भगवद्यान पर्व — कुन्तीका वचन

Vaishampayana said Then having entered her abode and saluted her feet he described in brief to her what had happened in that assembly of the Kurus.

Vasudeva said Many sorts of speech were made, all of them being acceptable and consistent with reason, by myself and the Rishis but he did not accept these.

All these, the followers of Suyodhana, have reached the end of their time and with vas.

What should be said by me to those sons of Pandu, by your command, tell me, O you of great wisdom; I desire to hear your words.

Kunti said O Keshava, tell that virtuous-souled king Yudhishthira; “Virtue is fast leaving your; do not act vainly, my dear son.

Like an ignorant student of the Veda, 0 king, understanding the literal meaning but not catching the spirit you have been rendered ignorant of the laws of worldly good and like a fool you have been lost; the literal meaning of the Vedas being too much impressed on you, your intellect follows only virtue.

Consider your own duties for which you were created by him who is born of himself; the Kshatriya has been created from the arms and by the exercise of his arms must he live.

For all hard deeds and for the protection of subjects he has been created; hear in this connection an example which has been heard hy me from old people.

To Muchukunda, the royal Rishi Vaisravana, being gratified, gave this earth but he did accept it.

I desire to get a kingdom, which shall have been earned by the prowess of my arms; then was Vaisravana still more gratified and was struck with wonder.

Then after that did the king Muchukunda rule over this earth which he earned by the prowess of his arms following closely the duties of a Kshatriya.

The one-fourth of the entire virtue earned by subjects well protected by the king in this world goes to the king, O Bharata.

And if the king practices virtue he resembles the god even and if he practices vice he goes to hell.

The penal code enforced by Lord in a proper way makes the four orders lead lives in their own proper spheres and makes the king himself earn virtue, desire and salvation.

If the king property follows the penal code in its entirety then the best of age called Krita Yuga regions.

Oking, do not linger in doubt as to whether the age that nature of the king or whether it is the king that rules that is the cause of the prevalence of a particular period. The king is the cause of the age.

The king is the creator or maker of the Krita Yuga, as also of the Treta and Dvapara and the king becomes the cause as well of the fourth Yuga.

Owing to causing the Krita Yuga to prevail, a king enjoys exceedingly the fruits of heaven and owing to causing the Treta Yuga he enjoys moderately the fruits of heaven.

Owing to causing the Dvapara Yuga to prevail he has also a due share of these fruits but owing to causing the Kali Yuga to prevail, the king attains excessive misery.

Then that doer of wicked deeds resides, in hell for eternity; the earth is affected by the sins of the king while he too is affected by the earth's sins.

Duly following the examples of your father and grandfather, observe the duty or a king-this is not the life of a royal Rishi in which you desire to live.

He, that is affected by weakness of mind or heart and follows the Path of compassion, does not gain any portion of the fruits due to the protection of subjects.

Pandu, nor myself, nor your grandfather blessed you then formerly for that you should follow the course you are adopting.

The performance of sacrificial rites, liberality, devotion, heroism, greatness, might and energy, were ever expected of you by me.

Svadha, and Svaha as also the blessings of a life, wealth, sons are ever given by gods and men, when duly gratified.

The parents, and even the gods always expect liberality, study, sacrificial rites and the protection of subjects, of their sons.

Whether this be virtue or not, you are to practice them in consequence of this your birth; but my children, though wise and born in a high family, are without the means of earning their living and in fact they are persecuted by others.

Who earns greater virtue than he who is a hero and the foremost among the gift makers, coming in contract with whom hungry beings of the earth have their hunger satisfied?

Some by means of gifts, others by means of force, a third by means of truth, should be attached to his own side by a virtuous man who has obtained a kingdom.

A Brahmana should live on alms, a Kshatriya should protect his subjects, a Vaishya should acquire wealth and a Shudra should serve all these other orders.

The life of a bigger is not suited to you, nor does agriculture seem fit; you are Kshatriya, the Saviour of the oppressed and should live by the prowess of your arms.

O you of long arms, earn again your paternal wealth which is lost, by means of conciliation, dispute, gifts, punishment, or by diplomacy.

What can be more sorrowful than this-that I, deprived of friends and supporters, should live on the food of others, having given birth to you, O delighter of friends.

Fight following the duties of kings and do not sink your grandfathers, in infamy; do not obtain a sinful end along with your younger brothers with the effect of your virtues deeds being wrested away.