The Song of Ashma

Verse 1 (12.27.1)

ज्ञातिशोकाभितप्तस्य प्राणानिष्टांस्त्यजिष्यतः । ज्येष्ठस्य पाण्डुपुत्रस्य व्यासः शोकमपानुदत् ॥

jñātiśokābhitaptasya prāṇāniṣṭāṃstyajiṣyataḥ | jyeṣṭhasya pāṇḍuputrasya vyāsaḥ śokamapānudat

Yudhishthira, eldest son of Pandu, burning with grief for his kinsmen, was about to give up his own dear life-breaths, when Vyasa drove his sorrow away.

Verse 2 (12.27.2)

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । अश्मगीतं नरव्याघ्र तन्निबोध युधिष्ठिर ॥

atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | aśmagītaṃ naravyāghra tannibodha yudhiṣṭhira

On this point they cite an ancient tale, the song of Ashma. Hear it, tiger among men, Yudhishthira.

Note on the text: Corrected न्तीमभितिहासं → न्तीममितिहासं (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म; the text is इमम् इतिहासम्, as in the critical edition (udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ)).

Verse 3 (12.27.3)

अश्मानं ब्राह्मणं प्राज्ञं वैदेहो जनको नृपः । संशयं परिपप्रच्छ दुःखशोकसमन्वितः ॥

aśmānaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ prājñaṃ vaideho janako nṛpaḥ | saṃśayaṃ paripapraccha duḥkhaśokasamanvitaḥ

Janaka, the king of Videha, weighed down by sorrow and grief, put his doubt to Ashma, a wise brahmin.

Verse 4 (12.27.4)

आगमे यदि वाऽपाये ज्ञातीनां द्रविणस्य च । नरेण प्रतिपत्तव्यं कल्याणं कथमिच्छता ॥

āgame yadi vā'pāye jñātīnāṃ draviṇasya ca | nareṇa pratipattavyaṃ kalyāṇaṃ kathamicchatā

When kinsmen and wealth come or go, how should a man conduct himself who wishes for his own good?

Verse 5 (12.27.5)

उत्पन्नमिममात्मानं नरस्यानन्तरं ततः । तानितान्यनुवर्तन्ते दुःखानि च सुखानि च ॥

utpannamimamātmānaṃ narasyānantaraṃ tataḥ | tānitānyanuvartante duḥkhāni ca sukhāni ca

When a man has come into being in this body, pains and pleasures follow upon him one after another, each in its turn.

Verse 6 (12.27.6)

तेषामन्यतरापत्तौ यद्यदेवोपसेवते । तदस्य चेतनामाशु हरत्यभ्रमिवानिलः ॥

teṣāmanyatarāpattau yadyadevopasevate | tadasya cetanāmāśu haratyabhramivānilaḥ

Whichever of them befalls him, to whatever he surrenders himself, it quickly carries off his reason, as the wind carries off a cloud.

Verse 7 (12.27.7)

अभिजातोऽस्मि सिद्धोऽस्मि नास्मि केवलमानुषः । इत्येभिर्हेतुभिस्तस्य त्रिभिश्चित्तं प्रसिच्यते ॥

abhijāto'smi siddho'smi nāsmi kevalamānuṣaḥ | ityebhirhetubhistasya tribhiścittaṃ prasicyate

"I am well born, I am accomplished, I am no mere mortal": by these three thoughts his mind is swollen with conceit.

Verse 8 (12.27.8)

संप्रसक्तमना भोगान्विसृज्य पितृसंचितान् । परिक्षीणः परस्वानामादानं साधु मन्यते ॥

saṃprasaktamanā bhogānvisṛjya pitṛsaṃcitān | parikṣīṇaḥ parasvānāmādānaṃ sādhu manyate

With his mind thus soaked, he squanders the enjoyments gathered by his forefathers and, brought to ruin, comes to think it good to seize what belongs to others.

Verse 9 (12.27.9)

तमतिक्रान्तमर्यादमाददानमसांप्रतम् । प्रतिषेधन्ति राजानो लुब्धा मृगमिवेषुभिः ॥

tamatikrāntamaryādamādadānamasāṃpratam | pratiṣedhanti rājāno lubdhā mṛgamiveṣubhiḥ

Him, who has crossed the bounds and is seizing what is not proper, greedy kings check, as hunters check a deer with arrows.

Verse 10 (12.27.10)

ये च विंशतिवर्षा वा त्रिंशद्वर्षाश्च मानवाः । परेण ते वर्षशतान्न भविष्यन्ति पार्थिव ॥

ye ca viṃśativarṣā vā triṃśadvarṣāśca mānavāḥ | pareṇa te varṣaśatānna bhaviṣyanti pārthiva

And those men who are twenty or thirty years old will not be alive after a hundred years, O king.

Verse 11 (12.27.11)

तेषां परमदुःखानां बुद्ध्या भैषज्यमाचरेत् । सर्वप्राणभृतां वृत्तं प्रेक्षमाणस्ततस्ततः ॥

teṣāṃ paramaduḥkhānāṃ buddhyā bhaiṣajyamācaret | sarvaprāṇabhṛtāṃ vṛttaṃ prekṣamāṇastatastataḥ

For these extreme sufferings one should apply the remedy of understanding, looking everywhere at how all living beings fare.

Verse 12 (12.27.12)

मानसानां पुनर्योनिर्दुःखानां चित्तविभ्रमः । अनिष्टोपनिपातो वा तृतीयं नोपपद्यते ॥

mānasānāṃ punaryonirduḥkhānāṃ cittavibhramaḥ | aniṣṭopanipāto vā tṛtīyaṃ nopapadyate

The sources of mental sorrow are a clouded mind or the coming of what one does not wish; no third is found.

Verse 13 (12.27.13)

एवमेतानि दुःखानि तानि तानीह मानवम् । विविधान्युपवर्तन्ते तथा संस्पर्शजान्यपि ॥

evametāni duḥkhāni tāni tānīha mānavam | vividhānyupavartante tathā saṃsparśajānyapi

So these many sorrows, such and such, come upon a man here, as do those born of contact with the objects of the senses.

Verse 14 (12.27.14)

जरामृत्यू हि भूतानां खादितारौ वृकाविव । बलिनां दुर्बलानां च ह्रस्वानां महतामपि ॥

jarāmṛtyū hi bhūtānāṃ khāditārau vṛkāviva | balināṃ durbalānāṃ ca hrasvānāṃ mahatāmapi

Old age and death devour creatures like two wolves: the strong and the weak, the small and the great.

Verse 15 (12.27.15)

न कश्चिज्जात्वतिक्रामेज्जरामृत्यू हि मानवः । अपि सागरपर्यन्तां विजित्येमां वसुंधराम् ॥

na kaścijjātvatikrāmejjarāmṛtyū hi mānavaḥ | api sāgaraparyantāṃ vijityemāṃ vasuṃdharām

No man ever escapes old age and death, even if he conquers this whole earth, bounded by the ocean.

Verse 16 (12.27.16)

सुखं वा यदि वा दुःखं भूतानां पर्युपस्थितम् । प्राप्तव्यमवशैः सर्वं परिहारो न विद्यते ॥

sukhaṃ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṃ bhūtānāṃ paryupasthitam | prāptavyamavaśaiḥ sarvaṃ parihāro na vidyate

Whether pleasure or pain, whatever has come to beings must be borne by them helplessly; there is no way of avoiding it.

Verse 17 (12.27.17)

पूर्वे वयसि मध्ये वाऽप्युत्तरे वा नराधिप । अवर्जनीयास्तेऽर्था वै काङ्क्षिता ये ततोऽन्यथा ॥

pūrve vayasi madhye vā'pyuttare vā narādhipa | avarjanīyāste'rthā vai kāṅkṣitā ye tato'nyathā

In early life, in middle age or in late age, O king, those events cannot be avoided, even those one has wished to be otherwise.

Verse 18 (12.27.18)

अप्रियैः सह संयोगो विप्रयोगश्च सुप्रियैः । अर्थानर्थौ सुखं दुःखं विधानमनुवर्तते ॥

apriyaiḥ saha saṃyogo viprayogaśca supriyaiḥ | arthānarthau sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ vidhānamanuvartate

Union with the unloved and parting from the dear, gain and loss, pleasure and pain: the ordained course follows upon all of these.

Verse 19 (12.27.19)

प्रादुर्भावश्च भूतानां देहत्यागस्तथैव च । प्राप्तिव्यायामयोगश्च सर्वमेतत्प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥

prādurbhāvaśca bhūtānāṃ dehatyāgastathaiva ca | prāptivyāyāmayogaśca sarvametatpratiṣṭhitam

The birth of beings and the casting off of the body, the joining of gain and exertion: all this is established.

Verse 20 (12.27.20)

गन्धवर्णरसस्पर्शा निवर्तन्ते स्वभावतः । तथैव सुखदुःखानि विधानमनुवर्तते ॥

gandhavarṇarasasparśā nivartante svabhāvataḥ | tathaiva sukhaduḥkhāni vidhānamanuvartate

Smell, colour, taste and touch recede by their own nature; so too do pleasures and pains, and the ordained course follows.

Verse 21 (12.27.21)

आसनं शयनं यानमुत्थानं पानभोजनम् । नियतं सर्वभूतानां कालेनैव भवत्युत ॥

āsanaṃ śayanaṃ yānamutthānaṃ pānabhojanam | niyataṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ kālenaiva bhavatyuta

Sitting, lying down, travelling, rising, drinking and eating: all this for every being is fixed, and comes about by Time alone.

Verse 22 (12.27.22)

वैद्याश्चाप्यातुराः सन्ति बलवन्तश्च दुर्बलाः । स्त्रीमन्तश्चापरे षण्ढा विचित्रः कालपर्ययः ॥

vaidyāścāpyāturāḥ santi balavantaśca durbalāḥ | strīmantaścāpare ṣaṇḍhā vicitraḥ kālaparyayaḥ

Even physicians fall ill, and the strong become weak; some have wives, others are impotent; strange is the turning of Time.

Verse 23 (12.27.23)

कुले जन्म तथा वीर्यमारोग्यं रूपमेव च । सौभाग्यमुपभोगश्च भवितव्येन लभ्यते ॥

kule janma tathā vīryamārogyaṃ rūpameva ca | saubhāgyamupabhogaśca bhavitavyena labhyate

Birth in a good family, vigour, health, beauty, good fortune and enjoyment: these are gained as it is fated to be.

Verse 24 (12.27.24)

सन्ति पुत्राः सुबहवो दरिद्राणामनिच्छताम् । नास्ति पुत्रः समृद्धानां विचित्रं विधिचेष्टितम् ॥

santi putrāḥ subahavo daridrāṇāmanicchatām | nāsti putraḥ samṛddhānāṃ vicitraṃ vidhiceṣṭitam

The poor, who do not want them, have very many sons; the rich have no son. Strange are the ways of destiny.

Note on the text: Not matched automatically; CE 12.28.24. Second line differs (विचित्रं विधिचेष्टितम् for the CE’s bahūnām icchatāṃ nāsti samṛddhānāṃ viceṣṭatām), recension variant, kept.

Verse 25 (12.27.25)

व्याधिरग्निर्जलं शस्त्रं बुभुक्षाश्चापदो विषम् । ज्वरश्च मरणं जन्तोरुच्चाच्च पतनं तथा ॥

vyādhiragnirjalaṃ śastraṃ bubhukṣāścāpado viṣam | jvaraśca maraṇaṃ jantoruccācca patanaṃ tathā

Disease, fire, water, weapon, hunger, mishaps and poison, fever and death for a creature, and a fall from a height too.

Note on the text: Corrected विषम → विषम् (misprint in Wikisource; final halanta dropped; the critical edition reads viṣam).

Verse 26 (12.27.26)

निर्याणे यस्य यद्दिष्टं तेन गच्छति सेतुना । दृश्यते नाप्यतिक्रामन्न निष्क्रान्तोऽथवा पुनः । दृश्यते चाप्यतिक्रामन्न निग्राह्योऽथवा पुनः ॥

niryāṇe yasya yaddiṣṭaṃ tena gacchati setunā | dṛśyate nāpyatikrāmanna niṣkrānto'thavā punaḥ | dṛśyate cāpyatikrāmanna nigrāhyo'thavā punaḥ

At the time of his going, a man departs by the very bridge that is ordained for him. No one is seen to cross beyond it, nor to have gone out and come back again; nor is anyone seen to overstep it, nor again to be held back from it.

Note on the text: Not matched automatically; first two lines correspond to CE 12.28.26ac (niryāṇaṃ yasya yad diṣṭaṃ tena gacchati hetunā / dṛśyate nābhyatikrāmann atikrānto na vā punaḥ; Wikisource reads सेतुना and a different second line). The third line (दृश्यते चाप्यतिक्रामन्न निग्राह्योऽथवा पुनः) is not in the critical edition (vulgate only).

Verse 27 (12.27.27)

दृश्यते हि युवैवेह विनश्यन्वसुमान्नरः । दरिद्रश्च परिक्लिष्टः शतवर्षो जरान्वितः ॥

dṛśyate hi yuvaiveha vinaśyanvasumānnaraḥ | daridraśca parikliṣṭaḥ śatavarṣo jarānvitaḥ

A rich man is seen perishing even in his youth, while a poor man, afflicted, lives to a hundred years, worn by age.

Verse 28 (12.27.28)

अकिञ्चनाश्च दृश्यन्ते पुरुषाश्चिरजीविनः । समृद्धे च कुले जाता विनश्यन्ति पतङ्गवत् ॥

akiñcanāśca dṛśyante puruṣāścirajīvinaḥ | samṛddhe ca kule jātā vinaśyanti pataṅgavat

Men with nothing are seen to live long, while those born in prosperous families perish like moths.

Verse 29 (12.27.29)

प्रायेण श्रीमतां लोके भोक्तुं शक्तिर्न विद्यते । दरिद्राणां तु भूयिष्ठं काष्ठमश्मा हि जीर्यते ॥

prāyeṇa śrīmatāṃ loke bhoktuṃ śaktirna vidyate | daridrāṇāṃ tu bhūyiṣṭhaṃ kāṣṭhamaśmā hi jīryate

In this world the rich generally have no power to eat; the poor, for the most part, can digest even wood and stone.

Note on the text: Not matched automatically; CE 12.28.29. Second line differs (दरिद्राणां तु भूयिष्ठं काष्ठमश्मा हि जीर्यते for the CE’s kāṣṭhāny api hi jīryante daridrāṇāṃ narādhipa), recension variant, kept.

Verse 30 (12.27.30)

अहमेतत्करोमीति मन्यते कालनोदितः । यद्यदिष्टमसंतोषाद्दुरात्मा पापमाचरेत् ॥

ahametatkaromīti manyate kālanoditaḥ | yadyadiṣṭamasaṃtoṣāddurātmā pāpamācaret

"I am doing this," a man thinks, driven by Time; and whatever he desires, from discontent the wicked-minded man may commit sin.

Note on the text: Corrected संतोषाहुरात्मा → संतोषाद्दुरात्मा (misprint in Wikisource; a broken sandhi; the critical edition reads asaṃtoṣād durātmā).

Verse 31 (12.27.31)

मृगयाक्षाः स्त्रियः पानं प्रसङ्गा निन्दिता बुधैः । दृश्यन्ते पुरुषाश्चात्र संप्रयुक्ता बहुश्रुताः ॥

mṛgayākṣāḥ striyaḥ pānaṃ prasaṅgā ninditā budhaiḥ | dṛśyante puruṣāścātra saṃprayuktā bahuśrutāḥ

Hunting, dice, women and drink are vices condemned by the wise, yet many men, even learned ones, are seen given to them.

Note on the text: Not matched automatically; CE 12.28.31 (striyo ’kṣā mṛgayā pānaṃ prasaṅgān ninditā budhaiḥ / dṛśyante cāpi bahavaḥ saṃprasaktā bahuśrutāḥ); Wikisource’s wording differs slightly, recension variant, kept.

Verse 32 (12.27.32)

इति कालेन सर्वार्थानीप्सितानीप्सितानिह । स्पृशन्ति सर्वभूतानि निमित्तं नोपलभ्यते ॥

iti kālena sarvārthānīpsitānīpsitāniha | spṛśanti sarvabhūtāni nimittaṃ nopalabhyate

Thus, through Time, all objects, desired and undesired, touch all beings; no cause for it is to be found.

Verse 33 (12.27.33)

वायुमाकाशमग्निं च चन्द्रादित्यावहः क्षपे । ज्योतींषि सरितः शैलान्कः करोति बिभर्ति च ॥

vāyumākāśamagniṃ ca candrādityāvahaḥ kṣape | jyotīṃṣi saritaḥ śailānkaḥ karoti bibharti ca

Wind, space and fire, moon and sun, day and night, the stars, the rivers and the mountains: who makes them, and who sustains them?

Note on the text: Corrected बिभतिं च → बिभर्ति च (misprint in Wikisource; बिभतिं is not a word; the critical edition reads bibharti vā).

Verse 34 (12.27.34)

शीतमुष्णं तथा वर्षं कालेन परिवर्तते । एवमेव मनुष्याणां सुखदुःखे नरर्षभ ॥

śītamuṣṇaṃ tathā varṣaṃ kālena parivartate | evameva manuṣyāṇāṃ sukhaduḥkhe nararṣabha

Cold, heat and rain turn round with Time; in just this way, bull among men, do the pleasures and pains of men.

Verse 35 (12.27.35)

नौषधानि न शस्त्राणि न होमा न पुनर्जपाः । त्रायन्ते मृत्युनोपेतं जरया चापि मानवम् ॥

nauṣadhāni na śastrāṇi na homā na punarjapāḥ | trāyante mṛtyunopetaṃ jarayā cāpi mānavam

Neither medicines nor weapons, nor oblations nor muttered prayers can save a man overtaken by death or by old age.

Verse 36 (12.27.36)

यथा काष्ठं च काष्ठं च समेयातां महोदधौ । समेत्य च व्यपेयातां तद्वद्भूतसमागमः ॥

yathā kāṣṭhaṃ ca kāṣṭhaṃ ca sameyātāṃ mahodadhau | sametya ca vyapeyātāṃ tadvadbhūtasamāgamaḥ

As two logs of wood meet on the great ocean and, having met, drift apart, so is the meeting of beings.

Verse 37 (12.27.37)

ये च निष्परुषैरुक्तगीतवाद्यैरुपस्थिताः । ये चानाथाः परान्नादाः कालस्तेषु समक्रियः ॥

ye ca niṣparuṣairuktagītavādyairupasthitāḥ | ye cānāthāḥ parānnādāḥ kālasteṣu samakriyaḥ

Those who are attended with gentle words, songs and music, and those who are helpless and live on another's food: Time deals with them alike.

Verse 38 (12.27.38)

मातापितृसहस्राणि पुत्रदारशतानि च । संसारेष्वनुभूतानि कस्य ते कस्य वा वयम् ॥

mātāpitṛsahasrāṇi putradāraśatāni ca | saṃsāreṣvanubhūtāni kasya te kasya vā vayam

Thousands of mothers and fathers, hundreds of sons and wives, have been known in the round of rebirths: whose are they, and whose are we?

Verse 39 (12.27.39)

नैवास्य कश्चिद्भविता नायं भवति कस्यचित् । पथि संगतमेवेदं दारबन्धुसुहृज्जनैः ॥

naivāsya kaścidbhavitā nāyaṃ bhavati kasyacit | pathi saṃgatamevedaṃ dārabandhusuhṛjjanaiḥ

No one will be his, nor is he anyone's; this is a meeting on the road, with wife, kinsmen, friends and companions.

Verse 40 (12.27.40)

क्वासे क्व च गमिष्यामि कोऽन्वहं किमिहास्थितः । कस्मात्किमनुशोचेयमित्येवं स्थापयेन्मनः ॥

kvāse kva ca gamiṣyāmi ko'nvahaṃ kimihāsthitaḥ | kasmātkimanuśoceyamityevaṃ sthāpayenmanaḥ

"Where do I dwell, and where shall I go? Who am I, and why am I here? Why, and for whom, should I grieve?" In this way one should steady the mind.

Note on the text: Not matched automatically; lines = CE 12.28.40ac (kvāsaṃ kvāsmi gamiṣyāmi ko nv ahaṃ kim ihāsthitaḥ / kasmāt kam anuśoceyam ity evaṃ sthāpayen manaḥ); Wikisource reads क्वासे and कस्मात्किम्, recension variants, kept.

Verse 41 (12.27.41)

अनित्ये प्रियसंवासे संसारे चक्रवद्गतौ । पथि संगतमेवैतद्भ्राता माता पिता सखा ॥

anitye priyasaṃvāse saṃsāre cakravadgatau | pathi saṃgatamevaitadbhrātā mātā pitā sakhā

In this transient round of rebirths, where dear companionship is brief and the course turns like a wheel, this is a meeting on the road: brother, mother, father, friend.

Note on the text: Corrected धाता माता → भ्राता माता (misprint in Wikisource; the list is “brother, mother, father, friend”; the critical edition’s star passage 12.28.40f*0037_01 reads bhrātā mātā pitā sakhā). Second line = CE 12.28.40f*0037_01 (pathi saṃgatam evaitad bhrātā mātā pitā sakhā), a star passage; first line = CE 12.28.40e (anitye priyasaṃvāse saṃsāre cakravad gatau). Wikisource divides the CE’s three-line verse 40 into two couplets (40ac, then 40e + star line).

Verse 42 (12.27.42)

न दृष्टपूर्वं प्रत्यक्षं परलोकं विदुर्बुधाः । आगमांस्त्वनतिक्रम्य श्रद्धातव्यं बुभूषता ॥

na dṛṣṭapūrvaṃ pratyakṣaṃ paralokaṃ vidurbudhāḥ | āgamāṃstvanatikramya śraddhātavyaṃ bubhūṣatā

The wise know that the other world has never been seen by direct perception; so one who wishes to prosper should hold faith, without transgressing the scriptures.

Verse 43 (12.27.43)

कुर्वीत पितृदैवत्यं धर्म्याणि च समाचरेत् । यजेच्च विद्वान्विधिवत्त्रिवर्गं चाप्युपाचरेत् ॥

kurvīta pitṛdaivatyaṃ dharmyāṇi ca samācaret | yajecca vidvānvidhivattrivargaṃ cāpyupācaret

Let him perform the rites for the ancestors and the gods and practise what is righteous; and let the wise man sacrifice according to the rule and follow the three aims of life.

Note on the text: Corrected विधिवत्रिवर्गं → विधिवत्त्रिवर्गं (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped त in the sandhi vidhivat + trivargam; the critical edition reads vidhivat trivargaṃ).

Verse 44 (12.27.44)

सन्निमज्जेज्जगदिदं गम्भीरे कालसागरे । जरामृत्युमहाग्राहे न कश्चिदवबुध्यते ॥

sannimajjejjagadidaṃ gambhīre kālasāgare | jarāmṛtyumahāgrāhe na kaścidavabudhyate

This world is sinking in the deep ocean of Time, whose great crocodiles are old age and death, and no one awakens to it.

Verse 45 (12.27.45)

आयुर्वेदमधीयानाः केवलं सपरिग्रहाः । दृश्यन्ते बहवो वैद्या व्याधिभिः समभिप्लुताः ॥

āyurvedamadhīyānāḥ kevalaṃ saparigrahāḥ | dṛśyante bahavo vaidyā vyādhibhiḥ samabhiplutāḥ

Many physicians, who have studied the science of life and have all their equipment, are seen overwhelmed by diseases.

Note on the text: Corrected समबिप्लुताः → समभिप्लुताः (misprint in Wikisource; ब for भ; the critical edition reads samabhiplutāḥ).

Verse 46 (12.27.46)

ते पिबन्तः कषायांश्च सर्पीषि विविधानि च । न मृत्युमतिवर्तन्ते वेलामिव महोदधिः ॥

te pibantaḥ kaṣāyāṃśca sarpīṣi vividhāni ca | na mṛtyumativartante velāmiva mahodadhiḥ

Though they drink decoctions and ghees of many kinds, they do not pass beyond death, as the ocean does not pass its shore.

Verse 47 (12.27.47)

रसायनविदश्चैव सुप्रयुक्तरसायनाः । दृश्यन्ते जरया भग्ना नागा नागैरिवोत्तमैः ॥

rasāyanavidaścaiva suprayuktarasāyanāḥ | dṛśyante jarayā bhagnā nāgā nāgairivottamaiḥ

Likewise, those who know the elixirs and have used them well are seen broken by old age, like elephants by mightier elephants.

Verse 48 (12.27.48)

तथैव तपसोपेताः स्वाध्यायाध्ययने रताः । दातारो यज्ञशीलाश्च न तरन्ति जरान्तकौ ॥

tathaiva tapasopetāḥ svādhyāyādhyayane ratāḥ | dātāro yajñaśīlāśca na taranti jarāntakau

So too men rich in austerity, devoted to study and recitation, givers and performers of sacrifice, cannot cross old age and the Ender.

Verse 49 (12.27.49)

न ह्यहानि निवर्तन्ते न मासा न पुनः समाः । जातानां सर्वभूतानां न पुनर्वै समागमः ॥

na hyahāni nivartante na māsā na punaḥ samāḥ | jātānāṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ na punarvai samāgamaḥ

Days do not return, nor months, nor years; for beings that are born there is no coming together again.

Verse 50 (12.27.50)

सोऽयं विपुलमध्वानं कालेन ध्रुवमध्रुवः । स्रोतसैव समभ्येति सर्वभूतनिषेवितम् ॥

so'yaṃ vipulamadhvānaṃ kālena dhruvamadhruvaḥ | srotasaiva samabhyeti sarvabhūtaniṣevitam

Thus this impermanent one, as though firm, is carried by Time along the long road that all beings have travelled, as if swept by a current.

Verse 51 (12.27.51)

देहो वा जीविताद्व्येति देही वाऽप्येति देहतः । पथि संगतमेवेदं दारैरन्यैश्च बन्धुभिः ॥

deho vā jīvitādvyeti dehī vā'pyeti dehataḥ | pathi saṃgatamevedaṃ dārairanyaiśca bandhubhiḥ

Either the body departs from life, or the embodied departs from the body; this is a meeting on the road, with wives and other kinsmen.

Verse 52 (12.27.52)

नायमत्यन्तसंवासो लभ्यते जातु केनचित् । अपि स्वेन शरीरेण किमुतान्येन केनचित् ॥

nāyamatyantasaṃvāso labhyate jātu kenacit | api svena śarīreṇa kimutānyena kenacit

No one ever gets a permanent abode together with anyone, not even with his own body, much less with another.

Verse 53 (12.27.53)

क्वनु तेऽद्य पिता राजन्क्वनु तेऽद्य पितामहाः । न त्वं पश्यसि तानद्य न त्वां पश्यन्ति तेऽनघ ॥

kvanu te'dya pitā rājankvanu te'dya pitāmahāḥ | na tvaṃ paśyasi tānadya na tvāṃ paśyanti te'nagha

Where now is your father, O king, where now are your grandfathers? You do not see them now, nor do they see you, blameless one.

Verse 54 (12.27.54)

न चैव पुरुषो द्रष्टा स्वर्गस्य नरकस्य च । आगमस्तु सतां चक्षुर्नृपते तमिहाचर ॥

na caiva puruṣo draṣṭā svargasya narakasya ca | āgamastu satāṃ cakṣurnṛpate tamihācara

A man cannot himself see heaven or hell; the scripture is the eye of the good. Follow it here, O lord of men.

Verse 55 (12.27.55)

चरितब्रह्मचर्यो हि प्रजायेत यजेत च । पितृदेवमनुष्याणामानृण्यादनसूयकः ॥

caritabrahmacaryo hi prajāyeta yajeta ca | pitṛdevamanuṣyāṇāmānṛṇyādanasūyakaḥ

Having lived the celibate life, let him beget offspring and offer sacrifice, free from envy, so as to be quit of his debt to the ancestors, the gods and men.

Verse 56 (12.27.56)

स यज्ञशीलः प्रजने निविष्टः । प्राग्ब्रह्मचारी प्रविभक्तभैक्षः । आराधयेत्स्वर्गमिमं च लोकं । परं च मुक्त्वा हृदयव्यलीकम् ॥

sa yajñaśīlaḥ prajane niviṣṭaḥ | prāgbrahmacārī pravibhaktabhaikṣaḥ | ārādhayetsvargamimaṃ ca lokaṃ | paraṃ ca muktvā hṛdayavyalīkam

Devoted to sacrifice, engaged in begetting offspring, one who was first a celibate student and shares out his alms, would win heaven and this world, and the next as well, casting off the hurt of the heart.

Verse 57 (12.27.57)

सम्यक्स्वधर्मं चरतो नृपस्य । द्रव्याणि चाभ्याहरतो यथावत् । प्रवृद्धचक्रस्य यशोऽभिवर्धते । सर्वेषु लोकेषु चराचरेषु ॥

samyaksvadharmaṃ carato nṛpasya | dravyāṇi cābhyāharato yathāvat | pravṛddhacakrasya yaśo'bhivardhate | sarveṣu lokeṣu carācareṣu

For the king who duly follows his own duty and gathers wealth as is proper, whose wheel of power has grown great, fame increases in all the worlds, moving and unmoving.

Verse 58 (12.27.58)

इत्येवमाकर्ण्य विदेहराजो । वाक्यं समग्रं परिपूर्णहेतुः । अश्मानमामन्त्र्य विशुद्धबुद्धि । र्ययौ गृहं स्वं प्रति शान्तशोकः ॥

ityevamākarṇya videharājo | vākyaṃ samagraṃ paripūrṇahetuḥ | aśmānamāmantrya viśuddhabuddhi | ryayau gṛhaṃ svaṃ prati śāntaśokaḥ

Having heard this whole discourse, complete in its reasons, the king of Videha took leave of Ashma, and with his mind cleansed and his grief stilled went back to his own home.

Note on the text: Corrected परिपूर्णहेतु → परिपूर्णहेतुः (misprint in Wikisource; final visarga dropped; the critical edition reads paripūrṇahetuḥ). Speaker: the page prints no heading here, and the input carried अश्मा over from verse 5. This verse is Vyasa’s narration of how the tale ended, so it is given to Vyasa (the CE heads 12.28.57 vyāsa uvāca).

Verse 59 (12.27.59)

तथा त्वमप्यद्य विमुच्य शोक । मुत्तिष्ठ शक्रोपम हर्षमेहि । क्षात्रेण धर्मेण मही जिता ते । तां भुङ्क्ष्व कुन्तीसुत मावमंस्थाः ॥

tathā tvamapyadya vimucya śoka | muttiṣṭha śakropama harṣamehi | kṣātreṇa dharmeṇa mahī jitā te | tāṃ bhuṅkṣva kuntīsuta māvamaṃsthāḥ

So you too, today, cast off your grief; rise up, equal of Indra, and be glad. The earth has been won by you through the dharma of a warrior; enjoy it, son of Kunti, and do not despise it.

Note on the text: Speaker: Vyasa, continuing from verse 58 and turning to Yudhishthira (CE 12.28.58 follows the vyāsa uvāca heading at 12.28.57). Lines 1 and 3 split sandhi across the line break as printed on the page (शोक / मुत्तिष्ठ).