pari-kulkarni/itihasa-sanskrit-en-filtered huggingface dataset:
Sanskrit: स्व्युवाच नानिलोऽग्निर्न वरुणो न चान्ये त्रिदशा द्विज॥ प्रियाः स्त्रीणां यथा कामोरतिशीला हि योषितः।
English: The lady said The very gods of wind and fire and water, or the other celestials, O twice born one are not so agreeable to women as the god of love. Indeed women are greatly fond of sexual union.
Sanskrit: सहस्रे किल नारीणां प्राप्येतैका कदाचन॥ तथा शतसहस्रेषु यदि काचित् पतिव्रता।
English: Among a thousand women, or perhaps, among hundreds of thousands, sometimes only one may be found who is devoted to her husband.
Sanskrit: नैता जानन्ति पितरं न कुलं न च मातरम्॥ न भ्रातॄन् न च भर्तारं न च पुत्रान् न देवरान्।
English: Under the influence of desire, they care not for fainily or father or mother or brother or husband or sons or husband's brother.
Sanskrit: लीलायन्त्यः कुलं घ्नन्ति कूलानीव सरिद्वराः। दोषान् सर्वांश्च मत्वाऽऽशु प्रजापतिरभाषत॥
English: Seeking what they consider happiness, they destroy the family even as many rivers wash away the banks that contain them. The Creator himself had said this marking the faults of women.
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच ततः स ऋषिरेकाग्रस्तां स्त्रियं प्रत्यभाषत। आस्यतां रुचितश्छन्दः किं च कार्यं ब्रवीहि मे॥
English: Bhishma said The Rishi, bent upon finding out the faults of women, addressed that lady saying Cease to speak to me thus! Yearning originates from liking. Tell ine what I am to do.
Sanskrit: सा स्त्री प्रोवाच भगवन् द्रक्ष्यसे देशकालतः। वस तावन्महाभाग कृतकृत्यो भविष्यसि॥
English: That lady then said in return illustrious one you will all see according to time and place. Do you only live here (for sometime), O highly blessed one, and I shall consider myself sufficiently rewarded!
Sanskrit: ब्रह्मर्पिस्तामथोवाच स तथेति युधिष्ठिर। वत्स्येऽहं यावदुत्साहो भवत्या नात्र संशयः॥ अथर्षिरभिसम्प्रेक्ष्य स्त्रियं तां जरयार्दिताम्। चिन्तां परमिकां भेजे संतप्त इव चाभवत्॥
English: Thus addressed by her, the twice born Rishi, O Yudhishthira, expressed his resolution to satisfy her request, saying I shall live with you in this place as long as I can venture to do so. The Rishi then seeing that lady possessed by decrepitude, began to think seriously on the matter. He appeared to be even pained by his thoughts.
Sanskrit: यद् यदकं हि सोऽपश्यत् तस्या विप्रर्षभस्तदा। नारमत् तत्र तत्रास्य दृष्टी रूपविरागिता॥
English: The eyes of that foremost of Brahmanas could not get any delight from those parts of that lady's person whereupon they were fixed. On the other hand, his looks appeared to be dispelled by the ugliness of those particular limbs.
Sanskrit: देवतेयं गृहस्यास्य शापात् किं नु विरूपिता। अस्याश्च कारणं वेत्तुं न युक्तं सहसा मया॥
English: This lady is forsooth, the mistress of this palace. Has she been made ugly through some curse! It is not proper that I should quickly determine the cause of this.
Sanskrit: इति चिन्ताविविक्तस्य तमर्थे ज्ञातुमिच्छतः। व्यगच्छत् तदहःशेषं मनसा व्याकुलेन तु॥
English: Thinking thus in his heart and curious to know the reason the Rishi passed the rest of that day in anxiety.
Sanskrit: अथ सा स्त्री तथोवाच भगवन् पश्य वै रवेः। रूपं संध्याभ्रसंरक्तं किमुपस्थाष्यतां तव॥
English: The lady then addressed him, saying O illustrious one, look at the Sun reddened by the evening clouds! What service shall I do to you.
Sanskrit: स उवाच ततस्तां स्त्री स्नानोदकमिहानय। उपासिष्ये ततः सन्ध्यां वाग्यतो नियतेन्द्रिय॥
English: The Rishi addressed her saying 'Fetch water for my ablution! Having bathed, I shall recite my evening prayers, controlling my tongue and the senses.'
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच अथ सा स्त्री तमुवाच बाढमेवं भवत्विति। तैलं दिव्यमुपादाय स्नानशाटीमुपानयत्॥
English: Bhishma said Thus ordered the lady said Be it so! She then brought oil and a piece of cloth for his wear during the ablutions.
Sanskrit: अनुज्ञाता च मुनिना सा स्त्री तेन महात्मना। अथास्य तैलेनाङ्गानि सर्वाण्येवाभ्यमृक्षत॥
English: With the ascetic's permission she rubbed every part of his body with the fragrant oil she had brought for him.
Sanskrit: शनैश्चोत्सादितस्तत्र स्नानशालामुपागमत्। भद्रासन ततश्चित्रमृषिरन्वगमन्नवम्॥
English: The Rishi was rubbed, and when the process of rubbing was over, he went to the room set apart set apart for the performance of ablutions. There he sat upon a new and Excellent seat.
Sanskrit: अथोपविष्टश्च यदा तस्मिन् भद्रासने तदा। स्नापयामास शनकैस्तमृषि सुखहस्तवत्॥
English: After the Rishi had taken his seat upon it, the old lady began to wash his body with her own soft hands whose touch was highly agrecable.
Sanskrit: दिव्यं च विधिवच्चक्रे सोपचारं मुनेस्तदा। स तेन सुसुखोष्णेन तस्या हस्तसुखेन च॥ व्यतीतां रजनी कृत्स्ना नाजानात् स महाव्रतः। तत उत्थाय स मुनिस्तदा परमविस्मितः॥
English: One after another in due course the lady helped the Rishi in his ablutions. Between the lukewarm water with which he was washed, and the soft hands which were engaged in washing him, the Rishi of rigid vows could not understand that the whole night had passed away in the work. Rising from the bath, the Rishi became highly surprised.
Sanskrit: पूर्वस्यां दिशि सूर्ये च सोऽपश्यदुदितं दिवि। तस्य बुद्धिरयं किं नु मोहस्तत्त्वमिदं भवेत्॥
English: He saw the Sun risen above the horizon on the East. He was surprised at this and asked himself Was it really so or was it a mistake of the understanding.
Sanskrit: अथोपास्य सहस्रांशुं किं करोमीत्युवाच ताम्। सा चामृतरसप्रख्यं ऋषेरन्नमुपाहरत्॥
English: The Rishi then duly adored the god of a thousand rays. This done, he asked the lady as to what he should do. The old lady prepared some food for the Rishi sweet to the taste like ambrosia itself.
Sanskrit: तस्य स्वादुतयानस्य न प्रभूतं चकार सः। व्यगमच्चाप्यहःशेषं ततः संध्यागमत् पुनः॥
English: On account of the sweetness of that food the Rishi could not take much. In taking that little however, the day passed away and evening set in.
Sanskrit: अथ सा स्त्री भगवन्तं सुप्यतामित्यचोदयत्। तत्र वै शयने दिव्ये तस्य तस्याश्च कल्पिते॥
English: The old lady then asked the Rishi to go to bed and sleep. An excellent bed was given ts) the Rishi and another was taken by herself.
Sanskrit: पृथक् चैव तथा सुप्तौ सा स्त्री स च मुनिस्तदा। तथार्धरात्रे सा स्त्री तु शयनं तदुपागमत्॥
English: The Rishi and the old lady occupied different beds at first but when it was midnight, the lady left her own bed for that of the Rishi.
Sanskrit: अष्टवक्र उवाच न भद्रे परदारेषु मनो मे सम्प्रसज्जति। उत्तिष्ठ भद्रे भद्रं ते स्वयं वै विरमस्व च॥
English: Ashtavakra said O blessed lady, I am not inclined for sexual union with one who is the wife of another. Leave my bed, O good lady. Blessed be you do, you desist from this of your own accord.
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच सा तदा तेन विप्रेण तथा तेन निवर्तिता। स्वतन्त्रास्मीत्युवाचर्षिः न धर्मच्छलमस्ति ते॥
English: Bhishma said Thus dissuaded by the Brahmana with the help of his selfcontrol, the lady answered him saying I am my own mistress! In accepting me you will commit no sin.
Sanskrit: अष्टवक्र उवाच नास्ति स्वतन्त्रता स्त्रीणामस्वतन्त्रा हि योषितः। प्रजापतिमतं ह्येतन्न स्त्री स्वातन्त्र्यमर्हति॥
English: Ashtavakra said Women can never be their own mistresses. This is the opinion of the Creator himself, viz., that a woman should never be indepent.
Sanskrit: स्त्र्युरुवाच बाधते मैथुनं विप्र मम भक्तिं च पश्य वै। अधर्मे प्राप्स्यसे विप्र यन्मां त्वं नाभिनन्दसि॥
English: The lady said O learned Brahmana, I am pained by desire. Mark my devotion to you. You commit sin by refusing to accept me lovingly.
Sanskrit: अष्टवक्र उवाच हरन्ति दोषजातानि नरं जातं यथेच्छकम्। प्रभवामि सदा धृत्या भद्रे स्वशयनं व्रज॥
English: Ashtavakra said Various shortcomings drag away the man who acts as he likes. As for myself I am able to govern my inclinations by selfcontrol. O good lady, return to your own bed.
Sanskrit: स्व्युरुवाच शिरसा प्रणमे विप्र प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि। भूमौ निपतमानायाः शरणं भव मेऽनघ॥
English: The lady said I bow to you. You should show me your favour. O sinless one, I prostrate myself before you, do you become my refuge.
Sanskrit: यदि वा दोषजातं त्वं परदारेषु पश्यसि। आत्मानं स्पर्शयाम्यद्य पाणिं गृह्णीष्व मे द्विज॥
English: If you see sin in knowing one who is not your wife, I yield myself to you. Do you, O twice born one, accept my hand in marriage.
Sanskrit: न दोषो भविता चैव सत्येनैतद् ब्रवीम्यहम्। स्वतन्त्रां मां विजानीहि योऽधर्मः सोऽस्तु वै मयि। त्वय्यावेशितचित्ता च स्वतन्त्रास्मि भजस्व माम्॥
English: You will incur no sin. I tell you truly. Know that I am my own mistress. It there be any sin in this, let it visit me only. My heart is devoted to you. I am my own mistress. Do you accept me.
Sanskrit: अष्टवक्र उवाच स्वतन्त्रा त्वं कथं भद्रे बूहि कारणमत्र वै। नास्ति त्रिलोके स्त्री काचिद् या वै स्वातन्त्र्यमर्हति॥
English: Ashtavakra said How is it, O good lady that you are your own mistress? Tell me the reason of this. There is not a single woman in the three worlds who can be considered as the mistress of her own self.
Sanskrit: पिता रक्षति कौमारे भर्ता रक्षति यौवने। पुत्राश्च स्थविरे काले नास्ति स्त्रीणां स्वतन्त्रता॥
English: The father protects her while she is a maiden. The husband protects her while she is young. Sons protect her when she is aged. Woman can never be independent as long as they live.
Sanskrit: स्व्युरुवाच कौमारं ब्रह्मचर्ये मे कन्यैवास्मि न संशयः। पत्नी कुरुष्व मां विप्र श्रद्धां विजहि मा मम॥
English: The lady said I have, since my maidenhood adopted the vow of celibacy. Do not doubt it. I am still a maid. Do you make me your wife. O Brahmana, do not kill this devotion of mine to you.
Sanskrit: अष्टवक्र उवाच यथा मम तथा तुभ्यं यथा तुभ्यं तथा मम। जिज्ञासेयमषेस्तस्य विघ्नः सत्यं न किं भवेत्॥
English: Ashtavakra said As you are inclined to me so am I inclined to you. There is this question, however, that should be settled. It is true that by giving way to iny inclinations I shall not be considered as acting contrary to what the Rishi (Vadanya) wishes.
Sanskrit: आश्चर्ये परमं हीदं किं नु श्रेयो हि मे भवेत्। दिव्याभरणवस्त्रा हि कन्येयं मामुपस्थिता॥
English: This is very wonderful. Will this lead to what is good? Here is a maiden adorned with good ornaments and robes!
Sanskrit: किं त्वस्याः परमं रूपं जीर्णमासीत् कथं पुनः। कन्यारूपमिहाद्यैवं किमिवात्रोत्तरं भवेत्॥
English: She is highly beautiful. Why did decrepitude hide her beauty so long? At present she looks like a beautiful maiden. I do not know what forin she may assume hereafter.
Sanskrit: यथा परं शक्तिधृतेर्न व्युत्थास्ये कथंचन। न रोचते हि व्युत्थानं सत्येनासादयाम्यहम्॥
English: I shall never Swerve from that control which I have over desire and the other passions or from contentment with what I have already gol. Such swerving is not good. I shall keep myself united with truth.
Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर उवाच न बिभेति कथं सा स्त्री शापाच्च परमद्युतेः। कथं निवृत्तो भगवांस्तद् भवान् प्रब्रवीतु मे॥
English: Yudhishthira said Tell me why had that lady no fear of Ashtavakra's curse although Ashtavakra was gified with great energy? How also did Ashtavakra succeed in returning from that palace?
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच अष्टावक्रोऽन्वपृच्छत् तां रूपं विकुरुषे कथम्। न चानृतं ते वक्तव्यं ब्रूहि ब्राह्मणकाम्यया।॥
English: Bhishma said Ashtavakra asked her, saying How do you change your form so? You should not say anything false. I wish to know this. Do you speak truly before a Brahmana.
Sanskrit: स्व्युरुवाच द्यावापृथिव्योर्यत्रैषा काम्या ब्राह्मणसत्तम। शृणुष्वावहितः सर्वे यदिदं सत्यविक्रम॥
English: The lady said O best of Brahmanas, wherever you may live, in the celestial region or on Earth. This desire of union between the sexes is to be observed. O you of infallible prowess, hear with rapt attention, what it all is.
Sanskrit: जिज्ञासेयं प्रयुक्ता मे स्थिरीकर्तुं तवानघ। अव्युत्थानेन ते लोका जिताः सत्यपराक्रम॥
English: This trial was converted by me, O sinless one, for examining you aright, O you of infallible prowess, you have conquered all the worlds by the strength of mind.
Sanskrit: उत्तरां मां दिशं विद्धि दृष्टं स्त्रीचापलं च ते। स्थविराणामपि स्त्रीणां बाधते मैथुनज्वरः॥
English: Know me as the embodiment of the Northern point of the compass. You have seen the lightness of the female character. Even old women are tortured by the desires of sexual union.
Sanskrit: तुष्टः पितामहस्तेऽद्य तथा देवाः सवासवाः। स त्वं येन च कार्येण सम्प्राप्तो भगवानिह॥
English: The grandfather himself and all the gods with Indra have been pleased with you. I know the object for which your illustrious self has come here.
Sanskrit: प्रेषितस्तेन विप्रेण कन्यापित्रा द्विजर्षभ। तवोपदेशं कर्तुं वै तच्च सर्वे कृतं मया॥
English: O foremost of twice born persons, you have been sent here by the Rishi Vadanya the father of your bride in order that I may instruct you. According to the wishes of that Rishi I have already instructed you.
Sanskrit: क्षेमैर्गमिष्यसि गृहं श्रमश्च न भविष्यति। कन्यां प्राप्स्यसि तां विप्र पुत्रिणी च भविष्यति॥
English: You will return home safely. Your journey back will not be toilsome. You will get for wife the girl you have chosen. She will bear you a son.
Sanskrit: काम्यया पृष्टवांस्त्वं मां ततो व्याहृतमुत्तमम्। अनतिक्रमणीया सा कृत्स्नैर्लोकैस्त्रिभिः सदा॥
English: Through desire I had solicited you. You gave me the very best answer. People of the three worlds cannot get over the desire for sexual union.
Sanskrit: गच्छस्व सुकृतं कृत्सा किं चान्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छसि। यावद् ब्रवीमि विप्रर्षे अष्टावक्र यथातथम्॥
English: Return to your quarters, having achieved such merit. What else is there which yo!' wish to hear (from me)? I shall truly describe it to you, O Ashtavakra.
Sanskrit: ऋषिणा प्रसादिता चास्मि तव हेतोर्द्विजर्षभ। तस्य सम्माननार्थे मे त्वयि वाक्यं प्रभाषितम्॥
English: I was gratified by the Rishi Vadanya in the first instance for your sake, Otwice born ascetic! For the sake of honouring him, I have said all this to you.
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तस्याः स विप्रः प्राञ्जलिः स्थितः। अनुज्ञातस्तया चापि स्वगृहं पुनराव्रजत्॥
English: Bhishma said Hearing these words of hers, the twiceborn Ashtavakra joined his hands respectfully. He then begged the lady for her permission to return. Getting the permission he sought, he returned to his own hermitage.
Sanskrit: गृहमागत्य विश्रान्तः स्वजनं परिपृच्छय च। अभ्यगच्छच्च तं विप्रं न्यायत: कुरुनन्दन॥
English: Resting himself for sometime at home and getting the permission of his kinsmen and friends, he then, in a proper way, went, O delighter of the Kurus, to the Brahmana Vadanya.
Sanskrit: पृष्टश्च तेन विप्रेण दृष्टं त्वेतन्निदर्शनम्। प्राह विप्रं तदा विप्रः सुप्रीतेनान्तरात्मना॥
English: Welcomed with the usual enquiries by Vadanya the Rishi Ashtavakra, with a wellpleased heart described all that he had seen.
Sanskrit: भवता समनुज्ञातः प्रास्थितो गन्धमादनम्। तस्य चोत्तरतो देशे दृष्टं मे दैवतं महत्॥
English: He said ordered by you I proceeded to the mountains of Gandhamadana. In the quarter lying to the north of those mountains I saw a very superior goddess,
Sanskrit: तया चाहमनुज्ञातो भवांश्चापि प्रकीर्तितः। श्रावितश्चापि तद्वाक्यं गृहं चाभ्यागतः प्रभो॥
English: I was received by her with courtesy. She named you before me, and also instructed me in various matters. Having listened to her I have returned,Olord.
Sanskrit: तमुवाच तदा विप्रः सुतां प्रतिगृहाण मे। नक्षत्रविधियोगेन पात्रं हि परमं भवान्॥
English: The learned Vadanya said to him take my daughter's hand according to due rites and under the proper constellations. You are the fittest bridegroom I can select for the girl.
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच अष्टावक्रस्तथेत्युक्त्वा प्रतिगृह्य च तां प्रभो। कन्यां परमधर्मात्मा प्रीतिमांश्चाभवत् तदा॥
English: Bhishma said Ashtavakra said So be it! and espoused the girl. Indeed, having married the girl, the highly pious Rishi became filled with joy.
Sanskrit: कन्यां तां प्रतिगृह्मैव भार्यां परमशोभनाम्। उवास मुदितस्तत्र स्वाश्रमे विगतज्वरः॥
English: Having taken as his wife that beautiful lady, the Rishi continued to live in his own hermitage freed from every sort of mental trouble.
Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर उवाच किमाहुर्भरतश्रेष्ठ पात्रं विप्राः सनातनाः। ब्राह्मणं लिङ्गिनं चैव ब्राह्मणं वाप्यलिङ्गिनम्॥
English: Yudhishthira said Whom have the eternal Brahmanas selected a proper object of gifts? Is a Brahmana who bears the marks of the order of life he follows to be considered as such, or is one divested of such marks to be so regarded.
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच स्ववृत्तिमभिपन्नाथ लिङ्गिने चेतराय च। देयमाहुर्महाराज उभावेतौ तपस्विनौ॥
English: Bhishma said O king it has been said that gifts should be made a Brahmana who follows the duties of his own order, whether he bears the marks of Brahmacharya or not, for both are faultless, viz., he who bears such marks and he who is divested of them.
Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर उवाच श्रद्धया परया पूतो यः प्रयच्छेद् द्विजातये। हव्यं कव्यं तथा दानं को दोषः स्यात् पितामह॥
English: Yudhishthira said What sin does an impure person commit if he makes gifts of sacrificial butter or food or with great devotion to persons of the twice born order?
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच श्रद्धापूतो नरस्तात दुर्दान्तोऽपि न संशयः। पूतो भवति सर्वत्र किमुत त्वं महाद्युते॥
English: Bhishma said He who has no selfcontrol becomes, forsooth, cleansed by devotion. Such a man, becomes purified in respect of every act.
Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर उवाच न ब्राह्मणं परीक्षेत दैवेषु सततं नरः। कव्यप्रदाने तु बुधाः परीक्ष्यं ब्राह्मणं विदुः॥
English: Yudhishthira said It has been said that a Brahmana who is sought for the performance of a religious rite should never be examined. The learned however, hold that while performing rites for the Pitris the Brahmana who is sought to be engaged, should be examined.
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच न ब्राह्मणं साध्यते हव्यं दैवात् प्रसिद्ध्यति। देवप्रसादादिज्यन्ते यजमानैर्न संशयः॥
English: Bhishma said As regards the religious rite for the deities these do not yield fruits on account of the Brahmana who is engaged in doing them but through the grace of the deities themselves. Forsooth, those persons who perform sacrifices acquire the merit of those acts, through the favour of the deities.
Sanskrit: ब्राह्मणान् भरतश्रेष्ठ सततं ब्रह्मवादिनः। मार्कण्डेयः पुरा प्राह इति लोकेषु बुद्धिमान्॥
English: The Brahmanas, O chief of the Bharatas, are always Utters of Brahma. The intelligent Rishi Markandeya gave vent to these words in days of yore.
Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर उवाच अपूर्वोऽप्यथवा विद्वान् सम्बन्धी वा यथा भवेत्। तपस्वी यज्ञशीलो वा कथं पात्र भवेत् तु सः॥
English: Yudhishthira said Why, O grandfather, are these five viz., he who is a stranger, he who is gifted with learning, he who is connected by marriage, he that is endued with penances, and he who is devoted to the performance of sacrifices, considered as proper persons?
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच कुलीनः कर्मकृद् वैद्यस्तथैवाप्यानृशंस्यवान्। ह्रीमानृजुः सत्यवादी पात्रं पूर्वं च ये त्रयः॥
English: Bhishma said The first three viz., strangers, relatives and ascetics, when endued with these attributes, viz., purity of birth devotion to religious acts, learning mercy modesty, sincerity and truthfulness, are considered as proper persons. The other two, viz., men of learning and those given to sacrifices when gifted with five of these attributes, viz., purity of birth, mercy, modesty, sincerity, and truthfulness, are also considered as proper persons.
Sanskrit: तत्रेमं शृणु मे पार्थ चतुर्णां तेजसां मतम्। पृथिव्याः काश्यपस्याग्नेर्मार्कण्डेयस्य चैव हि॥
English: Listen now to me, O son of Pritha, as I recite to you the opinions of these four persons of great energy, viz., the goddess, Earth, the Rishi Kashyapa, the god of fire, and the ascetic Markandeya.
Sanskrit: पृथ्वी उवाच यथा महार्णवे क्षिप्तः क्षिप्रं लेष्टुर्विनश्यति। तथा दुश्चरितं सर्वे त्रिवृत्यां च निमज्जति॥
English: The Earth said As a clod of earth when thrown into the great ocean quickly dissolves away so every sort of sin disappears by the three high qualifications of officiation at sacrifices teaching, and receiving of gifts.
Sanskrit: कश्यप उवाच सर्वे च वेदाः सह षड्भिरङ्गैः सांख्यं पुराणं च कुले च जन्मा नैतानि सर्वाणि गतिर्भवन्ति शीलव्यपेतस्य नृप द्विजस्य॥
English: Kashyapa said The Vedas with their six auxiliaries the Sankhya philosophy, the Puranas, and high birth, these cannot rescue a twice born person if he falls away from good conduct.
Sanskrit: अग्निरुवाच अधीयानः पण्डितं मन्यमानो यो विद्यया हन्ति यशः परेषाम्। प्रभ्रश्यतेऽसौ चरते न सत्यं लोकास्तस्य ह्यन्तवन्तो भवन्ति॥
English: Agni said The Brahmana who engaged in study and considering himself learned, seeks with the help of his learning to destroy the reputation of others falls away from virtue and comes to be regarded as divorced from truth. Such persons of refractory spirit never acquire regions of happiness hereafter.
Sanskrit: मार्कण्डेय उवाच अश्वमेधसहस्रं च सत्यं च तुलया धृतम्। नाभिजानामि यद्यस्य सत्यस्यार्धमवाप्नुयात्॥
English: Markandeya said If a thousand Horse sacrifices and Truth were weighed in the balance, I do not know whether the former would equal even half of the latter in weight.
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच इत्युक्त्वा ते जग्मुराशु चत्वारोऽमिततेजसः। पृथिवी काश्यपोऽग्निश्च प्रकृष्टायुश्च भार्गवः॥
English: Bhishma said Having spoken these words, those four persons, each of whom is gifted with immeasurable energy, viz., the goddess Earth, Kashyapa, Agni, and Bhrigu's son armed with weapons quickly went away.
Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर उवाच यदि ते ब्राह्मणा लोके वतिनो भुञ्जते हविः। दत्तं ब्राह्मणकामाय कथं तत् सुकृतं भवेत्॥१६
English: Yudhishinira said If Brahmanas observing the vow of celibacy in this world eat, begging the same the offerings one makes during funeral rites, I ask can the shraddha be considered wellperformed if the performer actually makes over those offerings to such Brahmanas.
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच आदिष्टिनो ये राजेन्द्र ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः। भुञ्जते ब्रह्मकामाय व्रतलुप्ता भवन्ति ते॥
English: Bhishma said If, having practised the vow of Brahmacharya for the prescribed period (of twelve years) and acquired proficiency in the Vedas and their branches a Brahmana himself asks for the offerings made in Shraddhas and eats the same, he is considered to fall away from his vow. The Shraddha, however is not considered as sullied in any way.
Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर उवाच अनेकान्तं बहुद्वारं धर्ममाहुर्मनीषिणः। किंनिमित्तं भवेदत्र तन्मे बूहि पितामह॥
English: Yudhishthira said The wise hold that duty or virtue has many ends and numerous doors. Tell me, O grandfather what however are the decisions in this matter.
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोध आनृशंस्यं दमस्तथा। आर्जवं चैव राजेन्द्र निश्चितं धर्मलक्षणम्॥
English: Bhishma said Abstention from injury to others, truthfulness, the absence of anger, mercy, selfcontrol and sincerity or candour, o king, are the marks of virtue.
Sanskrit: ये तु धर्मे प्रशंसन्तश्चरन्ति पृथिवीमिमाम्। अनाचरन्तस्तद् धर्मे संकरेऽभिरताः प्रभो॥
English: There are persons who wander over the Earth, lauding virtue but without practising what they preach and engaged all the while in sin, O king.
Sanskrit: तेभ्यो हिरण्यं रत्नं वा गामश्वं वा ददाति यः। दश वर्षाणि विष्ठां स भुङ्क्ते निरयमास्थितः॥ मेदानां पुल्कसानां च तथैवान्तेवसायिनाम्। कृतं कर्माकृतं वापि रागमोहेन जल्पताम्॥
English: He who gives such persons gold or gems or king or horses has to sink in hell and there live for ten years, on the faces of such person as live upon the flesh of dead kine and buffaloes, of men called Pukkasas, of others who live in the outskirts of cities and villages, and of men who give out under the influence of anger and folly, the acts and omissions of others.
Sanskrit: वैश्वदेवं च ये मूढा विप्राय ब्रह्मचारिणे। ददते नेह राजेन्द्र ते लोकान् भुञ्जतेऽशुभान्॥
English: Those foolish men who do not give a Brahmana observant of the VOW of SBrahmacharya the offerings made in Shraddhas (unto one's deceased ancestors), have to proceed, O king, into regions of great misery.
Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर उवाच किं परं ब्रह्मचर्ये च किं परं धर्मलक्षणम्। किं च श्रेष्ठतमं शौचं तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह॥
English: Yudhishthira said Tell me, O grand father what is superior to Brahmacharya? What is the highest mark of virtue? what is the highest kind of purity?
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच ब्रह्मचर्यात् परं तात मधुमांसस्य वर्जनम्। मर्यादायां स्थितो धर्मः शमश्चैवास्य लक्षणम्॥
English: Bhishma said I tell you, O son, that abstention from honey and meat is even superior to Brahmacharya. Virtue lies within boundaries. The best mark of virtue is Renunciation.
Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर उवाच कस्मिन् काले चरेद् धर्मे कस्मिन् कालेऽर्थमाचरेत्। कस्मिन् काले सुखी च स्यात् तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह।।
English: Yudhishthira said In what time should one practise virtue? In what time should wealth be sought? In what time should pleasure be enjoyed? O grandfather, do tell me this.