The Brahmin and the Earth: Pururavas and the Wind

Verse 1 (12.72.1)

कीदृशो ब्राह्मणो राजा कार्याकार्यविचारणे । क्षमः कर्तुं समर्थो वा तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥

kīdṛśo brāhmaṇo rājā kāryākāryavicāraṇe | kṣamaḥ kartuṃ samartho vā tanme brūhi pitāmaha

What kind of brahmin is it who is able and competent for a king in weighing what should and should not be done? Tell me that, grandfather.

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 12.73.1d*0178_01-02 (headed *0178_00 yudhiṣṭhira uvāca; the critical edition reads rājñāṃ for Wikisource's राजा). Removed the stray backtick, quote mark and doubled daṇḍa.

Verse 2 (12.72.2)

य एव तु सतो रक्षेदसतश्च निवर्तयेत् । स एव राज्ञा कर्तव्यो राजन्राजपुरोहितः ॥

ya eva tu sato rakṣedasataśca nivartayet | sa eva rājñā kartavyo rājanrājapurohitaḥ

He who protects the good and drives away the wicked, O king, should be made the king's household priest.

Verse 3 (12.72.3)

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । पुरूरवस ऐलस्य संवादं मातरिश्वना ॥

atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | purūravasa ailasya saṃvādaṃ mātariśvanā

On this they cite an ancient tale: the dialogue between Pururavas, son of Ila, and Matarishvan.

Verse 4 (12.72.4)

कुतः स्विद्ब्राह्मणो जातो वर्णाश्चापि कुतस्त्रयः । कस्माच्च भवति श्रेयांस्तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि ॥

kutaḥ svidbrāhmaṇo jāto varṇāścāpi kutastrayaḥ | kasmācca bhavati śreyāṃstanme vyākhyātumarhasi

Whence was the brahmin born, and whence the other three classes? And from what does he become the best? Be pleased to explain this to me.

Note on the text: Speaker as the page heads it (पुरूरवा उवाच); the critical edition (12.73.3) heads this verse aila uvāca. Aila and Pururavas are the same person.

Verse 5 (12.72.5)

ब्राह्मणो मुखतः सृष्टो ब्रह्मणो राजसत्तम । बाहुभ्यां क्षत्रियः सृष्ट ऊरुभ्यां वैश्य एव च ॥

brāhmaṇo mukhataḥ sṛṣṭo brahmaṇo rājasattama | bāhubhyāṃ kṣatriyaḥ sṛṣṭa ūrubhyāṃ vaiśya eva ca

The brahmin was created from the mouth of Brahma, O best of kings; the kshatriya was created from his arms, and the vaishya from his thighs.

Note on the text: Speaker as the page heads it (मातरिश्वोवाच); the critical edition (12.73.4) heads this verse vāyur uvāca. Matarishvan is a name of the Wind.

Verse 6 (12.72.6)

वर्णानां परिचर्यार्थं त्रयाणां भरतर्षभ । वर्णश्चतुर्थः पश्चात्तु पद्भ्यां शूद्रो विनिर्मितः ॥

varṇānāṃ paricaryārthaṃ trayāṇāṃ bharatarṣabha | varṇaścaturthaḥ paścāttu padbhyāṃ śūdro vinirmitaḥ

For the service of the three classes, O best of the Bharatas, the fourth class, the shudra, was made afterward from his feet.

Note on the text: Corrected परिचर्यार्यं → परिचर्यार्थं (misprint in Wikisource; ya for tha, the critical edition has paricaryārthaṃ) and पभ्द्यां → पद्भ्यां (misprint in Wikisource; the conjunct is dbh, as in the critical edition's padbhyāṃ).

Verse 7 (12.72.7)

ब्राह्मणो जायमानो हि पृथिव्यामनुजायते । ईश्वरः सर्वभूतानां धर्मकोशस्य गुप्तये ॥

brāhmaṇo jāyamāno hi pṛthivyāmanujāyate | īśvaraḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ dharmakośasya guptaye

As soon as he is born, the brahmin is born upon the earth as lord of all beings, to guard the treasury of dharma.

Verse 8 (12.72.8)

सर्वस्वं ब्राह्मणस्येदं यत्किंचिदिह दृश्यते । धर्मयुक्तं प्रशस्तं च जगत्यस्मिन्नृपात्मज ॥

sarvasvaṃ brāhmaṇasyedaṃ yatkiṃcidiha dṛśyate | dharmayuktaṃ praśastaṃ ca jagatyasminnṛpātmaja

All this that is seen here belongs to the brahmin; whatever in this world is joined to dharma and is excellent, O prince.

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 12.73.6d*0179_01-02. Removed the stray backticks, quote mark and doubled daṇḍa.

Verse 9 (12.72.9)

ततः पृथिव्या यन्तारं क्षत्रियं दण्डधारणे । द्वितीयं वर्णमकरोत्प्रजानामनुगुप्तये ॥

tataḥ pṛthivyā yantāraṃ kṣatriyaṃ daṇḍadhāraṇe | dvitīyaṃ varṇamakarotprajānāmanuguptaye

Then, to restrain the earth by wielding the rod of punishment, he made the kshatriya the second class, for the protection of the people.

Verse 10 (12.72.10)

वैश्यस्तु धनधान्येन त्रीन्वर्णान्बिभृयादिमान् । शूद्रो ह्येतान्परिचरेदिति ब्रह्मानुशासनम् ॥

vaiśyastu dhanadhānyena trīnvarṇānbibhṛyādimān | śūdro hyetānparicarediti brahmānuśāsanam

The vaishya is to support these three classes with wealth and grain, and the shudra to serve them: such is the command of Brahma.

Verse 11 (12.72.11)

द्विजस्य क्षत्रबन्धोर्वा कस्येयं पृथिवी भवेत् । धर्मतः सह वित्तेन सम्यग्वायो प्रचक्ष्व मे ॥

dvijasya kṣatrabandhorvā kasyeyaṃ pṛthivī bhavet | dharmataḥ saha vittena samyagvāyo pracakṣva me

To whom does this earth belong, to a brahmin or to a kshatriya, by dharma together with its wealth? Tell me this exactly, Vayu.

Verse 12 (12.72.12)

विप्रस्य सर्वमेवैतद्यत्किंचिज्जगतीगतम् । धनं धान्यं हिरण्यं च स्त्रियो रत्नानि वाहनम् ॥

viprasya sarvamevaitadyatkiṃcijjagatīgatam | dhanaṃ dhānyaṃ hiraṇyaṃ ca striyo ratnāni vāhanam

All this belongs to the brahmin, whatever there is on the earth: wealth, grain, gold, women, jewels and vehicles.

Note on the text: Line 1 is 12.73.10a; line 2 is the star line 12.73.10b*0180_01. Removed the stray opening backtick.

Verse 13 (12.72.13)

मङ्गलं च प्रशस्तं च यच्चान्यदपि विद्यते । ज्येष्ठेनाभिजनेनेह तद्धर्मकुशला विदुः ॥

maṅgalaṃ ca praśastaṃ ca yaccānyadapi vidyate | jyeṣṭhenābhijaneneha taddharmakuśalā viduḥ

Whatever is auspicious and excellent, and whatever else exists, those skilled in dharma know to be his by right of seniority and high birth.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the star line 12.73.10b*0180_02; line 2 is 12.73.10c. Removed the stray closing quote mark and the misplaced danda in line 1.

Verse 14 (12.72.14)

स्वमेव ब्राह्मणो भुङ्क्ते स्वं वस्ते स्वं ददाति च । गुरुर्हि सर्ववर्णानां ज्येष्ठः श्रेष्ठश्च वै द्विजः ॥

svameva brāhmaṇo bhuṅkte svaṃ vaste svaṃ dadāti ca | gururhi sarvavarṇānāṃ jyeṣṭhaḥ śreṣṭhaśca vai dvijaḥ

The brahmin eats only his own, wears his own, and gives away his own. He is the teacher of all the classes, the eldest and the best, the twice-born.

Verse 15 (12.72.15)

पत्यभावे यथैव स्त्री देवरं कुरुते पतिम् । आनन्तर्यात्तथा क्षत्रं पृथिवी कुरुते पतिम् । एष ते प्रथमः कल्प आपद्यन्यो भवेदतः ॥

patyabhāve yathaiva strī devaraṃ kurute patim | ānantaryāttathā kṣatraṃ pṛthivī kurute patim | eṣa te prathamaḥ kalpa āpadyanyo bhavedataḥ

As a woman, when she has no husband, takes her husband's brother as her husband, so the earth, being next in order, takes the kshatriya as her lord. This is the first rule for you; in time of distress another applies after it.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are 12.73.12a and 12.73.12c (line 1 reads यथैव स्त्री देवरं for the critical edition's yathā strī hi devaraṃ); line 3 is 12.73.13a. Removed the stray backticks and quote mark around line 2.

Verse 16 (12.72.16)

यदि स्वर्गे परं स्थानं धर्मतः परिमार्गसि । यत्किंचिज्जयसे भूमिं ब्राह्मणाय निवेदय ॥

yadi svarge paraṃ sthānaṃ dharmataḥ parimārgasi | yatkiṃcijjayase bhūmiṃ brāhmaṇāya nivedaya

If you seek the highest place in heaven through dharma, then whatever land you conquer, offer it to a brahmin,

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 correspond to 12.73.13c and 12.73.14a (line 2 reads यत्किंचिज्जयसे भूमिं for the critical edition's yaḥ kaś cid vijayed bhūmiṃ).

Verse 17 (12.72.17)

श्रुतवृत्तोपपन्नाय धर्मज्ञाय तपस्विने । स्वधर्मपरितृप्ताय यो न वित्तपरो भवेत् ॥

śrutavṛttopapannāya dharmajñāya tapasvine | svadharmaparitṛptāya yo na vittaparo bhavet

to one learned in the scriptures and of good conduct, who knows dharma and is an ascetic, content with his own duty and not set on wealth,

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 correspond to 12.73.14c and 12.73.15a.

Verse 18 (12.72.18)

यो राजानं नयेद्बुद्ध्या सर्वतः परिपूर्णया । ब्राह्मणो हि कुले जातः कृतप्रज्ञो विनीतवान् ॥

yo rājānaṃ nayedbuddhyā sarvataḥ paripūrṇayā | brāhmaṇo hi kule jātaḥ kṛtaprajño vinītavān

one who would guide the king with an intellect complete on every side — a brahmin born in a good family, trained in mind and gentle in speech.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 correspond to 12.73.15c and 12.73.16a.

Verse 19 (12.72.19)

श्रेयो नयति राजानं ब्रुवंश्चित्रां सरस्वतीम् । राजा चरति यं धर्मं ब्राह्मणेन निदर्शितम् ॥

śreyo nayati rājānaṃ bruvaṃścitrāṃ sarasvatīm | rājā carati yaṃ dharmaṃ brāhmaṇena nidarśitam

Such a brahmin, speaking in eloquent and varied words, leads the king to what is best. Whatever dharma the king practises as shown to him by the brahmin,

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 correspond to 12.73.16c and 12.73.17a.

Verse 20 (12.72.20)

शुश्रूषुरनहंवादी क्षत्रधर्मव्रते स्थितः । तावता सत्कृतः प्राज्ञश्चिरं यशसि तिष्ठति ॥

śuśrūṣuranahaṃvādī kṣatradharmavrate sthitaḥ | tāvatā satkṛtaḥ prājñaściraṃ yaśasi tiṣṭhati

obedient, free from conceit, and firm in the vow of a kshatriya's duty, by that much he becomes honoured, and the wise king remains long in fame.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 correspond to 12.73.17c and 12.73.18a (line 2 reads तावता सत्कृतः प्राज्ञः for the critical edition's tāvatā sa kṛtaprajñaḥ).

Verse 21 (12.72.21)

तस्य धर्मस्य सर्वस्य भागी राजपुरोहितः । एवमेव प्रजाः सर्वा राजानमभिसंश्रिताः ॥

tasya dharmasya sarvasya bhāgī rājapurohitaḥ | evameva prajāḥ sarvā rājānamabhisaṃśritāḥ

The king's priest has a share in all that dharma. In just this way all the people have taken refuge in the king,

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 correspond to 12.73.18c and 12.73.19a.

Verse 22 (12.72.22)

ब्राह्मणं च सुविद्वांसं राजशास्त्रविपश्चितम् । सम्यग्वृत्ताः स्वधर्मस्था न कुतश्चिद्भयान्विताः ॥

brāhmaṇaṃ ca suvidvāṃsaṃ rājaśāstravipaścitam | samyagvṛttāḥ svadharmasthā na kutaścidbhayānvitāḥ

and in a brahmin deeply learned and expert in the science of kings; living rightly and standing in their own duties, they fear nothing from any quarter.

Note on the text: Corrected सविद्वांसं → सुविद्वांसं (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition's star line 12.73.19b*0181_01 reads suvidvāṃsaṃ). Line 1 is not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension; star line 12.73.19b*0181_01); line 2 is 12.73.19c. Removed the stray backticks and quote mark.

Verse 23 (12.72.23)

राष्ट्रे चरन्ति यं धर्मं राज्ञा साध्वभिरक्षिताः । चतुर्थं तस्य धर्मस्य राजा भागं तु विन्दति ॥

rāṣṭre caranti yaṃ dharmaṃ rājñā sādhvabhirakṣitāḥ | caturthaṃ tasya dharmasya rājā bhāgaṃ tu vindati

Whatever dharma the people practise in the realm, well guarded by the king, a fourth part of that dharma the king obtains.

Verse 24 (12.72.24)

देवा मनुष्याः पितरो गन्धर्वोरगराक्षसाः । यज्ञमेवोपजीवन्ति नास्ति यष्टा ह्यराजके ॥

devā manuṣyāḥ pitaro gandharvoragarākṣasāḥ | yajñamevopajīvanti nāsti yaṣṭā hyarājake

Gods, men, ancestors, gandharvas, serpents and rakshasas all live on sacrifice; and where there is no king, there is no one to sacrifice.

Verse 25 (12.72.25)

इतो दत्तेन जीवन्ति देवताः पितरस्तथा । राजन्येवास्य धर्मस्य योगक्षेमः प्रतिष्ठितः ॥

ito dattena jīvanti devatāḥ pitarastathā | rājanyevāsya dharmasya yogakṣemaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ

Gods and ancestors live on what is given from here, and the security and livelihood of this dharma rest upon the king.

Verse 26 (12.72.26)

छायायामप्सु वायौ च सुखमुष्णेऽधिगच्छति । अग्नौ वाससि सूर्ये च सुखं शीतेऽधिगच्छति । शब्दे स्पर्शे रसे रूपे गन्धे च रमते मनः ॥

chāyāyāmapsu vāyau ca sukhamuṣṇe'dhigacchati | agnau vāsasi sūrye ca sukhaṃ śīte'dhigacchati | śabde sparśe rase rūpe gandhe ca ramate manaḥ

In the heat one finds comfort in shade, in water and in wind; in the cold one finds comfort in fire, in clothing and in the sun; and the mind delights in sound, touch, taste, form and smell.

Note on the text: Lines 1–3 correspond to 12.73.23a, 12.73.23c and 12.73.24a. The input had no critical-edition match.

Verse 27 (12.72.27)

तेषु भोगेषु सर्वेषु न भीतो लभते सुखम् । अभयस्य हि यो दाता तस्यैव सुमहत्फलम् ॥

teṣu bhogeṣu sarveṣu na bhīto labhate sukham | abhayasya hi yo dātā tasyaiva sumahatphalam

Yet among all these enjoyments, a man who is afraid finds no happiness. He who gives freedom from fear gains a very great reward.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 correspond to 12.73.24c and 12.73.25a. The input had no critical-edition match.

Verse 28 (12.72.28)

न हि प्राणसमं दानं त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते । इन्द्रो राजा यमो राजा धर्मो राजा तथैव च । राजा बिभर्ति भूतानि राज्ञा सर्वमिदं धृतम् ॥

na hi prāṇasamaṃ dānaṃ triṣu lokeṣu vidyate | indro rājā yamo rājā dharmo rājā tathaiva ca | rājā bibharti bhūtāni rājñā sarvamidaṃ dhṛtam

There is no gift in the three worlds equal to the gift of life. The king is Indra, the king is Yama, and likewise the king is Dharma; the king sustains beings, and by the king all this is upheld.

Note on the text: Lines 1–3 correspond to 12.73.25c, 12.73.26a and 12.73.26c (line 3 reads राजा बिभर्ति भूतानि for the critical edition's rājā bibharti rūpāṇi). The input had no critical-edition match.