राजधर्मानुशासन पर्व — व्यास उन्हें शोक त्यागकर राज्य करने का उपदेश देते हैं

Yudhishthira said Sons, grandsons, brothers, sires, fathers-inlaw, preceptors, maternal uncles, grandsires, many great Kshatriyas, many relatives, friends, companions, sisters' sons, and kinsmen, O grandfather, and many foremost of men hailing from various countries, have been killed. All these, O grandfather, have been caused to be killed by myself alone, from desire of kingdom.

Having brought about the death of so many heroic kings who were always righteous and all of whom had drunk Soma in sacrifices, what end shall I obtain, O great ascetic.

Thinking that this Earth has been deprived of many foremost of kings, all of whom enjoyed great prosperity, I burn continually to this day.

Having seen this destruction of kinsmen and of millions of other men, I burn with grief, Ograndfather.

Oh, what will be the condition of those foremost of ladies who have been deprived of sons, of husbands, and of brothers.

Censuring the Pandavas and the Vrishnis as cruel murderers, those ladies, reduced greatly and sunk in grief, will throw themselves on the Earth.

Not seeing their father and brothers and husbands and sons, those ladies renouncing their lives in agony will go to the abode of Yama, O foremost of Brahmanas! I have no doubt of this! The course of morality is very subtile. It is clear that we shall be guilty of killing women for this.

Having killed our kinsmen and friends and thereby committed a sin which cannot be expiated, we shall have tù fall into hell with heads downwards.

O best of men, we shall, therefore, reduce our bodies with the austerest of penances! Tell me, O grand-father, what mode of life I should follow.

Vaishampayana said Hearing these words of Yudhishthira, the Dvaipayana-Rishi, having reflected keenly for sometime, said again to the son of Pandu.

Vyasa said, Remembering the duties of a Kshatriya, O king, do not indulge in grief! All those Kshatriyas, O foremost of Kshatriyas, have been killed while following their legitimate duties.

Pursuing great prosperity and fame on Earth, those foremost of men, all of whom were liable to death, have died through the influence of Time.

You have not been their slayer, nor this Bhima, nor Arjuna, nor the twins. It is Time that took away their lives according to the great law of change.

Time has neither mother, nor father, nor anybody to whom he shows any mercy. He is the witness of the acts of all creatures, By him have they been snatched away.

This battle, O foremost of Bharata's race, was only an occasion ordained by him. He brought out the destruction of creatures through the instrumentality of Time. In this manner it displays its irresistible power.

Know that Time depends upon the fetters of action and is the witness of all actions good and evil. It is Time that brings about the fruits, pleasurable or miserable, of our actions.

Think, O mighty-armed one, of the acts of those Kshatriyas that have been killed. Those acts were the causes of their destruction and it is on account of them that they have died.

Think also of your own acts of observances of vows with controlled mind, And think also how you have been compelled by the Supreme Ordainer to do such an act.

As a weapon made by a smith or carpenter is under the control of the person who uses it, and moves as moves it, likewise this universe, controlled by actions done in Time, moves as those actions move it.

Beholding that the births and deaths of creatures take place without any perceptible cause and order, grief and joy are absolutely useless.

Although this confusion of your heart is a mere delusion, still, if you like, O king, perform expiatory rites.

It is heard, O Partha, that the gods and the Asuras fought against each other. The Asuras were the elder, and the gods the younger brothers.

Seeking prosperity, they fought a dreadful battle between them. The fight lasted for thirtytwo thousand years.

Converting the Earth to one vast sea of blood, the gods killed the Daityas and occupied the celestial region.

Having occupied the Earth, a host of Brahmanas, conversant with the Vedas, armed themselves, stupefied with pride, with the Danavas for helping in the fight.

They were known by the name of Shalavrika and were eighty-eight thousand in number. All of them, however, were killed by the gods.

Those wicked persons who desire to root out virtue and encourage sinfulness deserve io be killed even as the furious Daityas were killed by the gods.

If by killing a single individual a family may be saved, or, if by killing a single family the whole kingdom may be saved, such an act of slaughter is not sinful.

Sin, O king, sometimes becomes virtue, and virtue sometimes becomes sin. The learned know which is which.

Therefore, console yourself, O son of Pandu, for you are well read in the scriptures. You have, O Bharata, only followed the path of the very gods.

Men like yourselves never go to hell, o foremost of Pandu's race! Comfort these your brothers and all your friends, O scorcher of foes.

He who deliberately commits sinful acts, and committing them feels no compunction but continues the same as before, is known as a great sinner. There is no expiation for him, and his sins never disappear.

You are born in a noble family. Urged by the sons of others, you have most reluctantly done this, and having done this you repent for it.

The rite of Horse-sacrifice, has been indicated as an expiation for you. Make preparations for that sacrifice, O king, and you ! will be freed off of all your sins.

Having defeated his foes with the help of the Maruts, Indra gradually celebrated a hundred sacrifices and became Shatakratu.

Freed from sin, occupying heaven, and having obtained many blissful regions and great happiness and prosperity, Shakra surrounded by the Maruts, is shining in beauty, and lighting up all the quarters with his effulgence.

The lord of Shachi is worshipped in the heaven by the Apsaras. The Rishis and the other gods all adore himn with respect.

You have obtained the Earth through your prowess. All the kings have been defeated by you, O sinless one, through your prowess.

Proceeding with your friends to their kingdoms, O king, install their brothers, sons, or grandsons on their thrones.

Treating kindly even the children in the womb, make you subjects glad and happy, and govern the Earth,

Install on their thrones the daughters of those that have no sons. Women are fond of pleasure and power. By this they will shake off their sorrows and become happy.

Having comforted the entire empire in this way, O Bharata, worship the gods in a Horsesacrifice as did the victorious Indra in days of yore. It is not proper for us to grieve for those great Kshatriyas, O foremost of Kshatriyas. Stupefied by the power of the Destroyer, they have died while satisfying the duties of their own order.

You have performed the duties of a Kshatriya and obtained the Earth thornless. Follow your own duties, O son of Kunti, for then, O Bharata, you will enjoy happiness in the next world.