Good Character: Prahlada, Indra and the Departure of Shri

Verse 1 (12.124.1)

इमे जना मनुष्येन्द्र प्रशंसन्ति सदा भुवि । धर्मस्य शीलमेवादौ ततो मे संशयो महान् ॥

ime janā manuṣyendra praśaṃsanti sadā bhuvi | dharmasya śīlamevādau tato me saṃśayo mahān

O lord of men, people on earth always praise good character as the first thing in dharma; hence a great doubt arises in me.

Verse 2 (12.124.2)

यदि तच्छक्यमस्माभिर्ज्ञातुं धर्मभृतां वर । श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्सर्वं यथैतदुपलभ्यते ॥

yadi tacchakyamasmābhirjñātuṃ dharmabhṛtāṃ vara | śrotumicchāmi tatsarvaṃ yathaitadupalabhyate

If it is possible for us to know it, O best of those who uphold dharma, I wish to hear all of it, as it is understood.

Note on the text: Corrected धर्मभूतां → धर्मभृतां (misprint in Wikisource; ऊ for ऋ — the compound is dharmabhṛt; CE 12.124.2 has dharmabhṛtāṃ).

Verse 3 (12.124.3)

कथं तत्प्राप्यते शीलं श्रोतुमिच्छामि भारत । किंलक्षणं च तत्प्रोक्तं ब्रूहि मे वदतां वर ॥

kathaṃ tatprāpyate śīlaṃ śrotumicchāmi bhārata | kiṃlakṣaṇaṃ ca tatproktaṃ brūhi me vadatāṃ vara

How is that character acquired? I wish to hear it, O Bharata. What are its marks, as it has been described? Tell me, O best of speakers.

Note on the text: Wikisource कथं तत्प्राप्यते against CE kathaṃ nu prāpyate is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 4 (12.124.4)

पुरा दुर्योधनेनेह धृतराष्ट्राय मानद । आख्यातं तप्यमानेन श्रियं दृष्ट्वा तवागताम् ॥

purā duryodhaneneha dhṛtarāṣṭrāya mānada | ākhyātaṃ tapyamānena śriyaṃ dṛṣṭvā tavāgatām

Long ago Duryodhana, tormented at the sight of the prosperity that had come to you, told this to Dhritarashtra, O giver of honour.

Verse 5 (12.124.5)

इन्द्रप्रस्थे महाराज तव सभ्रातृकस्य ह । सभायां चापहसनं तत्सर्वं शृणु भारत ॥

indraprasthe mahārāja tava sabhrātṛkasya ha | sabhāyāṃ cāpahasanaṃ tatsarvaṃ śṛṇu bhārata

At Indraprastha, great king, in the assembly hall, there was the mockery of you and your brothers. Hear all of it, O Bharata.

Verse 6 (12.124.6)

भवतस्तां सभां दृष्ट्वा समृद्धिं चाप्यनुत्तमाम् । दुर्योधनस्तदा दीनः सर्वं पित्रे न्यवेदयत् ॥

bhavatastāṃ sabhāṃ dṛṣṭvā samṛddhiṃ cāpyanuttamām | duryodhanastadā dīnaḥ sarvaṃ pitre nyavedayat

Having seen your hall and your unsurpassed prosperity, Duryodhana, then downcast, told it all to his father.

Note on the text: Wikisource दीनः against CE āsīnaḥ is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 7 (12.124.7)

श्रुत्वा हि धृतराष्ट्रश्च दुर्योधनवचस्तदा । अब्रवीत्कर्णसहितं दुर्योधनमिदं वचः ॥

śrutvā hi dhṛtarāṣṭraśca duryodhanavacastadā | abravītkarṇasahitaṃ duryodhanamidaṃ vacaḥ

And hearing Duryodhana's words, Dhritarashtra then spoke these words to Duryodhana, who was seated with Karna.

Verse 8 (12.124.8)

किमर्थं तप्यसे पुत्र श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः । श्रुत्वा त्वामनुनेष्यामि यदि सम्यग्भविष्यति ॥

kimarthaṃ tapyase putra śrotumicchāmi tattvataḥ | śrutvā tvāmanuneṣyāmi yadi samyagbhaviṣyati

Why do you grieve, my son? I wish to hear the truth of it. When I have heard, I shall console you, if it can rightly be done.

Verse 9 (12.124.9)

यदा त्वां महदैश्वर्यं प्राप्तं परपुरंजय । किंकरा भ्रातरः सर्वे मित्रसंबन्धिबान्धवाः ॥

yadā tvāṃ mahadaiśvaryaṃ prāptaṃ parapuraṃjaya | kiṃkarā bhrātaraḥ sarve mitrasaṃbandhibāndhavāḥ

Now that great sovereignty has come to you, O conqueror of enemy cities, and all your brothers are your servants, and friends, in-laws and kinsmen too,

Note on the text: Wikisource यदा त्वां महदैश्वर्यं … मित्रसंबन्धिबान्धवाः against CE yathā tvaṃ mahad aiśvaryaṃ … mitrāḥ saṃbandhinas tathā is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 10 (12.124.10)

आच्छादयसि प्रावारानश्नासि पिशितौदनम् । आजानेया वहन्ति त्वां कस्माच्छोचसि पुत्रक ॥

ācchādayasi prāvārānaśnāsi piśitaudanam | ājāneyā vahanti tvāṃ kasmācchocasi putraka

you wear fine cloaks and eat meat and rice, and thoroughbred horses carry you. Why then do you grieve, my son?

Note on the text: Corrected कस्माच्छेचसि → कस्माच्छोचसि (misprint in Wikisource; ए for ओ — शेचसि is not a form; CE kasmāc chocasi).

Verse 11 (12.124.11)

दश तात सहस्राणि स्नातकानां महात्मनाम् । भुञ्जते रुक्मपात्रीभिर्युधिष्ठिरनिवेशने ॥

daśa tāta sahasrāṇi snātakānāṃ mahātmanām | bhuñjate rukmapātrībhiryudhiṣṭhiraniveśane

Father, ten thousand great-souled Snataka brahmins eat from golden dishes in Yudhishthira's house.

Verse 12 (12.124.12)

दृष्ट्वा च तां सभां दिव्यपुष्पफलान्विताम् । अश्वांस्तित्तिरकल्माषान्रत्नानि विविधानि च ॥

dṛṣṭvā ca tāṃ sabhāṃ divyapuṣpaphalānvitām | aśvāṃstittirakalmāṣānratnāni vividhāni ca

And having seen that divine hall, adorned with divine flowers and fruit, the horses speckled like partridges, and the jewels of many kinds,

Verse 13 (12.124.13)

दृष्ट्वा तां पाण्डवेयानामृद्धिमिन्द्रोपमां शुभाम् । अमित्राणां सुमहतीमनुशोचामि मानद ॥

dṛṣṭvā tāṃ pāṇḍaveyānāmṛddhimindropamāṃ śubhām | amitrāṇāṃ sumahatīmanuśocāmi mānada

having seen that splendid prosperity of the Pandavas, like Indra's, so very great in the hands of my enemies, I grieve, O giver of honour.

Verse 14 (12.124.14)

यदीच्छसि श्रियं तात यादृशी सा युधिष्ठिरे । विशिष्टां वा नरश्रेष्ठ शीलवान्भव पुत्रक ॥

yadīcchasi śriyaṃ tāta yādṛśī sā yudhiṣṭhire | viśiṣṭāṃ vā naraśreṣṭha śīlavānbhava putraka

If you want the fortune Yudhishthira has, my son, or one even greater, O best of men, then be a man of good character, my child.

Verse 15 (12.124.15)

शीलेन हि त्रयो लोकाः शक्या जेतुं न संशयः । न हि किंचिदसाध्यंवै लोके शीलवतां सताम् ॥

śīlena hi trayo lokāḥ śakyā jetuṃ na saṃśayaḥ | na hi kiṃcidasādhyaṃvai loke śīlavatāṃ satām

By good character the three worlds can be won, without doubt. Nothing in this world is beyond the reach of the good who have good character.

Verse 16 (12.124.16)

एकरात्रेण मान्धाता त्र्यहेण जनमेजयः । सप्तरात्रेण नाभागः पृथिवीं प्रतिपेदिवान् ॥

ekarātreṇa māndhātā tryaheṇa janamejayaḥ | saptarātreṇa nābhāgaḥ pṛthivīṃ pratipedivān

Mandhata gained the earth in a single night, Janamejaya in three days, and Nabhaga in seven nights.

Verse 17 (12.124.17)

एते हि पार्थिवाः सर्वे शीलवन्तो यशोन्विताः । ततस्तेषां गुणक्रीता वसुधा स्वयमागता ॥

ete hi pārthivāḥ sarve śīlavanto yaśonvitāḥ | tatasteṣāṃ guṇakrītā vasudhā svayamāgatā

All these kings were men of good character and renown; so the earth, bought by their virtues, came to them of her own accord.

Note on the text: Wikisource यशोन्विताः … आगता against CE damānvitāḥ … āgamat is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 18 (12.124.18)

कथं तत्प्राप्यते शीलं श्रोतुमिच्छामि भारत । येन शीलेन संप्राप्ताः क्षिप्रमेव वसुंधराम् ॥

kathaṃ tatprāpyate śīlaṃ śrotumicchāmi bhārata | yena śīlena saṃprāptāḥ kṣiprameva vasuṃdharām

How is that character acquired? I wish to hear it, O Bharata, the character by which they quickly won the earth.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it as the star passage 12.124.17d*0286 (speaker line 00, lines 01–02: duryodhana uvāca / kathaṃ tat prāpyate śīlaṃ śrotum icchāmi bhārata / yena śīlena saṃprāptāḥ kṣipram ete vasuṃdharām).

Verse 19 (12.124.19)

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । नारदेन पुरा वृत्तं शीलमाश्रित्य भारत ॥

atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | nāradena purā vṛttaṃ śīlamāśritya bhārata

On this point they cite an ancient tale, which was told by Narada long ago, about good character, O Bharata.

Verse 20 (12.124.20)

प्रह्लादेन हृतं राज्यं महेन्द्रस्य महात्मनः । शीलमाश्रित्य दैत्येन त्रैलोक्यं च वशे कृतम् ॥

prahlādena hṛtaṃ rājyaṃ mahendrasya mahātmanaḥ | śīlamāśritya daityena trailokyaṃ ca vaśe kṛtam

The kingdom of the great-souled Mahendra was taken away by Prahlada; by resorting to good character, the Daitya brought the three worlds under his sway.

Note on the text: Restored lost letters: Wikisource prints प्रा--देन and श---माश्रित्य (letters missing at the margin); restored to प्रह्लादेन and शीलमाश्रित्य from CE 12.124.19 (prahrādena hṛtaṃ rājyaṃ … śīlam āśritya daityena).

Verse 21 (12.124.21)

ततो बृहस्पतिं शक्रः प्राञ्जलिः समुपस्थितः । तमुवाच महाप्राज्ञः श्रेय इच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥

tato bṛhaspatiṃ śakraḥ prāñjaliḥ samupasthitaḥ | tamuvāca mahāprājñaḥ śreya icchāmi veditum

Then Shakra approached Brihaspati with joined palms, and the greatly wise one said, 'I wish to learn what is best for me.'

Note on the text: Restored lost letters: Wikisource prints त--बृहस्पतिं; restored to ततो बृहस्पतिं (CE 12.124.20 tato bṛhaspatiṃ).

Verse 22 (12.124.22)

ततो बृहस्पतिस्तस्मै ज्ञानं नैश्रेयसं परम् । कथयामास भगवान्देवेन्द्राय कुरूद्वह ॥

tato bṛhaspatistasmai jñānaṃ naiśreyasaṃ param | kathayāmāsa bhagavāndevendrāya kurūdvaha

Then the venerable Brihaspati told Indra, lord of the gods, the supreme knowledge that leads to the highest good, O scion of the Kurus.

Verse 23 (12.124.23)

एतावच्छ्रेय इत्येव बृहस्पतिरभाषत । इन्द्रस्तु भूयः पप्रच्छ को विशेषो भवेदिति ॥

etāvacchreya ityeva bṛhaspatirabhāṣata | indrastu bhūyaḥ papraccha ko viśeṣo bhavediti

'This much is the highest good,' said Brihaspati. But Indra asked again, 'What more could there be?'

Note on the text: Wikisource को विशेषो भवेदिति against CE kva viśeṣo bhaved iti is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 24 (12.124.24)

विशेषोऽस्ति महांस्तात भार्गवस्य महात्मनः । तत्रागमय भद्रं ते भूय एव सुरोत्तम ॥

viśeṣo'sti mahāṃstāta bhārgavasya mahātmanaḥ | tatrāgamaya bhadraṃ te bhūya eva surottama

There is something more, a great thing, dear one, that belongs to the great-souled Bhargava. Go to him and learn it again; blessings on you, best of the gods.

Note on the text: Speaker as printed by the page (heading 12-124-24x, बृहस्पतिरुवाच). The critical edition gives only this verse (12.124.23) to Brihaspati and assigns what follows to Dhritarashtra.

Verse 25 (12.124.25)

आत्मनस्तु ततः श्रेयो भार्गवः सुमहायशाः । ज्ञानमागमयत्प्रीत्या पुनः स परमद्युतिः ॥

ātmanastu tataḥ śreyo bhārgavaḥ sumahāyaśāḥ | jñānamāgamayatprītyā punaḥ sa paramadyutiḥ

Then Bhargava, of great renown and supreme radiance, lovingly taught him again the knowledge of his own highest good.

Note on the text: Verses 25–33 are narration, kept under the page's heading बृहस्पति; the critical edition gives them to Dhritarashtra (heading at 12.124.24).

Verse 26 (12.124.26)

तेनापि समनुज्ञातो भार्गवेण महात्मना । श्रेयोऽस्तीति परं भूयः शुक्रमाह शतक्रतुः ॥

tenāpi samanujñāto bhārgaveṇa mahātmanā | śreyo'stīti paraṃ bhūyaḥ śukramāha śatakratuḥ

Having been given leave by the great Bhargava as well, Shatakratu said again to Shukra, 'There is a higher good still.'

Verse 27 (12.124.27)

भार्गवस्त्वाह सर्वज्ञः प्रह्लादस्य महात्मनः । ज्ञानमस्ति विशेषेणेत्युक्तो हृष्टश्च सोऽभवत् ॥

bhārgavastvāha sarvajñaḥ prahlādasya mahātmanaḥ | jñānamasti viśeṣeṇetyukto hṛṣṭaśca so'bhavat

The all-knowing Bhargava replied, 'The great Prahlada has knowledge of a special kind.' Told this, he was glad.

Verse 28 (12.124.28)

स तत्र ब्राह्मणो भूत्वा प्रह्लादं पाकशासनः । स्तुत्वा प्रोवाच मेधावी श्रेय इच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥

sa tatra brāhmaṇo bhūtvā prahlādaṃ pākaśāsanaḥ | stutvā provāca medhāvī śreya icchāmi veditum

Then Indra, the punisher of Paka, became a brahmin, approached Prahlada, praised him, and the wise one said, 'I wish to learn what is best.'

Verse 29 (12.124.29)

प्रह्लादस्त्वब्रवीद्विप्रं क्षणो नास्ति द्विजोत्तम । त्रैलोक्यराज्यसक्तस्य ततो नोपदिशामि ते ॥

prahlādastvabravīdvipraṃ kṣaṇo nāsti dvijottama | trailokyarājyasaktasya tato nopadiśāmi te

Prahlada said to the brahmin, 'I have no leisure, best of the twice-born; I am bound up in the sovereignty of the three worlds, and so I cannot instruct you.'

Verse 30 (12.124.30)

ब्राह्मणस्त्वब्रवीद्राजन्यस्मिन्काले क्षणो भवेत् । तदोपादेष्टुमिच्छामि यदि कार्यान्तरं भवेत् ॥

brāhmaṇastvabravīdrājanyasminkāle kṣaṇo bhavet | tadopādeṣṭumicchāmi yadi kāryāntaraṃ bhavet

The brahmin said, 'O king, whenever you have leisure, I wish to be instructed then, if there is any break from your other duties.'

Verse 31 (12.124.31)

ततः प्रीतोऽभवद्राजा प्रह्लादो ब्रह्मवादिनः । तथेत्युक्त्वा ददौ काले ज्ञानतत्त्वं द्विजे तदा ॥

tataḥ prīto'bhavadrājā prahlādo brahmavādinaḥ | tathetyuktvā dadau kāle jñānatattvaṃ dvije tadā

Then King Prahlada was pleased with the brahmin, who spoke of Brahman, and saying 'So be it,' he gave him at the proper time the essence of knowledge.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रह्वादो → प्रह्लादो (misprint in Wikisource; व for ल; CE prahrādo). Wikisource ब्रह्मवादिनः against CE brahmavādine is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 32 (12.124.32)

ब्राह्मणोऽपि यथान्यायं गुरुवृत्तिमनुत्तमाम् । चकार सर्वभावेन यद्यच्च मनसेच्छति ॥

brāhmaṇo'pi yathānyāyaṃ guruvṛttimanuttamām | cakāra sarvabhāvena yadyacca manasecchati

The brahmin, too, served his teacher in the best way, as is proper, with his whole being, doing whatever Prahlada desired in his mind.

Verse 33 (12.124.33)

पृष्टश्च तेन बहुशः प्राप्तं कथमरिंदम । त्रैलोक्यराज्यं धर्मज्ञ कारणं तद्ब्रवीहि मे । प्रह्लादोऽपि महाराज ब्राह्मणं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥

pṛṣṭaśca tena bahuśaḥ prāptaṃ kathamariṃdama | trailokyarājyaṃ dharmajña kāraṇaṃ tadbravīhi me | prahlādo'pi mahārāja brāhmaṇaṃ vākyamabravīt

Asked by him many times, 'How did you gain the kingdom of the three worlds, O subduer of foes? You know dharma; tell me the reason,' Prahlada, O great king, spoke these words to the brahmin.

Note on the text: Corrected कथमरिंदम् → कथमरिंदम (misprint in Wikisource; stray halant on the vocative; CE ariṃdama). Line 3 is printed in brackets by Wikisource; the bracket and double-danda marks are removed. Lines 1–2 are CE 12.124.32a, 32c; line 3 is the star line 12.124.32d*0287_01 (prahlādo 'pi mahārāja brāhmaṇaṃ vākyam abravīt), not in the constituted text.

Verse 34 (12.124.34)

नासूयामि द्विजान्विप्र राजास्मीति कथंचन । काम्यानि वदतां तेषां संयच्छामि वहामि च ॥

nāsūyāmi dvijānvipra rājāsmīti kathaṃcana | kāmyāni vadatāṃ teṣāṃ saṃyacchāmi vahāmi ca

I never look down on brahmins, O brahmin, never thinking 'I am a king.' To those who speak what is desirable I hold myself in check, and I support them.

Note on the text: Verses 34–38 and 40 are Prahlada's own words. Wikisource द्विजान्विप्र … काम्यानि against CE dvijaśreṣṭha … kavyāni is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 35 (12.124.35)

ते विस्रब्धाः प्रभाषन्ते संयच्छन्ति च मां सदा । तेषां कार्यपथे युक्तं शुश्रूषुमनहंकृतम् ॥

te visrabdhāḥ prabhāṣante saṃyacchanti ca māṃ sadā | teṣāṃ kāryapathe yuktaṃ śuśrūṣumanahaṃkṛtam

They speak to me without fear and always keep me in check. Seeing me engaged in their business, ready to serve, free of conceit,

Verse 36 (12.124.36)

धर्मात्मानं जितक्रोधं नियतं संयतेन्द्रियम् । समासिञ्चन्ति शास्त्रज्ञाः क्षौद्रं मध्विव मक्षिकाः ॥

dharmātmānaṃ jitakrodhaṃ niyataṃ saṃyatendriyam | samāsiñcanti śāstrajñāḥ kṣaudraṃ madhviva makṣikāḥ

righteous, victor over anger, steady, with senses restrained, the men learned in the scriptures pour their wisdom into me, as bees pour honey.

Verse 37 (12.124.37)

सोऽहं वागग्रविद्यानां रसानामवलेहिता । स्वजात्यानधितिष्ठामि नक्षत्राणीव चन्द्रमाः ॥

so'haṃ vāgagravidyānāṃ rasānāmavalehitā | svajātyānadhitiṣṭhāmi nakṣatrāṇīva candramāḥ

So I am one who tastes the essences of the teachings that live on the tips of tongues, and I stand above those of my own kind as the moon stands above the stars.

Verse 38 (12.124.38)

एतत्पृथिव्याममृतमेतच्चक्षुरनुत्तमम् । यद्ब्राह्मणमुखे हव्यमेतच्छ्रुत्वा प्रवर्तते ॥

etatpṛthivyāmamṛtametaccakṣuranuttamam | yadbrāhmaṇamukhe havyametacchrutvā pravartate

This is the nectar on earth, this the finest eye: what lies in a brahmin's mouth as an offering; hearing it, one sets out on one's course.

Verse 39 (12.124.39)

एतावच्छ्रेय इत्याह प्रह्लादो ब्रह्मवादिनम् । शुश्रूषितस्तेन तदा दैत्येन्द्रो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥

etāvacchreya ityāha prahlādo brahmavādinam | śuśrūṣitastena tadā daityendro vākyamabravīt

'This much is the highest good,' said Prahlada to the knower of Brahman. Served by him, the lord of the Daityas then spoke these words.

Note on the text: Corrected एतावच्छेय → एतावच्छ्रेय (misprint in Wikisource; the conjunct श्र is broken; CE etāvac chreya). Narration, kept under the page's heading प्रह्लाद; the critical edition gives it to Dhritarashtra (heading at 12.124.38).

Verse 40 (12.124.40)

यथावद्गुरुवृत्त्या ते प्रीतोऽस्मि द्विजसत्तम । वरं वृणीष्व भद्रं ते प्रदाताऽस्मि न संशयः ॥

yathāvadguruvṛttyā te prīto'smi dvijasattama | varaṃ vṛṇīṣva bhadraṃ te pradātā'smi na saṃśayaḥ

'I am pleased with your proper service of a teacher, best of brahmins. Choose a boon, blessings on you; I shall surely grant it.'

Verse 41 (12.124.41)

कृतमित्येव दैत्येन्द्रमुवाच द्विजसत्तमः । प्रह्लादस्त्वब्रवीत्प्रीतो गृह्यतां वर इत्युत ॥

kṛtamityeva daityendramuvāca dvijasattamaḥ | prahlādastvabravītprīto gṛhyatāṃ vara ityuta

'It is enough,' said the best of brahmins to the lord of the Daityas. But Prahlada, pleased, said, 'Take a boon.'

Verse 42 (12.124.42)

यदि राजन्प्रसन्नस्त्वं मम चेदिच्छसि प्रियम् । भवतः शीलमिच्छामि प्राप्तुमेष वरो मम ॥

yadi rājanprasannastvaṃ mama cedicchasi priyam | bhavataḥ śīlamicchāmi prāptumeṣa varo mama

'If you are pleased with me, O king, and wish to do me a kindness, I desire your good character; this is the boon I choose.'

Note on the text: Corrected प्राप्नुमेष → प्राप्तुमेष (misprint in Wikisource; न for त — the infinitive is प्राप्तुम्; CE prāptum eṣa).

Verse 43 (12.124.43)

ततः प्रीतस्तु दैत्येन्द्रो भयमस्याभवन्महत् । वरे प्रदिष्टे विप्रेण नाल्पचेतायमित्युत ॥

tataḥ prītastu daityendro bhayamasyābhavanmahat | vare pradiṣṭe vipreṇa nālpacetāyamityuta

Then the lord of the Daityas was pleased, yet a great fear came upon him when the boon was asked by the brahmin: 'This one is not of small mind.'

Note on the text: Verses 43–59 are narration and the figures' replies, kept under the page's heading ब्राह्मण except where one speaker's words fill a whole verse (50, 57, 59); the critical edition gives the narration to Dhritarashtra (heading at 12.124.42). Wikisource नाल्पचेतायम् (the page's note: sandhi is archaic) against CE nālpatejāyam is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 44 (12.124.44)

एवमस्त्विति स प्राह प्रह्लादो विस्मितस्तदा । उपाकृत्य तु विप्राय वरं दुःखान्वितोऽभवत् ॥

evamastviti sa prāha prahlādo vismitastadā | upākṛtya tu viprāya varaṃ duḥkhānvito'bhavat

'So be it,' said Prahlada, astonished. Having granted the brahmin the boon, he became full of sorrow.

Verse 45 (12.124.45)

दत्ते वरे गते विप्रे चिन्ताऽसीन्महती तदा । प्रह्लादस्य महाराज निश्चयं न च जग्मिवान् ॥

datte vare gate vipre cintā'sīnmahatī tadā | prahlādasya mahārāja niścayaṃ na ca jagmivān

When the boon had been given and the brahmin gone, a great anxiety came upon Prahlada, O great king, and he could reach no resolve.

Verse 46 (12.124.46)

तस्य चिन्तयतस्तावच्छायाभूतं महाद्युतेः । तेजोविग्रहवत्तात शरीरमजहात्तदा ॥

tasya cintayatastāvacchāyābhūtaṃ mahādyuteḥ | tejovigrahavattāta śarīramajahāttadā

While he was thus brooding, a form made of light, like a shadow, left the body of the greatly radiant one, O dear one.

Verse 47 (12.124.47)

तमपृच्छन्महाराजः प्रह्लादः को भवानिति । प्रत्याह तं तु शीलोस्मि त्यक्तो गच्छाम्यहं त्वया ॥

tamapṛcchanmahārājaḥ prahlādaḥ ko bhavāniti | pratyāha taṃ tu śīlosmi tyakto gacchāmyahaṃ tvayā

The great king Prahlada asked it, 'Who are you?' It answered, 'I am Shila, Good Character. I am going, abandoned by you.'

Verse 48 (12.124.48)

तस्मिन्द्विजोत्तमे राजन्वत्स्याम्यहमरिंदम । योऽसौ शिष्यत्वमागम्य त्वयि नित्यं समाहितः । इत्युक्त्वाऽन्तर्हितं तद्वै शक्रं चान्वाविशत्प्रभो ॥

tasmindvijottame rājanvatsyāmyahamariṃdama | yo'sau śiṣyatvamāgamya tvayi nityaṃ samāhitaḥ | ityuktvā'ntarhitaṃ tadvai śakraṃ cānvāviśatprabho

'I shall dwell in that best of brahmins, O king, O subduer of foes, who became your disciple and was ever attentive to you.' Having said this, it vanished and entered Shakra, O lord.

Verse 49 (12.124.49)

तस्मिंस्तेजसि याते तु तादृग्रूपस्ततोपरः । शरीरान्निः सृतस्तस्य को भवानिति सोब्रवीत् ॥

tasmiṃstejasi yāte tu tādṛgrūpastatoparaḥ | śarīrānniḥ sṛtastasya ko bhavāniti sobravīt

When that radiance had gone, another form of the same kind came out of his body. 'Who are you?' he said.

Verse 50 (12.124.50)

धर्मं प्रह्लाद मां विद्धि यत्रासौ द्विजसत्तमः । तत्र यास्यामि दैत्येन्द्र यतः शीलं ततो ह्यहम् ॥

dharmaṃ prahlāda māṃ viddhi yatrāsau dvijasattamaḥ | tatra yāsyāmi daityendra yataḥ śīlaṃ tato hyaham

'Know me as Dharma, Prahlada. I shall go where that best of brahmins is, O lord of the Daityas; for where good character is, there am I.'

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Dharma's direct speech, with no printed heading; it fills the whole verse (the page's heading is the brahmin's).

Verse 51 (12.124.51)

ततोऽपरो महाराज प्रज्वलन्निव तेजसा । शरीरान्निः सृतस्तस्य प्रह्लादस्य महात्मनः ॥

tato'paro mahārāja prajvalanniva tejasā | śarīrānniḥ sṛtastasya prahlādasya mahātmanaḥ

Then another, O great king, blazing as it were with brilliance, came out of the body of the great-souled Prahlada.

Verse 52 (12.124.52)

को भवानिति पृष्टश्च तमाह स महाद्युतिः । सत्यं विद्ध्यसुरेन्द्राद्य प्रयास्ये धर्ममन्वहम् ॥

ko bhavāniti pṛṣṭaśca tamāha sa mahādyutiḥ | satyaṃ viddhyasurendrādya prayāsye dharmamanvaham

Asked 'Who are you?', that greatly radiant one said to him, 'Know me as Truth, O chief of the Asuras; I shall follow Dharma every day.'

Verse 53 (12.124.53)

तस्मिन्ननुगते धर्मं पुरुषे पुरुषोऽपरः । निश्चक्राम ततस्तस्मात्पृष्टश्चाह महातपाः ॥

tasminnanugate dharmaṃ puruṣe puruṣo'paraḥ | niścakrāma tatastasmātpṛṣṭaścāha mahātapāḥ

When that being had gone after Dharma, another being came out of that body; and asked, the great ascetic said:

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are CE 12.124.52a and 52c of the three-line verse 12.124.52. Wikisource divides the CE's three-line verses 12.124.52 (52a, 52c, 52e) and 12.124.53 (53a, 53c, 53e) into the couplets 53–55: verse 53 = 52a, 52c; verse 54 = 52e, 53a; verse 55 = 53c, 53e.

Verse 54 (12.124.54)

वृत्तं प्रह्लाद मां विद्धि यतः सत्यं ततो ह्यहम् । तस्मिन्गते महाश्वेता शरीरात्तस्य निर्ययौ ॥

vṛttaṃ prahlāda māṃ viddhi yataḥ satyaṃ tato hyaham | tasmingate mahāśvetā śarīrāttasya niryayau

'Know me as Conduct, Prahlada; where Truth is, there am I.' When he had gone, a great white being came out of Prahlada's body.

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 12.124.52e; line 2 is CE 12.124.53a (see verse 53).

Verse 55 (12.124.55)

पृष्टश्चाह बलं विद्धि यतो वृत्तमहं ततः । इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ तत्र यतो वृत्तं नराधिप ॥

pṛṣṭaścāha balaṃ viddhi yato vṛttamahaṃ tataḥ | ityuktvā prayayau tatra yato vṛttaṃ narādhipa

Asked, it said, 'Know me as Strength; I am wherever Conduct is.' Having said this, it went to where Conduct had gone, O lord of men.

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 12.124.53c; line 2 is CE 12.124.53e (see verse 53).

Verse 56 (12.124.56)

ततः प्रभामयी देवी शरीरात्तस्य निर्ययौ । तामपृच्छत्स दैत्येन्द्रः सा श्रीरित्येनमब्रवीत् ॥

tataḥ prabhāmayī devī śarīrāttasya niryayau | tāmapṛcchatsa daityendraḥ sā śrīrityenamabravīt

Then a radiant goddess came out of his body. The lord of the Daityas asked her, and she said to him, 'I am Shri.'

Verse 57 (12.124.57)

उषिताऽस्मि सुखं नित्यं त्वयि सत्यपराक्रम । त्वया युक्ता गमिष्यामि बलं ह्यनुगता ह्यहम् ॥

uṣitā'smi sukhaṃ nityaṃ tvayi satyaparākrama | tvayā yuktā gamiṣyāmi balaṃ hyanugatā hyaham

'I have always dwelt happily in you, O man of true valour. Having been joined with you, I shall go now, for I follow Strength.'

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Shri's direct speech, with no printed heading; it fills the whole verse (the page's heading is the brahmin's). Wikisource त्वया युक्ता against CE tvayā tyaktā is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 58 (12.124.58)

ततो भयं प्रादुरासीत्प्रह्लादस्य महात्मनः । अपृच्छत च तां भूयः क्व यासि कमलालये ॥

tato bhayaṃ prādurāsītprahlādasya mahātmanaḥ | apṛcchata ca tāṃ bhūyaḥ kva yāsi kamalālaye

Then fear arose in the great-souled Prahlada, and he asked her again, 'Where are you going, O lotus-dwelling one?'

Verse 59 (12.124.59)

त्वं हि सत्यव्रता देवी लोकस्य परमेश्वरी । कश्चासौ ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठस्तत्त्वमिच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥

tvaṃ hi satyavratā devī lokasya parameśvarī | kaścāsau brāhmaṇaśreṣṭhastattvamicchāmi veditum

'You are the goddess of true vows, the supreme sovereign of the world. And who was that best of brahmins? I wish to know the truth.'

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Prahlada's direct speech to Shri, with no printed heading; it fills the whole verse (the page's heading is the brahmin's).

Verse 60 (12.124.60)

स शक्रो ब्रह्मचारी यस्त्वत्तश्चैवोपशिक्षितः । त्रैलोक्ये ते यदैश्वर्यं तत्तेनापहृतं प्रभो ॥

sa śakro brahmacārī yastvattaścaivopaśikṣitaḥ | trailokye te yadaiśvaryaṃ tattenāpahṛtaṃ prabho

'He was Shakra, the celibate student whom you yourself instructed. He took away, O lord, your sovereignty over the three worlds.'

Note on the text: Corrected स शक्तो → स शक्रो (misprint in Wikisource; त for र — the brahmin is Shakra/Indra; CE sa śakro) and यदश्वर्यं → यदैश्वर्यं (misprint; the vowel ऐ is dropped; CE yad aiśvaryaṃ).

Verse 61 (12.124.61)

शीलेन हि त्रयो लोकास्त्वया धर्मज्ञ निर्जिताः । तद्विज्ञाय सुरेन्द्रेण तव शीलं हृतं प्रभो ॥

śīlena hi trayo lokāstvayā dharmajña nirjitāḥ | tadvijñāya surendreṇa tava śīlaṃ hṛtaṃ prabho

'By good character, O knower of dharma, you conquered the three worlds. Knowing this, the lord of the gods took away your good character, O lord.'

Verse 62 (12.124.62)

धर्मः सत्यं तथा वृत्तं बलं चैव तथाऽप्यहम् । शीलमूला महाप्राज्ञ सदा नास्त्यत्र संशयः ॥

dharmaḥ satyaṃ tathā vṛttaṃ balaṃ caiva tathā'pyaham | śīlamūlā mahāprājña sadā nāstyatra saṃśayaḥ

'Dharma, Truth, Conduct, Strength, and I as well, O greatly wise one, all have good character as their root, always; there is no doubt in this.'

Verse 63 (12.124.63)

एवमुक्त्वा गता श्रीस्तु ते च सर्वे युधिष्ठिर । दुर्योधनस्तु पितरं भूय एवाब्रवीत्तदा ॥

evamuktvā gatā śrīstu te ca sarve yudhiṣṭhira | duryodhanastu pitaraṃ bhūya evābravīttadā

Having spoken thus, Shri went, and so did all of those, O Yudhishthira. And Duryodhana then spoke again to his father:

Verse 64 (12.124.64)

शीलस्य तत्त्वमिच्छामि वेत्तुं कौरवनन्दन । प्राप्यते च यथा शीलं तं चोपायं ब्रवीहि मे ॥

śīlasya tattvamicchāmi vettuṃ kauravanandana | prāpyate ca yathā śīlaṃ taṃ copāyaṃ bravīhi me

'I wish to know the truth of good character, O joy of the Kurus. Tell me how character is attained and the means of it.'

Note on the text: Speaker set to Duryodhana: this is his direct speech to Dhritarashtra, with no printed heading; it fills the whole verse (the input carried Bhishma, the narrator of the previous verse). Wikisource प्राप्यते च यथा शीलं तं चोपायं ब्रवीहि मे against CE prāpyate ca yathā śīlaṃ tam upāyaṃ vadasva me is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 65 (12.124.65)

सोपायं पूर्वमुद्दिष्टं प्रह्लादेन महात्मना । संक्षेपतस्तु शीलस्य शृणु प्राप्तिं नरेश्वर ॥

sopāyaṃ pūrvamuddiṣṭaṃ prahlādena mahātmanā | saṃkṣepatastu śīlasya śṛṇu prāptiṃ nareśvara

'The means was set out earlier by the great-souled Prahlada. Hear in brief, O lord of men, how good character is attained.'

Verse 66 (12.124.66)

अद्रोहः सर्वभूतेषु कर्मणा मनसा गिरा । अनुग्रहश्च दानं च शीलमेतत्प्रशस्यते ॥

adrohaḥ sarvabhūteṣu karmaṇā manasā girā | anugrahaśca dānaṃ ca śīlametatpraśasyate

'Doing no harm to any being in deed, thought or word; kindness and giving: this is what is praised as good character.'

Verse 67 (12.124.67)

यदन्येषां हितं न स्यादात्मनः कर्म पौरुषम् । अपत्रपेत वा येन न तत्कुर्यात्कथंचन ॥

yadanyeṣāṃ hitaṃ na syādātmanaḥ karma pauruṣam | apatrapeta vā yena na tatkuryātkathaṃcana

'One should never do an act of one's own effort that would not benefit others, or one that would make one ashamed.'

Verse 68 (12.124.68)

तत्तु कर्म तथा कुर्याद्येन श्लाध्येत संसदि । शीलं समासेनैतत्ते कथितं कुरुसत्तम ॥

tattu karma tathā kuryādyena ślādhyeta saṃsadi | śīlaṃ samāsenaitatte kathitaṃ kurusattama

'But one should do the deed by which one is praised in an assembly. This, O best of the Kurus, is good character, told to you in brief.'

Verse 69 (12.124.69)

यद्यप्यशीला नृपते प्राप्नुवन्ति श्रियं क्वचित् । न भुञ्जते चिरं तात समूलाश्च पतन्ति ते ॥

yadyapyaśīlā nṛpate prāpnuvanti śriyaṃ kvacit | na bhuñjate ciraṃ tāta samūlāśca patanti te

'Even if, O king, those without good character sometimes gain fortune, they do not enjoy it long, dear son; they fall, root and all.'

Verse 70 (12.124.70)

एतद्विदित्वा तत्त्वेन शीलवान्भव पुत्रक । यदीच्छसि श्रियं तात सुविशिष्टां युधिष्ठिरात् । अधिकां चापि राजेन्द्र ततस्त्वं शीलवान्भव ॥

etadviditvā tattvena śīlavānbhava putraka | yadīcchasi śriyaṃ tāta suviśiṣṭāṃ yudhiṣṭhirāt | adhikāṃ cāpi rājendra tatastvaṃ śīlavānbhava

'Knowing this in truth, be a man of good character, my son, if you wish for a fortune, dear one, that surpasses Yudhishthira's, or is even greater, O chief of kings. Then be a man of good character.'

Note on the text: Corrected भवा → भव (misprint in Wikisource; stray ा; CE bhava); the quotation mark and double-danda marks around line 3 are removed. Lines 1–2 are CE 12.124.68a, 68c; line 3 is the star line 12.124.68d*0289_01 (adhikāṃ vāpi rājendra tatas tvaṃ śīlavān bhava), not in the constituted text.

Verse 71 (12.124.71)

एतत्कथितवान्पुत्रे धृतराष्ट्रो महीपतिः । एतत्कुरुष्व कौन्तेय ततः प्राप्स्यसि तत्फलम् ॥

etatkathitavānputre dhṛtarāṣṭro mahīpatiḥ | etatkuruṣva kaunteya tataḥ prāpsyasi tatphalam

King Dhritarashtra told this to his son. Do this too, son of Kunti, and you will gain its fruit.