Kubera Counsels Yudhishthira

Verse 1 (3.163.1)

युधिष्ठिर धृतिर्दाक्ष्यं देशकालपराक्रमाः । लोकतन्त्रविधानानामेष पञ्चविधो विधिः ॥

yudhiṣṭhira dhṛtirdākṣyaṃ deśakālaparākramāḥ | lokatantravidhānānāmeṣa pañcavidho vidhiḥ

"Yudhishthira, steadiness, skill, place, time and valour: this is the fivefold rule for carrying out the affairs of the world.

Verse 2 (3.163.2)

धृतिमन्तश्च दक्षाश्च स्वे स्वे कर्मणि भारत । पराक्रमविधानज्ञा नराः कृतयुगेऽभवन् ॥

dhṛtimantaśca dakṣāśca sve sve karmaṇi bhārata | parākramavidhānajñā narāḥ kṛtayuge'bhavan

In the Krita age men were steady and skilful, each in his own work, O Bharata, and they knew how to apply valour.

Verse 3 (3.163.3)

धृतिमान्देशकालज्ञः सर्वधर्मविधानवित् । क्षत्रियः क्षत्रियश्रेष्ठ शास्ति वै पृथिवीमनु ॥

dhṛtimāndeśakālajñaḥ sarvadharmavidhānavit | kṣatriyaḥ kṣatriyaśreṣṭha śāsti vai pṛthivīmanu

A kshatriya who is steady, who knows place and time and understands the ordinances of every dharma, best of kshatriyas, rules the earth as he should.

Verse 4 (3.163.4)

य एवं वर्तते पार्थ पुरुषः सर्वकर्मसु । स लोके लभते वीर यशः प्रेत्य च सद्गतिम् ॥

ya evaṃ vartate pārtha puruṣaḥ sarvakarmasu | sa loke labhate vīra yaśaḥ pretya ca sadgatim

The man who conducts himself thus in all his actions, Partha, wins fame in this world, hero, and a good destination after death.

Verse 5 (3.163.5)

देशकालान्तरप्रेप्सुः कृत्वा शक्रः पराक्रमम् । संप्राप्तस्त्रिदिवे राज्यं वृत्रहा वसुभिः सह ॥

deśakālāntaraprepsuḥ kṛtvā śakraḥ parākramam | saṃprāptastridive rājyaṃ vṛtrahā vasubhiḥ saha

Waiting for the right place and time, Shakra, the slayer of Vritra, displayed his valour and with the Vasus won sovereignty in heaven.

Verse 6 (3.163.6)

यस्तु केवलसंरम्भात्प्रपातं न निरीक्षते । पापात्मा पापबुद्धिर्यः पापमेवानुवर्तते । कर्मणामविभागज्ञः प्रेत्य चेह विनश्यति ॥

yastu kevalasaṃrambhātprapātaṃ na nirīkṣate | pāpātmā pāpabuddhiryaḥ pāpamevānuvartate | karmaṇāmavibhāgajñaḥ pretya ceha vinaśyati

But the man who, out of mere passion, does not look to the fall ahead, the evil-natured, evil-minded man who follows only sin and cannot tell one deed from another, perishes both hereafter and here.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki brackets ([ ]) and an inner danda around the first line, which is not in the critical edition's text (its apparatus has it as 3.159.5d*0821); the other two lines match CE 3.159.6 (reading naśyati for विनश्यति).

Verse 7 (3.163.7)

अकालज्ञः सुदुर्मेधाः कार्याणामविशेषवित् । वृथाचारसमारम्भः प्रेत्य चेह विनश्यति ॥

akālajñaḥ sudurmedhāḥ kāryāṇāmaviśeṣavit | vṛthācārasamārambhaḥ pretya ceha vinaśyati

He who does not know the right time, the dull-witted man who cannot tell one task from another, whose undertakings are pointless, perishes both hereafter and here.

Verse 8 (3.163.8)

साहसे वर्तमानानां निकृतीनां दुरात्मनाम् । सर्वेषामर्थलिप्सूनां पापो भवति निश्चयः ॥

sāhase vartamānānāṃ nikṛtīnāṃ durātmanām | sarveṣāmarthalipsūnāṃ pāpo bhavati niścayaḥ

The resolve of the wicked who give themselves to rashness, of the deceitful, and of all who are greedy for gain, is sinful.

Verse 9 (3.163.9)

अधर्मज्ञोऽवलिप्तश्च बालबुद्धिरमर्षणः । निर्भयो भीमसेनोऽयं तं शाधि पुरुषर्षभ ॥

adharmajño'valiptaśca bālabuddhiramarṣaṇaḥ | nirbhayo bhīmaseno'yaṃ taṃ śādhi puruṣarṣabha

This Bhimasena does not know dharma; he is proud, childish in judgement, impatient and fearless. Restrain him, bull among men.

Verse 10 (3.163.10)

आर्ष्टिषेणस्य राजर्षेः प्राप्य भूयस्त्वमाश्रमम् । तमिस्रां प्रथमां तत्र वीतशोकभयो वस ॥

ārṣṭiṣeṇasya rājarṣeḥ prāpya bhūyastvamāśramam | tamisrāṃ prathamāṃ tatra vītaśokabhayo vasa

Go back to the hermitage of the royal sage Arshtishena and stay there, free of grief and fear, through the first dark half of the month.

Note on the text: Corrected आर्ष्टिषेणस् → आर्ष्टिषेणस्य (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped akshara, the critical edition reads ārṣṭiṣeṇasya). Wikisource's तमिस्रां प्रथमां तत्र is a recension variant of the critical edition's tāmisraṃ prathamaṃ pakṣaṃ.

Verse 11 (3.163.11)

अलकां सह गन्धर्वैर्यक्षैश्च सह किन्नरैः । गमिष्यामि महाबाहो त्वं चापि बदरीं व्रज ॥

alakāṃ saha gandharvairyakṣaiśca saha kinnaraiḥ | gamiṣyāmi mahābāho tvaṃ cāpi badarīṃ vraja

I shall go to Alaka with the Gandharvas, the yakshas and the kinnaras, mighty-armed one; you too go to Badari.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and ') around the second line, which is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; nothing in the critical edition's apparatus here matches it). The first line is a variant of CE 3.159.11ab (alakāḥ … saha rākṣasaiḥ).

Verse 12 (3.163.12)

मन्नियुक्ता मनुष्येन्द्र सर्वे च गिरिवासिनः । रक्षन्तु त्वां महाबाहो सहितं द्विजसत्तमैः ॥

manniyuktā manuṣyendra sarve ca girivāsinaḥ | rakṣantu tvāṃ mahābāho sahitaṃ dvijasattamaiḥ

At my command, lord of men, let all who dwell on the mountain protect you, mighty-armed one, together with the best of the brahmins.

Note on the text: The two lines are CE 3.159.11cd–ef.

Verse 13 (3.163.13)

साहसेषु च संतिष्ठंस्त्वया शैले वृकोदरः । वार्यतां साध्वयं राजंस्त्वया धर्मभृतां वर ॥

sāhaseṣu ca saṃtiṣṭhaṃstvayā śaile vṛkodaraḥ | vāryatāṃ sādhvayaṃ rājaṃstvayā dharmabhṛtāṃ vara

And Vrikodara, if he persists in rash deeds on this mountain, should be properly held back by you, king, best of the upholders of dharma.

Note on the text: Separated धर्मभृतांवर → धर्मभृतां वर.

Verse 14 (3.163.14)

इतः परं च वो राजन्द्रक्ष्यन्ति वनगोचराः । उपस्थास्यन्ति वो राजन्रक्षिष्यन्ते च वः सदा ॥

itaḥ paraṃ ca vo rājandrakṣyanti vanagocarāḥ | upasthāsyanti vo rājanrakṣiṣyante ca vaḥ sadā

From now on, king, the forest-dwellers will watch over you; they will wait on you, king, and guard you always.

Note on the text: Corrected उपश्थास्यन्ति → उपस्थास्यन्ति (misprint in Wikisource; श for स, the critical edition reads upasthāsyanti). The verse is otherwise a recension variant of CE 3.159.13.

Verse 15 (3.163.15)

तथैव चान्नपानानि स्वादूनि च बहूनि च । आहरिष्यन्ति मत्प्रेष्याः सदा वः पुरुषर्षभाः ॥

tathaiva cānnapānāni svādūni ca bahūni ca | āhariṣyanti matpreṣyāḥ sadā vaḥ puruṣarṣabhāḥ

Likewise my servants will always bring you many kinds of sweet food and drink, bulls among men.

Note on the text: Corrected बबूनि → बहूनि (misprint in Wikisource; ब for ह, the critical edition reads bahūni). The second line is a recension variant of CE 3.159.14cd.

Verse 16 (3.163.16)

यथा जिष्णुर्महेन्द्रस्य यथा वायोर्वृकोदरः । धर्मस्य त्वं यथा तात योगोत्पन्नो निजः सुतः ॥

yathā jiṣṇurmahendrasya yathā vāyorvṛkodaraḥ | dharmasya tvaṃ yathā tāta yogotpanno nijaḥ sutaḥ

As Jishnu is Mahendra's own son, as Vrikodara is Vayu's, and as you, dear child, are Dharma's own son, born through his yogic power,

Verse 17 (3.163.17)

आत्मजावात्मसंपन्नौ यमौ चोभौ यथाश्विनोः । रक्ष्यास्तद्वन्ममापीह यूयं सर्वे युधिष्ठिर ॥

ātmajāvātmasaṃpannau yamau cobhau yathāśvinoḥ | rakṣyāstadvanmamāpīha yūyaṃ sarve yudhiṣṭhira

and as the twins, sprung from the Ashvins themselves and gifted with self-mastery, are theirs, so all of you are to be protected by me here too, Yudhishthira.

Verse 18 (3.163.18)

अर्थतत्त्वविधानज्ञः सर्वधर्मविधानवित् । भीमसेनादवरजः फल्गुनः कुशली दिवि ॥

arthatattvavidhānajñaḥ sarvadharmavidhānavit | bhīmasenādavarajaḥ phalgunaḥ kuśalī divi

Phalguna, younger brother of Bhimasena, who understands the truth of things and the means of achieving them and knows the ordinances of every dharma, is well in heaven.

Note on the text: Corrected पल्गुनः → फल्गुनः (misprint in Wikisource; प for फ, the critical edition reads phalgunaḥ).

Verse 19 (3.163.19)

याः काश्चन मता लोके स्वर्ग्याः परमसंपदः । जन्मप्रभृति ताः सर्वाः स्थितास्तात धनंजये ॥

yāḥ kāścana matā loke svargyāḥ paramasaṃpadaḥ | janmaprabhṛti tāḥ sarvāḥ sthitāstāta dhanaṃjaye

Whatever excellences are held in the world to lead to heaven, dear child, all of them have dwelt in Dhananjaya from his birth.

Note on the text: Corrected जनमप्रभृति → जन्मप्रभृति (misprint in Wikisource; a broken conjunct, the critical edition reads janmaprabhṛti).

Verse 20 (3.163.20)

दमो दानं बलं बुद्धिर्ह्रीर्धृतिस्तेज उत्तमम् । एतान्यपि महासत्वे स्थितान्यमिततेजसि ॥

damo dānaṃ balaṃ buddhirhrīrdhṛtisteja uttamam | etānyapi mahāsatve sthitānyamitatejasi

Self-control, generosity, strength, intelligence, modesty, steadiness and supreme energy: these too dwell in that great-spirited hero of boundless splendour.

Note on the text: Corrected द्रमो → दमो (misprint in Wikisource; a stray र, the critical edition reads damo).

Verse 21 (3.163.21)

न मोहात्कुरुते जिष्णुः कर्म पाण्डव गर्हितम् । न पार्थस्य मृषोक्तानि कथयन्ति नरा नृषु ॥

na mohātkurute jiṣṇuḥ karma pāṇḍava garhitam | na pārthasya mṛṣoktāni kathayanti narā nṛṣu

Jishnu does no blameworthy deed out of delusion, son of Pandu; among men, no one tells of any falsehood spoken by Partha.

Note on the text: Corrected पार्थस् → पार्थस्य (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped akshara, the critical edition reads pārthasya).

Verse 22 (3.163.22)

स देवपितृगन्धर्वैः कुरूणां कीर्तिवर्धनः । आनीतः कुरुतेऽस्त्राणि शक्रसद्मनि भारत ॥

sa devapitṛgandharvaiḥ kurūṇāṃ kīrtivardhanaḥ | ānītaḥ kurute'strāṇi śakrasadmani bhārata

Brought there by the gods, the ancestors and the Gandharvas, he who increases the fame of the Kurus is practising the weapons in Shakra's abode, O Bharata.

Note on the text: Corrected कुरूणआं → कुरूणां (misprint in Wikisource; a stray vowel sign, the critical edition reads kurūṇāṃ). Wikisource's आनीतः is a recension variant of the critical edition's mānitaḥ.

Verse 23 (3.163.23)

योऽसौ सर्वान्महीपालान्धर्मेण वशमानयत् । स शन्तनुर्महातेजाः पितुस्तव पितामहः ॥

yo'sau sarvānmahīpālāndharmeṇa vaśamānayat | sa śantanurmahātejāḥ pitustava pitāmahaḥ

He who brought all the kings of the earth under his sway by dharma, Shantanu of great splendour, your father's grandfather,

Note on the text: The two lines are CE 3.159.22ab–cd; the critical edition's verse 22 continues with the first line of the next verse.

Verse 24 (3.163.24)

प्रीयते पार्थ पार्थेन दिवि गाण्डीवधन्वना । सम्यक्चासौ महावीर्यः कुलधुर्य इव स्थितः ॥

prīyate pārtha pārthena divi gāṇḍīvadhanvanā | samyakcāsau mahāvīryaḥ kuladhurya iva sthitaḥ

are pleased, Partha, with Partha, the wielder of Gandiva, in heaven. That mighty one stood firm as the mainstay of his line,

Note on the text: Corrected सम्यक्वासौ → सम्यक्चासौ (misprint in Wikisource; व for च, the critical edition reads samyak cāsau). The first line is CE 3.159.22ef; the second is CE 3.159.23ab.

Verse 25 (3.163.25)

पितॄन्देवानृषीन्विप्रान्पूजयित्वा महायशाः । सप्त मुख्यान्महामेधानाहरद्यमुनां प्रति ॥

pitṝndevānṛṣīnviprānpūjayitvā mahāyaśāḥ | sapta mukhyānmahāmedhānāharadyamunāṃ prati

and after worshipping the ancestors, the gods, the sages and the brahmins, the illustrious king performed seven great principal sacrifices on the Yamuna.

Note on the text: The two lines are CE 3.159.23cd–ef (where the critical edition reads pitṝn devāṃs tathā viprān, a recension variant).

Verse 26 (3.163.26)

अधिराजः स राजंस्त्वां शन्तनुः प्रपितामहः । स्वर्गजिच्छक्रलोकस्थः कुशलं परिपृच्छति ॥

adhirājaḥ sa rājaṃstvāṃ śantanuḥ prapitāmahaḥ | svargajicchakralokasthaḥ kuśalaṃ paripṛcchati

That overlord, your great-grandfather Shantanu, O king, who has won heaven and dwells in Shakra's world, asks after your welfare."

Verse 27 (3.163.27)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं धनदेन प्रभाषितम् । पाण्डवाश्च ततस्तेन बभूवुः संप्रहर्षिताः ॥

etacchrutvā tu vacanaṃ dhanadena prabhāṣitam | pāṇḍavāśca tatastena babhūvuḥ saṃpraharṣitāḥ

Hearing these words spoken by Dhanada, the Pandavas were filled with delight by him.

Note on the text: Corrected बभूवः → बभूवुः (misprint in Wikisource; the third person plural is बभूवुः, as the critical edition's apparatus reads babhūvuḥ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 3.159.25*0823.

Verse 28 (3.163.28)

ततः शक्तिं गदां खड्गं धनुश्च भरतर्षभः । प्राध्वं कृत्वा नमश्चक्रे कुबेराय वृकोदरः ॥

tataḥ śaktiṃ gadāṃ khaḍgaṃ dhanuśca bharatarṣabhaḥ | prādhvaṃ kṛtvā namaścakre kuberāya vṛkodaraḥ

Then Vrikodara, bull among the Bharatas, put away his spear, mace, sword and bow and bowed to Kubera.

Note on the text: Corrected खङ्गं → खड्गं (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads khaḍgaṃ) and separated प्राध्वंकृत्वा → प्राध्वं कृत्वा.

Verse 29 (3.163.29)

ततोऽब्रवीद्धनाध्यक्षः शरण्यः शरणागतम् । मानहा भव शत्रूणां सुहृदां नन्दिवर्धनः ॥

tato'bravīddhanādhyakṣaḥ śaraṇyaḥ śaraṇāgatam | mānahā bhava śatrūṇāṃ suhṛdāṃ nandivardhanaḥ

Then the lord of wealth, refuge of those who seek refuge, said to him who had come to him for shelter: "Be the humbler of your enemies' pride and the increaser of your friends' joy.

Verse 30 (3.163.30)

विभयस्तात शैलाग्रे वसानः सह बन्धुभिः । सुपर्णपितृदेवानां सततं मानकृद्भव ॥

vibhayastāta śailāgre vasānaḥ saha bandhubhiḥ | suparṇapitṛdevānāṃ satataṃ mānakṛdbhava

Live fearless, dear child, on the mountain top with your kinsmen, and always pay honour to the Suparnas, the ancestors and the gods.

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (`) and corrected विभयस्ताप → विभयस्तात (misprint in Wikisource; ताप makes no sense here, the vocative तात 'dear child' is the smallest fix, and the critical edition's apparatus reads tāta). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 3.159.26d*0824.

Verse 31 (3.163.31)

ऋजुं पश्यत मा वक्रं सत्यं वदत माऽनृतम् । दीर्घं पश्यत मा ह्रस्वं परं पश्यत माऽपरम् ॥

ṛjuṃ paśyata mā vakraṃ satyaṃ vadata mā'nṛtam | dīrghaṃ paśyata mā hrasvaṃ paraṃ paśyata mā'param

Look to what is straight, not to what is crooked; speak the truth, not falsehood; look far ahead, not close at hand; look to the highest, not to what is lower.

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark ('). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 3.159.26d*0824.

Verse 32 (3.163.32)

स्वेषु वेश्मसु रम्येषु वसतामित्रतापनाः । कामान्न परिहास्यन्ति यक्षा वो भरतर्षभाः ॥

sveṣu veśmasu ramyeṣu vasatāmitratāpanāḥ | kāmānna parihāsyanti yakṣā vo bharatarṣabhāḥ

Dwell in my lovely houses, scorchers of your foes; the yakshas will not fail to supply whatever you desire, bulls among the Bharatas.

Note on the text: Separated वोभरतर्षभाः → वो भरतर्षभाः. Wikisource's कामान्न परिहास्यन्ति (glossed by its commentary) is a recension variant of the critical edition's kāmān upahariṣyanti.

Verse 33 (3.163.33)

शीघ्रमेव गुडाकेशः कृतास्त्रः पुरुषर्षभः । साक्षान्मघवतोत्सृष्टः संप्राप्स्यति धनंजयः ॥

śīghrameva guḍākeśaḥ kṛtāstraḥ puruṣarṣabhaḥ | sākṣānmaghavatotsṛṣṭaḥ saṃprāpsyati dhanaṃjayaḥ

Very soon Gudakesha, Dhananjaya, bull among men, will come back to you, master of the weapons, sent by Maghavan himself."

Verse 34 (3.163.34)

एवमुत्तमकर्माणमनुशिष्य युधिष्ठिरम् । अस्तं गिरिमिवादित्यः प्रययौ गुह्यकाधिपः ॥

evamuttamakarmāṇamanuśiṣya yudhiṣṭhiram | astaṃ girimivādityaḥ prayayau guhyakādhipaḥ

Having thus instructed Yudhishthira, a man of excellent deeds, the lord of the Guhyakas departed, like the sun going to the mountain of its setting.

Verse 35 (3.163.35)

तं परिस्तोमसंकीर्णैर्नानारत्नविभूषितैः । यानैरनुययुर्यक्षा राक्षसाश्च सहस्रशः ॥

taṃ paristomasaṃkīrṇairnānāratnavibhūṣitaiḥ | yānairanuyayuryakṣā rākṣasāśca sahasraśaḥ

Thousands of yakshas and rakshasas followed him on vehicles spread with coloured blankets and adorned with many kinds of jewels.

Verse 36 (3.163.36)

पक्षिणामिव निर्घोषः कुबेरसदनं प्रति । बभूव परमाश्वानामैरावतपथे यथा ॥

pakṣiṇāmiva nirghoṣaḥ kuberasadanaṃ prati | babhūva paramāśvānāmairāvatapathe yathā

As the splendid horses went towards Kubera's palace, a sound like that of birds arose, as on the path of Airavata.

Note on the text: Corrected कनिर्घोषः → निर्घोषः (misprint in Wikisource; a stray akshara that also breaks the metre, the critical edition reads nirghoṣaḥ).

Verse 37 (3.163.37)

ते जग्मुस्तूर्णमाकाशं धनाधिपतिवाजिनः । प्रकर्षन्त इवाभ्राणि पिबन्त इव मारुतम् ॥

te jagmustūrṇamākāśaṃ dhanādhipativājinaḥ | prakarṣanta ivābhrāṇi pibanta iva mārutam

The horses of the lord of wealth sped swiftly up into the sky, as if dragging the clouds along and drinking in the wind.

Note on the text: Separated इवमारुतम् → इव मारुतम्.

Verse 38 (3.163.38)

ततस्तानि शरीराणि गतसत्वानि रक्षसाम् । अपाकृष्यन्त शैलाग्राद्धनाधिपतिशासनात् ॥

tatastāni śarīrāṇi gatasatvāni rakṣasām | apākṛṣyanta śailāgrāddhanādhipatiśāsanāt

Then, by order of the lord of wealth, the lifeless bodies of the rakshasas were dragged away from the mountain top.

Verse 39 (3.163.39)

तेषां हि शापकालः स कृतोऽगस्त्येन धीमता । समरे निहतास्तस्माच्छापस्यान्तोऽभवत्तदा ॥

teṣāṃ hi śāpakālaḥ sa kṛto'gastyena dhīmatā | samare nihatāstasmācchāpasyānto'bhavattadā

For wise Agastya had fixed that as the time of their curse; so they were slain in battle, and the curse then came to an end.

Note on the text: A recension variant of CE 3.159.34 (the critical edition's second line reads sarve maṇimatā saha).

Verse 40 (3.163.40)

पाण्डवाश्च महात्मानस्तेषु वेश्मसु तां क्षपाम् । सुखमूषुर्गतोद्वेगाः पूजिताः सह राक्षसैः ॥

pāṇḍavāśca mahātmānasteṣu veśmasu tāṃ kṣapām | sukhamūṣurgatodvegāḥ pūjitāḥ saha rākṣasaiḥ

The great-souled Pandavas spent that night happily in those houses, free from anxiety and honoured by the rakshasas.

Note on the text: Corrected पाण्डवाश्महात्मानस् → पाण्डवाश्च महात्मानस् (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped akshara, the critical edition has pāṇḍavās tu mahātmānas, and च is the smallest fix).