The Best Gift, and Honouring the Brahmins

Verse 1 (13.94.1)

यानीमानि बहिर्वेद्यां दानानि परिचक्षते । तेभ्यो विशिष्टं किं दानं मतं ते कुरुपुङ्गव ॥

yānīmāni bahirvedyāṃ dānāni paricakṣate | tebhyo viśiṣṭaṃ kiṃ dānaṃ mataṃ te kurupuṅgava

Of those gifts that are called gifts made outside the sacrificial altar, which gift do you hold to be the best, O best of the Kurus?

Verse 2 (13.94.2)

कौतूहलं हि परमं तत्र मे विद्यते प्रभो । दातारं दत्तमन्वेति यद्दानं तत्प्रचक्ष्व मे ॥

kautūhalaṃ hi paramaṃ tatra me vidyate prabho | dātāraṃ dattamanveti yaddānaṃ tatpracakṣva me

I have the greatest curiosity about this, lord: tell me which gift follows the giver after it is given.

Verse 3 (13.94.3)

अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो व्यसने चाप्यनुग्रहः । यच्चाभिलषितं दद्यात्तृषितायाभियाचते ॥

abhayaṃ sarvabhūtebhyo vyasane cāpyanugrahaḥ | yaccābhilaṣitaṃ dadyāttṛṣitāyābhiyācate

Granting freedom from fear to all beings, helping in a time of distress, and giving to a thirsty petitioner whatever he asks for:

Verse 4 (13.94.4)

भरणे पुत्रदाराणां तद्दानं श्रेष्ठमुच्यते । दत्तं दातारमन्वेति तद्दानं भरतर्षभ ॥

bharaṇe putradārāṇāṃ taddānaṃ śreṣṭhamucyate | dattaṃ dātāramanveti taddānaṃ bharatarṣabha

giving for the maintenance of one's sons and wives is called the best gift; that gift, O best of the Bharatas, follows the giver.

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 13.58.4: line 1 (भरणे पुत्रदाराणां तद्दानं श्रेष्ठमुच्यते) is a recension variant of CE 4a (dattaṃ manyeta yad dattvā tad dānaṃ śreṣṭham ucyate); line 2 = CE 4c.

Verse 5 (13.94.5)

हिरण्यदानं गोदानं पृथिवीदानमेव च । एतानि वै पवित्राणि तारयन्त्यपि दुष्कृतात् ॥

hiraṇyadānaṃ godānaṃ pṛthivīdānameva ca | etāni vai pavitrāṇi tārayantyapi duṣkṛtāt

Gifts of gold, cows and land are purifying; they carry one across even evil deeds.

Verse 6 (13.94.6)

एतानि पुरुषव्याघ्र साधुभ्यो देहि नित्यदा । दानानि हि नरं पापान्मोक्षयन्ति न संशयः ॥

etāni puruṣavyāghra sādhubhyo dehi nityadā | dānāni hi naraṃ pāpānmokṣayanti na saṃśayaḥ

Give these always to good men, O tiger among men; gifts, without doubt, free a man from sin.

Verse 7 (13.94.7)

यद्यदिष्टतमं लोके यच्चास्य दयितं गृहे । तत्तद्गुणवते देयं तदेवाक्षयमिच्छता ॥

yadyadiṣṭatamaṃ loke yaccāsya dayitaṃ gṛhe | tattadguṇavate deyaṃ tadevākṣayamicchatā

Whatever is dearest in the world and whatever is most beloved in one's house should be given to a worthy man by one who wishes it to be imperishable.

Verse 8 (13.94.8)

प्रियाणि लभते नित्यं प्रियदः प्रियकृत्तथा । प्रियो भवति भूतानामिह चैव परत्र च ॥

priyāṇi labhate nityaṃ priyadaḥ priyakṛttathā | priyo bhavati bhūtānāmiha caiva paratra ca

One who gives what is dear and does what is dear always gains dear things; he becomes dear to beings both here and hereafter.

Verse 9 (13.94.9)

याचमानमभीमानादनासक्तमकिञ्चनम् । यो नार्चति यथाशक्ति स नृशंसो युधिष्ठिर ॥

yācamānamabhīmānādanāsaktamakiñcanam | yo nārcati yathāśakti sa nṛśaṃso yudhiṣṭhira

One who out of pride does not honour, as far as he can, a man who asks of him, one without attachment and owning nothing, is a cruel man, Yudhishthira.

Note on the text: The reading अभीमानात् is unchanged: the CE prints the same form (abhīmānād).

Verse 10 (13.94.10)

अमित्रमपि चेद्दीनं शरणैषिणमागतम् । व्यसने योऽनुगृह्णाति स वै पुरुषसत्तमः ॥

amitramapi ceddīnaṃ śaraṇaiṣiṇamāgatam | vyasane yo'nugṛhṇāti sa vai puruṣasattamaḥ

Even an enemy who is wretched and has come seeking refuge, if one helps him in his distress, is truly the best of men.

Verse 11 (13.94.11)

कृशाय कृतविद्याय वृत्तिक्षीणाय सीदते । अपहन्यात्क्षुधां यस्तु न तेन पुरुषः समः ॥

kṛśāya kṛtavidyāya vṛttikṣīṇāya sīdate | apahanyātkṣudhāṃ yastu na tena puruṣaḥ samaḥ

One who removes the hunger of a man who is lean, learned, whose livelihood has failed and who is suffering, has no equal among men.

Verse 12 (13.94.12)

क्रियानियमितान्साधून्पुत्रदारैश्च कर्शितान् । अयाचमानान्कौन्तेय सर्वोपायैर्निमन्त्रयेत् ॥

kriyāniyamitānsādhūnputradāraiśca karśitān | ayācamānānkaunteya sarvopāyairnimantrayet

Invite by every means, O son of Kunti, upright men who are bound by their duties and worn down by the care of sons and wives, and who do not ask.

Note on the text: Corrected साधुन् → साधून् (misprint in Wikisource; न् for ून्; CE sādhūn).

Verse 13 (13.94.13)

आशिषं ये न देवेषु न च मर्त्येषु कुर्वते । अर्हन्तो नित्यसत्वस्था यथालब्धोपजीविनः ॥

āśiṣaṃ ye na deveṣu na ca martyeṣu kurvate | arhanto nityasatvasthā yathālabdhopajīvinaḥ

Those worthy men who seek no blessing from the gods or from mortals, who are ever firm in goodness and live on whatever they happen to get:

Verse 14 (13.94.14)

आशीविषसमेभ्यश्च तेभ्यो रक्षस्व भारत । तान्युक्तैरुपजिज्ञास्य भोगैर्निर्वप रक्ष च ॥

āśīviṣasamebhyaśca tebhyo rakṣasva bhārata | tānyuktairupajijñāsya bhogairnirvapa rakṣa ca

be wary of them, O Bharata, for they are like venomous serpents; learn about them through trusted men, provide for them with comforts, and protect them.

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 13.58.14. Recension variant kept: line 2 तान्युक्तैरुपजिज्ञास्य भोगैर्निर्वप रक्ष च (CE tāny uktair upajijñāsya tathā dvijavarottamān).

Verse 15 (13.94.15)

कृतैरावसथैर्नित्यं सप्रेष्यैः सपरिच्छदैः । निमन्त्रयेथाः कौरव्य सर्वभूतसुखावहैः ॥

kṛtairāvasathairnityaṃ sapreṣyaiḥ saparicchadaiḥ | nimantrayethāḥ kauravya sarvabhūtasukhāvahaiḥ

With dwellings built for them, with servants and furnishings, bringing comfort to all beings, you should always invite them, O Kaurava.

Verse 16 (13.94.16)

यदि ते प्रतिगृह्णीयुः श्रद्धापूतं युधिष्ठिर । कार्यमित्येव मन्वाना धार्मिकाः पुण्यकर्मिणः ॥

yadi te pratigṛhṇīyuḥ śraddhāpūtaṃ yudhiṣṭhira | kāryamityeva manvānā dhārmikāḥ puṇyakarmiṇaḥ

If those righteous men of holy deeds accept what you give, purified by faith, thinking it a duty, O Yudhishthira:

Verse 17 (13.94.17)

विद्यास्नाता व्रतस्नाता धर्ममाश्रित्य जीविनः । गूढस्वाध्यायतपसो ब्राह्मणाः संशितव्रताः ॥

vidyāsnātā vratasnātā dharmamāśritya jīvinaḥ | gūḍhasvādhyāyatapaso brāhmaṇāḥ saṃśitavratāḥ

Brahmins who are graduates in learning and in vows, who live resting on dharma, whose study and austerities are hidden, and whose vows are strict:

Note on the text: Corrected ब्राह्म्णाः → ब्राह्मणाः (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct).

Verse 18 (13.94.18)

तेषु शुद्धेषु दान्तेषु स्वदारनिरतेषु च । यत्करिष्यसि कल्याणं तत्ते लोके युधाम्पते ॥

teṣu śuddheṣu dānteṣu svadāranirateṣu ca | yatkariṣyasi kalyāṇaṃ tatte loke yudhāmpate

whatever good you do for those pure and self-controlled men, devoted to their own wives, will be yours in the world beyond, O lord of warriors.

Verse 19 (13.94.19)

यथाऽग्निहोत्रं सुहुतं सायम्प्रातर्द्विजातिना । तथा भवति दत्तं वै विद्वद्भ्यो यत्कृतात्मना ॥

yathā'gnihotraṃ suhutaṃ sāyamprātardvijātinā | tathā bhavati dattaṃ vai vidvadbhyo yatkṛtātmanā

As an agnihotra offered well at evening and morning by a twice-born, so is what a man of purified self gives to the learned.

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 13.58.19. Recension variant kept: line 2 तथा भवति दत्तं वै विद्वद्भ्यो यत्कृतात्मना (CE tathā bhavati dattaṃ vai dvijebhyo 'tha kṛtātmanā).

Verse 20 (13.94.20)

एष ते विततो यज्ञः श्रद्धापूतः सदक्षिणः । विशिष्टः सर्वयज्ञेभ्यो ददतस्तात वर्तताम् ॥

eṣa te vitato yajñaḥ śraddhāpūtaḥ sadakṣiṇaḥ | viśiṣṭaḥ sarvayajñebhyo dadatastāta vartatām

This is your sacrifice, spread out, purified by faith and accompanied by fees; may it, better than all sacrifices, go on for you who give, my dear.

Verse 21 (13.94.21)

निवापो दानसदृशः सदृशेषु युधिष्ठिर । निवेदयन्पूजयन्वै तेष्वानृण्यं निगच्छति ॥

nivāpo dānasadṛśaḥ sadṛśeṣu yudhiṣṭhira | nivedayanpūjayanvai teṣvānṛṇyaṃ nigacchati

An offering to the ancestors is like a gift among those who are fit to receive; by offering and honouring them one is freed from debt.

Verse 22 (13.94.22)

य एवं नैव कुप्यन्ते न लुभ्यन्ति तृणेष्वपि । त एव नः पूज्यतमा ये चापि प्रियवादिनः ॥

ya evaṃ naiva kupyante na lubhyanti tṛṇeṣvapi | ta eva naḥ pūjyatamā ye cāpi priyavādinaḥ

Those who in this way never grow angry and do not covet even blades of grass, and also those who speak kindly, are the most worthy of our honour.

Verse 23 (13.94.23)

ये नो न बहुमन्यन्ते न प्रवर्तन्ति याचने । पुत्रवत्परिपाल्यास्ते नमस्तेभ्यस्तथाऽभयम् ॥

ye no na bahumanyante na pravartanti yācane | putravatparipālyāste namastebhyastathā'bhayam

Those who do not think much of us and do not go about begging should be cherished like sons; to them our homage and our promise of safety.

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 13.58.23. Recension variant kept: line 1 न प्रवर्तन्ति याचने (CE na pravartanti cāpare).

Verse 24 (13.94.24)

ऋत्विक्पुरोहिताचार्या मृदुधर्मपरा हि ये । क्षात्रेणापि हि संसृष्टं तेजः शाम्यति तेष्वपि ॥

ṛtvikpurohitācāryā mṛdudharmaparā hi ye | kṣātreṇāpi hi saṃsṛṣṭaṃ tejaḥ śāmyati teṣvapi

Priests, household priests and teachers who are devoted to gentle dharma: even the fierce energy that comes mingled with warrior-nature is quenched in them.

Verse 25 (13.94.25)

ईश्वरो बलवानस्मि राजाऽस्मीति युधिष्ठिर । ब्राह्मणान्मास्म पर्यासीर्वासोभिरशनेन च ॥

īśvaro balavānasmi rājā'smīti yudhiṣṭhira | brāhmaṇānmāsma paryāsīrvāsobhiraśanena ca

Never, O Yudhishthira, thinking, "I am lord, I am powerful, I am king," should you slight the Brahmins in the matter of clothing and food.

Note on the text: Aligned by hand to CE 13.58.25. Recension variants kept: ईश्वरो बलवानस्मि (CE asti me balavān asmi) and पर्यासीः (CE paryaśnīr); the form पर्यासीः is left as printed.

Verse 26 (13.94.26)

यच्छोभार्थं बलार्थं वा वित्तमस्ति तवानघ । तेन ते ब्राह्मणाः पूज्याः स्वधर्ममनुतिष्ठता ॥

yacchobhārthaṃ balārthaṃ vā vittamasti tavānagha | tena te brāhmaṇāḥ pūjyāḥ svadharmamanutiṣṭhatā

With whatever wealth you have, O sinless one, whether for splendour or for strength, you should honour the Brahmins, following your own dharma.

Note on the text: Corrected बलार्तं → बलार्थं (misprint in Wikisource; त for थ; CE balārthaṃ, parallel to शोभार्थं).

Verse 27 (13.94.27)

नमस्कार्यास्तथा विप्रा वर्तमाना यथातथम् । यथासुखं यथोत्साहं ललन्तु त्वयि पुत्रवत् ॥

namaskāryāstathā viprā vartamānā yathātatham | yathāsukhaṃ yathotsāhaṃ lalantu tvayi putravat

Brahmins who live as they should must be saluted by you; let them live as they please, and with zest, dallying with you as sons do.

Verse 28 (13.94.28)

को ह्यक्षयप्रसादानां सुहृदामल्पतोषिणाम् । वृत्तिमर्हत्युपक्षेप्तुं त्वदन्यः कुरुसत्तम ॥

ko hyakṣayaprasādānāṃ suhṛdāmalpatoṣiṇām | vṛttimarhatyupakṣeptuṃ tvadanyaḥ kurusattama

Who other than you, O best of the Kurus, is fit to provide a livelihood for such friends, whose favour never fails and who are content with little?

Verse 29 (13.94.29)

यथा पत्याश्रयो धर्मः स्त्रीणां लोके सनातनः । सदैव सा गतिर्नान्या तथाऽस्माकं द्विजातयः ॥

yathā patyāśrayo dharmaḥ strīṇāṃ loke sanātanaḥ | sadaiva sā gatirnānyā tathā'smākaṃ dvijātayaḥ

As the eternal dharma of women in this world rests on the husband, who is always their refuge and none other, so are the twice-born to us.

Note on the text: Corrected यथाऽपत्याश्रयो → यथा पत्याश्रयो (misprint in Wikisource; stray avagraha turns पत्याश्रयः "resting on the husband" into अपत्याश्रयः "resting on offspring", against the sense; CE yathā patyāśrayo).

Verse 30 (13.94.30)

यदि नो ब्राह्मणास्तात संत्यजेयुरपूजिताः । पश्यन्तो दारुणं कर्म सततं क्षत्रिये स्थितम् ॥

yadi no brāhmaṇāstāta saṃtyajeyurapūjitāḥ | paśyanto dāruṇaṃ karma satataṃ kṣatriye sthitam

If the Brahmins, my dear, left us unhonoured, seeing the cruel deeds that are always present in the Kshatriya,

Verse 31 (13.94.31)

अवेदानामकीर्तीनामलोकानामयज्विनाम् । कोनु स्याज्जीवितेनार्थस्तद्धिनो ब्राह्मणाश्रयम् ॥

avedānāmakīrtīnāmalokānāmayajvinām | konu syājjīvitenārthastaddhino brāhmaṇāśrayam

then what use would life be to us, men without the Vedas, without fame, without worlds hereafter and without sacrifices? For our life rests on the Brahmins.

Verse 32 (13.94.32)

अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि यथा धर्मं सनातनम् । राजन्यो ब्राह्मणान्राजन्पुरा परिचचार ह । वैश्यो राजन्यमित्येव शूद्रो वैश्यमिति श्रुतिः ॥

atra te vartayiṣyāmi yathā dharmaṃ sanātanam | rājanyo brāhmaṇānrājanpurā paricacāra ha | vaiśyo rājanyamityeva śūdro vaiśyamiti śrutiḥ

On this I shall tell you the eternal dharma: in ancient times, O king, the Kshatriya served the Brahmin, the Vaishya served the Kshatriya, and the Shudra served the Vaishya; so the tradition says.

Note on the text: Three-line verse, as CE 13.58.32 (lines a, c, e).

Verse 33 (13.94.33)

दूराच्छूद्रेणोपचर्यो ब्राह्मणोऽग्निरिव ज्वलन् । संस्पर्शपरिचर्यस्तु वैश्येन क्षत्रियेण च ॥

dūrācchūdreṇopacaryo brāhmaṇo'gniriva jvalan | saṃsparśaparicaryastu vaiśyena kṣatriyeṇa ca

A Brahmin, blazing like fire, is to be served by a Shudra from a distance, and by a Vaishya and a Kshatriya with close personal attendance.

Note on the text: Corrected संस्पर्शपरिचर्यसल्तु → संस्पर्शपरिचर्यस्तु (misprint in Wikisource; garbled; CE saṃsparśaparicaryas tu).

Verse 34 (13.94.34)

मृदुभावान्सत्यशीलान्सत्यधर्मानुपालकान् । आशीविषानिव क्रुद्धांस्तानुपाचरत द्विजान् ॥

mṛdubhāvānsatyaśīlānsatyadharmānupālakān | āśīviṣāniva kruddhāṃstānupācarata dvijān

Serve those twice-born who are gentle, truthful and upholders of truth and dharma, even when they are angry like venomous serpents.

Verse 35 (13.94.35)

अपरेषां परेषां च परेभ्यश्चापि ये परे । क्षत्रियाणां प्रतपतां तेजसा च बलेन च । ब्राह्मणेष्वेव शाम्यन्ति तेजांसि च तपांसि च ॥

apareṣāṃ pareṣāṃ ca parebhyaścāpi ye pare | kṣatriyāṇāṃ pratapatāṃ tejasā ca balena ca | brāhmaṇeṣveva śāmyanti tejāṃsi ca tapāṃsi ca

Whatever fiery energies and austerities are found in others, and in others beyond them, and in blazing Kshatriyas with their splendour and strength, all are quenched in the Brahmins alone.

Note on the text: Three-line verse, as CE 13.58.35 (lines a, c, e).

Verse 36 (13.94.36)

न मे पिता प्रियतरो न त्वं तात तथा प्रियः । न मे पितुः पिता राजन्न चात्मा न च जीवितम् ॥

na me pitā priyataro na tvaṃ tāta tathā priyaḥ | na me pituḥ pitā rājanna cātmā na ca jīvitam

My father is not dearer to me, nor are you, my dear, nor is my father's father, O king, nor my own self, nor my life.

Verse 37 (13.94.37)

त्वत्तश्च मे प्रियतरः पृथिव्यां नास्ति कश्चन । त्वत्तोऽपि मे प्रियतरा ब्राह्मणा भरतर्षभ ॥

tvattaśca me priyataraḥ pṛthivyāṃ nāsti kaścana | tvatto'pi me priyatarā brāhmaṇā bharatarṣabha

No one on earth is dearer to me than you, yet the Brahmins are dearer to me even than you, O best of the Bharatas.

Verse 38 (13.94.38)

ब्रवीमि सत्यमेतच्च यथाऽहं पाण्डुनन्दन । तेन सत्येन गच्छेयं लोकान्यत्र स शान्तनुः ॥

bravīmi satyametacca yathā'haṃ pāṇḍunandana | tena satyena gaccheyaṃ lokānyatra sa śāntanuḥ

I speak this truth, O son of Pandu; by that truth may I go to the worlds where Shantanu is.

Verse 39 (13.94.39)

पश्येयं च सतां लोकाञ्छुचीन्ब्रह्मपुरस्कृतान् । तत्र मे तात गन्तव्यमह्नाय च चिराय च ॥

paśyeyaṃ ca satāṃ lokāñchucīnbrahmapuraskṛtān | tatra me tāta gantavyamahnāya ca cirāya ca

May I see the pure worlds of the righteous, where Brahmins are held foremost; I must go there, my dear, soon and for long.

Verse 40 (13.94.40)

सोहमेतादृशान्लोकान्दृष्ट्वा भरतसत्तम । यन्मे कृतं ब्राह्मणेषु न तप्ये तेन पार्थिव ॥

sohametādṛśānlokāndṛṣṭvā bharatasattama | yanme kṛtaṃ brāhmaṇeṣu na tapye tena pārthiva

Having seen such worlds, O best of the Bharatas, I feel no remorse, O king, for what I have done toward the Brahmins.