युधिष्ठिर उवाच कां तु ब्राह्मणपूजायां व्युष्टिं दृष्ट्वा जनाधिप। कं वा कर्मोदयं मत्वा तानसि महामते।।।।
Yudhishthira said 'Tell us, o king, what is that reward of the worship of Brahmanas, seeing which you adore them, O you of superior intelligence! Indeed, what is that success, emanating from their adoration, guided by which you worship them?
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। पवनस्य च संवादमर्जुनस्य च भारत॥ क्षत्रधर्मे पुरस्कृत्य
Bhishma said Regarding it is cited the conversation between Pavana and Arjuna, O Bharata.
सहस्रभुजभृच्छ्रीमान् कार्तवीर्योऽभवत् प्रभुः। अस्य लोकस्य सर्वस्य माहिष्मत्यां महाबलः॥
Gifted with a thousand arms and great beauty the powerful Kartavirya, formerly became the lord of all the world. He had his capital in the city of Mahishmati.
स त रत्नाकरवतीं सद्वीपां सागराम्बराम्। शशास पृथिवीं सर्वां हैहयः सत्यविक्रमः॥
Of unbaffled prowess, that king of the Haihaya race of Kshatriyas governed the whole Earth begirt by seas, together with all her islands and all her precious mines of gold and gems.
स्ववित्तं तेन दत्तं तु दत्तात्रेयाय कारणे। विनयं श्रुतमेव च॥
Respecting the duties of the Kshatriya order, as also humility and Vedic learning, the king made large gifts of wealth to the Rishi Dattatreya.
आराधयामास च तं कृतवीर्यात्मजो मुनिम्। न्यमन्त्रयत संतुष्टो द्विजश्चैनं वरैस्त्रिभिः॥
Indeed, the of Kritavirya thus worshipped that great ascetic who, becoming pleased with him, asked him to solicit three boons.
स वरैश्छन्दितस्तेन नृपो वचनमब्रवीत्। सहस्रबाहुर्भूयां वै चमुमध्ये गृहेऽन्यथा॥
Thus requested by the Rishi for boons, the king addressed him, saying, Let me have a thousand arms when I am in the midst of my elders. While, however, I remain at home let me have, as usual, only two arms.
मम बाहुसहस्रं तु पश्यतां सैनिका रणे। विक्रमेण महीं कृत्स्ना जयेयं संशितव्रत॥
Indeed, let combatants, when fighting, see me possessed of a thousand arms. Observant also of high vows, let me succeed in subjugating the entire Earth by my prowess. son
तां च धर्मेण सम्प्राप्य पालयेयमतन्द्रितः। चतुर्थं तु वरं याचे त्वामहं द्विजसत्तम॥
Having acquired the Earth righteously, let me govern her with vigilance. There is a fourth boon which, O foremost of twiceborn person, I solicit thee to grant.
तं ममानुग्रहकृते दातुमर्हस्यनिन्दित। अनुशासन्तु मां सन्तो मिथ्योद्वृत्तं त्वदाश्रयम्॥
O faultless one, being disposed to favour me, you should grant it to me! Dependent as I am on you, whenever I may happen to go wrong, let pious men come forth to instruct and set me right.
इत्युक्तः स द्विजः प्राह तथास्त्विति नराधिपम्। एवं समभवंस्तस्य वरास्ते दीप्ततेजसः॥
Thus addressed, that Brahman, replied to the king, saying, So let it be! thus were those boons acquired by that king of burning effulgence.
ततः स रथमास्थाय ज्वलनार्कसमद्युतिम्। अब्रवीद् वीर्य सम्मोहात् को वास्ति सदृशो मम।। धैर्यवैिर्यशः शौर्यैर्विक्रमेणौजसापि वा। तद्वाक्यान्ते चान्तरिक्षो वागुवाचाशरीरिणी॥ न त्वं मूढ विजानीषे ब्राह्मणं क्षत्रियाद् वरम्। सहितो ब्राह्मणेनेह क्षत्रियः शास्ति वै प्रजाः॥
Riding then on his car which was effulgent like fire or the Sun, the king, blinded by his great prowess, said, Who, indeed, is there who can be considered as my equal in patience and energy, in fame and heroism, in prowess and strength? After he had uttered these words, an invisible voice in the sky, said, O ignorant wretch, do you not know that the Brahmana is superior to the Kshatriya? The Kshatriya, helped by the Brahman, rules all creatures.
अर्जुन उवाच कुर्यो भूतानि तुष्टोऽहं क्रुद्धो नाशं तथानये। कर्मणा मनसा वाचा न मत्तोऽस्ति वरो द्विजः॥
When pleased I am able to create many creatures. When angry, I am able to destroy all. In thought, word, and deed, I am the foremost. The Brahmana is certainly not above me.
पूर्वो ब्रह्मोत्तरो वादो द्वितीयः क्षत्रियोत्तरः। त्वयोक्तौ हेतुयुक्तौ तौ विशेषस्तत्र दृश्यते॥
The first proposition here is that the Brahmana is superior to Kshatriyas. The counterproposition is that the Kshatriya is superior. You have said, that the two are united together. A distinction, however, is observable in this.
ब्राह्मणाः संश्रिताः क्षत्रं न क्षत्रं ब्राह्मणाश्रितम्। श्रिता ब्रह्मोपधा विपाः खादन्ति क्षत्रियान् भुवि॥
It is seen that Brahmanas take refuge with Kshatriyas. The Kshatriyas never seek the refuge of Brahmanas. Indeed, throughout the Earth, the Brahmans, accepting such refuge under the pretence of teaching the Vedas, get their maintenance from the Kshatriyas.
क्षत्रियेष्वाश्रितो धर्मः प्रजानां परिपालनम्। क्षत्राद् वृत्तिर्ब्राह्मणानां तैः कथं ब्राह्मणो वरः॥
The duty of protecting all creatures lies with the Kshatriyas. It is from the Kshatriyas that the Brahmanas derive their livelihood. How then can the Brahmana be superior to the Kshatriyas?
सर्वभूतप्रधानांस्तान् भैक्षवृत्तीनहं सदा। आत्मसम्भावितान् विप्रान् स्थापयाम्यात्मनो वशे।।१९
Well, I shall, from today, bring under my subjection, your Brahmanas who are superior to all creatures but who have mendicancy for their occupation and who are so selfconceited.
कथितं त्वनयासत्यं गायत्री कन्यया दिवि। विजेष्याम्यवशान् सर्वान् ब्राह्मणांश्चर्मवाससः॥
What the virgin Gayatri has said from the sky is not true. Robed in skins, the Brahmans move about in independence. I shall bring those independent men under my subjcction.
न च मां च्यावयेद् राष्ट्रात् त्रिषु लोकेषु कश्चन। देवो वा मानुषो वापि तस्माज्ज्येष्ठो द्विजादहम्॥
Deity or man, there is none in the three worlds who can throw me off from the sovereignty I enjoy. Hence, I am certainly superior to the Brahmanas.
अद्य ब्रह्मोत्तरं लोकं करिष्ये क्षत्रियोत्तरम्। न हि मे संयुगे कश्चित् सोढुमुत्सहते बलम्॥
This world that is now considered as having Brahmanas for its foremost dwellers. shall soon be made such as to have Kshatriyas for its foremost dwellers. There is none who is capable of withstanding my power in battle.
अर्जुनस्य वचः श्रुत्वा वित्रस्ताभून्निशाचरी। अथैनमन्तरिक्षस्थस्ततो वायुरभाषत॥
Hearing these words of Arjuna, the skyranging goddess became moved.
त्यजैनं कलुषं भावं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नमस्कुरु। एतेषां कुर्वतः पापं राष्ट्रक्षोभो भविष्यति॥
Then the god of wind, addressing the king from the sky, said, Renounce this sinful attitude. Bow to the Brahmanas. By injuring them you will bring about troubles on your kingdom.
अथवा त्वां महीपाल शमयिष्यन्ति वै द्विजाः। निरसिष्यन्ति ते राष्ट्राद्धतोत्साहा महाबलाः॥
The Brahmanas will either kill you, king, though you are, or, endued with great might as they are, they will drive you away from your kingdom, despoiling you of your energy.
तं राजा कस्त्वमित्याह ततस्तं प्राह मारुतः। वायुर्वै देवदूतोऽस्मि हितं त्वां प्रब्रवीम्यहम्॥
Hearing this speech, the king addressed the speaker, saying, Who, indeed, are you? The god of wind answered. I am the god of wind and the messenger of the celestials. I say to you what is for your benefit.
अर्जुन उवाच अहो त्वयायं विप्रेषु भक्तिरागः प्रदर्शितः। यादृशं पृथिवीभूतं तादृशं ब्रूहि मे द्विजम्॥
Arjuna said Oh, I see that you have today shown your devotion and attachment to the Brahmanas. Tell me now what kind of carthly crcature is the Brahmana.
बायोर्वा सदृशं किंचिदि ब्रूहि त्वं ब्राह्मणोत्तमम्। अपां वै सदृशं वह्नः सूर्यस्य नभसोऽपि वा॥
Tell does a superior Brahmana resemble the Wind in any respect? Or, is he like Water, or Fire, or the Sun, or the Firmament? inc,
बायोर्वा सदृशं किंचिदि ब्रूहि त्वं ब्राह्मणोत्तमम्। अपां वै सदृशं वह्नः सूर्यस्य नभसोऽपि वा॥
Tell does a superior Brahmana resemble the Wind in any respect? Or, is he like Water, or Fire, or the Sun, or the Firmament? inc,