महाभारतम् — ३.१९९

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ।

स तु विप्रमथोवाच धर्मव्याधो युधिष्ठिर ।
यदहं ह्याचरे कर्म घोरमेतदसंशयम् ॥

M N Dutt Markandeya said : O Yudhishthira, that virtuous fowler then said to that Brahmana, “The acts that I perform are certainly cruel, there is no doubt.

३.१९९.२

विधिस्तु बलवान्ब्रह्मन्दुस्तरं हि पुराकृतम् ।
पुराकृतस्य पापस्य कर्मदोषो भवत्ययम् ।
दोषस्यैतस्य वै ब्रह्मन्विघाते यत्नवानहम् ॥

M N Dutt O Brahmana, Destiny in all powerful; it is difficuit to overcome the consequences of our past actions. This is the Karma, evil arising from sins committed in a former life.

३.१९९.३

विधिना विहिते पूर्वं निमित्तं घातको भवेत् ।
निमित्तभूता हि वयं कर्मणोऽस्य द्विजोत्तम ॥

३.१९९.४

येषां हतानां मांसानि विक्रीणामो वयं द्विज ।
तेषामपि भवेद्धर्म उपभोगेन भक्षणात् ।
देवतातिथिभृत्यानां पितॄणां प्रतिपूजनात् ॥

M N Dutt O foremost of Brahmanas, we are but such agents in consequence of our Karma, O twiceborn one, those animals that are killed and the most of which are sold, also acquire Karma, for the celestials the guests and servants are entertained and Pitris are gratified with this dainty food.

३.१९९.५

ओषध्यो वीरुधश्चापि पशवो मृगपक्षिणः ।
अन्नाद्यभूता लोकस्य इत्यपि श्रूयते श्रुतिः ॥

M N Dutt It is mentioned in the Shruti that herbs, vegetables, deer, birds and the wild animals are the ordained food for all creatures.

३.१९९.६

आत्ममांसप्रदानेन शिबिरौशीनरो नृपः ।
स्वर्गं सुदुर्लभं प्राप्तः क्षमावान्द्विजसत्तम ॥

M N Dutt O foremost of Brahmanas, the son of Ushinara, Shibi of great forbearance, obtained heaven which is very difficult to obtain, by giving away his own flesh.

३.१९९.७

राज्ञो महानसे पूर्वं रन्तिदेवस्य वै द्विज ।
द्वे सहस्रे तु वध्येते पशूनामन्वहं तदा ॥

३.१९९.८

समांसं ददतो ह्यन्नं रन्तिदेवस्य नित्यशः ।
अतुला कीर्तिरभवन्नृपस्य द्विजसत्तम ।
चातुर्मास्येषु पशवो वध्यन्त इति नित्यशः ॥

३.१९९.९

अग्नयो मांसकामाश्च इत्यपि श्रूयते श्रुतिः ।
यज्ञेषु पशवो ब्रह्मन्वध्यन्ते सततं द्विजैः ।
संस्कृताः किल मन्त्रैश्च तेऽपि स्वर्गमवाप्नुवन् ॥

३.१९९.१०

यदि नैवाग्नयो ब्रह्मन्मांसकामाभवन्पुरा ।
भक्ष्यं नैव भवेन्मांसं कस्यचिद्द्विजसत्तम ॥

३.१९९.११

अत्रापि विधिरुक्तश्च मुनिभिर्मांसभक्षणे ।
देवतानां पितॄणां च भुङ्क्ते दत्त्वा तु यः सदा ।
यथाविधि यथाश्रद्धं न स दुष्यति भक्षणात् ॥

३.१९९.१२

अमांसाशी भवत्येवमित्यपि श्रूयते श्रुतिः ।
भार्यां गच्छन्ब्रह्मचारी ऋतौ भवति ब्राह्मणः ॥

३.१९९.१३

सत्यानृते विनिश्चित्य अत्रापि विधिरुच्यते ।
सौदासेन पुरा राज्ञा मानुषा भक्षिता द्विज ।
शापाभिभूतेन भृशमत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते ॥

३.१९९.१४

स्वधर्म इति कृत्वा तु न त्यजामि द्विजोत्तम ।
पुराकृतमिति ज्ञात्वा जीवाम्येतेन कर्मणा ॥

M N Dutt O foremost of Brahmanas, knowing this to be the duty of my order, I do not give it up. Knowing this to be the result of my own acts, I earn my livelihood by doing it.

३.१९९.१५

स्वकर्म त्यजतो ब्रह्मन्नधर्म इह दृश्यते ।
स्वकर्मनिरतो यस्तु स धर्म इति निश्चयः ॥

M N Dutt O Brahmana, to abandon one's own duty is considered to be sin. To stick to one's own duty is certainly a meritorious act.

३.१९९.१६

पूर्वं हि विहितं कर्म देहिनं न विमुञ्चति ।
धात्रा विधिरयं दृष्टो बहुधा कर्मनिर्णये ॥

M N Dutt The acts done before (in one's own former birth) never leave any creature. In determining the various effects of Karma, the Creator did see it.

३.१९९.१७

द्रष्टव्यं तु भवेत्प्राज्ञ क्रूरे कर्मणि वर्तता ।
कथं कर्म शुभं कुर्यां कथं मुच्ये पराभवात् ।
कर्मणस्तस्य घोरस्य बहुधा निर्णयो भवेत् ॥

M N Dutt A man, being under the influence of evil Karma, must always consider 'how he can done for his Karma and how he can extricate himself from an evil doom.'

३.१९९.१८

दाने च सत्यवाक्ये च गुरुशुश्रूषणे तथा ।
द्विजातिपूजने चाहं धर्मे च निरतः सदा ।
अतिवादातिमानाभ्यां निवृत्तोऽस्मि द्विजोत्तम ॥

M N Dutt There are various ways in which evil Karma might be expiated, such as, by making gifts, by speaking truth and by serving the preceptor, by worshipping the order of the twice-born, by becoming devoted to virtue, free from pride and idle talk. O foremost of Brahmanas, I do these things.

३.१९९.१९

कृषिं साध्विति मन्यन्ते तत्र हिंसा परा स्मृता ।
कर्षन्तो लाङ्गलैः पुंसो घ्नन्ति भूमिशयान्बहून् ।
जीवानन्यांश्च बहुशस्तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते ॥

M N Dutt Agriculture is considered to be a praiseworthy occupation, but it is well-known that even in it great harm is done to animal life. In ploughing the ground, various creatures and animal lives are destroyed. What is your opinion on this matter?

३.१९९.२०

धान्यबीजानि यान्याहुर्व्रीह्यादीनि द्विजोत्तम ।
सर्वाण्येतानि जीवानि तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते ॥

M N Dutt O foremost of Brahmanas, Vrihi and other so called seeds of rice are all living organisms, what is your opinion on this matter?

३.१९९.२१

अध्याक्रम्य पशूंश्चापि घ्नन्ति वै भक्षयन्ति च ।
वृक्षानथौषधीश्चैव छिन्दन्ति पुरुषा द्विज ॥

M N Dutt O Brahmana, Men hunt wild animals and kill them to eat their meat; they also cut up trees and plants. O Brahmana, there are innumerable animal organisms in trees and fruits and also in water, do you not think so?

३.१९९.२२

जीवा हि बहवो ब्रह्मन्वृक्षेषु च फलेषु च ।
उदके बहवश्चापि तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते ॥

M N Dutt O Brahmana, Men hunt wild animals and kill them to eat their meat; they also cut up trees and plants. O Brahmana, there are innumerable animal organisms in trees and fruits and also in water, do you not think so?

३.१९९.२३

सर्वं व्याप्तमिदं ब्रह्मन्प्राणिभिः प्राणिजीवनैः ।
मत्स्या ग्रसन्ते मत्स्यांश्च तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते ॥

M N Dutt O Brahmana, the whole universe is full of animals and animal organisms. Do you not see that fish preys upon fish and various other species of animals prey on various other animals and there are also some who prey upon one another.

३.१९९.२४

सत्त्वैः सत्त्वानि जीवन्ति बहुधा द्विजसत्तम ।
प्राणिनोऽन्योन्यभक्षाश्च तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते ॥

M N Dutt O foremost of Brahmanas, Vrihi and other so called seeds of rice are all living organisms, what is your opinion on this matter?

३.१९९.२५

चङ्क्रम्यमाणा जीवांश्च धरणीसंश्रितान्बहून् ।
पद्भ्यां घ्नन्ति नरा विप्र तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते ॥

M N Dutt O Brahmana, a man kills innumerable animals that live in the ground by trampling them by their feet. What have you to say to this?

३.१९९.२६

उपविष्टाः शयानाश्च घ्नन्ति जीवाननेकशः ।
ज्ञानविज्ञानवन्तश्च तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते ॥

M N Dutt Even wise and learned men kill many animals in various ways when sleeping or resting. What have you to say to this?

३.१९९.२७

जीवैर्ग्रस्तमिदं सर्वमाकाशं पृथिवी तथा ।
अविज्ञानाच्च हिंसन्ति तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते ॥

M N Dutt The earth and the sky are all full of animal organisms. Which are unconsciously killed by men from ignorance, what have you to say to this?

३.१९९.२८

अहिंसेति यदुक्तं हि पुरुषैर्विस्मितैः पुरा ।
के न हिंसन्ति जीवान्वै लोकेऽस्मिन्द्विजसत्तम ।
बहु संचिन्त्य इह वै नास्ति कश्चिदहिंसकः ॥

M N Dutt O foremost of men, who is there on earth who does not do harm to any creature? After full consideration, this is the conclusion (that I have come to that there is none who has not killed an animal.

३.१९९.२९

अहिंसायां तु निरता यतयो द्विजसत्तम ।
कुर्वन्त्येव हि हिंसां ते यत्नादल्पतरा भवेत् ॥

M N Dutt O foremost of Brahmanas, even the Rishis whose vows are not to destroy animals, (do destroy animals). Only on account of their very great care, they commit less destruction (of animals).

३.१९९.३०

आलक्ष्याश्चैव पुरुषाः कुले जाता महागुणाः ।
महाघोराणि कर्माणि कृत्वा लज्जन्ति वै न च ॥

M N Dutt Men of noble birth and great accomplishment perpetrate wicked acts in defiance of all and they are not ashamed of it.

३.१९९.३१

सुहृदः सुहृदोऽन्यांश्च दुर्हृदश्चापि दुर्हृदः ।
सम्यक्प्रवृत्तान्पुरुषान्न सम्यगनुपश्यतः ॥

M N Dutt Good men acting in an exemplary way are not praised by other good men, nor bad men acting in a contrary way are praised by other wicked men.

३.१९९.३२

समृद्धैश्च न नन्दन्ति बान्धवा बान्धवैरपि ।
गुरूंश्चैव विनिन्दन्ति मूढाः पण्डितमानिनः ॥

M N Dutt Friends are not agreeable to friends, however accomplished they might be. Foolish pedantic men (ever) find fault with the virtue of their preceptors.

३.१९९.३३

बहु लोके विपर्यस्तं दृश्यते द्विजसत्तम ।
धर्मयुक्तमधर्मं च तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते ॥

M N Dutt Such reverses of the natural orders of things, O foremost of Brahmanas, are always seen (in this world). What is your opinion as to the virtuousness or otherwise of this state of things?

३.१९९.३४

वक्तुं बहुविधं शक्यं धर्माधर्मेषु कर्मसु ।
स्वकर्मनिरतो यो हि स यशः प्राप्नुयान्महत् ॥

M N Dutt There can be said many things as regards the goodness or the badness of our actions. But he who sticks to the Dharma of his own order acquires great fame.

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