The Fruits of Vows, Self-Restraint, Truth and Celibacy

Verse 1 (13.110.1)

विस्रम्भितोऽहं भवता धर्मान्प्रवदता विभो । प्रवक्ष्यामि तु संदेहं तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥

visrambhito'haṃ bhavatā dharmānpravadatā vibho | pravakṣyāmi tu saṃdehaṃ tanme brūhi pitāmaha

Yudhishthira said: I am at ease with you, mighty one, as you declare the duties. I will now put a doubt to you; resolve it for me, Grandfather.

Verse 2 (13.110.2)

व्रतानां किं फलं प्रोक्तं कीदृशं वा महाद्युते । नियमानां फलं किं च स्वधीतस्य च किं फलम् ॥

vratānāṃ kiṃ phalaṃ proktaṃ kīdṛśaṃ vā mahādyute | niyamānāṃ phalaṃ kiṃ ca svadhītasya ca kiṃ phalam

What fruit is declared for vows, and of what kind, O greatly radiant one? What is the fruit of observances, and what of well-studied learning?

Verse 3 (13.110.3)

दमस्येह फलं किं च वेदानां धारणे च किम् । अध्यापने फलं किं च सर्वमिच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥

damasyeha phalaṃ kiṃ ca vedānāṃ dhāraṇe ca kim | adhyāpane phalaṃ kiṃ ca sarvamicchāmi veditum

What is the fruit of self-restraint here, and what of bearing the Vedas? What is the fruit of teaching? I wish to know it all.

Verse 4 (13.110.4)

अप्रतिग्राहके किं च फलं लोके पितामह । तस्य किञ्च फलं दृष्टं श्रुतं यस्तु प्रयच्छति ॥

apratigrāhake kiṃ ca phalaṃ loke pitāmaha | tasya kiñca phalaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ śrutaṃ yastu prayacchati

And what fruit is there in the world, Grandfather, for one who accepts no gifts? What fruit has been seen or heard of for the one who gives?

Verse 5 (13.110.5)

स्वकर्मनिरतानां च शूराणां चापि किं फलम् । सत्ये च किं फलं प्रोक्तं ब्रह्मचर्ये च किं फलम् ॥

svakarmaniratānāṃ ca śūrāṇāṃ cāpi kiṃ phalam | satye ca kiṃ phalaṃ proktaṃ brahmacarye ca kiṃ phalam

What is the fruit for those devoted to their own duties, and for the brave? What fruit is declared for truth, and what for celibacy?

Verse 6 (13.110.6)

पितृशुश्रूषणे किञ्च मातृशुश्रूषणे तथा । आचार्यगुरुशुश्रूषा स्वनुक्रोशानुकम्पने ॥

pitṛśuśrūṣaṇe kiñca mātṛśuśrūṣaṇe tathā | ācāryaguruśuśrūṣā svanukrośānukampane

What is it for serving a father, and likewise for serving a mother? What for serving a teacher and elder, and for compassion and kindness?

Verse 7 (13.110.7)

एतत्सर्वमशेषेण पितामह यथातथम् । वेत्तुमिच्छामि धर्मज्ञ परं कौतूहलं हि मे ॥

etatsarvamaśeṣeṇa pitāmaha yathātatham | vettumicchāmi dharmajña paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me

All this, Grandfather, in full and exactly as it is, I wish to know, O knower of dharma; my curiosity is great.

Note on the text: Corrected वेतुमिच्छामि → वेत्तुमिच्छामि (misprint in Wikisource; dropped त्, CE vettum icchāmi).

Verse 8 (13.110.8)

यो व्रतं वै यथोद्दिष्टं तथा सम्प्रतिपद्यते । अखण्डं सम्यगारभ्य तस्य लोकाः सनातनाः ॥

yo vrataṃ vai yathoddiṣṭaṃ tathā sampratipadyate | akhaṇḍaṃ samyagārabhya tasya lokāḥ sanātanāḥ

Bhishma said: He who keeps a vow just as it was laid down, begun properly and kept unbroken — his are the eternal worlds.

Verse 9 (13.110.9)

नियमानां फलं राजन्प्रत्यक्षमिह दृश्यते । नियमानां क्रतूनां च त्वयाऽवाप्तमिदं फलम् ॥

niyamānāṃ phalaṃ rājanpratyakṣamiha dṛśyate | niyamānāṃ kratūnāṃ ca tvayā'vāptamidaṃ phalam

The fruit of observances, O king, is plainly seen here: you have gained this fruit through observances and sacrifices.

Verse 10 (13.110.10)

स्वधीतस्यापि च फलं दृश्यतेऽमुत्र चेह च । इह लोकेऽर्थवान्नित्यं ब्रह्मलोके च मोदते ॥

svadhītasyāpi ca phalaṃ dṛśyate'mutra ceha ca | iha loke'rthavānnityaṃ brahmaloke ca modate

The fruit of good study is seen both in the next world and in this: in this world he is always prosperous, and in the world of Brahma he rejoices.

Verse 11 (13.110.11)

दमस्य तु फलं राजञ्शृणु त्वं विस्तरेण मे । दान्ताः सर्वत्र सुखिनो दान्ताः सर्वत्र निर्वृताः । यत्रेच्छागामिनो दान्ताः सर्वशत्रुनिषूदनाः ॥

damasya tu phalaṃ rājañśṛṇu tvaṃ vistareṇa me | dāntāḥ sarvatra sukhino dāntāḥ sarvatra nirvṛtāḥ | yatrecchāgāmino dāntāḥ sarvaśatruniṣūdanāḥ

Now hear from me at length, O king, the fruit of self-restraint. The self-controlled are happy everywhere; the self-controlled are content everywhere; the self-controlled go wherever they wish and destroy all their foes.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: three lines = CE 13.74.11a,c and 12a (CE divides the verses differently).

Verse 12 (13.110.12)

प्रार्थयन्ति च यद्दान्ता लभन्ते तन्न संशयः । युज्यन्ते सर्वकामैर्हि दान्ताः सर्वत्र पाण्डव ॥

prārthayanti ca yaddāntā labhante tanna saṃśayaḥ | yujyante sarvakāmairhi dāntāḥ sarvatra pāṇḍava

Whatever the self-controlled ask for they obtain, without doubt. The self-controlled, Pandava, are joined everywhere with all their desires.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: lines = CE 13.74.12c,13a.

Verse 13 (13.110.13)

स्वर्गे यथा प्रमोदन्ते तपसा विक्रमेण च । दानैर्यज्ञैश्च विविधैस्तथा दान्ताः क्षमान्विताः ॥

svarge yathā pramodante tapasā vikrameṇa ca | dānairyajñaiśca vividhaistathā dāntāḥ kṣamānvitāḥ

As people rejoice in heaven through austerity and valour, through gifts and many sacrifices, so do the self-controlled, endowed with forbearance, rejoice.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: lines = CE 13.74.13c,14a (यथा/तथा are interchanged against the CE; recension variant, kept).

Verse 14 (13.110.14)

दानाद्दमो विशिष्टो हि ददत्किञ्चिद्द्विजातये । दाता कुप्यति नो दान्तस्तस्माद्दानात्परंदमः । यस्तु दद्यादकुप्यन्हि तस्य लोकाः सनातनाः । क्रोधो हन्ति हि यद्दानं तस्माद्दानाद्वरो दमः ॥

dānāddamo viśiṣṭo hi dadatkiñciddvijātaye | dātā kupyati no dāntastasmāddānātparaṃdamaḥ | yastu dadyādakupyanhi tasya lokāḥ sanātanāḥ | krodho hanti hi yaddānaṃ tasmāddānādvaro damaḥ

Self-restraint is better than giving, for one who gives anything to a brahmin; the giver grows angry, the self-restrained does not — therefore self-restraint is higher than giving. But he who gives without anger — his worlds are eternal. Anger destroys a gift; therefore self-restraint is better than giving.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: four lines = the CE star line 13.74.14b*0368_01 (dānād damo viśiṣṭo hi dānaṃ kiṃ cid dvijātaye), then CE 13.74.14c, 15a, 15c. The printed reading परंदमः in line 2 is kept (CE paro damaḥ).

Verse 15 (13.110.15)

अदृश्यानि महाराज स्थानान्ययुतशो दिवि । ऋषीणां सर्वलोकेषु यानि ते यान्ति देवताः ॥

adṛśyāni mahārāja sthānānyayutaśo divi | ṛṣīṇāṃ sarvalokeṣu yāni te yānti devatāḥ

There are unseen abodes in heaven, great king, in their tens of thousands, in all the worlds of the sages, to which the gods go.

Note on the text: Corrected सर्वलोकषु → सर्वलोकेषु (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel, CE sarvalokeṣu). The page numbers this verse 16; there is no verse 15 on the page and nothing is missing.

Verse 16 (13.110.16)

दमेन यानि नृपते गच्छन्ति परमर्षयः । कामयाना महत्स्थानं तस्माद्दानात्परं दमः ॥

damena yāni nṛpate gacchanti paramarṣayaḥ | kāmayānā mahatsthānaṃ tasmāddānātparaṃ damaḥ

The great abodes that the supreme sages, longing for them, reach by self-restraint, O lord of men — therefore self-restraint is higher than giving.

Verse 17 (13.110.17)

विद्यादानाद्वरं नास्ति वेदविद्या महाफलाः । अध्यापकः परिक्लेशादक्षयं फलमश्नुते ॥

vidyādānādvaraṃ nāsti vedavidyā mahāphalāḥ | adhyāpakaḥ parikleśādakṣayaṃ phalamaśnute

There is nothing better than the gift of learning; Vedic learning bears great fruit. The teacher, through his toil, enjoys imperishable fruit.

Note on the text: Removed the stray backtick before the verse. Not matched by the alignment: line 1 is the CE star line 13.74.15d*0369_01 (vidyādānāt paraṃ nāsti vedavidyā mahāphalā); line 2 = CE 13.74.18a.

Verse 18 (13.110.18)

विधिवत्पावकं हुत्वा ब्रह्मलोके नराधिप । अधीत्यापि हि यो वेदान्न्यायविद्भ्यः प्रयच्छति । गुरुकर्मप्रशंसी तु सोपि स्वर्गे महीयते ॥

vidhivatpāvakaṃ hutvā brahmaloke narādhipa | adhītyāpi hi yo vedānnyāyavidbhyaḥ prayacchati | gurukarmapraśaṃsī tu sopi svarge mahīyate

Having duly made his offering in the fire, he rejoices in the world of Brahma, O lord of men. And he who, having studied the Vedas, hands them on to those who know the right method, and praises the teacher's work, is honoured in heaven as well.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: three lines = CE 13.74.18c, 19a, 19c (the CE order of the first two lines differs).

Verse 19 (13.110.19)

क्षत्रियोऽध्ययने युक्तो यजने दानकर्मणि । युद्धे यश्च परित्राता सोपि स्वर्गे महीयते ॥

kṣatriyo'dhyayane yukto yajane dānakarmaṇi | yuddhe yaśca paritrātā sopi svarge mahīyate

A Kshatriya devoted to study, sacrifice and giving, and who protects in battle, is likewise honoured in heaven.

Verse 20 (13.110.20)

वैश्यः स्वकर्मनिरतः प्रदानाल्लभते महत् । शूद्रः स्वकर्मनिरतः स्वर्गं शुश्रूषयाऽऽर्च्छति ॥

vaiśyaḥ svakarmanirataḥ pradānāllabhate mahat | śūdraḥ svakarmanirataḥ svargaṃ śuśrūṣayā''rcchati

A Vaishya intent on his own work gains great reward by giving; a Shudra intent on his own work reaches heaven by service.

Verse 21 (13.110.21)

शूरा बहुविधाः प्रोक्तास्तेषामर्थास्तु मे शृणु । शूरान्वयानां निर्दिष्टं फलं शूरस्य चैव हि ॥

śūrā bahuvidhāḥ proktāsteṣāmarthāstu me śṛṇu | śūrānvayānāṃ nirdiṣṭaṃ phalaṃ śūrasya caiva hi

Heroes are said to be of many kinds; hear from me what they are. The fruit of the lines of heroes, and of the hero himself, has been laid down.

Verse 22 (13.110.22)

यज्ञशूरा दमे शूराः सत्यशूरास्तथा परे । युद्धशूरास्तथैवोक्ता दानशूराश्च मानवाः ॥

yajñaśūrā dame śūrāḥ satyaśūrāstathā pare | yuddhaśūrāstathaivoktā dānaśūrāśca mānavāḥ

There are heroes of sacrifice, heroes of self-restraint and heroes of truth, and others; heroes of war are likewise spoken of, and men who are heroes of giving.

Verse 23 (13.110.23)

बुद्धिशूरास्तथैवान्ये क्षमाशूरास्तथा परे । साङ्ख्यशूराश्च बहवो योगशूरास्तथा परे । अरण्ये गृहवासे च त्यागे शूरास्तथा परे ॥

buddhiśūrāstathaivānye kṣamāśūrāstathā pare | sāṅkhyaśūrāśca bahavo yogaśūrāstathā pare | araṇye gṛhavāse ca tyāge śūrāstathā pare

There are heroes of intellect, and others heroes of forbearance; many heroes of Sankhya, and others heroes of yoga; and others heroes in the forest, in the household and in renunciation.

Note on the text: Removed the stray backtick before the verse. Not matched by the alignment: line 1 = CE 13.74.24a; line 2 = CE 13.74.27a; line 3 is a variant of CE 13.74.27c (araṇye gṛhavāse ca śūrāś cātithipūjane).

Verse 24 (13.110.24)

आर्जवे च तथा शूराः शमे वर्तन्ति मानवाः । तैस्तैश्च नियमैः शूरा बहवः सन्ति चापरे । वेदाध्ययनशूराश्च शूराश्चाध्यापने रताः ॥

ārjave ca tathā śūrāḥ śame vartanti mānavāḥ | taistaiśca niyamaiḥ śūrā bahavaḥ santi cāpare | vedādhyayanaśūrāśca śūrāścādhyāpane ratāḥ

Men are also heroes in uprightness and abide in tranquillity; many others are heroes through this or that discipline — heroes of Vedic study, and heroes devoted to teaching.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: three lines = CE 13.74.24c, 25a, 25c.

Verse 25 (13.110.25)

गुरुशुश्रूषया शूराः पितृशुश्रूषया परे । मातृशुश्रूषया शूरा भैक्ष्यशूरास्तथा परे ॥

guruśuśrūṣayā śūrāḥ pitṛśuśrūṣayā pare | mātṛśuśrūṣayā śūrā bhaikṣyaśūrāstathā pare

Some are heroes through serving their teacher, others through serving their father; some are heroes through serving their mother, and others are heroes of living by alms.

Verse 26 (13.110.26)

अरण्ये गृहवासे च शूराश्चातिथिपूजने । सर्वे यान्ति पराँल्लोकान्स्वकर्मफलनिर्जितान् ॥

araṇye gṛhavāse ca śūrāścātithipūjane | sarve yānti parām̐llokānsvakarmaphalanirjitān

Heroes in the forest, in the household, and in honouring guests — all of them go to the highest worlds, won by the fruit of their own deeds.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: lines = CE 13.74.27c,27e.

Verse 27 (13.110.27)

धारणं सर्ववेदानां सर्वतीर्थावगाहनम् । सत्यं च ब्रुवतो नित्यं समं वा स्यान्नवा समम् ॥

dhāraṇaṃ sarvavedānāṃ sarvatīrthāvagāhanam | satyaṃ ca bruvato nityaṃ samaṃ vā syānnavā samam

Bearing all the Vedas, bathing in all the sacred fords, and for one who always speaks the truth — these may be equal, or they may not be equal.

Verse 28 (13.110.28)

अश्वमेधसहस्रं च सत्यं च तुलया धृतम् । अश्वमेधसहस्राद्धि सत्यमेव विशिष्यते ॥

aśvamedhasahasraṃ ca satyaṃ ca tulayā dhṛtam | aśvamedhasahasrāddhi satyameva viśiṣyate

A thousand horse sacrifices and truth, weighed in a balance — truth alone proves the greater than a thousand horse sacrifices.

Verse 29 (13.110.29)

सत्येन सूर्यस्तपति सत्येनाग्निः प्रदीप्यते । सत्येन मरुतो वान्ति सर्वं सत्ये प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥

satyena sūryastapati satyenāgniḥ pradīpyate | satyena maruto vānti sarvaṃ satye pratiṣṭhitam

By truth the sun burns, by truth the fire blazes, by truth the winds blow; everything rests on truth.

Verse 30 (13.110.30)

सत्येन देवाः प्रीयन्ते पितरो ब्राह्मणास्तथा । सत्यमाहुः परो धर्मस्तस्मात्सत्यं न लोपयेत् ॥

satyena devāḥ prīyante pitaro brāhmaṇāstathā | satyamāhuḥ paro dharmastasmātsatyaṃ na lopayet

By truth the gods are pleased, and the ancestors, and the brahmins. They call truth the highest dharma; therefore one should not transgress truth.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: CE 13.74.31 (satyena devān prīṇāti pitṝn vai brāhmaṇāṃs tathā / satyam āhuḥ paraṃ dharmaṃ tasmāt satyaṃ na laṅghayet); Wikisource reads प्रीयन्ते and लोपयेत्.

Verse 31 (13.110.31)

मुनयः सत्यनिरता मुनयः सत्यविक्रमाः । मुनयः सत्यशपथास्तस्मात्सत्यं विशिष्यते ॥

munayaḥ satyaniratā munayaḥ satyavikramāḥ | munayaḥ satyaśapathāstasmātsatyaṃ viśiṣyate

The sages are devoted to truth, the sages are valiant in truth, the sages swear by truth; therefore truth is the best.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: lines = CE 13.74.32a,c.

Verse 32 (13.110.32)

सत्यवन्तः सत्यलोके मोदन्ते भरतर्षभ । दमः सत्यफलावाप्तिरुक्ता सर्वात्मना मया ॥

satyavantaḥ satyaloke modante bharatarṣabha | damaḥ satyaphalāvāptiruktā sarvātmanā mayā

Those who hold to truth rejoice in the world of truth, O best of the Bharatas. Self-restraint, and the winning of the fruit of truth, I have declared to you in full.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: line 1 = CE 13.74.32e, line 2 = CE 13.74.33a.

Verse 33 (13.110.33)

असंशयं विनीतात्मा स वै स्वर्गे महीयते । ब्रह्मचर्यस्य च गुणं शृणु त्वं वसुधाधिप ॥

asaṃśayaṃ vinītātmā sa vai svarge mahīyate | brahmacaryasya ca guṇaṃ śṛṇu tvaṃ vasudhādhipa

Without doubt, the man of disciplined spirit is honoured in heaven. Now hear from me, lord of the earth, the merits of celibacy.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: line 1 = CE 13.74.33c (sarvaḥ svarge mahīyate; Wikisource has स वै), line 2 = CE 13.74.34a.

Verse 34 (13.110.34)

आजन्ममरणाद्यस्तु ब्रह्मचारी भवेदिह । न तस्य किञ्चिदप्राप्यमिति विद्धि नराधिप ॥

ājanmamaraṇādyastu brahmacārī bhavediha | na tasya kiñcidaprāpyamiti viddhi narādhipa

He who remains a celibate from birth until death — know, lord of men, that nothing is unattainable for him.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: lines = CE 13.74.34c,34e.

Verse 35 (13.110.35)

बह्व्यः कोट्यस्त्वृषीणां तु ब्रह्मलोके वसन्त्युत । सत्ये रतानां सततं दान्तानामूर्ध्वरेतसाम् ॥

bahvyaḥ koṭyastvṛṣīṇāṃ tu brahmaloke vasantyuta | satye ratānāṃ satataṃ dāntānāmūrdhvaretasām

Many crores of sages dwell in the world of Brahma, ever devoted to truth, self-controlled, and of upward-flowing seed.

Note on the text: Corrected त्वषीणां → त्वृषीणां (misprint in Wikisource; CE tv ṛṣīṇāṃ).

Verse 36 (13.110.36)

ब्रह्मचर्यं दहेद्राजन्सर्वपापान्युपासितम् । ब्राह्मणेन विशेषेण ब्राह्मणो ह्यग्निरुच्यते ॥

brahmacaryaṃ dahedrājansarvapāpānyupāsitam | brāhmaṇena viśeṣeṇa brāhmaṇo hyagnirucyate

Celibacy, practised, burns away all sins, O king; and most of all when practised by a brahmin, for the brahmin is called fire.

Note on the text: Corrected ब्राह्ममो → ब्राह्मणो (misprint in Wikisource; CE brāhmaṇo).

Verse 37 (13.110.37)

प्रत्यक्षं हि तथा ह्येतद्ब्राह्मणेषु तपस्विषु । बिभेति हि यथा शक्रो ब्रह्मचारिप्रधर्षितः ॥

pratyakṣaṃ hi tathā hyetadbrāhmaṇeṣu tapasviṣu | bibheti hi yathā śakro brahmacāripradharṣitaḥ

This is plainly seen among brahmins who practise austerity: Shakra himself, overpowered by a celibate, trembles in fear.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: lines = CE 13.74.37a,c (CE tavāpy etad … bibheti hi yathā śakro brahmacāripradharṣitaḥ).

Verse 38 (13.110.38)

तद्ब्रह्मचर्यस्य फलमृषीणामिह दृश्यते । मातापित्रोः पूजने यो धर्मस्तमपि मे शृणु ॥

tadbrahmacaryasya phalamṛṣīṇāmiha dṛśyate | mātāpitroḥ pūjane yo dharmastamapi me śṛṇu

That is the fruit of celibacy as it is seen here among the sages. Now hear from me also the dharma of honouring mother and father.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: line 1 = CE 13.74.37e, line 2 = CE 13.74.38a.

Verse 39 (13.110.39)

शुश्रूषते यः पितरं न चासूयेत्कदाचन । मातरं भ्रातरं वाऽपि गुरुमाचार्यमेव च ॥

śuśrūṣate yaḥ pitaraṃ na cāsūyetkadācana | mātaraṃ bhrātaraṃ vā'pi gurumācāryameva ca

He who serves his father and never resents him, and likewise his mother, his brother, his preceptor and his teacher —

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment: lines = CE 13.74.38c,38e (CE reads vānahaṃvādī for Wikisource's वाऽपि; recension variant).

Verse 40 (13.110.40)

तस्य राजन्फलं विद्धि स्वर्लोके स्थानमर्चितम् । न च पश्येत नरकं गुरुशुश्रूषयाऽऽत्मवान् ॥

tasya rājanphalaṃ viddhi svarloke sthānamarcitam | na ca paśyeta narakaṃ guruśuśrūṣayā''tmavān

know, O king, that his fruit is an honoured place in heaven; and the self-possessed man who serves his elders does not see hell.