Namuchi Tells Indra Why He Does Not Grieve

Verse 1 (12.233.1)

व्यसनेषु निमग्नस्य किं श्रेयस्तद्ब्रवीहि मे । भूय एव महाबाहो स्थित्यर्थं तं ब्रवीहि मे ॥

vyasaneṣu nimagnasya kiṃ śreyastadbravīhi me | bhūya eva mahābāho sthityarthaṃ taṃ bravīhi me

What is best for a man sunk in misfortunes? Tell me, mighty-armed one, and tell me again what will keep him steady.

Note on the text: Dropped the heading युधिष्ठिर उवाच (with its backquote) printed inside the verse and made Yudhishthira the speaker; removed the stray wiki marks (the doubled danda and the closing quote mark). Not in the critical edition's main text (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only as star passage 648, lines 00–02 (12.219.1*0648_00–02), printed after the speaker line and before 12.219.1a.

Verse 2 (12.233.2)

अत्रैवोदाहन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । शतक्रतोश्च संवादं नमुचेश्च युधिष्ठिर ॥

atraivodāhantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | śatakratośca saṃvādaṃ namuceśca yudhiṣṭhira

On this subject they recall an ancient tale, Yudhishthira: the conversation between Shatakratu and Namuchi.

Verse 3 (12.233.3)

श्रिया विहीनमासीनमक्षोभ्यमिव सागरम् । भवाभवज्ञं भूतानामित्युवाच पुरंदरः ॥

śriyā vihīnamāsīnamakṣobhyamiva sāgaram | bhavābhavajñaṃ bhūtānāmityuvāca puraṃdaraḥ

To him, who sat bereft of fortune, unshaken like the ocean, and who knew how beings arise and pass away, Purandara spoke:

Verse 4 (12.233.4)

बद्धः पाशैश्च्युतः स्थानाद्द्विपतां वशमागतः । श्रिया विहीनो नमुचे शोचस्याहो न शोचसि ॥

baddhaḥ pāśaiścyutaḥ sthānāddvipatāṃ vaśamāgataḥ | śriyā vihīno namuce śocasyāho na śocasi

Bound in fetters, fallen from your station, come under the power of your enemies, bereft of fortune, Namuchi: do you grieve, or do you not?

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: Indra's direct speech to Namuchi, with no printed heading (the page's last heading is Bhishma's); it fills the whole verse.

Verse 5 (12.233.5)

अनवाप्यं च शोकेन शरीरं चोपशुष्यति । अमित्राश्च प्रहृष्यन्ति शोके नास्ति सहायता । तस्माच्छक्र न शोचामि सर्वं ह्येवेदमन्तवत् ॥

anavāpyaṃ ca śokena śarīraṃ copaśuṣyati | amitrāśca prahṛṣyanti śoke nāsti sahāyatā | tasmācchakra na śocāmi sarvaṃ hyevedamantavat

Grief gains nothing, and the body withers; enemies rejoice, and there is no help in grief. Therefore, Shakra, I do not grieve, for all this has an end.

Note on the text: Three lines on the page (12-233-5a, b, c); they are CE 12.219.4a, 4c and 5a. Wikisource शरीरं चोपशुष्यति against CE śarīraṃ copatapyate is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 6 (12.233.6)

संतापाद्भ्रश्यते रूपं संतापाद्भ्रश्यते श्रियः । संतापाद्भ्रश्यते चायुर्धर्मश्चैव सुरेश्वर ॥

saṃtāpādbhraśyate rūpaṃ saṃtāpādbhraśyate śriyaḥ | saṃtāpādbhraśyate cāyurdharmaścaiva sureśvara

From torment beauty fades; from torment fortune fades; from torment life fades, and dharma too, lord of the gods.

Note on the text: Corrected संतापाद्धश्यते → संतापाद्भ्रश्यते three times (misprint in Wikisource; the conjunct भ्र is broken, and धश्यते is not a word; CE 12.219.5c has saṃtāpād bhraśyate and star passage 649 repeats it). Lines are CE 12.219.5c and the star lines 12.219.5c*0649_01–02 (the first half of *0649_01 is a lacuna, **** ****, in the CE).

Verse 7 (12.233.7)

विनीय खलु तद्दुःखमागतं वै मनस्सुखम् । ध्यातव्यं मनसा हृद्यं कल्याणं संविजानता ॥

vinīya khalu tadduḥkhamāgataṃ vai manassukham | dhyātavyaṃ manasā hṛdyaṃ kalyāṇaṃ saṃvijānatā

Having dispelled that sorrow which has come to trouble the mind's ease, one who understands should meditate within the mind on what is dear and auspicious.

Note on the text: Wikisource आगतं वै मनस्सुखम् against CE āgataṃ vaimanasyajam is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 8 (12.233.8)

यथायथा हि पुरुषः कल्याणे कुरुते मनः । तथैवास्य प्रसिध्यन्ति सर्वार्था नात्र संशयः ॥

yathāyathā hi puruṣaḥ kalyāṇe kurute manaḥ | tathaivāsya prasidhyanti sarvārthā nātra saṃśayaḥ

In whatever measure a man sets his mind on the good, in just that measure all his aims prosper; of this there is no doubt.

Note on the text: Wikisource तथैवास्य प्रसिध्यन्ति against CE tadaivāsya prasīdanti is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 9 (12.233.9)

एकः शास्ता न द्वितीयोऽस्ति शास्ता । गर्भे शयानं पुरुषं शास्ति शास्ता । तेनानुयुक्तः प्रवणादिवोदकं । यथा नियुक्तोऽस्मि तथा भवामि ॥

ekaḥ śāstā na dvitīyo'sti śāstā | garbhe śayānaṃ puruṣaṃ śāsti śāstā | tenānuyuktaḥ pravaṇādivodakaṃ | yathā niyukto'smi tathā bhavāmi

There is one Ruler, and there is no second ruler. The Ruler instructs the man who lies in the womb. Led by him, like water down a slope, I become as I am appointed.

Note on the text: Four lines on the page (12-233-9a–d); they are CE 12.219.8a and 8c. Wikisource तथा भवामि against CE tathā vahāmi is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 10 (12.233.10)

भावाभावावभिजानन्गरीयो जानामि श्रेयो न तु तत्करोमि । आशासु हर्म्यासु हृदासु कुर्वन् यथा नियुक्तोऽस्मि तथा वहामि ॥

bhāvābhāvāvabhijānangarīyo jānāmi śreyo na tu tatkaromi | āśāsu harmyāsu hṛdāsu kurvan yathā niyukto'smi tathā vahāmi

Knowing well what comes to be and what does not, I know what is better, yet I do not do it; placing my hopes in palaces and pools, I go on as I am appointed.

Note on the text: Corrected अजिनानन् → अभिजानन् (misprint in Wikisource; two aksharas garbled; CE 12.219.9a has abhijānan), giving भावाभावावभिजानन्गरीयो. Four lines on the page (12-233-10a–d); they are CE 12.219.9a and 9c. The third line (आशासु हर्म्यासु हृदासु कुर्वन्) differs wholly from CE āśāḥ suśarmyāḥ suhṛdāṃ sukurvan; it is kept as a recension variant, and its sense is uncertain.

Verse 11 (12.233.11)

यथायथाऽस्य प्राप्तव्यं प्राप्नोत्येव तथातथा । भवितव्यं यथा यच्च भवत्येव तथातथा ॥

yathāyathā'sya prāptavyaṃ prāpnotyeva tathātathā | bhavitavyaṃ yathā yacca bhavatyeva tathātathā

In whatever way a thing is to be obtained by a man, in just that way he obtains it; and whatever is to be, comes to be in just that way.

Note on the text: Corrected यथायथाऽस्म → यथायथाऽस्य (misprint in Wikisource; अस्म is not a word; CE 12.219.10a has yathā yathāsya).

Verse 12 (12.233.12)

यत्रयत्रैव संयुक्तो धात्रा गर्भे पुनः पुनः । तत्रतत्रैव वसति न यत्र स्वयमिच्छति ॥

yatrayatraiva saṃyukto dhātrā garbhe punaḥ punaḥ | tatratatraiva vasati na yatra svayamicchati

Wherever the Creator again and again yokes a being into a womb, there he dwells, and not where he himself wishes.

Note on the text: Alignment found no match; it is CE 12.219.11 (Wikisource संयुक्तो … गर्भे against CE saṃyuṅkte … garbhaṃ is a recension variant, kept).

Verse 13 (12.233.13)

भावो योऽयमनुप्राप्तो भवितव्यमिदं मम । इति यस्य सदा भावो न स शोचेत्कदाचन ॥

bhāvo yo'yamanuprāpto bhavitavyamidaṃ mama | iti yasya sadā bhāvo na sa śocetkadācana

"This state that has come upon me had to be." The man who always holds this view will never grieve.

Verse 14 (12.233.14)

पर्यायैर्हन्यमानानामभिषङ्गो न विद्यते । दुःखमेतत्तु यद्द्वेष्टा कर्ताऽहमिति मन्यते ॥

paryāyairhanyamānānāmabhiṣaṅgo na vidyate | duḥkhametattu yaddveṣṭā kartā'hamiti manyate

For those struck down in turn by the turnings of fortune, there is no cause for clinging; but this is the sorrow, that a man hates, thinking, "I am the doer."

Note on the text: Wikisource अभिषङ्गो न विद्यते against CE abhiyoktā na vidyate is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 15 (12.233.15)

ऋषींश्च देवांश्च महासुरांश्च त्रैविद्यवृद्धांश्च वने मुनींश्च । कान्नापदो नोपनमन्ति लोके परावरज्ञास्तु न संभ्रमन्ति ॥

ṛṣīṃśca devāṃśca mahāsurāṃśca traividyavṛddhāṃśca vane munīṃśca | kānnāpado nopanamanti loke parāvarajñāstu na saṃbhramanti

Sages, gods and great asuras, and aged masters of the three Vedas, and ascetics in the forest: whom do calamities not approach in this world? But those who know the high and the low are not thrown into confusion.

Note on the text: Corrected का नापदो → कान्नापदो (misprint in Wikisource; the nasal conjunct is dropped, leaving a feminine singular that cannot agree with the plural आपदः or the accusatives of the first two lines; CE 12.219.14c has kān nāpado). Four lines on the page (12-233-15a–d).

Verse 16 (12.233.16)

न पण्डितः क्रुद्ध्यति नाभिषज्यते । न चापि संसीदति न प्रहृष्यति । न चार्थकृच्छ्रव्यसनेषु शोचते । स्थितः प्रकृत्या हिमवानिवाचलः ॥

na paṇḍitaḥ kruddhyati nābhiṣajyate | na cāpi saṃsīdati na prahṛṣyati | na cārthakṛcchravyasaneṣu śocate | sthitaḥ prakṛtyā himavānivācalaḥ

The wise man neither rages nor clings, neither sinks down nor exults; in the distress of losses and calamities he does not grieve, but stands by his nature unmoved, like the Himalaya.

Verse 17 (12.233.17)

यमर्थसिद्धिः परमा न हर्षये । त्तथैव काले व्यसनं न मोहयेत् । सुखं च दुःखं च तथैव मध्यमं । निषेवते यः स धुरधरो नरः ॥

yamarthasiddhiḥ paramā na harṣaye | ttathaiva kāle vyasanaṃ na mohayet | sukhaṃ ca duḥkhaṃ ca tathaiva madhyamaṃ | niṣevate yaḥ sa dhuradharo naraḥ

The man whom the greatest success does not thrill, whom calamity in its time does not bewilder, and who takes happiness, sorrow and what lies between alike: he is the bearer of the yoke.

Note on the text: The page splits हर्षयेत् across the half-lines (हर्षये / त्तथैव), as it does in verses 18 and 19; kept as printed. Wikisource धुरधरः against CE dhuraṃdharaḥ is kept.

Verse 18 (12.233.18)

यांयामवस्थां पुरुषोऽधिगच्छे । त्तस्यां रमेतापरितप्यमानः । एवं प्रवृद्धं प्रणुदन्मनोजं । संतापनीलं सकलं शरीरात् ॥

yāṃyāmavasthāṃ puruṣo'dhigacche | ttasyāṃ rametāparitapyamānaḥ | evaṃ pravṛddhaṃ praṇudanmanojaṃ | saṃtāpanīlaṃ sakalaṃ śarīrāt

In whatever state a man finds himself, let him take his delight in it, without distress. Thus he drives out of his whole body the swelling, mind-born gloom of torment.

Note on the text: Wikisource संतापनीलम् against CE saṃtāpam āyāsakaram (the page's footnote records another reading) is a recension variant, kept. The page splits the word across half-lines (अधिगच्छे / त्तस्यां); kept as printed.

Verse 19 (12.233.19)

न तत्सदः सत्परिषत्सभा च । सा प्राप्य यां न कुरुते सदा भयम् । धर्मतत्त्वमवगाह्य बुद्धिमा । न्योऽभ्युपैति स धुरंधरः पुमान् ॥

na tatsadaḥ satpariṣatsabhā ca | sā prāpya yāṃ na kurute sadā bhayam | dharmatattvamavagāhya buddhimā | nyo'bhyupaiti sa dhuraṃdharaḥ pumān

There is no hall, council or assembly which, on entering, he ever fears; the wise man who has fathomed the essence of dharma and steps forward: he is the bearer of the yoke.

Note on the text: Wikisource न तत्सदः सत्परिषत्सभा च सा प्राप्य यां न कुरुते against CE tat sadaḥ sa pariṣat sabhāsadaḥ prāpya yo na kurute is a recension variant (the page's footnote records संसत्सदः परिषदः सभासदः सम्प्राप्य यो न कुरुते as another reading), kept; the first two lines are obscure and are translated in the sense of the CE and the footnote.

Verse 20 (12.233.20)

प्राज्ञस्य कर्माणि दुरन्वयानि । न वै प्राज्ञो मुह्यति मोहकाले । स्थानाच्च्युतश्चेन्न मुमोह गौतम । स्तावत्कृच्छ्रामापदं प्राप्य वृद्धः ॥

prājñasya karmāṇi duranvayāni | na vai prājño muhyati mohakāle | sthānāccyutaścenna mumoha gautama | stāvatkṛcchrāmāpadaṃ prāpya vṛddhaḥ

The works of the wise are hard to follow, and the wise man is not bewildered even when bewilderment comes. Gautama, fallen from his station, did not lose his wits, though he met so grievous a calamity in his old age.

Verse 21 (12.233.21)

न मन्त्रबलवीर्येण प्रज्ञया पौरुषेण च । न शीलेन न वृत्तेन तथा नैवार्थसंपदा । अलभ्यं लभते मर्त्यस्तत्र का परिदेवना ॥

na mantrabalavīryeṇa prajñayā pauruṣeṇa ca | na śīlena na vṛttena tathā naivārthasaṃpadā | alabhyaṃ labhate martyastatra kā paridevanā

Not by mantra, strength, valour, wisdom or manly effort, nor by character, conduct or wealth, does a mortal gain what is not to be gained; what is there to lament in that?

Note on the text: Removed the square brackets and the extra danda printed round the second line (न शीलेन …); the page brackets it as an inserted line. Three lines on the page (12-233-21a–c); they are CE 12.219.20a, the star line 12.219.20b*0650_01 (न शीलेन …), and 20c; the alignment found no match.

Verse 22 (12.233.22)

यदेवमभिजातस्य धातारो विदधुः पुरा । तदेवानुभविष्यामि किं मे मृत्युः करिष्यति ॥

yadevamabhijātasya dhātāro vidadhuḥ purā | tadevānubhaviṣyāmi kiṃ me mṛtyuḥ kariṣyati

Whatever the Ordainers decreed long ago for one born as I am, that I shall undergo; what can death do to me?

Note on the text: Wikisource अभिजातस्य against CE anujātasya is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 23 (12.233.23)

लब्धव्यान्येव लभते गन्तव्यान्येव गच्छति । प्राप्तव्यान्येव चाप्नोति दुःखानि च सुखानि च ॥

labdhavyānyeva labhate gantavyānyeva gacchati | prāptavyānyeva cāpnoti duḥkhāni ca sukhāni ca

He gains only what is to be gained, goes only where he is to go, and receives only what is to be received, both pains and pleasures.

Verse 24 (12.233.24)

एतद्विदित्वा कार्त्स्न्येन यो न मुह्यति मानवः । कुशली सर्वदुःखेषु स वै सर्वधनी नरः ॥

etadviditvā kārtsnyena yo na muhyati mānavaḥ | kuśalī sarvaduḥkheṣu sa vai sarvadhanī naraḥ

The man who, knowing this fully, is not bewildered is skilled in every sorrow; he is truly a man rich in all things.

Note on the text: Wikisource कुशली सर्वदुःखेषु स वै सर्वधनी नरः against CE kuśalaḥ sukhaduḥkheṣu sa vai sarvadhaneśvaraḥ is a recension variant (the page's footnote records कुशलः सुखदुःखेषु as another reading), kept.