Kausalya and Videha Make Peace

Verse 1 (12.106.1)

न निकृत्या न दम्भेन ब्रह्मन्निच्छामि जीवितुम् । नाधर्मयुक्तानिच्छेयमर्थान्सुमहतोऽप्यहम् ॥

na nikṛtyā na dambhena brahmannicchāmi jīvitum | nādharmayuktāniccheyamarthānsumahato'pyaham

O Brahmin, I do not wish to live by deceit or by hypocrisy. I would not want even very great wealth if it came bound up with unrighteousness.

Note on the text: Speaker: the page heads this speech राजोवाच (the king, i.e. Kausalya); the critical edition heads it rājaputra uvāca (12.107.1, the prince). The page heading is kept.

Verse 2 (12.106.2)

पुरस्तादेव भगवन्मयैतदपवर्जितम् । येन पापं न शङ्केत यद्वा कृत्स्नं हितं भवेत् ॥

purastādeva bhagavanmayaitadapavarjitam | yena pāpaṃ na śaṅketa yadvā kṛtsnaṃ hitaṃ bhavet

Venerable sir, I gave this up long ago, so that no one might suspect any wrong in me, or so that everything might turn out wholly for good.

Verse 3 (12.106.3)

आनृशंस्येन धर्मेण लोके ह्यस्मिञ्जिजीविषुः । नाहमेतदलं कर्तुं नैतन्मय्युपपद्यते ॥

ānṛśaṃsyena dharmeṇa loke hyasmiñjijīviṣuḥ | nāhametadalaṃ kartuṃ naitanmayyupapadyate

I wish to live in this world by the dharma of gentleness, free of cruelty. I am not able to do this, and it does not befit me.

Verse 4 (12.106.4)

उपपन्नस्त्वमेतेन यथा क्षत्रिय भाषसे । प्रकृत्या ह्युपपन्नोऽसि बुद्ध्या चाद्भुतदर्शनः ॥

upapannastvametena yathā kṣatriya bhāṣase | prakṛtyā hyupapanno'si buddhyā cādbhutadarśanaḥ

You are fully worthy, O Kshatriya, in speaking as you do. You are gifted by nature, and in understanding you see with marvellous insight.

Verse 5 (12.106.5)

उभयोरेव साह्यार्थे यतिष्ये तव तस्य च । संश्लेषं वा करिष्यामि शाश्वतं ह्यनपायिनम् ॥

ubhayoreva sāhyārthe yatiṣye tava tasya ca | saṃśleṣaṃ vā kariṣyāmi śāśvataṃ hyanapāyinam

I will strive to help you both, you and him; or I shall bring about a bond between you that is lasting and does not fail.

Verse 6 (12.106.6)

त्वादृशं हि कुले जातमनृशंसं बहुश्रुतम् । अमात्यं को न कुर्वीत राज्यप्रणयकोविदम् ॥

tvādṛśaṃ hi kule jātamanṛśaṃsaṃ bahuśrutam | amātyaṃ ko na kurvīta rājyapraṇayakovidam

For who would not make a minister of a man like you, born in a good family, gentle, learned, and skilled in the conduct of a kingdom?

Note on the text: Corrected जातभनृशंसं → जातमनृशंसं (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म; the critical edition reads jātam anṛśaṃsam).

Verse 7 (12.106.7)

यस्त्वं प्रव्राजितो राज्याद्व्यसनं चोत्तमं गतः । आनृशंस्येन वृत्तेन क्षत्रियेच्छसि जीवितुम् ॥

yastvaṃ pravrājito rājyādvyasanaṃ cottamaṃ gataḥ | ānṛśaṃsyena vṛttena kṣatriyecchasi jīvitum

You, driven out of your kingdom and fallen into the deepest misfortune, still wish, O Kshatriya, to live by gentle conduct.

Verse 8 (12.106.8)

आगन्ता मद्गृहं तात वैदेहः सत्यसंगरः । अथाहं तं नियोक्ष्यामि तत्करिष्यत्यसंशयम् ॥

āgantā madgṛhaṃ tāta vaidehaḥ satyasaṃgaraḥ | athāhaṃ taṃ niyokṣyāmi tatkariṣyatyasaṃśayam

My son, the king of Videha, true to his word, will come to my house. Then I shall urge him, and he will surely do it.

Verse 9 (12.106.9)

तत आहूय वैदेहं मुनिर्वचनमब्रवीत् । अयं राजकुले जातो विदिताभ्यन्तरो मम ॥

tata āhūya vaidehaṃ munirvacanamabravīt | ayaṃ rājakule jāto viditābhyantaro mama

Then the sage summoned the king of Videha and said: "This man, born in a royal house, is one whose inner nature I know well."

Note on the text: Line 1 is Bhishma's narration; line 2 begins the sage's words to the king of Videha (the speech runs through verse 19). Verse given to Bhishma, the narrator.

Verse 10 (12.106.10)

आदर्श इव शुद्धात्मा शारदश्चन्द्रमा यथा । नास्मिन्पश्यामि वृजिनं सर्वतो मे परीक्षितः ॥

ādarśa iva śuddhātmā śāradaścandramā yathā | nāsminpaśyāmi vṛjinaṃ sarvato me parīkṣitaḥ

He is pure of spirit like a mirror, like the autumn moon. I see no fault in him; I have tested him on every side.

Note on the text: The sage's speech to the king of Videha, unheaded on the page (Bhishma's frame); given to the sage.

Verse 11 (12.106.11)

तेन ते संधिरेवास्तु विश्वसास्मिन्यथा मयि । न राज्यमनमात्येन शक्यं शास्तुममित्रहन् ॥

tena te saṃdhirevāstu viśvasāsminyathā mayi | na rājyamanamātyena śakyaṃ śāstumamitrahan

Let there be peace between you and him; trust him as you trust me. A kingdom cannot be governed without ministers, O slayer of foes.

Verse 12 (12.106.12)

अमात्यः शुद्ध एव स्याद्बुद्धिसंपन्न एव वा । तस्माच्चैव भयं राज्ञः पश्य राज्यस्य योजनम् ॥

amātyaḥ śuddha eva syādbuddhisaṃpanna eva vā | tasmāccaiva bhayaṃ rājñaḥ paśya rājyasya yojanam

A minister should be either pure of character or gifted with intelligence; yet from that very source the king has cause for fear. Mark how a kingdom is put together.

Note on the text: Corrected अमात्य शुद्ध → अमात्यः शुद्ध (misprint in Wikisource; visarga dropped; the critical edition reads amātyaḥ). The alignment found no match. Lines = CE 12.107.12a and 12.107.12c; Wikisource अमात्यः शुद्ध … तस्माच्चैव (CE amātyaḥ śūra … tābhyāṃ caiva) is kept as a variant.

Verse 13 (12.106.13)

धर्मात्मनां क्वचिल्लोके नान्यास्ति गतिरीदृशी । तदा राजपुत्रोऽयं सतां मार्गमनुष्ठितः । असंगृहीतस्त्वेवैष त्वया धर्मपुरोगमः ॥

dharmātmanāṃ kvacilloke nānyāsti gatirīdṛśī | tadā rājaputro'yaṃ satāṃ mārgamanuṣṭhitaḥ | asaṃgṛhītastvevaiṣa tvayā dharmapurogamaḥ

For the righteous there is nowhere in the world any other refuge like this. And so this prince has taken the path of the good; he, who puts dharma first, has not yet been taken under your wing.

Note on the text: Three-line verse, as on the page (labelled 12-106-13a/b/c) = CE 12.107.12e, 12.107.13a, 12.107.13c; Wikisource तदा (CE kṛtātmā) and असंगृहीतस्त्वेवैष (CE susaṃgṛhītas tv evaiṣa) are kept as variants. The alignment found no match.

Verse 14 (12.106.14)

संसेव्यमानः शत्रूंस्ते गृह्णीयान्महतो गणान् ॥

saṃsevyamānaḥ śatrūṃste gṛhṇīyānmahato gaṇān

If he is cultivated with care, he would seize great hosts of your enemies.

Note on the text: One-line verse on the page (12-106-14a) = CE 12.107.13e (saṃsevyamānaḥ śatrūṃs te gṛhṇīyān mahato gaṇān), the third line of the CE verse that Wikisource splits across its verses 13 and 14. The alignment found no match.

Verse 15 (12.106.15)

यद्ययं प्रतियुद्ध्येत स्वकर्म क्षत्रियस्य तत् । जिगीषमाणस्त्वां युद्धे पितृपैतामहे पदे ॥

yadyayaṃ pratiyuddhyeta svakarma kṣatriyasya tat | jigīṣamāṇastvāṃ yuddhe pitṛpaitāmahe pade

If this man were to fight you back, seeking to win in battle the seat of his father and grandfather, that would be a Kshatriya's own duty.

Verse 16 (12.106.16)

त्वं अपि प्रतियुद्ध्येथा विजिगीषुर्व्रते स्थितः । अयुद्ध्वैव नियोगान्मे वशे कुरु हिते स्थितः ॥

tvaṃ api pratiyuddhyethā vijigīṣurvrate sthitaḥ | ayuddhvaiva niyogānme vaśe kuru hite sthitaḥ

You too may fight back, eager for victory and firm in your vow. But without fighting, at my bidding, make him yours, standing fast in what is beneficial.

Verse 17 (12.106.17)

स त्वं धर्ममवेक्षस्व हित्वा लोभमसांप्रतम् । न च कामान्न च द्रोहात्स्वधर्मं हातुमर्हसि ॥

sa tvaṃ dharmamavekṣasva hitvā lobhamasāṃpratam | na ca kāmānna ca drohātsvadharmaṃ hātumarhasi

So look to dharma, and give up this unseemly greed. You must not abandon your own duty out of desire or out of malice.

Verse 18 (12.106.18)

नैव नित्यं जयस्तात नैव नित्यं पराजयः । तस्माज्जयश्च भोक्तव्यो भोक्तव्यश्च पराजयः ॥

naiva nityaṃ jayastāta naiva nityaṃ parājayaḥ | tasmājjayaśca bhoktavyo bhoktavyaśca parājayaḥ

Neither victory nor defeat, my son, lasts for ever. Therefore both victory and defeat must be experienced in turn.

Verse 19 (12.106.19)

आत्मन्यपि च संदृश्यावुभौ जयपराजयौ । निःशेषकारिणां तात निःशेषकरणाद्भयम् ॥

ātmanyapi ca saṃdṛśyāvubhau jayaparājayau | niḥśeṣakāriṇāṃ tāta niḥśeṣakaraṇādbhayam

Both victory and defeat can be seen even within oneself. And for those who leave nothing standing, my son, there is danger from that very leaving of nothing.

Note on the text: Corrected संदृश्यावृभौ → संदृश्यावुभौ (misprint in Wikisource; ृ for ु; the critical edition reads saṃdṛśyāv ubhau).

Verse 20 (12.106.20)

इत्युक्तः प्रत्युवाचेदं वचनं ब्राह्मणर्षभम् । प्रतिपूज्याभिसत्कृत्य पूजार्हमनुमान्य च ॥

ityuktaḥ pratyuvācedaṃ vacanaṃ brāhmaṇarṣabham | pratipūjyābhisatkṛtya pūjārhamanumānya ca

Thus addressed, he replied to that best of Brahmins, after honouring him in return, showing him respect, and paying homage to one worthy of worship.

Verse 21 (12.106.21)

यथा ब्रूयान्महाप्राज्ञो यथा ब्रूयान्महाश्रुतः । श्रेयस्कामो यथा ब्रूयादुभयोरेव तत्क्षमम् ॥

yathā brūyānmahāprājño yathā brūyānmahāśrutaḥ | śreyaskāmo yathā brūyādubhayoreva tatkṣamam

You have spoken as a man of great wisdom would speak, as a man of great learning would speak, as one who wishes our good would speak, in the way that befits us both.

Note on the text: The reply of the king of Videha, unheaded on the page (narrated by Bhishma); given to him.

Verse 22 (12.106.22)

यद्यद्वचनमुक्तोऽस्मि करिष्यामि च तत्तथा । एतद्धि परमं श्रेयो न मेऽत्रास्ति विचारणा ॥

yadyadvacanamukto'smi kariṣyāmi ca tattathā | etaddhi paramaṃ śreyo na me'trāsti vicāraṇā

Whatever I have been told, I will do exactly so. This is the highest good, and I have no doubt about it.

Verse 23 (12.106.23)

ततः कौसल्यमाहूय मैथिलो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । धर्मतो बुद्धितश्चैव बलेन च जितं मया ॥

tataḥ kausalyamāhūya maithilo vākyamabravīt | dharmato buddhitaścaiva balena ca jitaṃ mayā

Then the king of Mithila summoned Kausalya and said: "By right, by wisdom and by force I have won."

Note on the text: Line 1 is Bhishma's narration; line 2 begins the words of the king of Videha (verses 24-25 are wholly his). Verse given to Bhishma, the narrator.

Verse 24 (12.106.24)

अहं त्वया चात्मगुणैर्जितः पार्थिवसत्तम । आत्मानमनवज्ञाय जितवद्वर्ततां भवान् ॥

ahaṃ tvayā cātmaguṇairjitaḥ pārthivasattama | ātmānamanavajñāya jitavadvartatāṃ bhavān

But I have been conquered by you, best of kings, through your own virtues. Do not think little of yourself; conduct yourself as one who has won.

Note on the text: The king of Videha speaking to Kausalya, unheaded on the page; given to him.

Verse 25 (12.106.25)

नावमन्यामि ते बुद्धिं नावमन्ये च पौरुषम् । नावमन्ये जयामीति जितवद्वर्ततां भवान् ॥

nāvamanyāmi te buddhiṃ nāvamanye ca pauruṣam | nāvamanye jayāmīti jitavadvartatāṃ bhavān

I do not despise your intelligence, and I do not despise your manliness. Nor do I look down on you because I am winning. Conduct yourself as one who has won.

Verse 26 (12.106.26)

यथावत्पूजितो राजन्गृहं गन्तासि मे गृहात् । ततः संपूज्य तौ विप्रं विश्वस्तौ जग्मतुर्गृहान् ॥

yathāvatpūjito rājangṛhaṃ gantāsi me gṛhāt | tataḥ saṃpūjya tau vipraṃ viśvastau jagmaturgṛhān

He added, "Duly honoured, O king, you shall go from my house to your own." Then the two, having paid homage to the Brahmin and trusting one another, went to the house.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the end of the speech of the king of Videha; line 2 is Bhishma's narration. Verse given to Bhishma, the narrator.

Verse 27 (12.106.27)

वैदेहस्त्वथ कौसल्यं प्रवेश्य गृहमञ्जसा । पाद्यार्घ्यमधुपर्कैस्तं पूजार्हं प्रत्यपूजयत् ॥

vaidehastvatha kausalyaṃ praveśya gṛhamañjasā | pādyārghyamadhuparkaistaṃ pūjārhaṃ pratyapūjayat

The king of Videha then led Kausalya into his house without delay, and honoured him, worthy of honour, with water for the feet, the water of welcome and honey-and-curds.

Note on the text: Corrected प्राद्यार्ध्यमधुपर्कैस्तं → पाद्यार्घ्यमधुपर्कैस्तं (misprint in Wikisource; प्रा for पा and र्ध्य for र्घ्य; the critical edition reads pādyārghyamadhuparkais).

Verse 28 (12.106.28)

ददौ दुहितरं चास्मै रत्नानि विविधानि च । एष राज्ञां परो धर्मः समौ जयपराजयौ ॥

dadau duhitaraṃ cāsmai ratnāni vividhāni ca | eṣa rājñāṃ paro dharmaḥ samau jayaparājayau

And he gave him his daughter and jewels of many kinds. This is the highest dharma of kings: victory and defeat are alike.