Chapter 23

Vaisampayana said, “Thus addressed by Arjuna of curly hair, the Kuru kingborn of Kunti remained speechless. Then the island-born (Vyasa) saidthese words.

“Vyasa said, ‘The words of Arjuna, O amiable Yudhishthira, are true. Thehighest religion, as declared by the scriptures, depends on the duties ofdomesticity. Thou art acquainted with all duties. Do thou then dulypractise the duties prescribed for thee (viz., the duties ofdomesticity). A life of retirement in the woods, casting off the dutiesof domesticity, has not been laid down for thee. The gods, Pitris,guests, and servants, all depend (for their sustenance) upon the personleading a life of domesticity. Do thou then support all these, O lord ofthe earth! Birds and animals and various other creatures, O ruler of men,are supported by men leading domestic lives. He, therefore, that belongsto that mode of life is superior (to all others). A life of domesticityis the most difficult of all the four modes of life. Do thou practisethat mode of life then, O Partha, which is difficult of being practisedby persons of unrestrained sense. Thou hast a good knowledge of all theVedas. Thou hast earned great ascetic merit. It behoveth thee, therefore,to bear like an ox the burthen of thy ancestral kingdom. Penances,sacrifices, forgiveness, learning, mendicancy, keeping the senses undercontrol, contemplation, living in solitude, contentment, and knowledge(of Brahma), should, O king, be striven after by Brahmanas to the best oftheir ability for the attainment of success. I shall now tell thee theduties of Kshatriyas. They are not unknown to thee. Sacrifice, learning,exertion, ambition,[69] wielding ‘the rod of punishment,’ fierceness,protection of subjects., knowledge of the Vedas, practise of all kinds ofpenances, goodness of conduct, acquisition of wealth, and gifts todeserving persons,–these, O king, well performed and acquired by personsof the royal order, secure for them both this world and the next, asheard by us. Amongst these, O son of Kunti, wielding the rod ofchastisement has been said to be the foremost. Strength must alwaysreside in a Kshatriya, and upon strength depends chastisement. Thoseduties that I have mentioned are, O king, the principal ones forKshatriyas and contribute greatly to their success. Vrihaspati, in thisconnection, sang this verse: ‘Like a snake devouring a mouse, the Earthdevours a king that is inclined to peace and a Brahmana that isexceedingly attached to a life of domesticity.’ It is heard again thatthe royal sage Sudyumna, only by wielding the rod of chastisement,obtained the highest success, like Daksha himself, the son of Prachetas.’

Yudhishthira said, ‘O holy one, by what acts did Sudyumna, that lord ofthe earth, obtain the highest success? I desire to hear the history ofthat king!’

“Vyasa said, ‘In this connection is cited this old history. There weretwo brothers, viz., Sankha and Likhita, of rigid vows. The two brothershad two separate dwellings both of which were beautiful. Situate by thebank of the stream called Vahuda, both of those residences were adornedwith trees that were always burthened with flowers and fruits. Once on atime Likhita came to the residence of his brother Sankha. At that time,however, Sankha had gone out of his asylum on no fixed purpose. Arrivedat the asylum of his brother, Likhita plucked many ripe fruits. Obtainingthem the regenerate Likhita began to eat them without any qualms ofconscience. While still employed in the act of eating, Sankha came backto his retreat. Beholding him eating, Sankha addressed his brother,saying, ‘Whence have these fruits been obtained and for what reason artthou eating them?’ Approaching his elder brother and saluting him,Likhita smilingly replied, saying, ‘I have taken them even from thisretreat.’ Filled with great rage, Sankha said unto him, ‘Thou hastcommitted theft by thyself taking these fruits. Go and approaching theking confess to him what thou hast done. Tell him, O best of kings, Ihave committed the offence of approaching what was not given to me.Knowing me for a thief and observing the duty of thy order, do thou sooninflict upon me, O ruler of men, the punishment of a thief.’ Thusaddressed, the highly blessed Likhita of rigid vows, at the command ofhis brother, proceeded to king Sudyumna. Hearing from his gate-keepersthat Likhita had come, king Sudyumna, with his counsellors, advanced (forreceiving the sage). Meeting him, the king addressed that foremost of allpersons conversant with duties, saying, ‘Tell me, O revered one, thereason of thy coming. Regard it as already accomplished.’ Thusquestioned, that regenerate sage said unto Sudyumna, ‘Do thou promisefirst that thou wilt achieve it. It will then behove thee, after hearingme, to accomplish that promise. O bull among men, I ate some fruits thathad not been given me by my elder brother. Do thou, O monarch, punish mefor it without delay.’ Sudyumna answered, ‘If the king be regarded ascompetent to wield the rod of chastisement, he should be regarded, O bullamong Brahmanas, as equally competent to pardon. Purified in respect ofthy act, O thou of high vows, consider thyself as pardoned. Tell me nowwhat other wishes thou hast. I shall certainly accomplish those commandsof thine!’

“Vyasa continued, ‘Thus honoured by the high-souled king, the regeneratesage Likhita, however, did not solicit him for any other favour. Thenthat ruler of the earth caused the two hands of the high-souled Likhitato be cut off, whereupon the latter, bearing the punishment, went away.Returning to his brother Sankha, Likhita, in great affection, said, ‘Itbehoveth thee now to pardon this wretch that hath been duly punished (forwhat he did).’ Sankha said, I am not angry with thee, nor hast thouinjured me, O foremost of all persons conversant with duties. Thy virtue,however, had suffered a shock. I have rescued thee from that plight.Proceed without delay to the river Vahuda and gratify duly, withoblations of water, the gods, Rishis and the Pitris, and never again setthy heart on sin.’ Hearing these words of Sankha, Likhita performed hisablutions in the sacred stream and set about for commencing thewater-rite. Upon this, two hands, resembling two lotuses, appeared at theextremities of his stumps. Filled with wonder he came back to his brotherand showed him the two hands. Sankha said unto him, ‘All this has beenaccomplished by me through my penances. Do not be surprised at it.Providence hath been the instrument here.’ Likhita answered, ‘O thou ofgreat splendour, why didst thou not purify me at first, when, O best ofregenerate ones, such was the energy of thy penances?’ Sankha, said, ‘Ishould not have acted otherwise. I am not thy chastiser. The ruler (whohas punished thee) has been himself purified, as also thyself, along withthe Pitris!’

“Vyasa continued, ‘That king, O eldest son of Pandu, became eminent bythis act and obtained the highest success like the lord Daksha himself!Even this is the duty of Kshatriyas, viz., the ruling of subjects. Anyother, O monarch, would be regarded as a wrong path for them. Do not giveway to grief. O best of all persons conversant with duty, listen to thebeneficial words of this thy brother. Wielding the rod of chastisement, Oking, is the duty of kings and not the shaving of the head.'”