अनुशासनिक पर्व — ब्राह्मणहरूको महिमा

Bhishma said O blessed king, a Brahmana, by birth alone becomes an object of worship with all creatures and entitled, as guests, to eat the first portion of all cooked food.

From them come all the great objects of life. They are the friends of all creatures in the universe. They are again the mouths of all the gods (for food poured into their mouths is eaten by the deities). Adored with respect, they wish its prosperity by uttering words fraught with auspiciousness.

Disregarded by our enemies, let them be engaged with these, and let thein wish evil to those detractors of theirs, imprecating them with severe curses.

About it, persons conversant with ancient history repeat the following verses sung of old respecting how in ancient times the Creator, after having created the Brahmanas, laid down their duties.

A Brahmana should never do anything else than what has been laid down for him. Protected they should protect others. By acting thus, they are sure to acquire what is for their behoof.

By doing those acts that are laid down for them, they are sure to acquire Brahma prosperity You shall become the exemplas of all creatures, and reins for controlling them.

A Brahmana endued with learning should never do that which is laid down for the Shudras. By doing such acts, a Brahmana loses his merit.

By Vedic study he is sure to acquire prosperity, intelligence, energy and power competent to scorch all things, as also glory of the most superior kind.

By offering oblations of clarified butter to the deities, the Brahmanas acquire high blessedness, become worthy of taking the precedence of even children in the matter of all kinds of cooked food, and gifted with Brahma prosperity.

Endued with faith that is fraught with mercy towards all creatures, and devoted to self-control and the study of the Vedas, you shall acquire the fruition of all your desires.

Whatever things exist in the world of men, whatever things exist in the region of the celestials, can all be achieved and acquired with the help of penances and knowledge and the observance of vows and restraints.

I have thus recited to you, O sinless one, the verses that were sung by Brahmana himself. Gifted with supreme intelligence and wisdom, the Creator himself ordained this through mercy for the Brahmanas.

The power of those amongst them who are devoted to penances is equal to the power of kings. They are, indeed, irresistible, fierce, fleet like lightning and exceedingly quick in what they do.

There are amongst them those who are possessed of might of lions and those who are possessed of the might of tigers. Some of them are gifted with the might of boars, some of the deer and some of crocodiles.

Some there are amongst them whose touch resembles that of snakes of dreadful poison, and some whose bite resembles that of sharks. Some amongst them are capable of bringing about by words only the destruction of those that are opposed to them; and some are competent to destroy by a look only of their eyes.

Some among them, as already said, are like snakes of dreadful poison, and some that are gifted with very mild dispositions. The dispositions, O Yudhishthira, of the Brahmanas, are of various kinds.

The Mekalas, the Dravidas, the Lathas, the Paundras, the Knowashiras, the Shaundikas, the Daradas, the Darvas, Darvas, the Chauras, Shavaras, the Varvaras, the Kiratas, the Yavanas and numerous other tribes of Kshatriyas, have degenerated into the status of Shudras through the anger of the Brahmanas.

On account of their having disregarded the Brahmanas, the Asuras have been obliged to take refuge in the depths of the ocean. Through the favour of the Brahmanas, the celestials have become denizens of the happy regions of Heaven.

The element of other is incapable of being touched. The Himavat mountains, incapable of being moved from their root. The current of Ganga is incapable of being resisted by a dam. The Brahmanas are incapable of being governed.

Kshatriyas are incapable of ruling the Earth without securing the good will of Brahmanas. are The Brahmana are great. They are the deities of the very deities.

Do you always adore them with gifts and obedient services, if, indeed, you desire to enjoy the sovereignty of the whole Earth encircled by seas.

The energy and power of Brahmanas, o sinless one, become abated by the acceptance of gifts. You should protect your family, O king, from those Brahmanas who do not desire to accept gifts.