत्वा द्वादशवर्षाणि वीरस्थानाद्विशिष्यते ॥

upavāsaṃ ca dīkṣāyāmabhiṣekaṃ ca pārthiva | kṛtvā dvādaśavarṣāṇi vīrasthānādviśiṣyate

Fasting, consecration and bathing, O king, if kept for twelve years, surpass even the hero's station.

Verse 20 (13.10.20)

अधीत्य सर्ववेदान्वै सद्यो दुःखाद्विमुच्यते । तत्पाठधारणात्स्वर्गमर्थज्ञानात्परां गतिम् ॥

adhītya sarvavedānvai sadyo duḥkhādvimucyate | tatpāṭhadhāraṇātsvargamarthajñānātparāṃ gatim

By studying all the Vedas one is at once freed from sorrow; by retaining their recitation, heaven; by knowing their meaning, the highest goal.

Note on the text: Removed the stray backtick Wikisource prints before line 2. Line 1 = CE 13.7.20a; line 2 is the CE star line 13.7.20b*0038A_01 (tatpāṭhadhāraṇāt svargam arthajñānāt parāṃ gatim). The alignment found no match.

Verse 21 (13.10.21)

वितृष्णानां वेदजपात्स्वर्गमोक्षफलं स्मृतम् । मानसं हि चरन्धर्म स्वर्गलोकमुपाश्नुते ॥

vitṛṣṇānāṃ vedajapātsvargamokṣaphalaṃ smṛtam | mānasaṃ hi carandharma svargalokamupāśnute

For those free of craving, heaven and liberation are declared the fruit of Vedic recitation. One who practises the dharma of the mind attains the world of heaven.

Note on the text: Removed the stray quote mark and the doubled daṇḍa Wikisource prints after line 1 (it closes the quoted star passage begun in verse 20). Line 1 is the CE star line 13.7.20b*0038A_02 (vitṛṣṇānāṃ vedajapāt svargamokṣaphalaṃ smṛtam); line 2 = CE 13.7.20c (mānasaṃ hi caran dharmaṃ svargalokam avāpnuyāt; Wikisource उपाश्नुते for avāpnuyāt). The CE's star line 13.7.20d*0039_01 is not on the page.

Verse 22 (13.10.22)

या दुस्त्यजा दुर्मतिभिर्या न जीर्यति जीर्यतः । योऽसौ प्राणान्तिको रोगस्तां तृष्णां त्यजतः सुखं ॥

yā dustyajā durmatibhiryā na jīryati jīryataḥ | yo'sau prāṇāntiko rogastāṃ tṛṣṇāṃ tyajataḥ sukhaṃ

Craving is hard for the dull-witted to give up; it does not age though the body ages; it is the fatal disease of life. For him who gives up that craving there is happiness.

Note on the text: Corrected योसौप्राणान्तिकोरोगस्तांतृष्णां → योऽसौ प्राणान्तिको रोगस्तां तृष्णां (Wikisource prints the words run together and drops the avagraha of योऽसौ; CE yo 'sau prāṇāntiko rogas tāṃ tṛṣṇāṃ). The final सुखं is kept as printed.

Verse 23 (13.10.23)

यथा धेनुसहस्रेषु वत्सो विन्दति मातरम् । एवं पूर्वकृतं कर्म कर्तारमनुगच्छति ॥

yathā dhenusahasreṣu vatso vindati mātaram | evaṃ pūrvakṛtaṃ karma kartāramanugacchati

As among thousands of cows a calf finds its mother, so a deed done before follows the doer.

Verse 24 (13.10.24)

अचोद्यमानानि यथा पुष्पाणि च फलानि च । स्वकालं नातिवर्तन्ते तथा कर्म पुराकृतम् ॥

acodyamānāni yathā puṣpāṇi ca phalāni ca | svakālaṃ nātivartante tathā karma purākṛtam

As flowers and fruits, though no one urges them, do not pass beyond their own season, so does a deed done in the past.

Verse 25 (13.10.25)

जीर्यन्ति जीर्यतः केशा दन्ता जीर्यन्ति जीर्यतः । चक्षुः श्रोत्रे च जीर्येते तृष्णैका न तु जीर्यते ॥

jīryanti jīryataḥ keśā dantā jīryanti jīryataḥ | cakṣuḥ śrotre ca jīryete tṛṣṇaikā na tu jīryate

The hair ages as the man ages, the teeth age as he ages, the eyes and ears age; craving alone does not age.

Note on the text: Recension variant, kept: line 2 चक्षुः श्रोत्रे च जीर्येते तृष्णैका न तु जीर्यते for CE cakṣuḥśrotre ca jīryete tṛṣṇaikā tu na jīryate (13.7.24c).

Verse 26 (13.10.26)

येन प्रीणन्ति पितरस्तेन प्रीतः प्रजापतिः । माता च येन प्रीणाति पृथिवी तेन पूजिता । येन प्रीणात्युपाध्यायस्तेन स्याद्ब्रह्म पूजितम् ॥

yena prīṇanti pitarastena prītaḥ prajāpatiḥ | mātā ca yena prīṇāti pṛthivī tena pūjitā | yena prīṇātyupādhyāyastena syādbrahma pūjitam

That by which the fathers are pleased pleases Prajapati; that by which the mother is pleased honours the earth; that by which the teacher is pleased honours Brahman.

Note on the text: Three-line verse, as on the page (labelled 10-26a/b/c) = CE 13.7.25a, 25c, 25e; the plural forms in Wikisource (प्रीणन्ति पितरः, माता च येन प्रीणाति) are recension variants of the CE singulars (prīṇāti pitaraṃ, prīṇāti mātaraṃ). The alignment found no match.

Verse 27 (13.10.27)

सर्वे तस्यादृता धर्मा यस्यैते त्रय आदृताः । अनादृतास्तु यस्यैते सर्वास्तस्याफलाः क्रियाः ॥

sarve tasyādṛtā dharmā yasyaite traya ādṛtāḥ | anādṛtāstu yasyaite sarvāstasyāphalāḥ kriyāḥ

All dharmas are honoured by one who honours these three; for one who dishonours them, all rites are fruitless.

Verse 28 (13.10.28)

भीष्मस्यैतद्वचः श्रुत्वा विस्मिताः कुरुपुङ्गवाः । आसन्प्रहृष्टमनसः प्रीतिमन्तोऽभवंस्तदा ॥

bhīṣmasyaitadvacaḥ śrutvā vismitāḥ kurupuṅgavāḥ | āsanprahṛṣṭamanasaḥ prītimanto'bhavaṃstadā

Vaishampayana said: Hearing these words of Bhishma, the chiefs of the Kurus were astonished, and their minds were glad and filled with joy.

Note on the text: Speaker as printed on the page (वैशम्पायन). The CE has the same heading at 13.7.27.

Verse 29 (13.10.29)

यन्मन्त्रे भवति वृथोपयुज्यमाने । यत्सोमे भवति वृथाऽभिषूयमाणे । यच्चाग्नौ भवति वृथाऽभिहूयमाने । तत्सर्वं भवति वृथाऽभिधीयमाने ॥

yanmantre bhavati vṛthopayujyamāne | yatsome bhavati vṛthā'bhiṣūyamāṇe | yaccāgnau bhavati vṛthā'bhihūyamāne | tatsarvaṃ bhavati vṛthā'bhidhīyamāne

Bhishma said: All the waste that comes when a mantra is used in vain, when soma is pressed in vain, when an oblation is poured into the fire in vain, all of it comes about too when such things are merely spoken of in vain.

Note on the text: Four-line verse, as on the page (labelled 10-29a-d) = CE 13.7.28a and 28c (the CE prints each as a long line with a caesura). Speaker: Bhishma, resuming without a printed heading (the page's वैशम्पायन heading covers only the narration of verse 28; this verse is Bhishma's own maxim and the next verse is plainly his; the CE has no separate heading either).

Verse 30 (13.10.30)

इत्येतदृषिणा प्रोक्तमुक्तवानस्मि भारत । शुभाशुभफलप्राप्तौ किमतः श्रोतुमिच्छसि ॥

ityetadṛṣiṇā proktamuktavānasmi bhārata | śubhāśubhaphalaprāptau kimataḥ śrotumicchasi

This is what the sage declared, and I have told it to you, Bharata. What more do you wish to hear on the winning of good and evil fruit?

Note on the text: Recension variant, kept: ऋषिणा प्रोक्तम् उक्तवानस्मि भारत for CE ity etad ṛṣiṇā proktam uktavān asmi yad vibho (13.7.29a). Speaker: Bhishma (see verse 29).