Only Dharma Follows Beyond Death

Verse 1 (5.40.1)

योऽभ्यर्चितः सद्भिरसज्जमानः । करोत्यर्थं शक्तिमहापयित्वा । क्षिप्रं यशस्तं समुपैति सन्त- । मलं प्रसन्ना हि सुखाय सन्तः ॥

yo'bhyarcitaḥ sadbhirasajjamānaḥ | karotyarthaṃ śaktimahāpayitvā | kṣipraṃ yaśastaṃ samupaiti santa- | malaṃ prasannā hi sukhāya santaḥ

One who, honoured by the good, does their work without attachment and without holding back his strength, quickly wins fame; for the good, once pleased, are well able to bring happiness.

Note on the text: Corrected मद्भिरसञ्जमानः → सद्भिरसज्जमानः (Wikisource typo; sanskritdocuments and the critical edition read सद्भिरसज्जमानः). Corrected मन्त- → सन्त- (Wikisource typo; sanskritdocuments and the critical edition read सन्त-).

Verse 2 (5.40.2)

महान्तमप्यर्थमधर्मयुक्तं । यः सन्त्यजत्यनपाकृष्ट एव । सुखं सुदुःखान्यवमुच्य शेते । जीर्णां त्वचं सर्प इवावमुच्य ॥

mahāntamapyarthamadharmayuktaṃ | yaḥ santyajatyanapākṛṣṭa eva | sukhaṃ suduḥkhānyavamucya śete | jīrṇāṃ tvacaṃ sarpa ivāvamucya

He who gives up even great wealth that is tainted by unrighteousness, without being forced to, casts off his heavy sorrows and sleeps at ease, like a snake that has shed its worn-out skin.

Note on the text: Corrected मन्त्यजत्य → सन्त्यजत्य (Wikisource typo; sanskritdocuments and the critical edition read सन्त्यजत्य).

Verse 3 (5.40.3)

अनृते च समुत्कर्षो राजगामि च पैशुनम् । गुरोश्चालीकनिर्बन्धः समानि ब्रह्महत्यया ॥

anṛte ca samutkarṣo rājagāmi ca paiśunam | guroścālīkanirbandhaḥ samāni brahmahatyayā

Raising oneself up by falsehood, tale-bearing that reaches the king, and persistent deceit toward one's teacher: these three are equal to killing a brahmin.

Note on the text: Corrected समुत्कर्पो → समुत्कर्षो (Wikisource typo; sanskritdocuments and the critical edition read the word with ष (समुत्कर्षे)).

Verse 4 (5.40.4)

असूयैकपदं मृत्युरतिवादः श्रियो वधः । अशुश्रूषा त्वरा श्लाघा विद्यायाः शत्रवस्त्रयः ॥

asūyaikapadaṃ mṛtyurativādaḥ śriyo vadhaḥ | aśuśrūṣā tvarā ślāghā vidyāyāḥ śatravastrayaḥ

Envy is death at a single step, and arrogant speech is the slaying of fortune. Unwillingness to listen and serve, haste and self-praise are the three enemies of learning.

Note on the text: Corrected शत्रवस्त्रः → शत्रवस्त्रयः (Wikisource typo; sanskritdocuments and the critical edition read शत्रवस्त्रयः).

Verse 5 (5.40.5)

आलस्यं मदमोहौ च चापलं गोष्ठिरेव च । स्तब्धता चाभिमानित्वं तथा त्यागित्वमेव च । एते वै सप्त दोषाः स्युः सदा विद्यार्थिनां मताः ॥

ālasyaṃ madamohau ca cāpalaṃ goṣṭhireva ca | stabdhatā cābhimānitvaṃ tathā tyāgitvameva ca | ete vai sapta doṣāḥ syuḥ sadā vidyārthināṃ matāḥ

Idleness, intoxication and infatuation, fickleness, idle gatherings, obstinacy, conceit and the inability to give things up: these are always held to be the seven faults of students.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 6 (5.40.6)

सुखार्थिनः कुतो विद्या नास्ति विद्यार्थिनः सुखं । सुखार्थी वा त्यजेद्विद्यां विद्यार्थी वा त्यजेत्सुखम् ॥

sukhārthinaḥ kuto vidyā nāsti vidyārthinaḥ sukhaṃ | sukhārthī vā tyajedvidyāṃ vidyārthī vā tyajetsukham

Where is learning for one who seeks comfort? There is no comfort for one who seeks learning. Let the seeker of comfort give up learning, or the seeker of learning give up comfort.

Verse 7 (5.40.7)

नाग्निस्तृप्यति काष्ठानां नापगानां महोदधिः । नान्तकः सर्वभूतानां न पुंसां वामलोचना ॥

nāgnistṛpyati kāṣṭhānāṃ nāpagānāṃ mahodadhiḥ | nāntakaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ na puṃsāṃ vāmalocanā

Fire is never sated with firewood, nor the great ocean with rivers, nor Death with all living beings, nor a fair-eyed woman with men.

Verse 8 (5.40.8)

आशा धृतिं हन्ति समृद्धिमन्तकः । क्रोधः श्रियं हन्ति यशः कदर्यता । अपालनं हन्ति पशूंश्च राज- । न्नेकः क्रुद्धो ब्राह्मणो हन्ति राष्ट्रम् ॥

āśā dhṛtiṃ hanti samṛddhimantakaḥ | krodhaḥ śriyaṃ hanti yaśaḥ kadaryatā | apālanaṃ hanti paśūṃśca rāja- | nnekaḥ kruddho brāhmaṇo hanti rāṣṭram

Craving destroys composure, Death destroys prosperity, anger destroys fortune, miserliness destroys fame, neglect destroys cattle, and a single angry brahmin, O king, destroys a whole kingdom.

Verse 9 (5.40.9)

अजाश्च कांस्यं रजतं च नित्यं । मध्वाकर्षः शकुनिः श्रोत्रियश्च । वृद्धो ज्ञातिरवसन्नः कुलीन । एतानि ते सन्तु गृहे सदैव ॥

ajāśca kāṃsyaṃ rajataṃ ca nityaṃ | madhvākarṣaḥ śakuniḥ śrotriyaśca | vṛddho jñātiravasannaḥ kulīna | etāni te santu gṛhe sadaiva

Let these always be in your house: goats, bronze, silver, honey, a remedy that draws out poison, a bird, a brahmin learned in the Veda, an aged kinsman, and a man of good family fallen on hard times.

Verse 10 (5.40.10)

अजोक्षा चन्दनं वीणा आदर्शो मधुसर्पिषी । विषमौदुम्बरं शङ्खः स्वर्णनाभोऽथ रोचना ॥

ajokṣā candanaṃ vīṇā ādarśo madhusarpiṣī | viṣamaudumbaraṃ śaṅkhaḥ svarṇanābho'tha rocanā

A goat, a bull, sandalwood, a vina, a mirror, honey and ghee, water, a copper vessel, a conch, the shalagrama stone and gorochana:

Verse 11 (5.40.11)

गृहे स्थापयितव्यानि धन्यानि मनुरब्रवीत् । देवब्राह्मणपूजार्थमतिथीनां च भारत ॥

gṛhe sthāpayitavyāni dhanyāni manurabravīt | devabrāhmaṇapūjārthamatithīnāṃ ca bhārata

these auspicious things, Manu said, should be kept in the house for the worship of the gods and brahmins and for the honouring of guests, O Bharata.

Verse 12 (5.40.12)

इदं च त्वां सर्वपरं ब्रवीमि । पुण्यं पदं तात महाविशिष्टम् । न जातु कामान्न भयान्न लोभा- । द्धर्मं जह्याज्जीवितस्यापि हेतोः ॥

idaṃ ca tvāṃ sarvaparaṃ bravīmi | puṇyaṃ padaṃ tāta mahāviśiṣṭam | na jātu kāmānna bhayānna lobhā- | ddharmaṃ jahyājjīvitasyāpi hetoḥ

And this, dear one, I tell you as the highest of all, a holy word of surpassing worth: never abandon dharma out of desire, fear or greed, not even to save your life.

Note on the text: Corrected जीविस्यापि → जीवितस्यापि (Wikisource typo; sanskritdocuments and the critical edition read जीवितस्यापि).

Verse 13 (5.40.13)

नित्यो धर्मः सुखदुःखे त्वनित्ये । जीवो नित्यो धातुरस्य त्वनित्यः । त्यक्त्वाऽनित्यं प्रतितिष्ठस्व नित्ये । संतुष्य सन्तोषपरा हि सन्तः ॥

nityo dharmaḥ sukhaduḥkhe tvanitye | jīvo nityo dhāturasya tvanityaḥ | tyaktvā'nityaṃ pratitiṣṭhasva nitye | saṃtuṣya santoṣaparā hi santaḥ

Dharma is eternal; pleasure and pain are passing. The soul is eternal; its bodily frame is passing. Leave the transient and take your stand in the eternal. Be content, for the good hold contentment above all.

Verse 14 (5.40.14)

महाबलान्पश्य महानुभावान् । प्रशास्य भूमिं धनधान्यपूर्णाम् । राज्यानि हित्वा विपुलांश्च भोगान् । गतान्नरेन्द्रान्वशमन्तकस्य ॥

mahābalānpaśya mahānubhāvān | praśāsya bhūmiṃ dhanadhānyapūrṇām | rājyāni hitvā vipulāṃśca bhogān | gatānnarendrānvaśamantakasya

Look at the mighty and glorious kings who ruled the earth, full of wealth and grain, and then passed into the power of Death, leaving behind their kingdoms and their vast pleasures.

Verse 15 (5.40.15)

मृतं पुत्रं दुःखपुष्टं मनुष्या । उत्क्षिप्य राजन्स्वगृहान्निर्हरन्ति । तं मुक्तकेशाः करुणं रुदन्ति । चितामध्ये काष्ठमिव क्षिपन्ति ॥

mṛtaṃ putraṃ duḥkhapuṣṭaṃ manuṣyā | utkṣipya rājansvagṛhānnirharanti | taṃ muktakeśāḥ karuṇaṃ rudanti | citāmadhye kāṣṭhamiva kṣipanti

O king, when a son raised with great pains dies, people lift him up and carry him out of their home. With hair unbound they weep piteously, and then they cast him onto the pyre like a piece of wood.

Verse 16 (5.40.16)

अन्यो धनं प्रेतगतस्य भुङ्क्ते । वयांसि चाग्निश्च शरीरधातून् । द्वाभ्यामयं सह गच्छत्यमुत्र । पुण्येन पापेन च वेष्ट्यमानः ॥

anyo dhanaṃ pretagatasya bhuṅkte | vayāṃsi cāgniśca śarīradhātūn | dvābhyāmayaṃ saha gacchatyamutra | puṇyena pāpena ca veṣṭyamānaḥ

Someone else enjoys the dead man's wealth, while birds and fire consume the elements of his body. He goes to the other world with only two companions, merit and sin, which cling about him.

Verse 17 (5.40.17)

उत्सृज्य विनिवर्तन्ते ज्ञातयः सुहृदः सुताः । अपुष्पानफलान्वृक्षान्यथा तात पतत्रिणः ॥

utsṛjya vinivartante jñātayaḥ suhṛdaḥ sutāḥ | apuṣpānaphalānvṛkṣānyathā tāta patatriṇaḥ

Kinsmen, friends and sons leave him and turn back, dear one, as birds abandon trees that bear neither flowers nor fruit.

Note on the text: Corrected उसृज्य → उत्सृज्य (Wikisource typo; sanskritdocuments and the critical edition read उत्सृज्य). The first line corresponds to CE 5.40.16ab; the second line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 18 (5.40.18)

अग्नौ प्रास्तं तु पुरुषं कर्मान्वेति स्वयं कृतम् । तस्मात्तु पुरुषो यत्नाद्धर्मं सञ्चिनुयाच्छनैः ॥

agnau prāstaṃ tu puruṣaṃ karmānveti svayaṃ kṛtam | tasmāttu puruṣo yatnāddharmaṃ sañcinuyācchanaiḥ

When a man is laid in the fire, only the deeds he himself has done go after him. Therefore a man should take care to gather dharma, little by little.

Note on the text: The first line corresponds to CE 5.40.16cd; the second line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 19 (5.40.19)

अस्माल्लोकादूर्ध्वममुष्य चाधो । महत्तमस्तिष्ठति ह्यन्धकारम् । तद्वै महामोहनमिन्द्रियाणां । बुध्यस्व मा त्वां प्रलभेत राजन् ॥

asmāllokādūrdhvamamuṣya cādho | mahattamastiṣṭhati hyandhakāram | tadvai mahāmohanamindriyāṇāṃ | budhyasva mā tvāṃ pralabheta rājan

Above this world and below the next lies a vast and blinding darkness. Know it, O king, as the great bewilderment of the senses, so that it may not seize you.

Note on the text: Corrected बुद्ध्यस्व → बुध्यस्व (Wikisource typo; sanskritdocuments and the critical edition read बुध्यस्व).

Verse 20 (5.40.20)

इदं वचः शक्ष्यसि चेद्यथाव- । न्निशम्य सर्वं प्रतिपत्तुमेव । यशः परं प्राप्स्यसि जीवलोके । भयं नचामुत्र नचेह तेऽस्ति ॥

idaṃ vacaḥ śakṣyasi cedyathāva- | nniśamya sarvaṃ pratipattumeva | yaśaḥ paraṃ prāpsyasi jīvaloke | bhayaṃ nacāmutra naceha te'sti

If, having heard all these words, you can take them to heart as they should be followed, you will win the highest fame in the world of the living, and you will have nothing to fear, here or hereafter.

Verse 21 (5.40.21)

आत्मा नदी भारत पुण्यतीर्था । सत्योदया धृतिकूला दयोर्मिः । तस्यां स्नातः पूयते पुण्यकर्मा । पुण्यो ह्यात्मा नित्यमलोभ एव ॥

ātmā nadī bhārata puṇyatīrthā | satyodayā dhṛtikūlā dayormiḥ | tasyāṃ snātaḥ pūyate puṇyakarmā | puṇyo hyātmā nityamalobha eva

O Bharata, the self is a river with holy places for bathing; truth is its source, steadfastness its banks and compassion its waves. One of good deeds who bathes in it is purified, for the self is holy and ever free of greed.

Verse 22 (5.40.22)

कामक्रोधग्राहवतीं पञ्चेन्द्रियजलां नदीम् । नावं धृतिमयीं कृत्वा जन्मदुर्गाणि संतर ॥

kāmakrodhagrāhavatīṃ pañcendriyajalāṃ nadīm | nāvaṃ dhṛtimayīṃ kṛtvā janmadurgāṇi saṃtara

This river has desire and anger for its crocodiles and the five senses for its waters. Make a boat of steadfastness and cross the perils of birth.

Verse 23 (5.40.23)

प्रज्ञावृद्धं धर्मवृद्धं स्वबन्धुं । विद्यावृद्धं वयसा चापि वृद्धम् । कार्याकार्ये पूजयित्वा प्रसाद्य । यः संपृच्छेन्न स मुह्येत्कदाचित् ॥

prajñāvṛddhaṃ dharmavṛddhaṃ svabandhuṃ | vidyāvṛddhaṃ vayasā cāpi vṛddham | kāryākārye pūjayitvā prasādya | yaḥ saṃpṛcchenna sa muhyetkadācit

He who honours and pleases a kinsman who is mature in wisdom, in dharma, in learning and in years, and consults him on what should and should not be done, is never led astray.

Verse 24 (5.40.24)

धृत्या शिश्नोदरं रक्षेत्पाणिपादं च चक्षुषा । चक्षुःश्रोत्रे च मनसा मनो वाचं च कर्मणा ॥

dhṛtyā śiśnodaraṃ rakṣetpāṇipādaṃ ca cakṣuṣā | cakṣuḥśrotre ca manasā mano vācaṃ ca karmaṇā

With firmness one should guard the loins and the belly; with the eyes, the hands and feet; with the mind, the eyes and ears; and with right action, the mind and speech.

Note on the text: Corrected शिश्रोदरं → शिश्नोदरं (Wikisource typo; sanskritdocuments and the critical edition read शिश्नोदरं).

Verse 25 (5.40.25)

नित्योदकी नित्ययज्ञोपवीती । नित्यस्वाध्यायी पतितान्नवर्जी । सत्यं ब्रुवन्गुरवे कर्म कुर्व- । न्न ब्राह्मणश्च्यवते ब्रह्मलोकात् ॥

nityodakī nityayajñopavītī | nityasvādhyāyī patitānnavarjī | satyaṃ bruvangurave karma kurva- | nna brāhmaṇaścyavate brahmalokāt

A brahmin who daily offers water, always wears the sacred thread, studies the Veda every day, refuses food from the fallen, speaks the truth and serves his teacher does not fall from the world of Brahma.

Note on the text: Corrected ब्राह्मणश्र्यवते → ब्राह्मणश्च्यवते (Wikisource typo; sanskritdocuments and the critical edition read ब्राह्मणश्च्यवते).

Verse 26 (5.40.26)

अधीत्य वेदान्परिसंस्तीर्य चाग्नी- । निष्ट्वा यज्ञैः पालयित्वा प्रजाश्च । गोब्राह्मणार्थं शस्त्रपूतान्तरात्मा । हतः सङ्ग्रामे क्षत्रियः स्वर्गमेति ॥

adhītya vedānparisaṃstīrya cāgnī- | niṣṭvā yajñaiḥ pālayitvā prajāśca | gobrāhmaṇārthaṃ śastrapūtāntarātmā | hataḥ saṅgrāme kṣatriyaḥ svargameti

A kshatriya who has studied the Vedas, tended the sacred fires, offered sacrifices and protected his people, and who is slain in battle for the sake of cows and brahmins, his inner self purified by weapons, goes to heaven.

Note on the text: Corrected गोब्रह्मणार्थं → गोब्राह्मणार्थं (Wikisource typo; sanskritdocuments and the critical edition read गोब्राह्मणार्थे).

Verse 27 (5.40.27)

वैश्योऽधीत्य ब्राह्मणान्क्षत्रियांश्च । धनैः काले संविभज्याश्रितांश्च । त्रेतापूतं धूममाघ्राय पुण्यं । प्रेत्य स्वर्गे दिव्यसुखानि भुङ्क्ते ॥

vaiśyo'dhītya brāhmaṇānkṣatriyāṃśca | dhanaiḥ kāle saṃvibhajyāśritāṃśca | tretāpūtaṃ dhūmamāghrāya puṇyaṃ | pretya svarge divyasukhāni bhuṅkte

A vaishya who has studied, who in due season shares his wealth with brahmins, kshatriyas and his dependants, and who breathes the holy smoke purified by the three fires, enjoys heavenly pleasures in heaven after death.

Verse 28 (5.40.28)

ब्रह्म क्षत्रं वैश्यवर्णं च शूद्रः । क्रमेणैतान्न्यायतः पूजयानः । तुष्टेष्वेतेष्वव्यथो दग्धपाप- । स्त्यक्त्वा देहं स्वर्गसुखानि भुङ्क्ते ॥

brahma kṣatraṃ vaiśyavarṇaṃ ca śūdraḥ | krameṇaitānnyāyataḥ pūjayānaḥ | tuṣṭeṣveteṣvavyatho dagdhapāpa- | styaktvā dehaṃ svargasukhāni bhuṅkte

A shudra who duly honours the brahmins, the kshatriyas and the vaishya class in their order, and keeps them satisfied, is free of distress; his sins burnt away, he leaves the body and enjoys the joys of heaven.

Verse 29 (5.40.29)

चातुर्वर्ण्यस्यैष धर्मस्तवोक्तो । हेतुं चानुब्रुवतो मे निबोध । क्षात्राद्धर्माद्धीयते पाण्डुपुत्र- । स्तं त्वं राजन्राजधर्मे नियुङ्क्ष्व ॥

cāturvarṇyasyaiṣa dharmastavokto | hetuṃ cānubruvato me nibodha | kṣātrāddharmāddhīyate pāṇḍuputra- | staṃ tvaṃ rājanrājadharme niyuṅkṣva

I have told you the dharma of the four varnas; now hear from me the reason I speak of it. The son of Pandu is falling away from the dharma of a kshatriya. O king, set him to his royal duty.

Note on the text: Corrected नियुङ्क्ष → नियुङ्क्ष्व (Wikisource typo; sanskritdocuments and the critical edition read नियुङ्क्ष्व).

Verse 30 (5.40.30)

एवमेतद्यथा त्वं मामनुशाससि नित्यदा । ममापि च मतिः सौम्य भवत्येवं यथात्थ माम् ॥

evametadyathā tvaṃ māmanuśāsasi nityadā | mamāpi ca matiḥ saumya bhavatyevaṃ yathāttha mām

It is just as you always counsel me. My own mind too, gentle one, inclines the way you tell me.

Note on the text: Corrected मामनुशासनि → मामनुशाससि (Wikisource typo; the critical edition reads अनुशाससि; sanskritdocuments reads अनुशासति, which also has स in place of the Wikisource न).

Verse 31 (5.40.31)

सा तु बुद्धिः कृताप्येवं पाण्डवान्प्रति मे सदा । दुर्योधनं समासाद्य पुनर्विपरिवर्तते ॥

sā tu buddhiḥ kṛtāpyevaṃ pāṇḍavānprati me sadā | duryodhanaṃ samāsādya punarviparivartate

But though my mind is always settled this way toward the Pandavas, once I am with Duryodhana it turns around again.

Verse 32 (5.40.32)

न दिष्टमभ्यतिक्रान्तुं शक्यं भूतेन केनचित् । दिष्टमेव ध्रुवं मन्ये पौरुषं तु निरर्थकम् ॥

na diṣṭamabhyatikrāntuṃ śakyaṃ bhūtena kenacit | diṣṭameva dhruvaṃ manye pauruṣaṃ tu nirarthakam

No being can get past destiny. Destiny alone, I think, is certain; human effort is futile.