Mahabharata (English)

by Kisari Mohan Ganguli | 2,566,952 words | ISBN-10: 8121505933

The English translation of the Mahabharata is a large text describing ancient India. It is authored by Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa and contains the records of ancient humans. Also, it documents the fate of the Kauravas and the Pandavas family. Another part of the large contents, deal with many philosophical dialogues such as the goals of life. Book...

Section LXXXVII

"Vaisampayana said, 'While that king of kings dwelt in heaven—the home of the celestials, he was reverenced by the gods, the Sadhyas, the Maruts, and the Vasus. Of sacred deeds, and mind under complete control, the monarch used to repair now and then from the abode of the celestials unto the region of Brahman. And it has been heard by me that he dwelt for a long time in heaven.

"One day that best of kings, Yayati, went to Indra and there in course of conversation the lord of Earth was asked by Indra as follows:

'What didst you say, O king, when your son Puru took your decrepitude on Earth and when you gavest him your kingdom?'

"Yayati answered,

'I told him that the whole country between the rivers Ganga and Yamuna was his. That is, indeed, the central region of the Earth, while the out-lying regions are to be the dominions of your brothers.

I also told him that those without anger were ever superior to those under its sway, those disposed to forgive were ever superior to the unforgiving.

Man is superior to the lower animals. Among men again the learned are superior to the un-learned. If wronged, you should not wrong in return.

One’s wrath, if disregarded, burns one’s own self; but he that regards it not takes away all the virtues of him that exhibiteh it. Never should you pain others by cruel speeches. Never subdue your foes by despicable means; and never utter such scorching and sinful words as may torture others.

He that pricks as if with thorns men by means of hard and cruel words, you must know, ever carries in his mouth the Rakshasas. Prosperity and luck fly away at his very sight.

You should ever keep the virtuous before you as your models; you should ever with retrospective eye compare your acts with those of the virtuous; you should ever disregard the hard words of the wicked.

You should ever make the conduct of the wise the model upon which you are to act thyself. The man hurt by the arrows of cruel speech hurled from one’s lips, weepes day and night. Indeed, these strike at the core of the body.

Therefore the wise never fling these arrows at others. There is nothing in the three worlds by which you canst worship and adore the deities better than by kindness, friendship, charity and sweet speeches unto all.

Therefore, should you always utter words that soothe, and not those that scorch. And you should regard those that deserve, your regards, and should always give but never beg!"'

Conclusion:

This concludes Section LXXXVII of Book 1 (Adi Parva) of the Mahabharata, of which an English translation is presented on this page. This book is famous as one of the Itihasa, similair in content to the eighteen Puranas. Book 1 is one of the eighteen books comprising roughly 100,000 Sanskrit metrical verses.

FAQ (frequently asked questions):

Which keywords occur in Section LXXXVII of Book 1 of the Mahabharata?

The most relevant definitions are: Indra, Yayati, Vaisampayana, Sadhyas, Maruts, Vasus; since these occur the most in Book 1, Section LXXXVII. There are a total of 12 unique keywords found in this section mentioned 14 times.

What is the name of the Parva containing Section LXXXVII of Book 1?

Section LXXXVII is part of the Sambhava Parva which itself is a sub-section of Book 1 (Adi Parva). The Sambhava Parva contains a total of 78 sections while Book 1 contains a total of 19 such Parvas.

Can I buy a print edition of Section LXXXVII as contained in Book 1?

Yes! The print edition of the Mahabharata contains the English translation of Section LXXXVII of Book 1 and can be bought on the main page. The author is Kisari Mohan Ganguli and the latest edition (including Section LXXXVII) is from 2012.

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