Fifth Skandha · Chapter 4
Sourceव्यास उवाच गते दूते सुरेन्द्रोऽपि समाहूय सुरानथ । यमवायुधनाध्यक्षवरुणानिदमूचिवान् ॥ १ ॥ महिषो नाम दैत्येन्द्रो रम्भपुत्रो महाबलः । वरदर्पमदोन्मत्तो मायाशतविचक्षणः ॥ २ ॥ तस्य दूतोऽद्य सम्प्राप्तः प्रेषितस्तेन भोः सुराः । स्वर्गकामेन लुब्धेन मामुवाचेदृशं वचः ॥ ३ ॥ त्यज देवालयं शक्र यथेच्छं व्रज वासव । सेवां वा कुरु दैत्यस्य महिषस्य महात्मनः ॥ ४ ॥ दयावान्दानवेन्द्रोऽसौ स ते वृत्तिं विधास्यति । नतेषु भृत्यभूतेषु न कुप्यति कदाचन ॥ ५ ॥ नोचेद्युद्धाय देवेश सेनोद्योगं कुरु स्वयम् । गते मयि स दैत्येन्द्रस्त्वरितः समुपेष्यति ॥ ६ ॥ इत्युक्त्वा स गतो दूतो दानवस्य दुरात्मनः । किं कर्तव्यमतः कार्यं चिन्तयध्वं सुरोत्तमाः ॥ ७ ॥ दुर्बलोऽपि न चोपेक्ष्यः शत्रुर्बलवता सुराः । विशेषेण सदोद्योगी बलवान्बलदर्पितः ॥ ८ ॥ उद्यमः किल कर्तव्यो यथाबुद्धि यथाबलम् । दैवाधीनो भवेन्नूनं जयो वाथ पराजयः ॥ ९ ॥ सन्धियोगो न चात्रास्ति खले सन्धिर्निरर्थकः । सर्वथा साधुभिः कार्यं विचार्य च पुनः पुनः ॥ १० ॥ यानमप्यधुना नैव कर्तव्यं सहसा पुनः । प्रेक्षकाः प्रेषणीयाश्च शीघ्रगाः सुप्रवेशकाः ॥ ११ ॥ इङ्गितज्ञाश्च निःसङ्गा निःस्पृहाः सत्यवादिनः । सेनाभियोगं प्रस्थानं बलसंख्यां यथार्थतः ॥ १२ ॥ वीराणां च परिज्ञानं कृत्वायान्तु त्वरान्विताः । ज्ञात्वा दैत्यपतेस्तस्य सैन्यस्य च बलाबलम् ॥ १३ ॥ करिष्यामि ततस्तूर्णं यानं वा दुर्गसंग्रहम् । विचार्य खलु कर्तव्यं कार्यं बुद्धिमता सदा । सहसा विहितं कार्यं दुःखदं सर्वथा भवेत् ॥ १४ ॥ तस्माद्विमृश्य कर्तव्यं सुखदं सर्वथा बुधैः । नात्र भेदविधिर्न्याय्यो दानवेषु च सर्वथा ॥ १५ ॥ एकचित्तेषु कार्येऽस्मिंस्तस्माच्चारा व्रजन्तु वै । ज्ञात्वा बलाबलं तेषां पश्चान्नीतिर्विचार्य च ॥ १६ ॥ विधेया विधिवत्तज्ज्ञैस्तेषु कार्यपरेषु च । अन्यथा विहितं कार्यं विपरीतफलप्रदम् ॥ १७ ॥ सर्वथा तद्भवेन्नूनमज्ञातमौषधं यथा । व्यास उवाच इति सञ्चिन्त्य तैः सर्वैः प्रणिधिं कार्यवेदिनम् ॥ १८ ॥ प्रेषयामास देवेन्द्रः परिज्ञानाय पार्थिव । दूतस्तु त्वरितो गत्वा समागम्य सुराधिपम् ॥ १९ ॥ निवेदयामास तदा सर्वसैन्यबलाबलम् । ज्ञात्वा तद्बलमुद्योगं तुराषाडतिविस्मितः ॥ २० ॥ देवानचोदयत्तूर्णं समाहूय पुरोहितम् । मन्त्रं मन्त्रविदां श्रेष्ठं चकार त्रिदशेश्वरः ॥ २१ ॥ उवाचाङ्गिरसश्रेष्ठं समासीनं वरासने । इन्द्र उवाच भो भो देवगुरो विद्वन्किं कर्तव्यं वदस्व नः ॥ २२ ॥ सर्वज्ञोऽसि समुत्पन्ने कार्ये त्वं गतिरद्य नः । दानवो महिषो नाम महावीर्यो मदान्वितः ॥ २३ ॥ योद्धुकामः समायाति बहुभिर्दानवैर्वृतः । तत्र प्रतिक्रिया कार्या त्वया मन्त्रविदाधुना ॥ २४ ॥ तेषां शुक्रस्तथा त्वं मे विघ्नहर्ता सुसंयतः । व्यास उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं प्राह तुरासाहं बृहस्पतिः ॥ २५ ॥ विचिन्त्य मनसा कामं कार्यसाधनतत्परः । गुरुरुवाच स्वस्थो भव सुरेन्द्र त्वं धैर्यमालम्ब्य मारिष ॥ २६ ॥ व्यसने च समुत्पन्ने न त्याज्यं धैर्यमाशु वै । जयाजयौ सुराध्यक्ष दैवाधीनौ सदैव हि ॥ २७ ॥ स्थातव्यं धैर्यमालम्ब्य तस्माद् बुद्धिमता सदा । भवितव्यं भवत्येव जानन्नेव शतक्रतो ॥ २८ ॥ उद्यमः सर्वथा कार्यो यथापौरुषमात्मनः । मुनयोऽपि हि मुक्त्यर्थमुद्यमैकरताः सदा ॥ २९ ॥ दैवाधीनं च जानन्तो योगध्यानपरायणाः । तस्मात्सदैव कर्तव्यो व्यवहारोदितोद्यमः ॥ ३० ॥ सुखं भवतु वा मा वा दैवे का परिदेवना । विना पुरुषकारेण कदाचित्सिद्धिमाप्नुयात् ॥ ३१ ॥ अन्धवत्पङ्गुवत्कामं न तथा मुदमावहेत् । कृते पुरुषकारेऽपि यदि सिद्धिर्न जायते ॥ ३२ ॥ न तत्र दूषणं तस्य दैवाधीने शरीरिणि । कार्यसिद्धिर्न सैन्येऽस्ति न मन्त्रे न च मन्त्रणे ॥ ३३ ॥ न रथे नायुधे नूनं दैवाधीना सुराधिप । बलवाञ्क्लेशमाप्नोति निर्बलः सुखमश्नुते ॥ ३४ ॥ बुद्धिमान्क्षुधितः शेते निर्बुद्धिर्भोगवान्भवेत् । कातरो जयमाप्नोति शूरो याति पराजयम् ॥ ३५ ॥ दैवाधीने तु संसारे कामं का परिदेवना । उद्यमे योजयेन्नूनं भवितव्यं सुराधिप ॥ ३६ ॥ दुःखदे सुखदे वापि तत्र तौ न विचिन्तयेत् । दुःखे दुःखाधिकान्पश्येत्सुखे पश्येत्सुखाधिकम् ॥ ३७ ॥ आत्मानं हर्षशोकाभ्यां शत्रुभ्यामिव नार्पयेत् । धैर्यमेवावगन्तव्यं हर्षशोकोद्भवे बुधैः ॥ ३८ ॥ अधैर्याद्यादृशं दुःखं न तु धैर्येऽस्ति तादृशम् । दुर्लभं सहनत्वं वै समये सुखदुःखयोः ॥ ३९ ॥ हर्षशोकोद्भवो यत्र न भवेद् बुद्धिनिश्चयात् । किं दुःखं कस्य वा दुःखं निर्गुणोऽहं सदाव्ययः ॥ ४० ॥ चतुर्विंशातिरिक्तोऽस्मि किं मे दुःखं सुखं च किम् । प्राणस्य क्षुत्पिपासे द्वे मनसः शोकमूर्छने ॥ ४१ ॥ जरामृत्यू शरीरस्य षडूर्मिरहितः शिवः । शोकमोहौ शरीरस्य गणौ किं मेऽत्र चिन्तने ॥ ४२ ॥ शरीरं नाहमथवा तत्सम्बन्धी न चाप्यहम् । सप्तैकषोडशादिभ्यो विभिन्नोऽहं सदा सुखी ॥ ४३ ॥ प्रकृतिर्विकृतिर्नाहं किं मे दुःखं सदा पुनः । इति मत्वा सुरेश त्वं मनसा भव निर्ममः ॥ ४४ ॥ उपायः प्रथमोऽयं ते दुःखनाशे शतक्रतो । ममता परमं दुःखं निर्ममत्वं परं सुखम् ॥ ४५ ॥ सन्तोषादपरं नास्ति सुखस्थानं शचीपते । अथवा यदि न ज्ञानं ममत्वनाशने किल ॥ ४६ ॥ ततो विवेकः कर्तव्यो भवितव्ये सुराधिप । प्रारब्धकर्मणां नाशो नाभोगाल्लक्ष्यते किल ॥ ४७ ॥ यद्भावि तद्भवत्येव का चिन्ता सुखदुःखयोः । सुरैः सर्वैः सहायैर्वा बुद्ध्या वा तव सत्तम ॥ ४८ ॥ सुखं क्षयाय पुण्यस्य दुःखं पापस्य मारिष । तस्मात्सुखक्षये हर्षः कर्तव्यः सर्वथा बुधैः ॥ ४९ ॥ अथवा मन्त्रयित्वाद्य कुरु यत्नं यथाविधि । कृते यत्ने महाराज भवितव्यं भविष्यति ॥ ५० ॥
vyāsa uvāca gate dūte surendro'pi samāhūya surānatha | yamavāyudhanādhyakṣavaruṇānidamūcivān || 1 || mahiṣo nāma daityendro rambhaputro mahābalaḥ | varadarpamadonmatto māyāśatavicakṣaṇaḥ || 2 || tasya dūto'dya samprāptaḥ preṣitastena bhoḥ surāḥ | svargakāmena lubdhena māmuvācedṛśaṃ vacaḥ || 3 || tyaja devālayaṃ śakra yathecchaṃ vraja vāsava | sevāṃ vā kuru daityasya mahiṣasya mahātmanaḥ || 4 || dayāvāndānavendro'sau sa te vṛttiṃ vidhāsyati | nateṣu bhṛtyabhūteṣu na kupyati kadācana || 5 || nocedyuddhāya deveśa senodyogaṃ kuru svayam | gate mayi sa daityendrastvaritaḥ samupeṣyati || 6 || ityuktvā sa gato dūto dānavasya durātmanaḥ | kiṃ kartavyamataḥ kāryaṃ cintayadhvaṃ surottamāḥ || 7 || durbalo'pi na copekṣyaḥ śatrurbalavatā surāḥ | viśeṣeṇa sadodyogī balavānbaladarpitaḥ || 8 || udyamaḥ kila kartavyo yathābuddhi yathābalam | daivādhīno bhavennūnaṃ jayo vātha parājayaḥ || 9 || sandhiyogo na cātrāsti khale sandhirnirarthakaḥ | sarvathā sādhubhiḥ kāryaṃ vicārya ca punaḥ punaḥ || 10 || yānamapyadhunā naiva kartavyaṃ sahasā punaḥ | prekṣakāḥ preṣaṇīyāśca śīghragāḥ supraveśakāḥ || 11 || iṅgitajñāśca niḥsaṅgā niḥspṛhāḥ satyavādinaḥ | senābhiyogaṃ prasthānaṃ balasaṃkhyāṃ yathārthataḥ || 12 || vīrāṇāṃ ca parijñānaṃ kṛtvāyāntu tvarānvitāḥ | jñātvā daityapatestasya sainyasya ca balābalam || 13 || kariṣyāmi tatastūrṇaṃ yānaṃ vā durgasaṃgraham | vicārya khalu kartavyaṃ kāryaṃ buddhimatā sadā | sahasā vihitaṃ kāryaṃ duḥkhadaṃ sarvathā bhavet || 14 || tasmādvimṛśya kartavyaṃ sukhadaṃ sarvathā budhaiḥ | nātra bhedavidhirnyāyyo dānaveṣu ca sarvathā || 15 || ekacitteṣu kārye'smiṃstasmāccārā vrajantu vai | jñātvā balābalaṃ teṣāṃ paścānnītirvicārya ca || 16 || vidheyā vidhivattajjñaisteṣu kāryapareṣu ca | anyathā vihitaṃ kāryaṃ viparītaphalapradam || 17 || sarvathā tadbhavennūnamajñātamauṣadhaṃ yathā | vyāsa uvāca iti sañcintya taiḥ sarvaiḥ praṇidhiṃ kāryavedinam || 18 || preṣayāmāsa devendraḥ parijñānāya pārthiva | dūtastu tvarito gatvā samāgamya surādhipam || 19 || nivedayāmāsa tadā sarvasainyabalābalam | jñātvā tadbalamudyogaṃ turāṣāḍativismitaḥ || 20 || devānacodayattūrṇaṃ samāhūya purohitam | mantraṃ mantravidāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ cakāra tridaśeśvaraḥ || 21 || uvācāṅgirasaśreṣṭhaṃ samāsīnaṃ varāsane | indra uvāca bho bho devaguro vidvankiṃ kartavyaṃ vadasva naḥ || 22 || sarvajño'si samutpanne kārye tvaṃ gatiradya naḥ | dānavo mahiṣo nāma mahāvīryo madānvitaḥ || 23 || yoddhukāmaḥ samāyāti bahubhirdānavairvṛtaḥ | tatra pratikriyā kāryā tvayā mantravidādhunā || 24 || teṣāṃ śukrastathā tvaṃ me vighnahartā susaṃyataḥ | vyāsa uvāca tacchrutvā vacanaṃ prāha turāsāhaṃ bṛhaspatiḥ || 25 || vicintya manasā kāmaṃ kāryasādhanatatparaḥ | gururuvāca svastho bhava surendra tvaṃ dhairyamālambya māriṣa || 26 || vyasane ca samutpanne na tyājyaṃ dhairyamāśu vai | jayājayau surādhyakṣa daivādhīnau sadaiva hi || 27 || sthātavyaṃ dhairyamālambya tasmād buddhimatā sadā | bhavitavyaṃ bhavatyeva jānanneva śatakrato || 28 || udyamaḥ sarvathā kāryo yathāpauruṣamātmanaḥ | munayo'pi hi muktyarthamudyamaikaratāḥ sadā || 29 || daivādhīnaṃ ca jānanto yogadhyānaparāyaṇāḥ | tasmātsadaiva kartavyo vyavahāroditodyamaḥ || 30 || sukhaṃ bhavatu vā mā vā daive kā paridevanā | vinā puruṣakāreṇa kadācitsiddhimāpnuyāt || 31 || andhavatpaṅguvatkāmaṃ na tathā mudamāvahet | kṛte puruṣakāre'pi yadi siddhirna jāyate || 32 || na tatra dūṣaṇaṃ tasya daivādhīne śarīriṇi | kāryasiddhirna sainye'sti na mantre na ca mantraṇe || 33 || na rathe nāyudhe nūnaṃ daivādhīnā surādhipa | balavāñkleśamāpnoti nirbalaḥ sukhamaśnute || 34 || buddhimānkṣudhitaḥ śete nirbuddhirbhogavānbhavet | kātaro jayamāpnoti śūro yāti parājayam || 35 || daivādhīne tu saṃsāre kāmaṃ kā paridevanā | udyame yojayennūnaṃ bhavitavyaṃ surādhipa || 36 || duḥkhade sukhade vāpi tatra tau na vicintayet | duḥkhe duḥkhādhikānpaśyetsukhe paśyetsukhādhikam || 37 || ātmānaṃ harṣaśokābhyāṃ śatrubhyāmiva nārpayet | dhairyamevāvagantavyaṃ harṣaśokodbhave budhaiḥ || 38 || adhairyādyādṛśaṃ duḥkhaṃ na tu dhairye'sti tādṛśam | durlabhaṃ sahanatvaṃ vai samaye sukhaduḥkhayoḥ || 39 || harṣaśokodbhavo yatra na bhaved buddhiniścayāt | kiṃ duḥkhaṃ kasya vā duḥkhaṃ nirguṇo'haṃ sadāvyayaḥ || 40 || caturviṃśātirikto'smi kiṃ me duḥkhaṃ sukhaṃ ca kim | prāṇasya kṣutpipāse dve manasaḥ śokamūrchane || 41 || jarāmṛtyū śarīrasya ṣaḍūrmirahitaḥ śivaḥ | śokamohau śarīrasya gaṇau kiṃ me'tra cintane || 42 || śarīraṃ nāhamathavā tatsambandhī na cāpyaham | saptaikaṣoḍaśādibhyo vibhinno'haṃ sadā sukhī || 43 || prakṛtirvikṛtirnāhaṃ kiṃ me duḥkhaṃ sadā punaḥ | iti matvā sureśa tvaṃ manasā bhava nirmamaḥ || 44 || upāyaḥ prathamo'yaṃ te duḥkhanāśe śatakrato | mamatā paramaṃ duḥkhaṃ nirmamatvaṃ paraṃ sukham || 45 || santoṣādaparaṃ nāsti sukhasthānaṃ śacīpate | athavā yadi na jñānaṃ mamatvanāśane kila || 46 || tato vivekaḥ kartavyo bhavitavye surādhipa | prārabdhakarmaṇāṃ nāśo nābhogāllakṣyate kila || 47 || yadbhāvi tadbhavatyeva kā cintā sukhaduḥkhayoḥ | suraiḥ sarvaiḥ sahāyairvā buddhyā vā tava sattama || 48 || sukhaṃ kṣayāya puṇyasya duḥkhaṃ pāpasya māriṣa | tasmātsukhakṣaye harṣaḥ kartavyaḥ sarvathā budhaiḥ || 49 || athavā mantrayitvādya kuru yatnaṃ yathāvidhi | kṛte yatne mahārāja bhavitavyaṃ bhaviṣyati || 50 ||
English translation
1-17. Vyasa said O King! The messenger of the Danavas having departed, Indra, the lord of the Devas, Yama, Vayu, Varuna, and Kuvera and other Devas, called an assembly and addressed thus O Devas! the most powerful Mahisa, the son of Rambha, is now the king of the Danavas; he is particularly expert in hundreds of Mayas (magic) and has become haughty on the strength of his boon. O Devas! Mahisa has sent his messenger; he wants to take possession of the heaven; he came down to me and spoke thus “O Indra! Quit your this heaven and go any where you like, or be ready to pay your homage to the highsouled Mahisasura, the Lord of the Danavas. The Danava Chief never becomes angry with his opponent who becomes submissive like a servant; if you surrender and serve him, he will, out of mercy, grant an allowance to you. O Lord of the Devas! If this does not like you, then collect your forces and be ready for fight; no sooner I return, the Lord of the Danavas will come here at once ready to give battle to you.” Thus saying, the messenger of that wicked Danava departed. Now what are we to do? O Devas! Think on that. O Devas! Even a weak enemy is not to be overlooked by a powerful opponent, especially when the enemy is powerful by his own powers and is ever energetic, never is he to be overlooked. It is always incumbent on us to make our efforts, as best as we can, both by our body and mind as far as lies in our power; the result, victory or defeat depends entirely on Fate. It is useless to make treaty with a deceitful and dishonest person; we therefore never should make treaty with this person; you are all honest; that Danava is dishonest; therefore ponder and ponder deeply and ponder again; do you that which is proper. It is not advisable to go out at once for fight when we are unaware of our enemy's strength; let us therefore send spies truthful, honest, motiveless, quick, to ascertain their strength, those who can easily enter amongst our enemies and yet who have no relation, nor any interest with them.
The arrangements of their forces, their movements, their numbers, they will ascertain correctly who are their generals, what is their number and what is their strength, they will thoroughly examine and return here quickly. First, we will ascertain the strength of the forces of our opposite party and then we will decide at once whether we will start for battle or seek protection within forts. Wise persons always consider before they act; any act done rashly leads in all respects to many troubles, and anything done after mature prejudgments leads to happiness; so the wise do. The Danavas are all one in their heart and mind; therefore it is not advisable, in any way to apply the principle of Bheda (sowing principles of discord). Let our spies go there, ascertain their strength, return and inform us; we will then judge what principle is proper and apply to the expert Danavas. Any act done contrary to policy and expediency will undoubtedly produce effects contrary in every way just like a medicine which we have not tried already.
18-22. Vyasa said O King! Thus counselling with the Devas; Indra sent expert spies to ascertain the true state of affairs. The spies, too, went into the abode of the Daityas, with no delay and made their searches thoroughly into every nook and corner and returned and told Indra all the strength of the Danava forces. Indra was very much startled to know, then, of their arrangements. He immediately bade all the Devas be ready for battle and called for his High priest Brihaspati, expert in giving advices and began to consult with him how to carry on the warfare with that indomitable enemy, the Lord of the Asuras. On Bhihaspati, the best and famous of the Angira family, taking his excellent seat.
23-25. Indra thus said “O Guru of the Devas! O Learned! Please say what are we to do now in this critical juncture? You are omniscient; to-day you are our guide. The Demon Mahisa has become very powerful, very haughty; surrounded by Danavas he is
now conning to fight with us. You are expert in nnantras; find out the remedy for us. S'ukracharya is the remover of all obstacles on their side; and that you are our safe guard is well known to us.”
26. Vyasa said Hearing these words of Indra, Brihaspati, who is always ready to effect the Deva's purposes, thought intently on the subject, said very shortly thus
27-51. Brihaspati spoke O Lord of the Devas! O Venerable One! Be peaceful; have patience; when a difficulty comes, one should not, all on a sudden, lose one's patience. O Chief of the Immortals! Victory or defeat is completely under the control of destiny: therefore intelligent ones should always be patient. O S'atakratu! What will unavoidably be done must come to pass; knowing this as certain, one would always be an enthusiast and exert one's powers. Everything is guided by Fate. Knowing this, the Munis devote themselves at all times solely filled with energy in their meditation and Yoga practices for their final liberation. Therefore, to show one's energy, according to the rules of the daily practices, ought to be indispensably done; and one should not repel or feel pleasure on failure or success; for that is under Fate. Success sometimes comes without the exercise of one's own powers, as seen in cases of the lame and the blind; and that is not the reason why one should be very glad. The embodied beings are all under Daiva (Fate); therefore even if success be not attained, though one's own powers are exercised thoroughly, no one is to blame for that. O Lord of the Suras! What to say of forces. Mantras, or advices, what of chariots or weapons, nothing to lead to success; It is Daiva, and only Daiva that makes one successful. This whole universe is under Daiva; it is, therefore, that we see powerful persons suffering pains, and weak ones getting happiness; the intelligent ones sleeping without any food and fools enjoying merrily; distressed persons getting victory and powerful ones suffering defeats; what cares, then ought one to
entertain in this. O Lord of the Suras! Whatever is inevitable to come to pass, be it success or failure, one will lead one's energies to that end; therefore one needs to consider beforehand whether one's energies will be successful or not. In times of distress, one sees distress too much and in times of pleasure, one seeks pleasure too much; one's self, therefore one should not surrender to one's enemies, pleasure and pain. Pain and suffering is not felt so much in patience as is felt when impatient; therefore one must practise patience when pain or pleasure comes. Indeed it is very difficult to bear oneself up in distress or happiness; therefore wise persons try not to let these feelings crop up at all from the very beginning. “I am always full, undiminishable, I am beyond these Prakritic qualities. Who is there to suffer? What is suffering?” Thus one ought to think at that moment. I am beyond the twenty-four Tattvas; what pleasure or pain can, then, arise to me? Hunger and thirst are the Dharma of Prana; pain and insensibility is the Dharma of mind, age and death belong to this physical body. I am free from these six diseases; I am S’iva. Grief and delusion are the qualities of this body what then do I care for them? “I” am not the qualities of the body nor “I” am the soul pertaining to that. I am beyond the seven transfigurations, changes, e. g., Mahat, etc., I am beyond this Prakriti, Nature, and beyond the sixteen changes wrought out by Prakriti; I am therefore eternally happy, I am beyond Prakriti and its transformation, then why am I to suffer pain always? O Lord of the Suras! Think on these and be without any passion. O S'atakratu! This attachment is the root of all miseries and non-attachment is the source of all happiness; non¬ attachment therefore, is the chief means of the extirpation of all your troubles. Lord of S'achi! Nothing can be happier than contentment.
In case you find it difficult to practise dispassion, apply, then, discrimination and think of Fate, that what comes inevitably to pass. O Lord of the Suras! Actions already done cannot die out without their effects being enjoyed. O Best of the Suras! Let all your intelligence be brought to action, let all the Devas lend their helping hands to you; what is inevitable must come to pass; what then can you care for your happiness or pain? O King! Happiness is felt for the expiation of good deeds and pain is felt for the expiation of bad
deeds; therefore wise persons get thoroughly delighted when their punya ends. O King! Judge and hold a council to-day; then try your best. But what is unavoidable will come to pass, even if you try your best.
Here ends the Fourth Chapter of the Fifth Book on the counsels given by Indra in the Maha Puranam S’ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24403, revision 74836 (2016-07-21T14:45:09Z). English is Swami Vijñanananda’s complete 1921–23 public-domain translation, controlled against the archival OCR and its chapter page at https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk05ch04.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.