31. YUDHISHTHIRA RESPONDS TO DRAUPADI

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > AARANYA PARVA > ARJUNABHIGAMANA PARVA > CHAPTER 31 - YUDHISHTHIRA RESPONDS TO DRAUPADI

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Your speech, O Yaagnaseni (Draupadi), is delightful (Valgu in Sanskrit), smooth (Chitrapadam in Sanskrit) and full of excellent phrases. We have listened to it (carefully). You (Draupadi) speak, however, the language of atheism (Naastika in Sanskrit). O princess, I never act, thoughtful of the fruits of my actions. I give away, because it is my duty to give; I perform yagna because it is my duty to perform yagna! O Krishna (Draupadi), I accomplish to the best of my power whatever a person living in house should do, regardless of the fact whether those Karma have fruits or not. O you of fair hips (Draupadi), I act as per Dharma, not from the desire of reaping the fruits of Dharma, but of not violating the ordinances of Vedas, and also seeing the conduct of the good and wise! My heart, O Krishna (Draupadi), is naturally attracted towards Dharma. The man who wishes to reap the fruits of Dharma is a trader in Dharma. His nature is mean and he should never be counted among virtuous (Dharmavaadi in Sanskrit). Nor does he ever obtain the fruits of his Dharma (be counted among virtuous)! Nor does he of sinful heart, who having accomplished an act of Dharma doubts in his mind, obtain the fruits of his act, in consequence of that doubt of his (be counted among virtuous)! I speak to you, under the authority of the Vedas, which constitute the highest proof in such matters, that you should never doubt Dharma! The man that doubts Dharma is destined to take his birth in the brute species. The man of weak understanding (Durbalaatma in Sanskrit) who doubts Dharma, Shaastraas or the words of the Rishis, is precluded from regions of immortality and joy, like Shoodras from Vedas! O intelligent one, if a child born of a good race (Kula in Sanskrit) studies the Vedas and bears himself virtuously, Rajarishis of Dharmic behaviour regard him as an aged sage (even though he may be young)! The sinful wretch (Paapiyaan in Sanskrit), however, who doubts Dharma and violates Shaastraas, is regarded as lower than Shoodras and robbers!

“You have seen with your own eyes the great ascetic (Maha Tapa in Sanskrit) Maarkandeya of immeasurable soul come to us! It is by Dharma alone that he has acquired immortality in the flesh. Vyaasa, Vasishtha, Maitreya, Naarada, Lomasha, Shuka, and other Rishis have all, by Dharma alone, become of pure soul! You saw them with your own eyes as furnished with prowess of celestial asceticism (Divya yoga in Sanskrit), competent to curse or bless (with effect), and superior to Devas! O sinless one (Draupadi), these all, equal to Devas themselves, saw with their eyes what is written in the Vedas, and describe Dharma as the foremost duty! Therefore, it is your duty not to, O friendly Queen, either doubt or criticize God (Dhaataa in Sanskrit) or Dharma, with a foolish heart (Moodena Manasa in Sanskrit). The fool (Unmattaan in Sanskrit) that doubts and disregards Dharma, proud of the proof derived from his own reasoning, regards no other proofs and holds Rishis, who are capable of knowing the future as present as mad men. The fool regards only the external world capable of satisfying his senses and is blind to everything else. He that doubts Dharma has no atonement (Praayashchittam in Sanskrit) for his offence. That miserable wretch (Paapaa in Sanskrit) is full of anxiety and acquires no regions of joy hereafter. A rejector of proofs, a slanderer of the interpretation of Vedas and Shaastraas, a violater urged by lust (Kaamaa in Sanskrit) and greed, that fool goes to hell (Naraka in Sanskrit). O friendly one, he on the other hand, who ever cherishes Dharma with faith, obtains eternal joy in the other world. The fool who does not cherish Dharma, violating the proofs offered by Rishis, never obtaineth prosperity in any life, for such violation of Shaastraas. It is certain, O beautiful one (Draupadi), that with respect to him who does not regard the words of Rishis or the conduct of the virtuous (Aachaara in Sanskrit) as proof, neither this or the other world does not exist. Do not doubt, O Krishna (Draupadi), the ancient Dharma that is practised by the good and framed by Rishis of universal knowledge and capable of seeing all things!

“O Draupadi, Dharma is the only boat for those desirous of going to heaven, like a ship to merchants desirous of crossing the ocean. O you faultless one (Draupadi), if the Dharma that are practised by the virtuous (Dharmachaari in Sanskrit) had no fruits, this universe then would be enveloped in infamous darkness. No one then would pursue salvation (Nirvaana in Sanskrit), no one would seek to acquire knowledge not even wealth, but men would live like animals. If Tapas, Brahmacharya, yagna, study of the Vedas, charity (Daanam in Sanskrit), honesty – these all were fruitless, men would not have practised Dharma generation after generation. If acts were all fruitless, a dire confusion would ensue. For what then do Rishis, Devas, Gandharvas and Raakshasas who are all independent of human conditions, cherish Dharma with such affection? Knowing it for certain that God (Dhaataa in Sanskrit) is the giver of fruits in respect of virtue, they practise Dharma in this world. This, O Krishna (Draupadi), is the eternal (source of) prosperity.

“When the fruits of both knowledge and Tapas are seen, Dharma and Adharma cannot be fruitless. Call to your mind, O Krishna (Draupadi), the circumstances of your own birth as you that heard of them and recall also the manner in which Dhrishtadyumna of great prowess (Prataapavaan in Sanskrit) was born! These, O you of sweet smiles (Draupadi), are the best proofs (of the fruits of Dharma)! They that have their minds under control, reap the fruits of their acts and are content with little. Ignorant fools are not content with how much ever they get (here), because they have no happiness born of Dharma to acquire to in the world hereafter. The fruitlessness of act of Dharma ordained in the Vedas, and also of all violations, the origin and destruction of acts are, O beautiful one (Draupadi), mysterious even to Devas. These are not known to any body and everybody. Ordinary men are ignorant in respect of these. Devas keep up the mystery, for the illusion covering the conduct of Devas is unintelligible. Those Dwijas that have destroyed all aspirations, that have built all their hopes on vows (Vrata in Sanskrit) and Tapas, that have burnt all their sins and have acquired minds where quest and peace and holiness dwell, understand all these. Therefore, though you may not see the fruits of Dharma, you should not yet doubt Dharma or Devas. You must perform yagnas with a will, and practise charity without rudeness. Karma in this world have their fruits, and Dharma also is eternal. (Lord) Brahma Himself told this to His (spiritual) sons, as testified to by Kashyapa. Let your doubt, therefore, O Krishna (Draupadi), be dispelled like mist. Thinking upon all this, let your scepticism give way to faith. Do not slander God (Eeshwara in Sanskrit), who is the lord of all creatures. Learn how to know Him. Bow down to Him. Let not your mind be such. O Krishna (Draupadi), never disregard that Supreme Being through whose grace mortal man, by Bhakti, acquires immortality!’”