वैशम्पायन उवाच ततः शान्तनवो भीष्मो भरतानां पितामहः। श्रुतवान् देखकालज्ञस्तत्त्वज्ञः सर्वधर्मवित्॥ आचार्यवाक्योपरमे तद्वाक्यमभिसंदधत्। हितार्थं समुवाचैनां भारती भारतान् प्रति॥
Vaishampayana said Thereupon the grand-father, of Bharatas, Shantanu's son, Bhishma, well-read in the Vedas, and informed of the truth of the place and time and endued with a knowledge of his own duties, after the speech of the preceptor Drona, applauded it and said the following words to the descendants of Bharata for their interest.
युधिष्ठिरे समासक्तां धर्मज्ञे धर्मसंवृताम्। असत्सु दुर्लभां नित्यं सतां चाभिमतां सदा॥
Bespeaking his attachment to the pious Yudhishthira, words that are rarely given vent to by the dishonest men and always liked by the honest.
भीष्मः समवदत् तत्र गिरं साधुभिरर्चिताम्। यश्चैष ब्राह्मणः प्राह द्रोणः सर्वार्थतत्त्ववित्॥
Bhishma gave bent to impartial words always liked by the wise: “I have nothing to say on and fully approve of the words, which the Brahmana Drona, acquainted with the truth of all things, has said.
सर्वलक्षणसम्पन्नाः साधुव्रतसमन्विताः। श्रुतवर्तोपपन्नाश्च नानाश्रुतिसमन्विताः॥ वृद्धानुशासने युक्ताः सत्यव्रतपरायणाः। समयं समयज्ञास्ते पालयन्तः शुचिव्रताः॥ क्षत्रधर्मरता नित्यं केशवानुगता: सदा। प्रवीरपुरुषास्ते वै महात्मानो महाबलाः। नावसीदितुमर्हन्ति उद्वहन्तः सतां धुरम्॥
Gifted with all auspicious marks, observant of religious vows, well-read in the Vedas and intent upon the performance of various religious observances, (always) engaged in carrying out the orders of elderly men, of truthful vows, acquainted with the use of time, always satisfying their condition, pure, always performing the duties of the Kshatriya order, always following Keshava, those high-souled and highly powerful heroes.
धर्मतश्चैव गुप्तास्ते सुवीर्येण च पाण्डवाः। न नाशमधिगच्छेयुरिति मे धीयते मतिः॥ तत्र बुद्धिं प्रवक्ष्यामि पाण्डवान् प्रति भारत। न तु नीतिः सुनीतस्य शक्यतेऽन्वेषितुं परैः॥
Carrying the burden of the wise do not seem to wither away. Protected, by their own great energy, the Pandavas ever treading virtue shall not die. This is what I surmise. O descendant of Bharata, I tell you what I think we should do towards the Pandavas,
यत् तु शक्यमिहास्माभिस्तान् वै संचिन्त्य पाण्डवान्। बुद्ध्या प्रयुक्तं न द्रोहात् प्रवक्ष्यामि निबोध तत्।।१०।
To search them through mean spies would not be the policy of a (really wise man.) Consulting with others we should decide what we should do towards the Pandavas.
न त्वियं मादृशेर्नीतिस्तस्य वाच्या कथंचन) सा त्वियं साधु वक्तव्या न त्वनीतिः कथंचन॥
Know that I say nothing out of ill will towards you. I shall never give such counsels to him who is dishonest.
वृद्धानुशासने तात तिष्ठता सत्यशीलिना। अवश्यं त्विह धीरेण सतां मध्ये विवक्षता॥
Good counsels should be given and never evil. O child, one following the words of the aged and truthful.
यथाहमिह वक्तव्यं सर्वथा धर्मलिप्सया। तत्र नाहं तथा मन्ये यतायमितरो जनः॥
And calm, while speaking in the midst of an assembly, should always speak the truth if he wishes to acquire virtue.
निवासं धर्मराजस्य वर्षेऽस्मिन् वै त्रयोदश। तत्र तात न तेषां हि राज्ञां भाव्यमसाम्प्रतम्॥ पुरे जनपदे चापि यत्र राजा युधिष्ठिरः।
I think differently from all these ordinary people here regarding the whereabouts of the pious Yudhishthira in this thirteenth year of his exile.
दानशीलो वदान्यश्च निभृतो ह्रीनिषेवकः। जनो जनपदे भाव्यो यत्र राजा युधिष्ठिरः॥
Wherever the king Yudhishthira lives o my child, the rulers, either of cities or of provinces there never meet with calamity. The people, of the country where the king Yudhishthira lives, become charitable, liberal, humble and modest.
प्रियवादी सदा दान्तो भव्यः सत्यपरो जनः। हृष्टः पुष्टः शुचिर्दक्षो यत्र राजा युधिष्ठिरः॥
Where the king Yudhishthira lives the people become sweet-speeched, selfcontrolled, observant of truth, cheerful, healthy, pure in conduct and expert in works.
नासूयको न चापीर्नाभिमानी न मत्सरी। भविष्यति जनस्तत्र स्वयं धर्ममनुव्रतः॥
The people of the place where Yudhishthira lives envious, malicious, vain or proud but they always perform their respective duties.
ब्रह्मघोषाश्च भूयांसः पूर्णाहुत्यस्तथैव च। क्रतवश्च भविष्यन्ति भूयांसो भूरिदक्षिणाः॥
There the Vedic hymns are chanted all over, sacrifices are performed, the last full libations are offered to clarified butter and the gifts to Brahmanas are always abundant.
सदा व तत्र पर्जन्यः सम्यग्वर्षी न संशयः। सम्पन्नसस्या च मही निरातङ्का भविष्यति॥
are never There undoubtedly the clouds always pour heavy showers; the earth, filled with crops, shall be freed from fear.
गुणवन्ति च धान्यानि रसवन्ति फलानि च। गन्धवन्ति च माल्यानि शुभशब्दा च भारती॥
There the paddy is full of grain and the fruits are juicy-the garlands are fragrant and the conversation is full of auspicious words.
वायुश्च सुखसंस्पर्शो निष्प्रतीपं च दर्शनम्। न भयं त्वाविशेत् तत्र यत्र राजा युधिष्ठिरः॥
Where the king Yudhishthira lives the breezes are sweet, the meetings of men are friendly and there exists no cause of fear.
गावश्च बहुलास्तत्र न कृशा न च दुर्बलाः। पयांसि दधिसपीषि रसवन्ति हितानि च॥
The kine there are plentiful, none of them being weak or lean and milk, curd and butter are all savoury and nutritious.
गुणवन्ति च पेयानि भोज्यानि रसवन्ति च। तत्र देशे भविष्यन्ति यत्र राजा युधिष्ठिरः॥
Where the king Yudhishthira lives the drinks and edibles are sweet and wholesome.
रसाः स्पर्शाश्च गन्धाश्च शब्दाश्चापि गुणान्विताः। दृश्यानि च प्रसन्नानि यत्र राजा युधिष्ठिरः॥
Where the king Yudhishthira lives the objects of taste, touch, smell and hearing are all of excellent quality and the views are all delightful.
धर्माश्च तत्र सर्वैस्तु सेविताश्च द्विजातिभिः। स्वैः स्वैर्गुणैश्च संयुक्ता अस्मिन् वर्षे त्रयोदश॥
In those places, religious duties are observed by twice-born ones endued with all their respective qualities in this thirteenth year.
देशे तस्मिन् भविष्यन्ति तात पाण्डवसंयुते। सम्प्रीतिमाढानस्तत्र संतुष्टः शुचिरव्ययः॥
O my child, in countries where the Pandavas will live, people will all be contented, cheerful, pure and of eternal virtue.
देवतातिथिपूजासु सर्वभावानुरागवान्। इष्टदानो महोत्साहः स्वस्वधर्मपरायणः॥
Whole-mindedly devoted to the worship of guests and deities they, with great energy, perform charities and shall be devoted to eternal virtue.
अशुभाद्धि शुभप्रेप्सुरिष्टयज्ञः शुभव्रतः। भविष्यति जनस्तत्र यत्र राजा युधिष्ठिरः॥
Where the king Yudhishthira lives people, discarding all that is evil, acquire what is good only, they always perform sacrifices and observe pure vows.
त्यक्तवाक्यानृतस्तात शुभकल्याणमङ्गलः। शुभार्थेप्सुः शुभमतिर्यत्र राजा युधिष्ठिरः॥
Where the king Yudhishthira is, people, renouncing untruth, shall acquire what is good, auspicious and beneficial and thus good mind shall be inclined towards the good.
भविष्यति जनस्तत्र नित्यं चेष्टप्रियव्रतः। धर्मात्मा शक्यते ज्ञातुं नापि तात द्विजातिभिः॥ किं पुनः प्राकृतैस्तात पार्थो विज्ञायते क्वचित्। यस्मिन् सत्यं धृतिर्दानं परा शान्तिधूवा क्षमा॥ ह्रीः श्रीः कीर्तिः परं तेज आनृशंस्यमथार्जवम्। तस्मात् तत्र निवासं तु छन्नं यत्नेन धीमतः। गतिं च परमां तत्र नोत्सहे वत्तुक्कमन्यथा॥
People there shall daily perform sacrifices and observe holy vows. O child, the pious son of Pritha, in whom exist, truth fortitude, intelligence, excellent forgiveness, highest tranquility, modest, prosperity, fame, great energy, simplicity and love for all creatures, cannot with be known by Brahmanas, what to speak of ordinary people.
एवमेतत् तु संचिन्त्य यत्कृते मन्यसे हितम्। तत् क्षिप्रं कुरु कौरव्य यद्येवं श्रद्दधासि मे॥
I have with great care described the secret habitation of that intelligent one; about his excellent mode of life I do not dare speak anything more. Thinking well of this do you without any loss of time what you think proper, foremost of Kurus, if you have any faith in my words. eveni care