युधिष्ठिर उवाच पितामह महाप्राज्ञ कुरूणां प्रीतिवर्धन। प्रश्नं कञ्चितप्रवक्ष्यामि तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि॥
O grandfather, you of great wisdom, I shall ask you a question. You should, O enhancer of the joy of the Kurus, to describe it fully to me.
कीदृशा मानवाः सौम्याः कैः प्रीतिः परमा भवेत्। आयत्यां च तदात्वे च के क्षमास्तान् वदस्व मे॥
What kind of man are gentle by nature? With whom may the best friendship exists? Tell us also who are able to do good now and in the future.
न हि तत्र धनं स्फीतं न च सम्बन्धिबान्धवाः। तिष्ठन्ति यत्र सुहृदस्तिष्ठन्तीति मतिर्मम॥
I think that neither increasing wealth, nor relatives, nor kinsmen occupy that place which well-meaning friends do.
दुर्लभो हि सुहच्छ्रोता दुर्लभश्च हितः सुहृत्। एतद् धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ सर्वं व्याख्यातुमर्हसि॥
A friend capable of hearing beneficial advice, and also of doing good, is highly rare! You should foremost of virtuous men, describe fully those subjects.
भीष्म उवाच संधेयान् पुरुषान् राजन्नसंधेयांश्च तत्त्वतः। वदतो मे निबोध त्वं निखिलेन युधिष्ठिर॥
Bhishma said Hear, O Yudhishthira, as I speak to you fully of those men with whom friendships may be contracted and those with whom friendships should not be made.
लुब्धः क्रूरस्त्यक्तधर्मा निकृतिः शठ एव च। क्षुद्रः पापसमाचारः सर्वशङ्की तथालसः॥ दीर्घसूत्रोऽनृजुः क्रुष्टो गुरुदारप्रधर्षकः। व्यसने यः परित्यागी दुरात्मा निरपत्रपः॥ सर्वतः पापदर्शी च नास्तिको वेदनिन्दकः। सम्प्रकीर्णेन्द्रियो लोके यः कामं निरतश्चरेत्॥ असत्यो लोकविद्विष्टः समये चानवस्थितः। पिशुनोऽथाकृतप्रज्ञो मत्सरी पापनिश्चयः॥ दुःशीलोऽथाकृतात्मा च नृशंसः कितवस्तथा। मित्रैरपकृतिनित्यमिच्छतेऽर्थं परस्य यः॥ ददतश्च यथाशक्ति यो न तुष्यति मन्दधीः। अधैर्यमपि यो युङ्क्ते सदा मित्रं नरर्षभ॥ अस्थानक्रोधनोऽयुक्तो यश्चाकस्माद् विरुध्यते। सुहृदश्चैव कल्याणानाशु त्यजति किल्बिषी॥ अल्पेऽप्यपकृते मूढस्तथाज्ञानात् कृतेऽपि च। कार्यसेवी च मित्रेषु मित्रद्वेषी नराधिप॥ शत्रुमित्रमुखो यश्च जिह्यप्रेक्षी विलोचनः। न विरज्यति कल्याणे यस्त्यजेत् तादृशं नरम्॥
One who is covetous, one who has cast off the duties of his castes, one who is dishonest, one who is a knave, one who is mean, one who is of sinful deeds, one who suspects all, one who is idle, one who is procrastinating, one who is of a crooked nature, one who is a butt of universal censure one who dishonours the life of his preceptor, one who is addicted to the seven well-known vices, one who shuns distressed friends, one who is wicked, one who is shameless, one whose eyes are always on sin, one who is an atheist, one who vilifies the Vedas, one whose senses are not under control, one who is lustful, one who is untruthful, one who is forsaken by all, one who disregards all restraints, one who is deceitful, one who is destitute of wisdom, one who is envious, one who is sinful, one whose conduct is bad, one whose soul is not been purified, one who is cruel, one who is a gambler, one who always tries to injure friends, one who covets an other's wealth, that wicked man who is never content with what another may give him according to his means, one who is never pleased with his friends, O foremost of men, one who becomes angry on bad occasions, one who is of restless mind, one who quarrels without cause, that sinful man who feels no scruple in deserting well-meaning friends, that wretch who always seeks his own interests and who, O king, falls out with friends when these do him a very slight injury or do him a wrong unknowingly, one who acts like an enemy but speaks like a friend, one who is perverse in perception, one who does not see his own good, one who never finds pleasure in what is good for himself or others, should be shunned.
पानपो द्वेषणः क्रोधी निघृणः परुषस्तथा। परोपतापी मित्रध्रुक् तथा प्राणिवधे रतः॥ कृतघ्नश्चाधमो लोके न संधेयः कदाचन। छिद्रान्वेषी ह्यसंधेयः संधेयानपि मे शृणु॥
One who drinks wine, one who hates others, one who is angry, one who is merciless, one who feels pain on seeing other's happiness, one who injures friends, one who always kills living creatures, one who is ungrateful, one who is vile, should be shunned. Friendship should never be contracted with any of them. Likewise, no friendship should be made with him who is always busy with seeing the faults of others. Listen now to me as I mention the persons, with whom friendship may be contracted.
कुलीना वाक्यसम्पन्ना ज्ञानविज्ञानकोविदाः। रूपवन्तो गुणोपेतास्तथाऽलुब्धा जितश्रमाः॥ सन्मित्राश्च कृतज्ञाश्च सर्वज्ञा लोभवर्जिताः। माधुर्यगुणसम्पन्नाः सत्यसंधा जितेन्द्रियाः॥ व्यायामशीलाः सततं कुलपुत्राः कुलोद्वहाः। दोषैः प्रमुक्ताः प्रथितास्ते ग्राह्या: पार्थिवैर्नराः॥
The well-born, the eloquent, the polite, the learned and scientific men, they that are of beautiful and pleasant features, the accomplished and meritorious persons, those who are free from covetousness, those who are never worn out with labour those who are good to their friends, the grateful, those who keep varied information and knowledge, those who are shorn of avarice, those who are endued with agreeable qualities, those who are firm in truth, those who have subjugated their senses, those who are devoted to athletic and other exercises, those who are nobly born, those who multiply their families, those who are shorn of faults, those who are possessed of fame, should be accepted by kings for making friendship with them.
यथाशक्ति समाचाराः सम्प्रतुष्यन्ति हि प्रभो। नास्थाने क्रोधवन्तश्च न चाकस्माद् विरागिणः। विरक्तश्च न दुष्यन्ति मनसाप्यर्थकोविदाः॥ आत्मानं पीडयित्वापि सुहृत्कार्यपरायणाः। विरज्यन्ति न मित्रेभ्यो वासो रक्तमिवाविकम्॥ क्रोधाच्च लोभमोहाभ्यां नानर्थे युवतीषु च। न दर्शयन्ति सुहृदो विश्वस्ता धर्मवत्सलाः॥ लोष्टकाञ्चनतुल्यार्थाः सुहृत्सु दृढबुद्धयः। ये.चरन्त्यभिमानानि सृष्टार्थमनुषङ्गिणः॥ संगृह्णन्तः परिजनं स्वाम्यर्थपरमाः सदा। ईदृशैः पुरुषश्रेष्ठैर्यः संधिं कुरुते नृपः॥ तस्य विस्तीर्यते राज्यं ज्योत्स्ना ग्रहपतेरिव।
Those, again, O king, who become pleased and contented if one treats them according to the best of his powers, those who never get angry on occasions when anger should be displayed, those who never become displeased without sufficient cause, those persons who are well-read in the science of Profit and who even when annoyed, can keep their minds quiet, those who give themselves up to the service of friends at personal sacrifice, those who never cast off their friends, but who remain unchanged in their attachment) like a red blanket made of wool, those who never disregard, from anger, those who are poor, those who never dishonour young women by giving way to lust and loss of judgement, those who never show wrong paths to friends, those who are trustworthy, those who always, practise righteousness, those who consider gold and clod of earth with an equal eye, those who are devoted to friends and well-wishers, those who collect their own people and try to be friend them, without caring for their own dignity and their own respectability, should be considered as persons with whom (friendship) should be formed. Indeed, the kingdoms of that king spread on all sides, like the light of the moon, who makes friendship with such superior men.
शास्त्रनित्या जितक्रोधा बलवन्तो रणे सदा॥ जन्मशीलगुणोपेताः संधेयाः पुरुषोत्तमाः।
Friendship should be formed with men who are well-practised in weapons, who have completely subjugated their anger, who are always strong in battle and are highly born, and are of good behaviour, and varied accomplishments.
ये च दोषसमायुक्ता नराः प्रोक्ता मयानघ।॥ तेशामप्यधमा राजन् कृतघ्ना मित्रघातकाः। त्यक्तव्यास्तु दुराचाराः सर्वेषामिति निश्चयः॥
Amongst the vicious men, O sinless one, that I have mentioned, the vilest, o king, are those who are ungrateful and who injure friends. Those wicked persons should be shunned by all. This, indeed, is a settled injunction.'
युधिष्ठिर उवाच विस्तरेणाथ सम्बन्धं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः। मित्रद्रोही कृतघ्नश्च यः प्रोक्तस्तद् वदस्व मे।।२८।
Yudhishthira said I wish to hear fully this description. Tell me who they are who injure friends and ungrateful persons.
भीष्म उवाच हन्त ते वर्तयिष्येऽहमितिहासं पुरातनम्। उदीच्यां दिशि यद् वृत्तं म्लेच्छेषु मनुजाधिप॥
I shall recite to you an old story the incidents of which took place in the country, O king, of the Mlecchas that lies to the north.
ब्राह्मणो मध्यदेशीयः कश्चिद् वै ब्रह्मवर्जितः। ग्रामं वृद्धियुतं वीक्ष्य प्राविशद भैक्ष्यकासया॥
There was a certain Brahmana of the middle country. He had no Vedic learning. (One day), seeing a prosperous village, the man entered it from desire of getting alms.
तत्र दस्युर्धनयुतः सर्ववर्णविशेषवित्। ब्रह्मण्यः सत्यसंधश्च दाने च निरतोऽभवत्।॥
In that village lived a very rich robber conversant with the characteristics of all the castes, devoted to the Brahmanas, firm in truth, and always engaged in making gifts.
तस्य क्षयमुपागम्य ततो भिक्षामयाचत। प्रतिश्रयं च वासार्थं भिक्षां चैवाथ वार्षिकीम्॥
Going to the house of that robber, the Brahmana begged for alms. Indeed, he prayed for a house to live in and the necessaries of life lasting for a year.
प्रादात् तस्मै स विप्राय वस्त्रं च सदृशं नवम्। नारी चापि वयोपेतां भ; विरहितां तथा॥
Thus begged by the Brahmana, the robber gave him a piece of new cloth with its ends complete, and a young widow.
एतत् सम्प्राप्य हृष्टात्मा दस्योः सर्वं द्विजस्तथा। तस्मिन् गृहवरे राजंस्तया रेमे स गौतमः॥
Getting all those things from the robber, the Brahmana become filled with joy. Gautama began to live happily in that big house given to him by the robber.
कुटुम्बार्थं च दास्याश्च साहाय्यं चाप्यथाकरोत्। तत्रावसत् स वर्षांश्च समृद्धे शबरालये॥
He began to help the relatives and kinsmen of the female slave the robber-chief gave him. Thus he lived for many years in that prosperous village of hunters.
बाणवेधे परं यत्नमकरोच्चैव गौतमः। चक्राङ्गान् स च नित्यं वै सर्वतो वनगोचरान्॥ जघान गौतमो राजन् यथा दस्युगणास्तथा। हिंसापटुघृणाहीन: सदा प्राणिवधे रतः॥ गौतमः संनिकर्षेण दस्युभिः समतामियात्।
He began to practise with great zeal the art of archery. Every day, like the other robbers living there, Gautama, o king, went into the forest and killed a large number of wild cranes. Always engaged in killing living creatures, he became well-skilled in that act and soon became shorn of mercy. For his intimacy with robbers he became one like one of them.
तथा तु वसतस्तस्य दस्युग्रामे सुखं तदा॥ अगमन् बहवो मासा निघ्नतः पक्षिणो बहून्।
Living happily in that robber village for many months, he killed a number of wild cranes.
ततः कदाचिदपरो द्विजस्तं देशमागतः॥ जटाचीराजिनधरः स्वाध्यायपरमः शुचिः।
One day another Brahmana came to that village. He was clad in rags and deer-skins and bore matted locks on his head. Of highly pure conduct, he was devoted to the study of the Vedas.
विनीतो नियताहारो ब्रह्मण्यो वेदपारगः॥ स ब्रह्मचारी तद्देश्यः सखा तस्यैव सुप्रियः।
Of a humble disposition, of restricted diet, devoted to the Brahmanas, well-read in ihe Vedas, and observant of Brahmacharya vows, that Brahmana had been a dear friend of Gautama and belonged to that part of the country from which Gautama had come.
तं दस्युग्राममगमद् यत्रासौ गौतमोऽवसत्॥ स तु विप्रगृहान्वेषी शूद्रानपरिवर्जकः।
In course of his peregrinations, as already said, the Brahmana came to that robber village where Gautama was living. He never accepted any food if given by a Shudra and, therefore, began to look for the house of a Brahmana there.
ग्रामे दस्युसमाकीर्णे व्यचरत् सर्वतोदिशम्॥ ततः स गौतमगृहं प्रविवेश द्विजोत्तमः। गौतमश्चापि सम्प्राप्तस्तावन्योन्येन संगतौ॥ चक्राङ्गभारस्कन्धं तं धनुष्पाणिं धृतायुधम्। रुधिरेणावसिक्ताङ्गं गृहद्वारमुपागतम्॥
Accordingly he wandered in every direction in that village filled with robber-families. At last that foremost of Brahmanas came to the house of Gautama. It so happened that just then Gautama also, returning from the forest, was entering his house. The two friends met. Armed with bow and sword, he carried on his shoulders a load of killed cranes, and his body was covered with the blood that trickled down from the bag on his shoulders.
तं दृष्ट्वा पुरुषादाभमपध्वस्तं क्षयागतम्। अभिज्ञाय द्विजो व्रीडत्रिदं वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्॥
Seeing that man who looked like a cannibal and who had fallen away from the pure practices of his caste, and entering his house, the newly-arrived guest, recognising him, O king, said these words
किमिदं कुरुषे मोहाद् विप्रस्त्वं हि कुलोद्वहः। मध्यदेशपरिज्ञातो दस्युभावं गतः कथम्॥ पूर्वान् स्मर द्विज ज्ञातीन् प्रख्यातान् वेदपारगान्। तेषां वंशेऽभिजातस्त्वमीदृशः कुलपांसनः॥
What is this that you are doing here out of ignorance. You are a Brahmana, and the perpetuator of a Brahmana family. Born in a respectable family belonging to the Middle country, how is it that you have become like a robber in your conduct.
अवबुध्यात्मनाऽऽत्मानं सत्त्वं शील श्रुतं दमम्। अनुक्रोशं च संस्मृत्य त्यज वासमिमं द्विज॥
Recollect, O twice-born one, your famous kinsmen of former times, all of whom were well-read in the Vedas. Born in their family, alas, you have sullied it.
स एवमुक्तः सुहृदा तेन तत्र हितैषिणा। प्रत्युवाच ततो राजन् विनिश्चित्य तदार्तवत्॥
Awake yourself by your own exertions. Remembering the power, the conduct, the learning, the self-control, the mercy (which belong to your caste), leave this your present house, O twice-born one.
निर्धनोऽस्मि द्विजश्रेष्ठ नापि वेदविदप्यहम्। वित्तार्थमिह सम्प्राप्तं विद्धि मां द्विजसत्तम॥
Thus spoken to by that well-meaning friend of his, O king, Gautama answered him in great distress of heart, saying,-O foremost of twiceborn ones, I am poor. I have no knowledge of the Vedas. Know, O best of Brahmanas, that I have taken up my quarters here for the sake of money only.
त्वदर्शनात् तु विप्रेन्द्र कृतार्थोऽस्म्यद्य वै द्विज। आवां हि सह यास्यावः श्वो वसस्वाद्य शर्वरीम्॥
Seeing you, however, I am blessed to-day. We shall together leave this place tomorrow. Do you spend the night here with me.
स तत्र न्यवसद् विप्रो घृणी किञ्चिदसंस्पृशन्। क्षुधितश्छन्द्यमानोऽपि भोजनं नाभ्यनन्दत॥
Thus accosted, the newly-arrived Brahmana, full of mercy as he was, passed the night there, without touching anything. Though hungry and requested again and again, the guest refused to touch any food in that house.