वैशम्पायन उवाच अत्रैवोदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। इन्द्रेण समये पृष्टो यदुवाच बृहस्पतिः॥
Regarding this subject is cited an old history, viz., the discourse that Brihaspati, asked by Indra, delivered to him.
बृहस्पति उवाच संतोषो वै स्वर्गतमः संतोषः परमं सुखम्। तुष्टेन किंचित् परतः सा सम्यक् प्रतितिष्ठति॥
Brihaspati said 'Contentment is the highest heaven, and the greatest bliss. There is nothing superior to Contentment. Contentment heads all.
यदा संहरते कामान् कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वशः। तदऽऽत्मज्योतिरचिरात् स्वात्मन्येव प्रसीदति॥
When one contracts all his desires like a tortoise drawing in all his limbs, then the native cffulgence of his soul soon manifests itself.
न बिभेति यदा चायं यदा चास्मान्न बिभ्यति। कामद्वेषौ च जयति तदाऽऽत्मानं च पश्यति॥
When one does not fear any creature, nor any creature is frightened at one, when one contracts onc's desire and hatred, then is one said to see one's soul.
यदासौ सर्वभूतानां न दुह्यति न काङ्क्षति। कर्मणा मनसा वाचा ब्रह्म सम्पद्यते तदा॥
When one, seeks to injure nobody in deed, word, and thought, and cherishes no desire, he is said to attain to Brahma.
एवं कौन्तेय भूतानि तं तं धर्मं तथा तथा। तदाऽऽत्मना प्रपश्यन्ति तस्माद् बुद्ध्यस्व भारत॥
Thus, O son of Kunti, creatures reap fruits according to the religion they follow-Awaken yourself by this thought, O Bharata.
अन्ये साम प्रशंसन्ति व्यायामभपरे जनाः। नैकं न चापरं केचिदुभयं च तथापरे॥ यज्ञमेव प्रशंसन्ति संन्यासमपरे जनाः। दानमेके प्रशंसन्ति केचिच्चैव प्रतिग्रहम्॥
Some laud Peacefulness; some laud Activity; some laud Contemplation; some speak high of both Peacefulness and Activity. Some speak high of Sacrifice; others, Renunciation. some speak high of Gifts, others, Acceptance.
केचित् सर्वं परित्यज्य तूष्णीं ध्यायन्त आसते। राज्यमेके प्रशंसन्ति प्रजानां परिपालनम्॥ हत्वा छित्त्वा च भित्त्वा च केचिदेकान्तशीलिनः। एतत् सर्वं समालोक्य बुधानामेष निश्चयः॥ अद्रोहेणैव भूतानां यो धर्मः स सतां मतः। अद्रोहः सत्यवचनं संविभागो दया दमः॥ प्रजनं स्वेषु दारेषु मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम्। एवं धर्मं प्रधानेष्टं मनः स्वाम्यभुवोऽब्रवीत्॥ तस्मादेतत् प्रयत्नेन कौन्तेय प्रतिपालय।
Some leaving off every thing, live in silent meditation. Some speak of sovereignty and the caring after subjects, after killing, cutting, and piercing (foes). Some prefer spending their days in retirement. Observing all this, the learned hold that religion which consists is not injuring any creature is the one approved of by the righteous. The practice of abstention from injury, truthfulness of speech, justice, compassion, self-control, procreation (of offspring) upon one's own wives, amiability, modesty, patience, is the best of all religious as said by the self-born Manu himself. Therefore, O son of Kunti, do you practise this religion!
यो हि राज्ये स्थितः शश्वद् वशी तुल्यप्रियाप्रियः॥ क्षत्रियो यज्ञशिष्टाशी राजा शास्त्रार्थतत्त्ववित्। असाधुनिग्रहरतः साधूनां प्रग्रहे रतः॥ धर्मवर्त्मनि संस्थाप्य प्रजा वर्तेत धर्मतः। पुत्रसंक्रामितश्रीश्च वने वन्येन वर्तयन्॥ विधिना श्रावणेनैव कुर्यात् कर्माण्यतन्द्रितः। य एवं वर्तते राजन् स राजा धर्मनिश्चितः॥ तस्यायं च परश्चैव लोकः स्यात् सफलोदयः। निर्वाणं हि सुदुष्प्राप्यं बहुविघ्नं च मे मतम्॥
That Kshatriya, who, knowing. well the royal duties, take sovereignty upon himself, controlling his soul at all times, regarding that which is dear and that which is not in the same light and living upon the residue of sacrificial feats, who is engaged in restraining the wicked and cherishing the righteous, who compels his subjects to follow the path of virtue and who himself follows that path, who at last hands over his crown to his son and retires into the forest, there to live on the products of the forest and act according to the ordinances of the Vedas after having thrown off all idleness, that Kshatriya who acts thus, following the well-known duties of kings,-is sure to reap excellent fruits in both this world and the next. The final emancipation, you speak of, is lightly difficult to obtain, and its pursuit is attended with many obstacles.
एवं धर्ममनुक्रान्ताः सत्यदानतपःपराः। आनृशंस्यगुणैर्युक्ताः कामक्रोधविवर्जिताः॥ प्रजानां पालने युक्ता धर्ममुत्तममास्थिताः। गोब्राह्मणार्थे युध्यन्त प्राप्ता गतिमनुत्तमाम्॥
They who follow such duties and practise charity and ascetic penances, penances, who are compassionate and are freed from desire and anger, who are engaged in ruling their subjects with righteousness and fighting for the sake of kine and Brahmanas, attain hereafter to a high end.
एवं रुद्राः सवसवस्तथाऽऽदित्याः परंतप। साध्या राजर्षिसंघाश्च धर्ममेतं समाश्रिताः। अप्रमत्तास्ततः स्वर्गं प्राप्ताः पुण्यैः स्वकर्मभिः॥
For this the Rudras, with the Vasus and the Adityas, O destroyer of foes, and the Sadhyas and innumerable other kings adopt this religion. practising carefully the duties laid down by that religion, they attain to heaven through those acts of theirs.