The Golden Reign of Yudhishthira

Verse 1 (14.15.1)

स समाश्वास्य पितरं प्रज्ञाचक्षुषमीश्वरम् । अन्वशासत धर्मात्मा पृथिवीं भ्रातृभिः सह ॥

sa samāśvāsya pitaraṃ prajñācakṣuṣamīśvaram | anvaśāsata dharmātmā pṛthivīṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ saha

Having consoled his father, the lord whose only eye was wisdom, the righteous-souled Yudhishthira ruled the earth together with his brothers.

Note on the text: Removed the speaker heading वैशम्पायन उवाच and the stray wiki backtick that were printed at the start of the verse text; the speaker field carries it. First line = CE 14.14.17a; the second line differs from CE 14.14.17c (anvaśād vai sa dharmātmā …), a recension variant. CE 14.14.17 is followed in the CE file by Appendix I, No. 1 (14,014.017d@001), which the rest of this adhyaya reproduces.

Verse 2 (14.15.2)

यथा मनुर्महाराजो रामो दाशरथिर्यथा । तथा भरतसिंहोऽपि पालयामास मेदिनीम् ॥

yathā manurmahārājo rāmo dāśarathiryathā | tathā bharatasiṃho'pi pālayāmāsa medinīm

Like the great king Manu, and like Rama, son of Dasharatha, that lion of the Bharatas protected the earth.

Note on the text: Not in the critical text: Appendix I, No. 1 (printed in the CE file after 14.14.17 as 14,014.017d@001), lines 1–2.

Verse 3 (14.15.3)

नाधर्म्यमभवत्तत्र सर्वो धर्मरुचिर्जनः । बभूव नरशार्दूल यथा कृतयुगे तथा ॥

nādharmyamabhavattatra sarvo dharmarucirjanaḥ | babhūva naraśārdūla yathā kṛtayuge tathā

No unrighteousness arose there, and all people delighted in dharma. O tiger among men, it was as in the Krita age.

Note on the text: Not in the critical text: Appendix I, No. 1 (printed in the CE file after 14.14.17 as 14,014.017d@001), lines 3–4.

Verse 4 (14.15.4)

कलिमासन्नमाविष्टं निवार्य नृपनन्दनः । भ्रातृभिः सहितो धीमान्बभौ धर्मबलोद्धतः ॥

kalimāsannamāviṣṭaṃ nivārya nṛpanandanaḥ | bhrātṛbhiḥ sahito dhīmānbabhau dharmabaloddhataḥ

Having warded off Kali, who had drawn near and taken hold, that delight of kings, the wise one, together with his brothers, shone, exalted by the power of dharma.

Note on the text: Not in the critical text: Appendix I, No. 1 (printed in the CE file after 14.14.17 as 14,014.017d@001), lines 5–6.

Verse 5 (14.15.5)

ववर्ष भगवान्देवः काले देशे यथेप्सितम् । निरामयं जगदभूत्क्षुत्पिपासे न किञ्चन ॥

vavarṣa bhagavāndevaḥ kāle deśe yathepsitam | nirāmayaṃ jagadabhūtkṣutpipāse na kiñcana

The divine lord sent rain in due season and place, as desired. The world was free of sickness, and hunger and thirst were nowhere.

Note on the text: Not in the critical text: Appendix I, No. 1 (printed in the CE file after 14.14.17 as 14,014.017d@001), lines 7–8.

Verse 6 (14.15.6)

आधिर्नास्ति मनुष्याणां व्यसने नाभवन्मतिः । ब्राह्मणप्रमुखा वर्णास्ते स्वधर्मोत्तराः शुभाः ॥

ādhirnāsti manuṣyāṇāṃ vyasane nābhavanmatiḥ | brāhmaṇapramukhā varṇāste svadharmottarāḥ śubhāḥ

Men had no mental anguish, and no thought turned toward calamity. The classes, led by the Brahmins, were auspicious and devoted above all to their own duties.

Note on the text: Corrected ब्राह्म्णप्रमुखा → ब्राह्मणप्रमुखा (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct). Appendix I, No. 1 (14,014.017d@001), lines 9–10.

Verse 7 (14.15.7)

धर्मसत्यप्रधानाश्च सत्यं सद्विषयान्वितम् । धर्मासनस्थः सद्भिः स स्त्रीबालातुरवृद्धकान् । वर्णक्रमान्पूर्णभृतान्साकल्याद्रक्षणोद्यतः ॥

dharmasatyapradhānāśca satyaṃ sadviṣayānvitam | dharmāsanasthaḥ sadbhiḥ sa strībālāturavṛddhakān | varṇakramānpūrṇabhṛtānsākalyādrakṣaṇodyataḥ

They held dharma and truth foremost, and their truth was joined to good ends. Seated on the seat of justice with the virtuous, he was intent on protecting in full the women, children, sick and aged, and the classes in their order, all well supported.

Note on the text: Not in the critical text: Appendix I, No. 1 (printed in the CE file after 14.14.17 as 14,014.017d@001), lines 11–13. The wording of lines 2–3 differs from the Appendix text (a recension variant).

Verse 8 (14.15.8)

अवृत्तिवृत्तिदानाद्यैर्यज्ञाद्यैर्व्याधितैरपि । आमुष्मिकं भयं नास्ति लौकिकं कृतमेव ॥

avṛttivṛttidānādyairyajñādyairvyādhitairapi | āmuṣmikaṃ bhayaṃ nāsti laukikaṃ kṛtameva

Through gifts of a livelihood to those who had none, through sacrifices and the like, even for the sick, there was no fear regarding the next world, and the concerns of this world were already provided for.

Note on the text: Not in the critical text: Appendix I, No. 1 (printed in the CE file after 14.14.17 as 14,014.017d@001), lines 14–15.

Verse 9 (14.15.9)

स्वर्गलोकोपमो लोकस्तदा तस्मिन्प्रशासति । बभूव सुखमेवाग्रं तद्विशिष्टतरं परम् ॥

svargalokopamo lokastadā tasminpraśāsati | babhūva sukhamevāgraṃ tadviśiṣṭataraṃ param

Under his rule the world was like heaven; happiness alone stood first, and a still greater, higher happiness followed.

Note on the text: Not in the critical text: Appendix I, No. 1 (printed in the CE file after 14.14.17 as 14,014.017d@001), lines 16–17.

Verse 10 (14.15.10)

नार्यः पतिव्रताः सर्वा रूपवत्यः स्वलंकृताः । यथोक्तवृत्ताः स्वगुणैर्बभूवुः प्रीतिहेतवः ॥

nāryaḥ pativratāḥ sarvā rūpavatyaḥ svalaṃkṛtāḥ | yathoktavṛttāḥ svaguṇairbabhūvuḥ prītihetavaḥ

All the women were devoted to their husbands, beautiful and well adorned; living as the rules prescribe, they were, by their own virtues, causes of delight.

Note on the text: Not in the critical text: Appendix I, No. 1 (printed in the CE file after 14.14.17 as 14,014.017d@001), lines 18–19.

Verse 11 (14.15.11)

पुमांसः पुण्यशीलाढ्याः स्वंस्वं धर्ममनुव्रताः । सुखिनः सूक्ष्ममप्येनो न कुर्वन्ति कदाचन ॥

pumāṃsaḥ puṇyaśīlāḍhyāḥ svaṃsvaṃ dharmamanuvratāḥ | sukhinaḥ sūkṣmamapyeno na kurvanti kadācana

The men, rich in virtue and merit, each devoted to his own duty, were happy and never committed even the slightest sin.

Note on the text: Not in the critical text: Appendix I, No. 1 (printed in the CE file after 14.14.17 as 14,014.017d@001), lines 20–21.

Verse 12 (14.15.12)

सर्वे नराश्च नार्यश्च सततं प्रियवादिनः । अजिह्ममनसः शुक्ला बभूवुः श्रमवर्जिताः ॥

sarve narāśca nāryaśca satataṃ priyavādinaḥ | ajihmamanasaḥ śuklā babhūvuḥ śramavarjitāḥ

All men and women always spoke kindly; they were straightforward in mind, pure, and free from weariness.

Note on the text: Corrected नरांश्च → नराश्च (misprint in Wikisource; the nominative plural agreeing with सर्वे, as in the Appendix text). Appendix I, No. 1 (14,014.017d@001), lines 22–23.

Verse 13 (14.15.13)

भूषिताः कुण्डलैर्हारैः कटकैः कटिसूत्रकैः । सुवाससः सुगन्धाढ्याः प्रायशः पृथिवीतले ॥

bhūṣitāḥ kuṇḍalairhāraiḥ kaṭakaiḥ kaṭisūtrakaiḥ | suvāsasaḥ sugandhāḍhyāḥ prāyaśaḥ pṛthivītale

For the most part on earth they were adorned with earrings, necklaces, bracelets and girdles, well clothed and rich in fragrance.

Note on the text: Not in the critical text: Appendix I, No. 1 (printed in the CE file after 14.14.17 as 14,014.017d@001), lines 24–25.

Verse 14 (14.15.14)

सर्वे ब्रह्मविदो विप्राः सर्वत्र परिनिष्ठिताः । वलीपलितहीनास्तु सुखिनो दीर्घदर्शिनः ॥

sarve brahmavido viprāḥ sarvatra pariniṣṭhitāḥ | valīpalitahīnāstu sukhino dīrghadarśinaḥ

All the Brahmins knew Brahman and were firmly established everywhere; free of wrinkles and grey hair, they were happy and far-sighted.

Note on the text: Not in the critical text: Appendix I, No. 1 (printed in the CE file after 14.14.17 as 14,014.017d@001), lines 26–27.

Verse 15 (14.15.15)

इच्छा न जायतेऽन्यत्र वर्णेषु न च सङ्करः । मनुष्याणां महाराज मर्यादा सुव्यवस्थिता ॥

icchā na jāyate'nyatra varṇeṣu na ca saṅkaraḥ | manuṣyāṇāṃ mahārāja maryādā suvyavasthitā

No desire arose for what belonged to another, and there was no mixing of the classes. O great king, the bounds set for men were well kept.

Note on the text: Not in the critical text: Appendix I, No. 1 (printed in the CE file after 14.14.17 as 14,014.017d@001), lines 28–29.

Verse 16 (14.15.16)

तस्मिञ्शासति राजेन्द्रे मृगव्यालसरीसृपाः । अन्योन्यमपि चान्येषु न बाधन्ते कदाचन ॥

tasmiñśāsati rājendre mṛgavyālasarīsṛpāḥ | anyonyamapi cānyeṣu na bādhante kadācana

While that best of kings ruled, beasts, snakes and reptiles never harmed one another or any others.

Note on the text: Not in the critical text: Appendix I, No. 1 (printed in the CE file after 14.14.17 as 14,014.017d@001), lines 30–31.

Verse 17 (14.15.17)

गावः सुक्षीरभूयिष्ठाः सुस्ववालमुखोदराः । अपीडिताः कर्षकाद्यैर्हृतव्याधिकवत्सकाः ॥

gāvaḥ sukṣīrabhūyiṣṭhāḥ susvavālamukhodarāḥ | apīḍitāḥ karṣakādyairhṛtavyādhikavatsakāḥ

The cows gave abundant milk, with fine tails, faces and bellies, and, unharassed by ploughmen and others, their calves were free of disease.

Note on the text: Not in the critical text: Appendix I, No. 1 (printed in the CE file after 14.14.17 as 14,014.017d@001), lines 32–33.

Verse 18 (14.15.18)

अवन्ध्यकाला मनुजाः पुरुषार्थेषु च क्रमात् । विषयेष्वनिषिद्धेषु वेदशास्त्रेषु चोद्यताः ॥

avandhyakālā manujāḥ puruṣārtheṣu ca kramāt | viṣayeṣvaniṣiddheṣu vedaśāstreṣu codyatāḥ

People's time was never barren; in due order they were diligent in the aims of human life, in permitted objects of the senses, and in the Vedas and scriptures.

Note on the text: Not in the critical text: Appendix I, No. 1 (printed in the CE file after 14.14.17 as 14,014.017d@001), lines 34–35.

Verse 19 (14.15.19)

सुवृत्ता वृषभाः पुष्टा रसनाभाः सुखोदयाः ॥

suvṛttā vṛṣabhāḥ puṣṭā rasanābhāḥ sukhodayāḥ

The bulls were shapely and sturdy, radiant, bringers of ease.

Note on the text: Not in the critical text: Appendix I, No. 1 (printed in the CE file after 14.14.17 as 14,014.017d@001), line 36. A single-line verse here, as the Appendix line is a single line.

Verse 20 (14.15.20)

अतीव मधुरः शब्दः स्पर्शश्चातिसुखं रसम् । रूपं दृष्टिक्षमं रम्यं मनोज्ञं गन्धवद्बभौ ॥

atīva madhuraḥ śabdaḥ sparśaścātisukhaṃ rasam | rūpaṃ dṛṣṭikṣamaṃ ramyaṃ manojñaṃ gandhavadbabhau

Sound was exceedingly sweet, touch most pleasant, and taste likewise; form was pleasing to the eye, lovely and charming, and fragrance shone forth.

Note on the text: Corrected करूपं → रूपं (misprint in Wikisource; the sense and the Appendix text give रूपं). Appendix I, No. 1 (14,014.017d@001), lines 37–38.

Verse 21 (14.15.21)

धर्मार्थकामसंयुक्तं मोक्षाभ्युदयसाधनम् । प्रह्लादजननं पुण्यं सम्बभूवाथ मानसम् ॥

dharmārthakāmasaṃyuktaṃ mokṣābhyudayasādhanam | prahlādajananaṃ puṇyaṃ sambabhūvātha mānasam

Their minds, joined to dharma, artha and kama and serving as the means of liberation and prosperity, became joyful and pure.

Note on the text: Not in the critical text: Appendix I, No. 1 (printed in the CE file after 14.14.17 as 14,014.017d@001), lines 39–40.

Verse 22 (14.15.22)

स्थावरा बहुपुष्पाढ्याः फलच्छायावहास्तथा । सुस्पर्शा विषहीनाश्च सुपत्रत्वक्प्ररोहिणः ॥

sthāvarā bahupuṣpāḍhyāḥ phalacchāyāvahāstathā | susparśā viṣahīnāśca supatratvakprarohiṇaḥ

The trees and plants were rich in flowers, bearing fruit and shade; pleasant to touch and free of poison, they had fine leaves, bark and shoots.

Note on the text: Not in the critical text: Appendix I, No. 1 (printed in the CE file after 14.14.17 as 14,014.017d@001), lines 41–42.

Verse 23 (14.15.23)

मनोनुकूलाः सर्वेषां चेष्टाभूतापवर्जिताः । तथा बभूव राजर्षिस्तद्वृत्तमभवद्भुवि ॥

manonukūlāḥ sarveṣāṃ ceṣṭābhūtāpavarjitāḥ | tathā babhūva rājarṣistadvṛttamabhavadbhuvi

The pursuits of all were agreeable to their minds and brought harm to no being. Such was the royal sage, and such was the conduct that prevailed on earth.

Note on the text: Not in the critical text: Appendix I, No. 1 (printed in the CE file after 14.14.17 as 14,014.017d@001), lines 43–44. The wording differs from the Appendix text (a recension variant).

Verse 24 (14.15.24)

सर्वलक्षणसम्पन्नाः पाण्डवा धर्मचारिणः । ज्येष्ठानुवर्तिनः सर्वे बभूवुः प्रियदर्शनाः ॥

sarvalakṣaṇasampannāḥ pāṇḍavā dharmacāriṇaḥ | jyeṣṭhānuvartinaḥ sarve babhūvuḥ priyadarśanāḥ

The Pandavas, devoted to dharma, were endowed with every auspicious mark; obedient to their eldest brother, all of them were pleasing to look upon.

Note on the text: Not in the critical text: Appendix I, No. 1 (printed in the CE file after 14.14.17 as 14,014.017d@001), lines 45–46.

Verse 25 (14.15.25)

सिंहोरस्का जितक्रोधास्तेजोबलसमन्विताः । आजानुबाहवः सर्वे दानशीला जितेन्द्रियाः ॥

siṃhoraskā jitakrodhāstejobalasamanvitāḥ | ājānubāhavaḥ sarve dānaśīlā jitendriyāḥ

Lion-chested, victors over anger, endowed with splendour and strength, long-armed, generous and masters of their senses, all of them.

Note on the text: Not in the critical text: Appendix I, No. 1 (printed in the CE file after 14.14.17 as 14,014.017d@001), lines 47–48.

Verse 26 (14.15.26)

तेषु शासत्सु धरणीमृतवः स्वगुणैर्बभुः । सुखोदयाय वर्तन्ते ग्रहास्तारागणैः सह ॥

teṣu śāsatsu dharaṇīmṛtavaḥ svaguṇairbabhuḥ | sukhodayāya vartante grahāstārāgaṇaiḥ saha

While they ruled the earth, the seasons shone with their own qualities, and the planets and stars moved together for the rise of happiness.

Note on the text: Not in the critical text: Appendix I, No. 1 (printed in the CE file after 14.14.17 as 14,014.017d@001), lines 49–50.

Verse 27 (14.15.27)

मही च सस्यबहुला सर्वरत्नगुणोदया । कामधुग्धेनुवद्भोगान्फलति स्म सहस्रधा ॥

mahī ca sasyabahulā sarvaratnaguṇodayā | kāmadhugdhenuvadbhogānphalati sma sahasradhā

The earth, abounding in crops and rich in every kind of gem, like a wish-granting cow yielded her enjoyments a thousandfold.

Note on the text: Corrected फलन्ति स्म → फलति स्म (misprint in Wikisource; the plural verb cannot agree with the singular subject मही, and the Appendix text has फलति). Appendix I, No. 1 (14,014.017d@001), lines 51–52.

Verse 28 (14.15.28)

मन्वादिभिः कृताः पूर्वं मर्यादा मानवेषु याः । अनतिक्रम्य ताः सर्वाः कुलेषु समयानि च । अन्वशासत राजानो धर्मपुत्रप्रियंकराः ॥

manvādibhiḥ kṛtāḥ pūrvaṃ maryādā mānaveṣu yāḥ | anatikramya tāḥ sarvāḥ kuleṣu samayāni ca | anvaśāsata rājāno dharmaputrapriyaṃkarāḥ

Whatever bounds Manu and others had laid down of old for men, and the covenants within the families, transgressing none of them, those kings, who did what pleased Dharma's son, always governed accordingly.

Note on the text: Not in the critical text: Appendix I, No. 1 (printed in the CE file after 14.14.17 as 14,014.017d@001), lines 53–55. The third line differs from the Appendix text (a recension variant).

Verse 29 (14.15.29)

महाकुलानि धर्मिष्ठा वर्धयन्तो विशेषतः । मनुप्रणीतया वृत्त्या तेऽन्वशासन्वसुन्धराम् ॥

mahākulāni dharmiṣṭhā vardhayanto viśeṣataḥ | manupraṇītayā vṛttyā te'nvaśāsanvasundharām

Most righteous, and especially increasing the great families, they governed the earth by the conduct laid down by Manu.

Note on the text: Corrected तेऽन्वशासनसुन्धराम् → तेऽन्वशासन्वसुन्धराम् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped letters, the words are अन्वशासन् वसुन्धराम्, as in the Appendix text). Appendix I, No. 1 (14,014.017d@001), lines 56–57.

Verse 30 (14.15.30)

राजवृत्तिर्हि सा शश्वद्धर्मिष्ठाऽभून्महीतले । प्रायो लोकमतिस्तात राजवृत्तानुगामिनी ॥

rājavṛttirhi sā śaśvaddharmiṣṭhā'bhūnmahītale | prāyo lokamatistāta rājavṛttānugāminī

That conduct of kings was ever the most righteous on earth; for the thinking of the world, dear one, mostly follows the conduct of kings.

Note on the text: Corrected लोकमतिस्तान → लोकमतिस्तात (misprint in Wikisource; the vocative तात, as in the Appendix text). Appendix I, No. 1 (14,014.017d@001), lines 58–59.

Verse 31 (14.15.31)

एवं भारतवर्षं स्वं राजा स्वर्गं सुरेन्द्रवत् । शशास जिष्णुना सार्धं गुप्तो गाण्डीवधन्वना ॥

evaṃ bhāratavarṣaṃ svaṃ rājā svargaṃ surendravat | śaśāsa jiṣṇunā sārdhaṃ gupto gāṇḍīvadhanvanā

Thus the king ruled this land of Bharata of his own, heaven-like as Indra's heaven, together with Jishnu (Arjuna), guarded by the wielder of the Gandiva bow.

Note on the text: Corrected गोत्रां → गुप्तो (misprint in Wikisource; the word is गुप्तः (गुप्तो before ग), as in the Appendix text and the page's own variant note). Corrected गाण्डीवधन्वन' → गाण्डीवधन्वना (misprint in Wikisource; stray quote mark in place of the final -ā). Appendix I, No. 1 (14,014.017d@001), lines 60–61. The page's footnote after the colophon (विष्णुना for जिष्णुना, a manuscript reading) is not added.