Devasthana: All Wealth Belongs to Sacrifice

Verse 1 (12.20.1)

अस्मिन्वाक्यान्तरे वक्ता देवस्थानो महातपाः । अभिनीततरं वाक्यमित्युवाच युधिष्ठिरम् ॥

asminvākyāntare vaktā devasthāno mahātapāḥ | abhinītataraṃ vākyamityuvāca yudhiṣṭhiram

In the midst of this talk, the great ascetic Devasthana, a gifted speaker, addressed Yudhishthira with words of still greater aptness.

Note on the text: CE 12.20.1 (variant: Wikisource अस्मिन्वाक्यान्तरे against CE tasmin vākyāntare). The alignment found no match.

Verse 2 (12.20.2)

यद्वचः फल्गुनेनोक्तं न ज्यायोऽस्ति धनादिति । अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि तदेकान्तमनाः शृणु ॥

yadvacaḥ phalgunenoktaṃ na jyāyo'sti dhanāditi | atra te vartayiṣyāmi tadekāntamanāḥ śṛṇu

What Phalguna said, that nothing is greater than wealth, on that I shall speak to you; listen with undivided mind.

Note on the text: CE 12.20.2 (variant: Wikisource तदेकान्तमनाः शृणु against CE tad ekāgramanāḥ śṛṇu). The alignment found no match.

Verse 3 (12.20.3)

अजातशत्रो धर्मेण कृत्स्ना ते वसुधा जिता । तां जित्वा च वृथा राजन्न परित्यक्तुमर्हसि ॥

ajātaśatro dharmeṇa kṛtsnā te vasudhā jitā | tāṃ jitvā ca vṛthā rājanna parityaktumarhasi

O Ajatashatru, the whole earth has been won by you through dharma; having won it, O king, you ought not to throw it away for nothing.

Note on the text: CE 12.20.3 (variant: Wikisource तां जित्वा च वृथा राजन्न परित्यक्तुमर्हसि against CE tāṃ jitvā na vṛthā rājaṃs tvaṃ parityaktum arhasi). The alignment found no match.

Verse 4 (12.20.4)

चतुष्पदी हि निःश्रेणी ब्रह्मण्येषा प्रतिष्ठिता । तां क्रमेण महाबाहो यथावज्जय पार्थिव । तस्मात्पार्थ महायज्ञैर्यजस्व बहुदक्षिणैः ॥

catuṣpadī hi niḥśreṇī brahmaṇyeṣā pratiṣṭhitā | tāṃ krameṇa mahābāho yathāvajjaya pārthiva | tasmātpārtha mahāyajñairyajasva bahudakṣiṇaiḥ

This ladder of four rungs rests upon Brahman. Climb it step by step, as is proper, O mighty-armed lord of the earth. Therefore, Partha, sacrifice with great sacrifices of abundant gifts.

Note on the text: Three lines, as the page prints it (12-20-4a, b, c). = CE 12.20.4a, 4c and 5a (variant: Wikisource ब्रह्मण्येषा प्रतिष्ठिता against CE karmaṇy eṣā pratiṣṭhitā). The CE verse is a couplet, so Wikisource's division differs. The alignment found no match.

Verse 5 (12.20.5)

स्वाध्याययज्ञा ऋषयो ज्ञानयज्ञास्तथाऽपरे । कर्मनिष्ठाश्च बुद्ध्यर्थास्तपोनिष्ठाश्च पार्थिव ॥

svādhyāyayajñā ṛṣayo jñānayajñāstathā'pare | karmaniṣṭhāśca buddhyarthāstaponiṣṭhāśca pārthiva

Some sages have study as their sacrifice, others knowledge; some are devoted to action, some pursue understanding, some are devoted to austerity, O king.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 12.20.5c; line 2 is a variant of CE 12.20.6a (CE karmaniṣṭhāṃs tu budhyethās taponiṣṭhāṃś ca bhārata). The alignment found no match.

Verse 6 (12.20.6)

वैखानसानां कौन्तेय वचनं श्रूयते यथा ॥

vaikhānasānāṃ kaunteya vacanaṃ śrūyate yathā

Of the Vaikhanasas, son of Kunti, the saying is heard as follows.

Note on the text: One line, as the page prints it (12-20-6a); = CE 12.20.6c (variant: कौन्तेय against CE rājendra). The alignment found no match.

Verse 7 (12.20.7)

ईहेत धनहेतोर्यस्तस्यानीहा गरीयसी । भूयान्दोषो हि वर्धेत यस्तत्कर्म समाश्रयेत् ॥

īheta dhanahetoryastasyānīhā garīyasī | bhūyāndoṣo hi vardheta yastatkarma samāśrayet

For one who strives for the sake of wealth, not striving is better; for the fault grows greater in him who takes up that business.

Verse 8 (12.20.8)

कृत्स्नं च धनसंहारं कुर्वन्ति विधिकारणात् । आत्मना तृपितो बुद्ध्या भ्रूणहत्यां न बुध्यते ॥

kṛtsnaṃ ca dhanasaṃhāraṃ kurvanti vidhikāraṇāt | ātmanā tṛpito buddhyā bhrūṇahatyāṃ na budhyate

They gather up all manner of wealth, giving the rite as their reason; and he, self-satisfied, does not see in his mind that he is guilty of killing an unborn child.

Note on the text: Recension variants, kept: Wikisource कृत्स्नं च धनसंहारं कुर्वन्ति विधिकारणात् against CE kṛcchrāc ca dravyasaṃhāraṃ kurvanti dhanakāraṇāt; आत्मना तृपितो बुद्ध्या ('self-satisfied') against CE dhanena tṛṣito 'buddhyā ('thirsting for wealth').

Verse 9 (12.20.9)

अनर्हते यद्ददाति न ददाति यदर्हते । अर्हानर्हापरिज्ञानाद्दानधर्मोऽपि दुष्करः ॥

anarhate yaddadāti na dadāti yadarhate | arhānarhāparijñānāddānadharmo'pi duṣkaraḥ

He who gives to the unworthy and does not give to the worthy: from not knowing who is worthy and who is not, even the duty of giving is hard to perform.

Verse 10 (12.20.10)

यज्ञाय सृष्टानि धनानि धात्रा । यज्ञादिष्टः पुरुषो रक्षिता च । तस्मात्सर्वं यज्ञ एवोपयोज्यं । धनं ततोऽनन्तर एव कामः ॥

yajñāya sṛṣṭāni dhanāni dhātrā | yajñādiṣṭaḥ puruṣo rakṣitā ca | tasmātsarvaṃ yajña evopayojyaṃ | dhanaṃ tato'nantara eva kāmaḥ

Wealth was created by the Creator for sacrifice; the man is ordained for sacrifice, and he is also the protector of it. Therefore everything is to be used for sacrifice alone; wealth comes next, and only after that, desire.

Note on the text: Four lines (pādas), as the page prints it (12-20-10a–d); the CE sets them as two lines. Recension variant, kept: Wikisource यज्ञादिष्टः against CE yaṣṭādiṣṭaḥ.

Verse 11 (12.20.11)

यज्ञैरिन्द्रो विविधै रत्नवद्भि । र्देवान्सर्वानभ्ययाद्भूरितेजाः । तेनेन्द्रत्वं प्राप्य विभ्राजतेऽसौ । तस्माद्यज्ञे सर्वमेवोपयोज्यम् ॥

yajñairindro vividhai ratnavadbhi | rdevānsarvānabhyayādbhūritejāḥ | tenendratvaṃ prāpya vibhrājate'sau | tasmādyajñe sarvamevopayojyam

By many sacrifices rich in jewels, Indra, of great energy, overcame all the gods; having gained the rank of Indra by them, he shines. Therefore everything should be used for sacrifice.

Note on the text: Four lines (pādas), as the page prints it (12-20-11a–d); the line breaks fall inside the words रत्नवद्भि|र्देवान् as printed. Recension variants, kept: भूरितेजाः against CE mahaujāḥ, विभ्राजतेऽसौ as in CE.

Verse 12 (12.20.12)

महादेवः सर्वयज्ञे महात्मा । हुत्वाऽऽत्मानं देवदेवो बभूव । विश्वाँल्लोकान्व्याप्य विष्टभ्य कीर्त्या । विराजते द्युतिमान्कृत्तिवासाः ॥

mahādevaḥ sarvayajñe mahātmā | hutvā''tmānaṃ devadevo babhūva | viśvām̐llokānvyāpya viṣṭabhya kīrtyā | virājate dyutimānkṛttivāsāḥ

At the sacrifice of all, the great-souled Mahadeva offered himself and became the God of gods; pervading and upholding all the worlds with his glory, the radiant one clad in a hide shines forth.

Note on the text: Four lines (pādas), as the page prints it (12-20-12a–d). Recension variants, kept: Wikisource हुत्वाऽऽत्मानं देवदेवो बभूव against CE hutvātmānaṃ devadevo vibhūtaḥ; विश्वाँल्लोकान्व्याप्य विष्टभ्य कीर्त्या as in CE.

Verse 13 (12.20.13)

आविक्षितः पार्थिवोऽसौ मरुत्तो । वृद्ध्या शक्रं योऽजयद्देवराजम् । यज्ञे यस्य श्रीः स्वयं सन्निविष्टा । यस्मिन्भाण्डं काञ्चनं सर्वमासीत् ॥

āvikṣitaḥ pārthivo'sau marutto | vṛddhyā śakraṃ yo'jayaddevarājam | yajñe yasya śrīḥ svayaṃ sanniviṣṭā | yasminbhāṇḍaṃ kāñcanaṃ sarvamāsīt

King Marutta, son of Avikshit, overcame Shakra, king of the gods, by his prosperity; at his sacrifice Shri herself dwelt, and all his vessels were of gold.

Note on the text: Four lines (pādas), as the page prints it (12-20-13a–d). Recension variant, kept: Wikisource पार्थिवोऽसौ मरुत्तो / वृद्ध्या शक्रं योऽजयद्देवराजम् against CE pārthivo vai maruttaḥ / svṛddhyā martyo yo 'jayad devarājam.

Verse 14 (12.20.14)

हरिश्चन्द्रः पार्थिवेन्द्रः श्रुतस्ते । यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा पुण्यभाग्वीतशोकः । ऋद्ध्या शक्रं योऽजयन्मानुषः सं । स्तस्माद्यज्ञे सर्वमेवोपयोज्यम् ॥

hariścandraḥ pārthivendraḥ śrutaste | yajñairiṣṭvā puṇyabhāgvītaśokaḥ | ṛddhyā śakraṃ yo'jayanmānuṣaḥ saṃ | stasmādyajñe sarvamevopayojyam

You have heard of Harishchandra, the lord of kings, who, having sacrificed with sacrifices, a doer of merit, was freed from sorrow; though a mortal, he overcame Shakra by his prosperity. Therefore everything should be used for sacrifice.

Note on the text: Four lines (pādas), as the page prints it (12-20-14a–d); the line break falls inside मानुषः सं|स्तस्मात् as printed. Recension variants, kept: Wikisource यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा पुण्यभाग्वीतशोकः against CE yajñair iṣṭvā puṇyakṛd vītaśokaḥ; ऋद्ध्या शक्रं योऽजयन्मानुषः सन् as in CE.