The Righteous Hunter on Violence and One's Own Duty

Verse 1 (3.212.1)

स तु विप्रमथोवाच धर्मव्याधो युधिष्ठिर । यदहं ह्याचरे कर्म घोरमेतदसंशयम् ॥

sa tu vipramathovāca dharmavyādho yudhiṣṭhira | yadahaṃ hyācare karma ghorametadasaṃśayam

Then, Yudhishthira, the righteous hunter said to the brahmin: "The work I do is cruel; of that there is no doubt."

Verse 2 (3.212.2)

विधिस्तु बलवान्ब्रह्मन्दुस्तरं हि पुरा कृतम् । पुरा कृतस्य पापस्य कर्मदोषो भवत्ययम् ॥

vidhistu balavānbrahmandustaraṃ hi purā kṛtam | purā kṛtasya pāpasya karmadoṣo bhavatyayam

But fate is mighty, brahmin, and what was done in the past is hard to overcome. This fault in my work springs from sin committed in a former life.

Note on the text: Corrected कृतस् → कृतस्य (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara, critical edition purākṛtasya). Speaker: the hunter's direct speech, begun in verse 1, runs through the rest of the adhyaya without a printed heading; assigned to व्याध.

Verse 3 (3.212.3)

दोषस्यैतस्य वै ब्रह्मन्विघाते यत्नवानहम् । विधिना हि हते पूर्वं निमित्तं घातको भवेत् ॥

doṣasyaitasya vai brahmanvighāte yatnavānaham | vidhinā hi hate pūrvaṃ nimittaṃ ghātako bhavet

I strive, brahmin, to undo this fault. When a creature has already been struck down by fate, the one who kills it is merely the instrument.

Note on the text: Corrected दोपस्य → दोषस्य (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष, critical edition doṣasya).

Verse 4 (3.212.4)

निमित्तभूता हि वयं कर्मणोऽस्य द्विजोत्तम ॥

nimittabhūtā hi vayaṃ karmaṇo'sya dvijottama

We are only the instrument of this deed, best of the twice-born.

Verse 5 (3.212.5)

येषां हतानां मांसानि विक्रीणीमो वयं द्विज । तेषामपि भवेद्धर्म उपयोगेन भक्षणात् । देवतातिथिभृत्यानां पितृणां चापि पूजनात् ॥

yeṣāṃ hatānāṃ māṃsāni vikrīṇīmo vayaṃ dvija | teṣāmapi bhaveddharma upayogena bhakṣaṇāt | devatātithibhṛtyānāṃ pitṛṇāṃ cāpi pūjanāt

Even in the slain animals whose meat we sell there is merit, brahmin, through the use and eating of it, and through the worship it provides for gods, guests, dependants and ancestors.

Verse 6 (3.212.6)

ओषध्यो वीरुधश्चैव पशवो मृगपक्षिणः । अन्नाद्यभूता लोकस्य इत्यपि श्रूयते श्रुतिः ॥

oṣadhyo vīrudhaścaiva paśavo mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ | annādyabhūtā lokasya ityapi śrūyate śrutiḥ

Herbs and creepers, cattle, wild beasts and birds are food for the world: so the scripture too declares.

Verse 7 (3.212.7)

आत्ममांसप्रसादेन शिबिरौशीनरो नृपः । स्वर्गं सुदुर्लभं प्राप्तः क्षमावान्द्विजसत्तम ॥

ātmamāṃsaprasādena śibirauśīnaro nṛpaḥ | svargaṃ sudurlabhaṃ prāptaḥ kṣamāvāndvijasattama

By the gift of his own flesh, best of the twice-born, the forbearing King Shibi, son of Ushinara, won heaven, which is so hard to reach.

Verse 8 (3.212.8)

राज्ञो महानसे पूर्वं रन्तिदेवस्य वै द्विज । द्वे सहस्रे तु वध्येते पशूनामन्वहं तदा । अहन्यहनि पच्येते द्वे सहस्रे गवां तथा ॥

rājño mahānase pūrvaṃ rantidevasya vai dvija | dve sahasre tu vadhyete paśūnāmanvahaṃ tadā | ahanyahani pacyete dve sahasre gavāṃ tathā

Long ago, brahmin, in the kitchen of King Rantideva two thousand animals were slaughtered every day, and day after day two thousand cows were cooked as well.

Note on the text: Removed the square brackets Wikisource prints round the middle line (it is the critical edition's 3.199.7c); corrected पच्छेते → वध्येते in it (misprint in Wikisource; not a word, critical edition vadhyete). The third line is not in the critical edition text; it appears in its apparatus as 3.199.7d*1019 (vulgate recension, reading vadhyete for पच्येते).

Verse 9 (3.212.9)

समांसं ददतो ह्यन्नं रन्तिदेवस्य नित्यशः । अतुला कीर्तिरभवन्नृपस्य द्विजसत्तम ॥

samāṃsaṃ dadato hyannaṃ rantidevasya nityaśaḥ | atulā kīrtirabhavannṛpasya dvijasattama

Because Rantideva constantly gave away food with meat, best of the twice-born, that king won matchless fame.

Note on the text: Corrected स मासं → समांसं (misprint in Wikisource; wrong word division and dropped anusvara — "स" cannot stand beside the genitive ददतो; critical edition samāṃsaṃ).

Verse 10 (3.212.10)

चातुर्मास्ये च पशवो वध्यन्त इति नित्यशः । अग्नयो मांसकामाश्च इत्यपि श्रूयते श्रुतिः ॥

cāturmāsye ca paśavo vadhyanta iti nityaśaḥ | agnayo māṃsakāmāśca ityapi śrūyate śrutiḥ

At the four-month Chaturmasya rites animals are regularly slain, and the fires desire meat: so the scripture too declares.

Note on the text: Corrected मांसकामाश्चइत्यपि → मांसकामाश्च इत्यपि (misprint in Wikisource; two words run together, critical edition māṃsakāmāś ca ity api).

Verse 11 (3.212.11)

यज्ञेषु पशवो ब्रह्मन्वध्यन्ते सततं द्विजैः । संस्कृताः किल मन्त्रैश्च तेऽपि स्वर्गमवाप्नुवन् ॥

yajñeṣu paśavo brahmanvadhyante satataṃ dvijaiḥ | saṃskṛtāḥ kila mantraiśca te'pi svargamavāpnuvan

At sacrifices, brahmin, animals are constantly slain by the twice-born; consecrated with mantras, it is said, they too have reached heaven.

Verse 12 (3.212.12)

यदि नैवाग्नयो ब्रह्मन्मांसकामाऽभवन्पुरा । भक्ष्यं नैवाभवन्मांसं कस्यचिद्द्विजसत्तम ॥

yadi naivāgnayo brahmanmāṃsakāmā'bhavanpurā | bhakṣyaṃ naivābhavanmāṃsaṃ kasyaciddvijasattama

If the fires had not desired meat in the beginning, brahmin, meat would never have been food for anyone, best of the twice-born.

Verse 13 (3.212.13)

अत्रापि विधिरुक्तश्च मुनिभिर्मांसभक्षणे ॥

atrāpi vidhiruktaśca munibhirmāṃsabhakṣaṇe

Here too the sages have laid down a rule for the eating of meat.

Note on the text: Corrected विधिरुक्तश् → विधिरुक्तश्च (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara, critical edition vidhir uktaś ca).

Verse 14 (3.212.14)

देवतानां पितृणां च भुङ्क्ते दत्त्वाऽपि यः सदा । यथाविधि यथाश्रद्धं न स दुष्येत भक्षणात् ॥

devatānāṃ pitṛṇāṃ ca bhuṅkte dattvā'pi yaḥ sadā | yathāvidhi yathāśraddhaṃ na sa duṣyeta bhakṣaṇāt

He who always eats only after first offering to the gods and the ancestors, according to rule and with faith, is not defiled by the eating.

Note on the text: Corrected शुङ्क्ते → भुङ्क्ते (misprint in Wikisource; श for भ, critical edition bhuṅkte) and separated दत्त्वाऽपियः → दत्त्वाऽपि यः.

Verse 15 (3.212.15)

अमांसाशी भवत्येवमित्यपि श्रूयते श्रुतिः । भार्यां गच्छन्ब्रह्मचारी ऋतौ भवति ब्राह्मणः ॥

amāṃsāśī bhavatyevamityapi śrūyate śrutiḥ | bhāryāṃ gacchanbrahmacārī ṛtau bhavati brāhmaṇaḥ

Such a man is, in effect, one who abstains from meat — so the scripture too declares — just as a brahmin who goes to his wife only in her season remains a celibate.

Verse 16 (3.212.16)

सत्यानृते विनिश्चित्य अत्रापि विधिरुच्यते । सौदासेन तदा राज्ञा मानुषा भक्षिता द्विज । शापाभिभूतेन भृशमत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते ॥

satyānṛte viniścitya atrāpi vidhirucyate | saudāsena tadā rājñā mānuṣā bhakṣitā dvija | śāpābhibhūtena bhṛśamatra kiṃ pratibhāti te

In this matter too a rule is laid down after weighing truth and falsehood. King Saudasa, overpowered by a curse, once devoured men, brahmin. What do you make of that?

Verse 17 (3.212.17)

स्वधर्म इतिकृत्वा तु न त्यजामि द्विजोत्तम । पुरा कृतमिति ज्ञात्वा जीवाम्येतेन कर्मणा ॥

svadharma itikṛtvā tu na tyajāmi dvijottama | purā kṛtamiti jñātvā jīvāmyetena karmaṇā

Holding it to be my own duty, best of the twice-born, I do not abandon it. Knowing it to be the outcome of past deeds, I live by this work.

Note on the text: Corrected रजीवाम्येतेन → जीवाम्येतेन (misprint in Wikisource; stray र, critical edition jīvāmy etena).

Verse 18 (3.212.18)

स्वधर्मं त्यजतो ब्रह्मन्नधर्म इह दृश्यते । स्वकर्मनिरतो यस्तु धर्मः स इति निश्चयः ॥

svadharmaṃ tyajato brahmannadharma iha dṛśyate | svakarmanirato yastu dharmaḥ sa iti niścayaḥ

In one who abandons his own duty, brahmin, unrighteousness is seen here; but devotion to one's own work is righteousness. This is certain.

Verse 19 (3.212.19)

कुले हि विहितं कर्म देही तं न विमुञ्चति । धात्रा विधिरयं दृष्टो बहुधा कर्मनिर्णये ॥

kule hi vihitaṃ karma dehī taṃ na vimuñcati | dhātrā vidhirayaṃ dṛṣṭo bahudhā karmanirṇaye

A man does not cast off the work ordained for his family. In apportioning work, the Creator has laid down this rule in many ways.

Note on the text: Corrected कर्मनिर्मये → कर्मनिर्णये (misprint in Wikisource; not a word, critical edition karmanirṇaye).

Verse 20 (3.212.20)

द्रष्टव्यस्तु भवेद्ब्रह्मन्धर्मो धर्मविनिश्चये । कथं कर्म शुभं कुर्यां कथं मुच्ये पराभवात् ॥

draṣṭavyastu bhavedbrahmandharmo dharmaviniścaye | kathaṃ karma śubhaṃ kuryāṃ kathaṃ mucye parābhavāt

Yet in settling what is right, brahmin, one must keep dharma in view, and ask: how may I do good works, how may I be freed from ruin?

Verse 21 (3.212.21)

कर्मणस्तस्य घोरस्य बहुधा निर्णयो भवेत् । दाने च सत्यवाक्ये च गुरुशुश्रूषणे तथा । द्विजातिपूजने चाहं धर्मे च निरतः सदा ॥

karmaṇastasya ghorasya bahudhā nirṇayo bhavet | dāne ca satyavākye ca guruśuśrūṣaṇe tathā | dvijātipūjane cāhaṃ dharme ca nirataḥ sadā

For that cruel work there may be atonement in many ways. I am always devoted to giving, to truthful speech, to the service of my elders, to honouring the twice-born, and to dharma.

Note on the text: Corrected घोरस् → घोरस्य (dropped akshara), वसुधा → बहुधा ("earth" makes no sense here; critical edition bahudhā) and गुरुशुश्रूणे → गुरुशुश्रूषणे (dropped akshara) — misprints in Wikisource.

Verse 22 (3.212.22)

अतिमानातिवादाभ्यां निवृत्तोस्मि द्विजोत्तम । कृषिं साध्वीति मन्यन्ते तत्र हिंसा परा स्मृता ॥

atimānātivādābhyāṃ nivṛttosmi dvijottama | kṛṣiṃ sādhvīti manyante tatra hiṃsā parā smṛtā

I have turned away from excessive pride and harsh words, best of the twice-born. People think farming a good calling, yet great violence is held to lie in it.

Verse 23 (3.212.23)

कर्षन्तो लाङ्गलैरुर्वीं घ्नन्ति भूमिशयान्बहून् । जीवानन्यांश्च बहुशस्तत्रकिं प्रतिभाति ते ॥

karṣanto lāṅgalairurvīṃ ghnanti bhūmiśayānbahūn | jīvānanyāṃśca bahuśastatrakiṃ pratibhāti te

Ploughing the earth, men kill many creatures that live in the soil, and many other living things besides. What do you make of that?

Verse 24 (3.212.24)

धान्यबीजानि यान्याहुर्व्रीह्यादीनि द्विजोत्तम । सर्वाण्येतानि जीवा हि तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते ॥

dhānyabījāni yānyāhurvrīhyādīni dvijottama | sarvāṇyetāni jīvā hi tatra kiṃ pratibhāti te

The seeds of grain that people speak of, rice and the rest, best of the twice-born — all of these are living things. What do you make of that?

Verse 25 (3.212.25)

अध्याक्रम्य पशूंश्चापि घ्नन्ति वै भक्षयन्ति च । वृक्षांस्तथौषधीश्चापि छिन्दन्ति पुरुषा द्विज ॥

adhyākramya paśūṃścāpi ghnanti vai bhakṣayanti ca | vṛkṣāṃstathauṣadhīścāpi chindanti puruṣā dvija

Men fall upon animals, kill them and eat them, and they cut down trees and herbs as well, brahmin.

Note on the text: Corrected अध्याक्रम् → अध्याक्रम्य (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara, critical edition adhyākramya).

Verse 26 (3.212.26)

जीवा हि बहवो ब्रह्मन्वृक्षेषु च फलेषु च । उदके बहवश्चापि तत्रकिं प्रतिभाति ते ॥

jīvā hi bahavo brahmanvṛkṣeṣu ca phaleṣu ca | udake bahavaścāpi tatrakiṃ pratibhāti te

There are many living beings, brahmin, in trees and in fruits, and many in water too. What do you make of that?

Verse 27 (3.212.27)

सर्वं व्याप्तमिदं ब्रह्मन्प्राणिभिः प्राणिजीवनैः । मत्स्यान्ग्रसन्ते मत्स्याश्च तत्रकिं प्रतिभाति ते ॥

sarvaṃ vyāptamidaṃ brahmanprāṇibhiḥ prāṇijīvanaiḥ | matsyāngrasante matsyāśca tatrakiṃ pratibhāti te

This whole world, brahmin, is filled with creatures that live on other creatures; fish swallow fish. What do you make of that?

Verse 28 (3.212.28)

सत्वैः सत्वानि जीवन्ति बहुधा द्विजसत्तम । प्राणिनोऽन्योन्यभक्षाश्च तत्रकिं प्रतिभाति ते ॥

satvaiḥ satvāni jīvanti bahudhā dvijasattama | prāṇino'nyonyabhakṣāśca tatrakiṃ pratibhāti te

Creatures live on creatures in many ways, best of the twice-born, and living beings devour one another. What do you make of that?

Verse 29 (3.212.29)

चङ्क्रम्यमाणा जीवांश्च धरणीसंश्रितान्बहून् । पद्भ्यां घ्नन्ति नरा विप्र तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते ॥

caṅkramyamāṇā jīvāṃśca dharaṇīsaṃśritānbahūn | padbhyāṃ ghnanti narā vipra tatra kiṃ pratibhāti te

As they walk about, brahmin, men kill with their feet many creatures that dwell on the ground. What do you make of that?

Verse 30 (3.212.30)

उपविष्टाः शयानाश्च घ्नन्ति जीवाननेकशः । अज्ञानादथवा ज्ञानात्तत्रकिं प्रतिभाति ते ॥

upaviṣṭāḥ śayānāśca ghnanti jīvānanekaśaḥ | ajñānādathavā jñānāttatrakiṃ pratibhāti te

Sitting and lying down, they kill countless creatures, knowingly or unknowingly. What do you make of that?

Verse 31 (3.212.31)

जीवैर्ग्रस्तमिदं सर्वमाकाशं पृथिवी तथा । अविज्ञानाच्च हिंसन्ति तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते ॥

jīvairgrastamidaṃ sarvamākāśaṃ pṛthivī tathā | avijñānācca hiṃsanti tatra kiṃ pratibhāti te

The whole of the sky and the earth is crowded with living things, and men harm them without knowing it. What do you make of that?

Verse 32 (3.212.32)

अहिंसेति यदुक्तं हि पुरुषैर्विस्मितैः पुरा । के न हिंसन्ति जीवान्वै लोकेऽस्मिन्द्विजसत्तम ॥

ahiṃseti yaduktaṃ hi puruṣairvismitaiḥ purā | ke na hiṃsanti jīvānvai loke'smindvijasattama

As for the "non-violence" that men proclaimed in wonder long ago — who in this world does not harm living creatures, best of the twice-born?

Note on the text: Corrected द्विजसत्तम् → द्विजसत्तम (misprint in Wikisource; stray virama on the vocative).

Verse 33 (3.212.33)

बहु संचिन्त्य इह वै नास्ति कश्चिदहिंसकः ॥

bahu saṃcintya iha vai nāsti kaścidahiṃsakaḥ

When one reflects on it at length, there is no one here who is free of violence.

Verse 34 (3.212.34)

अहिंसायां तु निरता यतयो द्विजसत्तम । कुर्वन्त्येव हि हिंसां ते यत्नादल्पतरा भवेत् ॥

ahiṃsāyāṃ tu niratā yatayo dvijasattama | kurvantyeva hi hiṃsāṃ te yatnādalpatarā bhavet

Even ascetics devoted to non-violence, best of the twice-born, still do harm; by effort it can only be made less.

Note on the text: Corrected अहिंयासां → अहिंसायां (misprint in Wikisource; transposed aksharas, critical edition ahiṃsāyāṃ).

Verse 35 (3.212.35)

आलक्ष्याश्चैव पुरुषाः कुले जाता महागुणाः । महाघोराणि कर्माणि कृत्वा लज्जन्ति वै न च ॥

ālakṣyāścaiva puruṣāḥ kule jātā mahāguṇāḥ | mahāghorāṇi karmāṇi kṛtvā lajjanti vai na ca

Men of mark, born in good families and of great virtue, commit the most terrible deeds and feel no shame.

Verse 36 (3.212.36)

सुहृदः सुहृदोऽन्यांश्च दुर्हृदश्चापि दुर्हृदः । सम्यक्प्रवृत्तान्पुरुषान्न सम्यगनुपश्यति ॥

suhṛdaḥ suhṛdo'nyāṃśca durhṛdaścāpi durhṛdaḥ | samyakpravṛttānpuruṣānna samyaganupaśyati

Friends look to friends and to others, and enemies to enemies, yet no one rightly sees the men who act rightly.

Note on the text: Corrected अन्यांस्च → अन्यांश्च (स for श) and पुरुषानन → पुरुषान्न (broken conjunct; critical edition puruṣān na) — misprints in Wikisource.

Verse 37 (3.212.37)

समृद्धैश्च न नन्दन्ति बान्धवा बान्धवैरपि । गुरूंश्चैव विनिन्दन्ति मूढा निश्चितमानिनः ॥

samṛddhaiśca na nandanti bāndhavā bāndhavairapi | gurūṃścaiva vinindanti mūḍhā niścitamāninaḥ

Kinsmen do not rejoice in the prosperity of their kinsmen, and fools, sure of their own opinions, revile their teachers.

Note on the text: Corrected समृद्धैश्चन → समृद्धैश्च न (words run together) and विनिदन्ति → विनिन्दन्ति (dropped anusvara; critical edition vinindanti) — misprints in Wikisource.

Verse 38 (3.212.38)

बहु लोके विपर्यस्तं दृश्यते द्विजसत्तम । धर्मयुक्तमधर्मं च तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते ॥

bahu loke viparyastaṃ dṛśyate dvijasattama | dharmayuktamadharmaṃ ca tatra kiṃ pratibhāti te

Much in the world is seen turned upside down, best of the twice-born — righteousness and unrighteousness confused. What do you make of that?

Verse 39 (3.212.39)

वक्तुं बहुविधं शक्यं धर्माधर्मेषु कर्मसु । स्वकर्मनिरतो यो हि स यशः प्राप्नुयान्महत् ॥

vaktuṃ bahuvidhaṃ śakyaṃ dharmādharmeṣu karmasu | svakarmanirato yo hi sa yaśaḥ prāpnuyānmahat

Much can be said, in many ways, about right and wrong in deeds; but he who is devoted to his own work wins great renown.