Why the Unrighteous Prosper: Lomasha's Answer

Verse 1 (3.92.1)

न वै निर्गुणमात्मानं मन्ये देवर्षिसत्तम । तथाऽस्मि दुःखसंतप्तो यथा नान्यो महीपतिः ॥

na vai nirguṇamātmānaṃ manye devarṣisattama | tathā'smi duḥkhasaṃtapto yathā nānyo mahīpatiḥ

I do not think myself lacking in virtue, best of divine sages; yet I am tormented by sorrow as no other king has been.

Verse 2 (3.92.2)

परांश्च निर्गुणान्मन्ये न च धर्मगतानपि । ते च लोमश लोकेऽस्मिन्नृध्यन्ते केन हेतुना ॥

parāṃśca nirguṇānmanye na ca dharmagatānapi | te ca lomaśa loke'sminnṛdhyante kena hetunā

And I hold my enemies to be without virtue and not devoted to dharma at all; yet, Lomasha, they prosper in this world. For what reason?

Note on the text: Corrected ध्रमगतानपि → धर्मगतानपि (misprint in Wikisource; transposed letters) and के न हेतुना → केन हेतुना (misplaced word space; the critical edition reads kena). The critical edition's dharmaratān and ketunā are recension variants.

Verse 3 (3.92.3)

नात्र दुःखं त्वया राजन्कार्यं पार्थ कथंचन । यदधर्मेण वर्धेयुरधर्मरुचयो जनाः ॥

nātra duḥkhaṃ tvayā rājankāryaṃ pārtha kathaṃcana | yadadharmeṇa vardheyuradharmarucayo janāḥ

You must not grieve over this at all, king, son of Pritha, that men who delight in adharma should prosper by adharma.

Verse 4 (3.92.4)

वर्धत्यधर्मेण नरस्ततो भद्राणि पश्यति । ततः सपत्नाञ्जयति समूलस्तु विनश्यति ॥

vardhatyadharmeṇa narastato bhadrāṇi paśyati | tataḥ sapatnāñjayati samūlastu vinaśyati

A man prospers by adharma, then he sees good fortune, then he conquers his rivals — but in the end he perishes root and all.

Verse 5 (3.92.5)

यत्र धर्मेण वर्धन्ते राजानो राजसत्तम । सर्वान्सपत्नान्बाधन्ते राज्यं चैषां विवर्धते ॥

yatra dharmeṇa vardhante rājāno rājasattama | sarvānsapatnānbādhante rājyaṃ caiṣāṃ vivardhate

But where kings grow by dharma, best of kings, they overpower all their rivals, and their kingdom flourishes.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and ') around the verse. Corrected वाधन्ते → बाधन्ते (misprint in Wikisource; व for ब; the critical edition's apparatus reads bādhante). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 3.92.4d*0474.

Verse 6 (3.92.6)

मया हि दृष्टा दैतेया दानवाश्च महीपते । वर्धमाना ह्यधर्मेण क्षयं चोपगताः पुनः ॥

mayā hi dṛṣṭā daiteyā dānavāśca mahīpate | vardhamānā hyadharmeṇa kṣayaṃ copagatāḥ punaḥ

For I have seen the Daityas and Danavas, lord of the earth, growing great through adharma and then coming to ruin.

Verse 7 (3.92.7)

पुरा देवयुगे चैव दृष्टं सर्वं मया विभो । अरोचयन्सुरा धर्मं धर्मं तत्यजिरेऽसुराः ॥

purā devayuge caiva dṛṣṭaṃ sarvaṃ mayā vibho | arocayansurā dharmaṃ dharmaṃ tatyajire'surāḥ

Long ago, in the age of the gods, I saw it all, my lord: the gods delighted in dharma, and the asuras forsook dharma.

Verse 8 (3.92.8)

तीर्थानि देवा विविशुर्नाविशन्भारतासुराः । तानधर्मकृतो दर्पः पूर्वमेव समाविशत् ॥

tīrthāni devā viviśurnāviśanbhāratāsurāḥ | tānadharmakṛto darpaḥ pūrvameva samāviśat

The gods entered the tirthas; the asuras did not, Bharata. Pride born of adharma took hold of them from the very first.

Note on the text: Corrected तीर्तानि → तीर्थानि (misprint in Wikisource; त for थ).

Verse 9 (3.92.9)

दर्पान्मानः समभवन्मानात्क्रोधो व्यजायत । क्रोधादह्रीस्ततोऽलज्जा वृत्तं तेषां ततोऽनशत् ॥

darpānmānaḥ samabhavanmānātkrodho vyajāyata | krodhādahrīstato'lajjā vṛttaṃ teṣāṃ tato'naśat

From pride arose arrogance, from arrogance anger was born, from anger shamelessness, and then immodesty; and then their good conduct perished.

Note on the text: Corrected क्रोधादहीस्ततोऽलञ्जा → क्रोधादह्रीस्ततोऽलज्जा (misprints in Wikisource; a dropped र in अह्रीः and ञ for ज in अलज्जा; the critical edition reads krodhād ahrīs tato 'lajjā).

Verse 10 (3.92.10)

तानलज्जान्गतश्रीकान्हीनवृत्तान्वृथाव्रतान् । क्षमा लक्ष्मीः स्वधर्मश्च नचिरात्प्रजहुस्ततः ॥

tānalajjāngataśrīkānhīnavṛttānvṛthāvratān | kṣamā lakṣmīḥ svadharmaśca nacirātprajahustataḥ

From them — shameless, bereft of fortune, fallen from good conduct, keeping their vows in vain — forbearance, Lakshmi and their own dharma soon departed.

Note on the text: Matches the first four padas of the critical edition's 3.92.9, which the automatic alignment missed; Wikisource's गतश्रीकान् and स्वधर्मश्च (for gatahrīkān and dharmaś ca) are recension variants.

Verse 11 (3.92.11)

लक्ष्मीस्तु देवानगमदलक्ष्मीरसुरान्नृप ॥

lakṣmīstu devānagamadalakṣmīrasurānnṛpa

Lakshmi went to the gods, and Misfortune to the asuras, O king.

Note on the text: A single line printed as its own verse; it is the critical edition's 3.92.9ef, which the automatic alignment missed. Kept as printed.

Verse 12 (3.92.12)

तानलक्ष्मीसमाविष्टान्दर्पोपहतचेतसः । दैतेयान्दानवांश्चैव कलिरप्याविशत्ततः ॥

tānalakṣmīsamāviṣṭāndarpopahatacetasaḥ | daiteyāndānavāṃścaiva kalirapyāviśattataḥ

Then into those Daityas and Danavas, possessed by Misfortune and with minds struck down by pride, Kali too entered.

Verse 13 (3.92.13)

तानलक्ष्मीसमाविष्टान्दानवान्कलिनाहतान् । दर्पाभिभूतान्कौन्तेय क्रियाहीनानचेतसः । मानाभिभूतानचिराद्विनाशः समपद्यत ॥

tānalakṣmīsamāviṣṭāndānavānkalināhatān | darpābhibhūtānkaunteya kriyāhīnānacetasaḥ | mānābhibhūtānacirādvināśaḥ samapadyata

Those Danavas, possessed by Misfortune and struck down by Kali, overcome by pride, son of Kunti, bereft of rites and senseless, overcome by arrogance — swiftly destruction came upon them.

Note on the text: The first two lines are the critical edition's 3.92.11 (कलिनाहतान् for kalinā tathā) and the third its 3.92.12ab; the automatic alignment missed them.

Verse 14 (3.92.14)

निर्यशस्कास्तथा दैत्याः कृत्स्नशो विलयं गताः । अधर्मरुचयो राजन्नलक्ष्म्या समधिष्ठिताः ॥

niryaśaskāstathā daityāḥ kṛtsnaśo vilayaṃ gatāḥ | adharmarucayo rājannalakṣmyā samadhiṣṭhitāḥ

So the Daityas, robbed of glory, were utterly destroyed, O king — delighting in adharma and ruled by Misfortune.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and ') around the second line and restored a missing word space (अधर्मरुचयोराजन् → अधर्मरुचयो राजन्). The first line is the critical edition's 3.92.12cd, which the automatic alignment missed; the second is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension), which records it in its apparatus as 3.92.12d*0475.

Verse 15 (3.92.15)

देवास्तु सागरांश्चैव सरितश्च सरांसि च । अभ्यगच्छन्धर्मशीलाः पुण्यान्यायतनानि च ॥

devāstu sāgarāṃścaiva saritaśca sarāṃsi ca | abhyagacchandharmaśīlāḥ puṇyānyāyatanāni ca

But the gods, devoted to dharma, went to the oceans, the rivers and the lakes, and to holy shrines.

Note on the text: Corrected पुण्यान्यावतनानि → पुण्यान्यायतनानि (misprint in Wikisource; व for य; the critical edition reads puṇyāny āyatanāni).

Verse 16 (3.92.16)

तपोभिः क्रतुभिर्दानैराशीर्वादैश्च पाण्डव । प्रजहुः सर्वपापानि श्रेयश्च प्रतिपेदिरे ॥

tapobhiḥ kratubhirdānairāśīrvādaiśca pāṇḍava | prajahuḥ sarvapāpāni śreyaśca pratipedire

Through austerities, sacrifices, gifts and blessings, Pandava, they cast off all their sins and attained the highest good.

Verse 17 (3.92.17)

एवमादानवन्तश्च निरादानाश्च सर्वशः । तीर्थान्यगच्छन्विबुधास्तेनापुर्भूतिमुत्तमाम् ॥

evamādānavantaśca nirādānāśca sarvaśaḥ | tīrthānyagacchanvibudhāstenāpurbhūtimuttamām

Thus the gods, both those who held to observances and those free of all ties, went everywhere to the tirthas, and by that they gained the highest prosperity.

Note on the text: Corrected आदानवन्तश् → आदानवन्तश्च (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped akshara leaves the pada a syllable short; Nilakantha glosses आदानवन्तः and निरादानाः). The critical edition's evaṃ hi dānavantaś ca kriyāvantaś ca is a recension variant.

Verse 18 (3.92.18)

तथा त्वमपि राजेन्द्र स्नात्वा तीर्थेषु सानुजः । पुनर्वेत्स्यसि तां लक्ष्मीमेष पन्थाः सनातनः ॥

tathā tvamapi rājendra snātvā tīrtheṣu sānujaḥ | punarvetsyasi tāṃ lakṣmīmeṣa panthāḥ sanātanaḥ

So you too, king of kings, bathing at the tirthas with your younger brothers, will regain that fortune. This is the eternal path.

Note on the text: Corrected वेत्स्वसि → वेत्स्यसि (misprint in Wikisource; व for य; Nilakantha glosses वेत्स्यसि, and the critical edition reads vetsyasi).

Verse 19 (3.92.19)

यथैव हि नृगो राजा शिविरौशीनरो यथा । भगीरथो वसुमना गयः पूरुः पुरूरवाः ॥

yathaiva hi nṛgo rājā śivirauśīnaro yathā | bhagīratho vasumanā gayaḥ pūruḥ purūravāḥ

For just as King Nriga, as Shibi son of Ushinara, Bhagiratha, Vasumanas, Gaya, Puru and Pururavas —

Note on the text: Corrected भगीरयो → भगीरथो (misprint in Wikisource; य for थ; the critical edition reads bhagīratho).

Verse 20 (3.92.20)

चरमाणास्तपो नित्यं स्पर्शनादम्भसश्च ते । तीर्थाभिगमनात्पूता दर्शनाच्च महात्मनाम् ॥

caramāṇāstapo nityaṃ sparśanādambhasaśca te | tīrthābhigamanātpūtā darśanācca mahātmanām

ever practising austerity, and purified by the touch of the waters, by going to the tirthas and by the sight of great souls,

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (नित्यंस्पर्शनात् → नित्यं स्पर्शनात्) and corrected तीर्थामिगमनात् → तीर्थाभिगमनात् (misprint in Wikisource; म for भ; the critical edition reads tīrthābhigamanāt).

Verse 21 (3.92.21)

अलभन्त यशः पुण्यं धनानि च विशांपते । तथा त्वमपि राजेन्द्र लब्ध्वा सुविपुलां श्रियम् ॥

alabhanta yaśaḥ puṇyaṃ dhanāni ca viśāṃpate | tathā tvamapi rājendra labdhvā suvipulāṃ śriyam

won holy fame and riches, lord of the people — so you too, king of kings, will win abundant fortune.

Verse 22 (3.92.22)

यथा चेक्ष्वाकुरभवत्सपुत्रजनबान्धवः । मुचुकुन्दोऽथ मांधाता मरुत्तश्च महीपतिः ॥

yathā cekṣvākurabhavatsaputrajanabāndhavaḥ | mucukundo'tha māṃdhātā maruttaśca mahīpatiḥ

And as Ikshvaku prospered, with his sons, his people and his kin, and Muchukunda, Mandhatri and King Marutta,

Verse 23 (3.92.23)

कीर्तिं पुण्यामविन्दन्त यथा देवास्तपोबलात् । देवर्षयश्च कार्त्स्न्येन तथा त्वमपि वेत्स्यसि ॥

kīrtiṃ puṇyāmavindanta yathā devāstapobalāt | devarṣayaśca kārtsnyena tathā tvamapi vetsyasi

and as the gods, by the power of austerity, and the divine sages won holy renown in full — so you too will win it.

Verse 24 (3.92.24)

धार्तराष्ट्रास्त्वधर्मेण मोहेन च वशीकृताः । नचिराद्वै विनङ्क्ष्यन्ति दैत्या इव न संशयः ॥

dhārtarāṣṭrāstvadharmeṇa mohena ca vaśīkṛtāḥ | nacirādvai vinaṅkṣyanti daityā iva na saṃśayaḥ

But the sons of Dhritarashtra, mastered by adharma and delusion, will soon perish like the Daityas; of that there is no doubt.

Note on the text: Corrected मोहिन → मोहेन (misprint in Wikisource; i-sign for e-sign; the critical edition reads mohena). Wikisource's अधर्मेण (for darpeṇa) is a recension variant.