Honouring Brahmins; the Earth Answers Vasudeva

Verse 1 (13.69.1)

ब्राह्मणानेव सततं भृशं सम्परिपूजयेत् । एते हि सोमराजान ईश्वराः सुखदुःखयोः ॥

brāhmaṇāneva satataṃ bhṛśaṃ samparipūjayet | ete hi somarājāna īśvarāḥ sukhaduḥkhayoḥ

He should always honour Brahmins fully. They, whose king is Soma, are the lords over happiness and sorrow.

Note on the text: Corrected ईश्वरः → ईश्वराः (misprint in Wikisource; number; the plural subject requires ईश्वराः, CE īśvarāḥ).

Verse 2 (13.69.2)

एते भोगैरलङ्कारैरन्यैश्चैव किमिच्छकैः । सदा पूज्या नमस्कारै रक्ष्याश्च पितृवन्नृपैः । ततो राष्ट्राय शान्तिर्हि भूतानामिव वासवात् ॥

ete bhogairalaṅkārairanyaiścaiva kimicchakaiḥ | sadā pūjyā namaskārai rakṣyāśca pitṛvannṛpaiḥ | tato rāṣṭrāya śāntirhi bhūtānāmiva vāsavāt

They should always be honoured and bowed to by kings, with pleasures, ornaments and whatever else they wish for, and protected like fathers. Thus the kingdom has peace, as living beings have it from Vasava.

Note on the text: Three-line verse as printed on the page (13-69-2a,b,c) = CE 13.34.2a, 2c, 2e; line 3 reads ततो राष्ट्राय शान्तिर्हि where the CE has ato rāṣṭrasya śāntir hi; recension variant, kept. Line 2 reads रक्ष्याश्च for CE namaskāryā rakṣyāś ca (CE has the extra word).

Verse 3 (13.69.3)

ज्ञानवान्ब्रह्मवर्चस्वी राष्ट्रे वै ब्राह्मणः शुचिः । महारथश्च राजन्य एष्टव्यः शत्रुतापनः ॥

jñānavānbrahmavarcasvī rāṣṭre vai brāhmaṇaḥ śuciḥ | mahārathaśca rājanya eṣṭavyaḥ śatrutāpanaḥ

A Brahmin with knowledge and the radiance of Brahman, a pure one, should be sought in the kingdom, and a Kshatriya who is a great chariot-warrior and a tormentor of enemies.

Note on the text: Line 1 differs from CE 13.34.3a (jāyatāṃ brahmavarcasvī rāṣṭre vai brāhmaṇaḥ śuciḥ); recension variant, kept.

Verse 4 (13.69.4)

ब्राह्मणं जातिसम्पन्नं धर्मज्ञं संशितव्रतम् । भोजयीत गृहे राजन्न तस्मात्परमस्ति वै ॥

brāhmaṇaṃ jātisampannaṃ dharmajñaṃ saṃśitavratam | bhojayīta gṛhe rājanna tasmātparamasti vai

A Brahmin of good birth, who knows dharma and is firm in his vows, he should feed in his house, O king; there is nothing higher than that.

Note on the text: Corrected बोजयीत → भोजयीत (misprint in Wikisource; misprint of भ; CE has vāsayeta, a different reading). The reading भोजयीत (“should feed”) is kept as the recension reading in place of the CE's वासयेत (“should lodge”).

Verse 5 (13.69.5)

ब्राह्मणेभ्यो हविर्दत्तं प्रतिगृह्णन्ति देवताः । पितरः सर्वभूतानां नैतेभ्यो विद्यते परम् ॥

brāhmaṇebhyo havirdattaṃ pratigṛhṇanti devatāḥ | pitaraḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ naitebhyo vidyate param

The gods accept the offering made to Brahmins, and so do the ancestors and all beings; there is nothing higher than they.

Verse 6 (13.69.6)

आदित्यश्चन्द्रमा विष्णुः शङ्करोऽग्निः प्रजापतिः । सर्वे ब्राह्मणमाविश्य सदाऽन्नमुपभुञ्जते ॥

ādityaścandramā viṣṇuḥ śaṅkaro'gniḥ prajāpatiḥ | sarve brāhmaṇamāviśya sadā'nnamupabhuñjate

Aditya, Chandra, Vishnu, Shankara, Agni and Prajapati all enter a Brahmin and partake of food through him always.

Note on the text: Corrected सङ्करोऽग्निः → शङ्करोऽग्निः (misprint in Wikisource; स misread for श; Shankara is meant). Line 1 differs from CE 13.34.6a (ādityaś candramā vāyur bhūmir āpo 'mbaraṃ diśaḥ; the page's own note records this as the झ reading); recension variant, kept. Line 2 = CE 6c.

Verse 7 (13.69.7)

न तस्याश्नन्ति पितरो यस्य विप्रा न भुञ्जते । देवाश्चाप्यस्य नाश्नन्ति पापस्य ब्राह्मणद्विषः ॥

na tasyāśnanti pitaro yasya viprā na bhuñjate | devāścāpyasya nāśnanti pāpasya brāhmaṇadviṣaḥ

The ancestors do not eat of his offerings whose Brahmins go unfed; the gods too do not eat of the sinner who hates Brahmins.

Verse 8 (13.69.8)

ब्राह्मणेषु तु तुष्टेषु प्रीयन्ते पितरः सदा । तथैव देवता राजन्नात्र कार्या विचारणा ॥

brāhmaṇeṣu tu tuṣṭeṣu prīyante pitaraḥ sadā | tathaiva devatā rājannātra kāryā vicāraṇā

When Brahmins are pleased, the ancestors are always pleased, and so are the gods, O king; on this there is no room for doubt.

Verse 9 (13.69.9)

तथैव तेऽपि प्रीयन्ते येषां भवति तद्धविः । न च प्रेत्य विनश्यन्ति गच्छन्ति च परां गतिम् ॥

tathaiva te'pi prīyante yeṣāṃ bhavati taddhaviḥ | na ca pretya vinaśyanti gacchanti ca parāṃ gatim

In the same way those too are pleased to whom that offering belongs, and after death they do not perish but go to the highest state.

Verse 10 (13.69.10)

येनयेनैव हविषा ब्राह्मणांस्तर्पयेन्नरः । तेनतेनैव प्रीयन्ते पितरो देवतास्तथा ॥

yenayenaiva haviṣā brāhmaṇāṃstarpayennaraḥ | tenatenaiva prīyante pitaro devatāstathā

Whatever offering a man uses to please the Brahmins, by that very offering the ancestors and the gods are pleased.

Note on the text: Line 1 restored from the critical edition (13.34.10a: yena yenaiva haviṣā brāhmaṇāṃs tarpayen naraḥ): Wikisource printed here a copy of line 2 (येनयेनैव प्रीयन्ते पितरो देवतास्तथा) in its place. The Wikisource joined spelling येनयेनैव/तेनतेनैव is kept.

Verse 11 (13.69.11)

ब्राह्मणादेव तद्भूतं प्रभवन्ति यतः प्रजाः । यतश्चायं प्रभवति प्रेत्य यत्र च गच्छति ॥

brāhmaṇādeva tadbhūtaṃ prabhavanti yataḥ prajāḥ | yataścāyaṃ prabhavati pretya yatra ca gacchati

It is from the Brahmin that this existence comes, from which creatures are born; from him this man comes forth and goes to the place he reaches after death.

Verse 12 (13.69.12)

वेदैष मार्गं स्वर्गस्य तथैव नरकस्य च । आगतानागते चोमे ब्राह्मणो द्विपदांवरः ॥

vedaiṣa mārgaṃ svargasya tathaiva narakasya ca | āgatānāgate come brāhmaṇo dvipadāṃvaraḥ

He knows the path to heaven and likewise to hell, and both the past and the future; the Brahmin is the best of two-footed beings.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment; = CE 13.34.12a and 12c (the CE verse has a third line, 12e, which Wikisource carries at the start of the next verse).

Verse 13 (13.69.13)

ब्राह्मणो द्विपदां श्रेष्ठः स्वधर्मं चैव वेद यः । ये चैनमनुवर्तन्ते ते न यान्ति पराभवम् । न ते प्रेत्य विनश्यन्ति गच्छन्ति न पराभवम् ॥

brāhmaṇo dvipadāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ svadharmaṃ caiva veda yaḥ | ye cainamanuvartante te na yānti parābhavam | na te pretya vinaśyanti gacchanti na parābhavam

The Brahmin, best of two-footed beings, is one who knows his own duty. Those who follow him never meet defeat; after death they do not perish, and they do not go to ruin.

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment. Three-line verse as printed on the page (13-69-13a,b,c): line 1 = CE 13.34.12e (brāhmaṇo bharataśreṣṭha svadharmaṃ veda medhayā; here brāhmaṇo dvipadāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ … veda yaḥ, a recension variant, kept); lines 2-3 = CE 13.34.13a and 13c.

Verse 14 (13.69.14)

यद्ब्राह्मणमुखात्प्राप्तं प्रतिगृह्णन्ति वै वचः । कृतात्मानो महात्मानस्ते न यान्ति पराभवम् ॥

yadbrāhmaṇamukhātprāptaṃ pratigṛhṇanti vai vacaḥ | kṛtātmāno mahātmānaste na yānti parābhavam

Those who accept the word that comes from a Brahmin's mouth, high-souled men of cultivated selves, never meet defeat.

Note on the text: Line 1 reads यद्ब्राह्मणमुखात्प्राप्तं where the CE has ye brāhmaṇamukhāt prāptaṃ; recension variant, kept.

Verse 15 (13.69.15)

क्षत्रियाणां प्रतपतां तेजसा च बलेन च । ब्राह्मणेष्वेव शाम्यन्ति तेजांसि च बलानि च ॥

kṣatriyāṇāṃ pratapatāṃ tejasā ca balena ca | brāhmaṇeṣveva śāmyanti tejāṃsi ca balāni ca

The splendour and strength of the blazing Kshatriyas, their energy and their force, are quenched in Brahmins alone.

Verse 16 (13.69.16)

भृगवस्तालजङ्घांश्च नीपानाङ्गिरसोऽजयन् । भरद्वाजो वैतहव्यानैलांश्च भरतर्षभ ॥

bhṛgavastālajaṅghāṃśca nīpānāṅgiraso'jayan | bharadvājo vaitahavyānailāṃśca bharatarṣabha

The Bhrigus conquered the Talajanghas, the Angirasas the Nipas, and Bharadvaja the Vitahavyas and the Ailas, O best of the Bharatas;

Note on the text: Line 1 reads भृगवस्तालजङ्घांश्च … अजयन् where the CE has bhṛgavo 'jayaṃs tālajaṅghān; recension variant, kept.

Verse 17 (13.69.17)

चित्रायुधांश्चाप्यजयन्नेते कृष्णाजिनध्वजाः । प्रक्षिप्याथ च कुम्भान्वै पारगामिनमारभेत् ॥

citrāyudhāṃścāpyajayannete kṛṣṇājinadhvajāḥ | prakṣipyātha ca kumbhānvai pāragāminamārabhet

these wearers of the black-antelope-skin banner conquered the Chitrayudhas too. And casting aside the pitchers, one should set out upon the crossing to the farther shore.

Note on the text: Line 2 is obscure; rendered literally. The commentary glosses कुम्भान् as कुं (earth) + भान् and takes the line to mean giving the earth to a Brahmin and undertaking the act that carries one across to the other world.

Verse 18 (13.69.18)

यत्किंचित्कथ्यते लोके श्रूयते पठ्यतेऽपि वा । सर्वं तद्ब्राह्मणेष्वेव गूढोऽग्निरिव दारुषु ॥

yatkiṃcitkathyate loke śrūyate paṭhyate'pi vā | sarvaṃ tadbrāhmaṇeṣveva gūḍho'gniriva dāruṣu

Whatever is told in the world, heard or studied, all of it lies in Brahmins alone, like fire hidden in wood.

Note on the text: Line 1 ends पठ्यतेऽपि वा where the CE has paśyate 'pi vā; recension variant, kept.

Verse 19 (13.69.19)

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । संवादं वासुदेवस्य पृथ्व्याश्च भरतर्षभ ॥

atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | saṃvādaṃ vāsudevasya pṛthvyāśca bharatarṣabha

On this subject they cite an ancient account: the conversation between Vasudeva and the Earth, O best of the Bharatas.

Verse 20 (13.69.20)

मातरं सर्वभूतानां पृच्छे त्वां संशयं शुभे । केनस्वित्कर्मणा पापं व्यपोहति नरो गृही ॥

mātaraṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ pṛcche tvāṃ saṃśayaṃ śubhe | kenasvitkarmaṇā pāpaṃ vyapohati naro gṛhī

“O mother of all beings, O auspicious one, I ask you about a doubt: by what deed does a man living as a householder rid himself of sin?”

Note on the text: The page prints three lines in this row (labelled 13-69-20a, 20b, 28b). The first two are the CE's 13.34.20a and 20c and are kept here as Vasudeva's question. The third line (ब्राह्मणानुमते तिष्ठेत्पुरुषः शुचिरात्मवान्) is CE 13.34.27c, the last line of the Earth's answer, and is placed with its own verse below (verse 27 here). The Earth's heading and her answer in between were lost from the page.

Verse 21 (13.69.21)

ब्राह्मणानेव सेवेत पवित्रं ह्येतदुत्तमम् । ब्राह्मणान्सेवमानस्य रजः सर्वं प्रणश्यति ॥

brāhmaṇāneva seveta pavitraṃ hyetaduttamam | brāhmaṇānsevamānasya rajaḥ sarvaṃ praṇaśyati

“He should serve Brahmins alone, for this is the supreme purifier. For one who serves Brahmins, all impurity is destroyed.”

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (13.34.21): the Wikisource page lost the Earth's heading (पृथिव्युवाच) and her answer (CE 13.34.21-27a) between its verses 20 and 29, though the page's numbering (20, then 29) and the sense show the gap. Verses 21-27 here restore it, using the CE's words (iast: brāhmaṇān eva seveta pavitraṃ hy etad uttamam / brāhmaṇān sevamānasya rajaḥ sarvaṃ praṇaśyati).

Verse 22 (13.69.22)

अतो भूतिरतः कीर्तिरतो बुद्धिः प्रजायते । अपरेषां परेषां च परेभ्यश्चैव ये परे ॥

ato bhūtirataḥ kīrtirato buddhiḥ prajāyate | apareṣāṃ pareṣāṃ ca parebhyaścaiva ye pare

“From them come prosperity, fame and understanding, for the lower, for the higher, and for those who are higher than the highest.”

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (13.34.22; iast: ato bhūtir ataḥ kīrtir ato buddhiḥ prajāyate / apareṣāṃ pareṣāṃ ca parebhyaś caiva ye pare); see the note on verse 21.

Verse 23 (13.69.23)

ब्राह्मणा यं प्रशंसन्ति पुरुषः स प्रवर्धते । अथ यो ब्राह्मणाक्रुष्टः पराभवति सोऽचिरात् ॥

brāhmaṇā yaṃ praśaṃsanti puruṣaḥ sa pravardhate | atha yo brāhmaṇākruṣṭaḥ parābhavati so'cirāt

“The man whom Brahmins praise prospers; but one who is reviled by Brahmins is soon brought low.”

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (13.34.23; iast: brāhmaṇā yaṃ praśaṃsanti puruṣaḥ sa pravardhate / atha yo brāhmaṇākruṣṭaḥ parābhavati so 'cirāt); see the note on verse 21.

Verse 24 (13.69.24)

यथा महार्णवे क्षिप्त आमलोष्टो विनश्यति । तथा दुश्चरितं कर्म पराभावाय कल्पते ॥

yathā mahārṇave kṣipta āmaloṣṭo vinaśyati | tathā duścaritaṃ karma parābhāvāya kalpate

“As a lump of unbaked clay thrown into the great ocean dissolves, so an evil deed leads to downfall.”

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (13.34.24; iast: yathā mahārṇave kṣipta āmaloṣṭo vinaśyati / tathā duścaritaṃ karma parābhāvāya kalpate); see the note on verse 21.

Verse 25 (13.69.25)

पश्य चन्द्रे कृतं लक्ष्म समुद्रे लवणोदकम् । तथा भगसहस्रेण महेन्द्रं परिचिह्नितम् ॥

paśya candre kṛtaṃ lakṣma samudre lavaṇodakam | tathā bhagasahasreṇa mahendraṃ paricihnitam

“See the mark set on the moon, the salt water in the ocean; so too Mahendra was marked with a thousand bhagas.”

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (13.34.25; iast: paśya candre kṛtaṃ lakṣma samudre lavaṇodakam / tathā bhagasahasreṇa mahendraṃ paricihnitam); see the note on verse 21.

Verse 26 (13.69.26)

तेषामेव प्रभावेन सहस्रनयनो ह्यसौ । शतक्रतुः समभवत्पश्य माधव यादृशम् ॥

teṣāmeva prabhāvena sahasranayano hyasau | śatakratuḥ samabhavatpaśya mādhava yādṛśam

“It was through their power that Shatakratu became the thousand-eyed one; see, O Madhava, what he became.”

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (13.34.26; iast: teṣām eva prabhāvena sahasranayano hy asau / śatakratuḥ samabhavat paśya mādhava yādṛśam); see the note on verse 21.

Verse 27 (13.69.27)

इच्छन्भूतिं च कीर्तिं च लोकांश्च मधुसूदन । ब्राह्मणानुमते तिष्ठेत्पुरुषः शुचिरात्मवान् ॥

icchanbhūtiṃ ca kīrtiṃ ca lokāṃśca madhusūdana | brāhmaṇānumate tiṣṭhetpuruṣaḥ śucirātmavān

“Desiring prosperity, fame and the worlds, O Madhusudana, a man should stay pure and self-possessed, living by the Brahmins' approval.”

Note on the text: Line 1 restored from the critical edition (13.34.27a: icchan bhūtiṃ ca kīrtiṃ ca lokāṃś ca madhusūdana), lost from the page together with the rest of the Earth's answer (see the note on verse 21). Line 2 is the third line of the page's row 20 (labelled 13-69-28b; CE 13.34.27c), moved here to join its verse. The count of Wikisource verses between 20 and 29 (21-28) is one more than the CE's (21-27), and nothing on the page shows which one is extra.

Verse 28 (13.69.28)

इत्येतद्वचनं श्रुत्वा मेदिन्या मधूसूदनः । साधुसाध्विति कौरव्य मेदिनीं प्रत्यपूजयत् ॥

ityetadvacanaṃ śrutvā medinyā madhūsūdanaḥ | sādhusādhviti kauravya medinīṃ pratyapūjayat

Hearing this speech of the Earth, Madhusudana said “Well said, well said,” O Kaurava, and honoured the Earth.

Verse 29 (13.69.29)

एतां श्रुत्वोपमां पार्थ प्रयतो ब्राह्मणर्षभान् । सततं पूजयेथास्त्वं ततः श्रेयोऽभिपत्स्यसे ॥

etāṃ śrutvopamāṃ pārtha prayato brāhmaṇarṣabhān | satataṃ pūjayethāstvaṃ tataḥ śreyo'bhipatsyase

Hearing this comparison, O son of Pritha, you too, self-restrained, should always honour the best of Brahmins; thereby you will attain what is best for you.