Anushasana Parva · Adhyaya 13
The Four Vedas on the Guest and on Anger
Bhishma tells Yudhishthira an old dialogue among the four Vedas. The Rigveda says that a householder who turns a guest away in the evening loses all the merit of his fire-offerings. The Yajurveda says that what is offered in a Brahmin's mouth surpasses the daily fire-offering. The Samaveda says that a pleased guest destroys a man's sins, and the Atharvaveda says that Yama carries off whatever an angry man sacrifices or gives, so that his effort is fruitless.
भीष्म उवाच · Bhishma said
Verse 1 (13.13.1)
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । चतुर्णामपि वेदानां संवादं शृणु पुत्रक ॥
atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | caturṇāmapi vedānāṃ saṃvādaṃ śṛṇu putraka
On this subject, too, they recount an ancient tale: the dialogue of the four Vedas. Listen to it, my child.
Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines 1-2 of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 1, printed after 13.8.28 as 13.8.28d@001_0001-0002); Wikisource divides it into verses differently. It follows adhyaya 12 (CE 13.8.28).
ऋग्वेद उवाच · the Rigveda said
Verse 2 (13.13.2)
गृहानाश्रयमाणस्य अग्निहोत्रं च जुह्वतः । सर्वं सुकृतमादत्ते यः साये नुद्यतेऽतिथिः ॥
gṛhānāśrayamāṇasya agnihotraṃ ca juhvataḥ | sarvaṃ sukṛtamādatte yaḥ sāye nudyate'tithiḥ
A man who lives in his house and offers the daily fire-oblation, but turns away a guest in the evening, loses all his merit: the guest takes it.
Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines 3-4 of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 1, 13.8.28d@001_0003-0004).
यजुर्वेद उवाच · the Yajurveda said
Verse 3 (13.13.3)
न स्कन्दते न व्यथते नास्योर्ध्वं सर्पते रजः । वरिष्ठमग्निहोत्राच्च ब्राह्मणस्य मुखे हुतम् ॥
na skandate na vyathate nāsyordhvaṃ sarpate rajaḥ | variṣṭhamagnihotrācca brāhmaṇasya mukhe hutam
What is offered in a Brahmin's mouth does not spill, does not waver, and no ash rises upward from it; it is better than the daily fire-oblation.
Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines 5-6 of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 1, 13.8.28d@001_0005-0006). The page prints an empty speaker heading before this verse (13-13-3x); the speech belongs to the Yajurveda, the only one of the four not otherwise headed, and the CE has a Yajurveda speaker label (yajurvedaḥ) between the Rigveda's lines and these.
सामवेद उवाच · the Samaveda said
Verse 4 (13.13.4)
न चेद्धन्ति पितरं मातरं वा । न ब्राह्मणं नापवादं करोति । यत्किंचिदन्यद्वृजिनं करोति । प्रीतोऽतिथिस्तदुपहन्ति पापम् ॥
na ceddhanti pitaraṃ mātaraṃ vā | na brāhmaṇaṃ nāpavādaṃ karoti | yatkiṃcidanyadvṛjinaṃ karoti | prīto'tithistadupahanti pāpam
If a man does not kill his father or mother, does not kill a Brahmin, does not speak slander, but does some other wrong, a guest who is pleased destroys that sin.
Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines 7-10 of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 1, 13.8.28d@001_0007-0010). Four lines (pādas), as the page prints them (13-13-4a-d).
अथर्ववेद उवाच · the Atharvaveda said
Verse 5 (13.13.5)
यत्क्रोधनो यजते यद्ददाति । यद्वा तपस्तप्यति यज्जुहोति । वैवस्वतो हरते सर्वमस्य । मोघं चेष्टं भवति क्रोधनस्य ॥
yatkrodhano yajate yaddadāti | yadvā tapastapyati yajjuhoti | vaivasvato harate sarvamasya | moghaṃ ceṣṭaṃ bhavati krodhanasya
Whatever an angry man sacrifices, gives, practises as austerity or offers in the fire, Vaivasvata carries it all away; the effort of an angry man is fruitless.
Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines 11-14 of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 1, 13.8.28d@001_0011-0014). Four lines (pādas), as the page prints them. The page labels this verse 13-13-6 (its heading is 13-13-5x), skipping a number; nothing is missing.