Narada's Questions on Kingship

Verse 1 (2.5.1)

अथ तत्रोपविष्टेषु पाण्डवेषु महात्मसु । महत्सु चोपविष्टेषु गन्धर्वेषु च भारत ॥

atha tatropaviṣṭeṣu pāṇḍaveṣu mahātmasu | mahatsu copaviṣṭeṣu gandharveṣu ca bhārata

Then, O Bharata, when the great-souled Pandavas were seated there, and the great Gandharvas too had taken their seats,

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 2.5.1 (missed by the automatic alignment because the critical-edition file appends an apparatus passage to that verse).

Verse 2 (2.5.2)

वेदोपनिषदां वेत्ता ऋषिः सुरगणार्चितः । इतिहासपुराणज्ञः क्रियाकल्पविशेषवित् ॥

vedopaniṣadāṃ vettā ṛṣiḥ suragaṇārcitaḥ | itihāsapurāṇajñaḥ kriyākalpaviśeṣavit

there came a seer honoured by the hosts of the gods, a knower of the Vedas and the Upanishads, versed in the Itihasas and the Puranas, and expert in the fine points of ritual practice;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). Most of verses 2–12 appear in the critical edition only in its apparatus (2.5.*2).

Verse 3 (2.5.3)

स्तुतस्तोमग्रहस्तोभपदक्रमविभागवित् । शिक्षाक्षरविभागज्ञः पुराकल्पविशेषवित् ॥

stutastomagrahastobhapadakramavibhāgavit | śikṣākṣaravibhāgajñaḥ purākalpaviśeṣavit

one who knew the divisions of the stuta and stoma chants, the graha cups, the stobha syllables, and the pada and krama recitations; who understood phonetics and the analysis of syllables, and the particulars of former ages;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 4 (2.5.4)

आदिकल्पार्थवेत्ता च कल्पसूत्रार्थतत्त्ववित् । ब्रह्मचर्यव्रतपर ऊहापोहविशारदः ॥

ādikalpārthavettā ca kalpasūtrārthatattvavit | brahmacaryavratapara ūhāpohaviśāradaḥ

who knew the meaning of the first creation and the true sense of the Kalpa Sutras; devoted to the vow of celibacy, and skilled in reasoning for and against;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 5 (2.5.5)

नृत्तगान्धर्वसेवी च सर्वत्राप्रतिमस्तथा । अष्टादशानां विद्यानां कोशभूतो महाद्युतिः ॥

nṛttagāndharvasevī ca sarvatrāpratimastathā | aṣṭādaśānāṃ vidyānāṃ kośabhūto mahādyutiḥ

a lover of dance and of the music of the Gandharvas, unrivalled everywhere, radiant, a treasury of the eighteen branches of learning;

Note on the text: Removed a stray quote mark (wiki mark) after महाद्युतिः. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 6 (2.5.6)

न्यायविद्धर्मतत्त्वज्ञः षडङ्गविदनुत्तमः । ऐक्यसंयोगनानात्वसमवायविशारदः ॥

nyāyaviddharmatattvajñaḥ ṣaḍaṅgavidanuttamaḥ | aikyasaṃyoganānātvasamavāyaviśāradaḥ

a knower of logic and of the essence of dharma, unsurpassed in the six limbs of the Veda, and skilled in the doctrines of unity, conjunction, plurality and inherence;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 7 (2.5.7)

वक्ता प्रगल्भो मेधावी स्मृतिमान्नयवित्कविः । परापरविभागज्ञः प्रमाणकृतनिश्चयः ॥

vaktā pragalbho medhāvī smṛtimānnayavitkaviḥ | parāparavibhāgajñaḥ pramāṇakṛtaniścayaḥ

an eloquent and confident speaker, intelligent, of strong memory, versed in policy, a poet; one who could tell the higher from the lower, and who reached his conclusions through valid proof;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 8 (2.5.8)

पञ्चावयवयुक्तस्य वाक्यस्य गुणदोषवित् । उत्तरोत्तरवक्ता च वदतोऽपि बृहस्पतेः ॥

pañcāvayavayuktasya vākyasya guṇadoṣavit | uttarottaravaktā ca vadato'pi bṛhaspateḥ

one who knew the merits and faults of an argument set out in five members, and who could answer point after point even Brihaspati himself as he spoke;

Note on the text: Corrected वदतोपि → वदतोऽपि (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha — vadato 'pi, "even of [Brihaspati] speaking"). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 9 (2.5.9)

धर्मकामार्थमोक्षेषु यथावत्कृतनिश्चयः । तथा भुवनकोशस्य सर्वस्यास्य महामतिः ॥

dharmakāmārthamokṣeṣu yathāvatkṛtaniścayaḥ | tathā bhuvanakośasya sarvasyāsya mahāmatiḥ

one who had reached certainty, as was right, about dharma, desire, wealth and liberation; that great-minded one who, regarding this whole sphere of the worlds,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 10 (2.5.10)

प्रत्यक्षदर्शी लोकस्य तिर्यगूर्ध्वमधस्तथा । साङ्ख्ययोगविभागज्ञो निर्विवित्सुः सुरासुरान् ॥

pratyakṣadarśī lokasya tiryagūrdhvamadhastathā | sāṅkhyayogavibhāgajño nirvivitsuḥ surāsurān

saw the world directly—across, above and below; who knew the divisions of Sankhya and Yoga, and who sought to sow discord between the gods and the asuras;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 11 (2.5.11)

सन्धिविग्रहतत्त्वज्ञस्त्वनुमानविभागवित् । षाङ्गुण्यविधियुक्तश्च सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः ॥

sandhivigrahatattvajñastvanumānavibhāgavit | ṣāṅguṇyavidhiyuktaśca sarvaśāstraviśāradaḥ

one who knew the essence of peace and war, understood the divisions of inference, was versed in the sixfold policy of kings, and was skilled in all the sciences;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 12 (2.5.12)

युद्धगान्धर्वसेवी च सर्वत्राप्रतिघस्तथा । एतैश्चान्यैश्च बहुभिर्युक्तो गुणगणैर्मुनिः ॥

yuddhagāndharvasevī ca sarvatrāpratighastathā | etaiścānyaiśca bahubhiryukto guṇagaṇairmuniḥ

a lover of war and of music, unhindered wherever he went—that sage, endowed with these and many other hosts of virtues,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 13 (2.5.13)

लोकाननुचरन्सर्वानागमत्तां सभां नृप । नारदः सुमहातेजा ऋषिभिः सहितस्तदा ॥

lokānanucaransarvānāgamattāṃ sabhāṃ nṛpa | nāradaḥ sumahātejā ṛṣibhiḥ sahitastadā

Narada of great splendour, roaming through all the worlds, came to that assembly hall, O king, together with other seers.

Verse 14 (2.5.14)

पारिजातेन राजेन्द्र पर्वतेन च धीमता । सुमुखेन च सौम्येन देवर्षिरमितद्युतिः ॥

pārijātena rājendra parvatena ca dhīmatā | sumukhena ca saumyena devarṣiramitadyutiḥ

With Parijata, O king of kings, with the wise Parvata, and with the gentle Sumukha, the divine seer of boundless radiance,

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 2.5.3ab (the critical edition names Raivata where Wikisource has Parvata — a recension variant, kept).

Verse 15 (2.5.15)

सभास्थान्पाण्डवान्द्रष्टुं प्रीयमाणो मनोजवः । जयाशीर्भिस्तु तं विप्रो धर्मराजानमार्चयत् ॥

sabhāsthānpāṇḍavāndraṣṭuṃ prīyamāṇo manojavaḥ | jayāśīrbhistu taṃ vipro dharmarājānamārcayat

swift as thought, came gladly to see the Pandavas seated in the hall. The brahmin honoured the King of Dharma with blessings for his victory.

Note on the text: The first line corresponds to CE 2.5.3cd; the second line is not in the critical edition (vulgate recension).

Verse 16 (2.5.16)

तमागतमृषिं दृष्ट्वा नारदं सर्वधर्मवित् । सहसा पाण्डवश्रेष्ठः प्रत्युत्थायानुजैः सह ॥

tamāgatamṛṣiṃ dṛṣṭvā nāradaṃ sarvadharmavit | sahasā pāṇḍavaśreṣṭhaḥ pratyutthāyānujaiḥ saha

Seeing the seer Narada arrive, the eldest of the Pandavas, who knew all dharma, rose at once with his younger brothers

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 2.5.4ab.

Verse 17 (2.5.17)

अभ्यवादयत प्रीत्या विनयावनतस्तदा । तदर्हमासनं तस्मै सम्प्रदाय यथाविधि ॥

abhyavādayata prītyā vinayāvanatastadā | tadarhamāsanaṃ tasmai sampradāya yathāvidhi

and, bowing low in humility, greeted him with affection. Then, as the rite prescribes, he offered him a seat worthy of him,

Note on the text: The lines correspond to CE 2.5.4cd and 2.5.5ab.

Verse 18 (2.5.18)

गां चैव मधुपर्कं च सम्प्रदायार्घ्यमेव च । अर्चयामास रत्नैश्च सर्वकामैश्च धर्मवित् ॥

gāṃ caiva madhuparkaṃ ca sampradāyārghyameva ca | arcayāmāsa ratnaiśca sarvakāmaiśca dharmavit

and gave him a cow, the madhuparka and the water of welcome; and the knower of dharma honoured him with jewels and with everything he could wish for.

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition (vulgate recension); the second corresponds to CE 2.5.5cd.

Verse 19 (2.5.19)

तुतोष च यथावच्च पूजां प्राप्य युधिष्ठिरात् । सोऽर्चितः पाण्डवैः सर्वैर्महर्षिर्वेदपारगः । धर्मकामार्थसंयुक्तं पप्रच्छेदं युधिष्ठिरम् ॥

tutoṣa ca yathāvacca pūjāṃ prāpya yudhiṣṭhirāt | so'rcitaḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ sarvairmaharṣirvedapāragaḥ | dharmakāmārthasaṃyuktaṃ papracchedaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram

Having received due worship from Yudhishthira, he was pleased. Honoured by all the Pandavas, the great seer who had mastered the Vedas put these questions to Yudhishthira, touching on dharma, desire and wealth.

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition (vulgate recension); the other two correspond to CE 2.5.6.

Verse 20 (2.5.20)

कच्चिदर्थाश्च कल्पन्ते धर्मे च रमते मनः । सुखानि चानुभूयन्ते मनश्च न विहन्यते ॥

kaccidarthāśca kalpante dharme ca ramate manaḥ | sukhāni cānubhūyante manaśca na vihanyate

Is your wealth sufficient for your purposes? Does your mind delight in dharma? Do you enjoy the pleasures of life? Is your mind free from affliction?

Verse 21 (2.5.21)

कच्चिदाचरितां पूर्वैर्नरदेवपितामहैः । वर्तसे वृत्तिमक्षुद्रां धर्मार्थसहितां त्रिषु ॥

kaccidācaritāṃ pūrvairnaradevapitāmahaiḥ | vartase vṛttimakṣudrāṃ dharmārthasahitāṃ triṣu

O god among men, do you follow the noble way of life your forefathers practised, joined with dharma and wealth, towards all three—friend, neutral and foe?

Verse 22 (2.5.22)

कच्चिदर्थेन वा धर्मं धर्मेणार्थमथापि वा । उभौ वा प्रीतिसारेण न कामेन प्रबाधसे ॥

kaccidarthena vā dharmaṃ dharmeṇārthamathāpi vā | ubhau vā prītisāreṇa na kāmena prabādhase

Do you not harm dharma for the sake of wealth, or wealth for the sake of dharma, or both for the sake of desire, whose essence is pleasure?

Verse 23 (2.5.23)

कच्चिदर्थं च धर्मं च कामं च जयतां वर । विभज्य काले कालज्ञः सदा वरद सेवसे ॥

kaccidarthaṃ ca dharmaṃ ca kāmaṃ ca jayatāṃ vara | vibhajya kāle kālajñaḥ sadā varada sevase

Best of victors, giver of boons, knower of the right time—do you always attend to wealth, dharma and desire, giving each its share of time?

Verse 24 (2.5.24)

कच्चिद्राजगुणैः षड्भिः सप्तोपायांस्तथाऽनघ । बलाबलं तथा सम्यक्चतुर्दश परीक्षसे ॥

kaccidrājaguṇaiḥ ṣaḍbhiḥ saptopāyāṃstathā'nagha | balābalaṃ tathā samyakcaturdaśa parīkṣase

Sinless one, with the six qualities of a king do you properly examine the seven means, and strength and weakness as well—these fourteen?

Note on the text: Corrected सम्यक्वतुर्दश → सम्यक्चतुर्दश (misprint in Wikisource; व for च — the critical edition reads samyak caturdaśa).

Verse 25 (2.5.25)

कच्चिदात्मानमन्वीक्ष्य परांश्च जयतां वर । तथा सन्धाय कर्माणि अष्टौ भारत सेवसे ॥

kaccidātmānamanvīkṣya parāṃśca jayatāṃ vara | tathā sandhāya karmāṇi aṣṭau bhārata sevase

Best of victors, having first assessed yourself and your enemies, do you, O Bharata, take up the eight undertakings, setting them in order accordingly?

Note on the text: Corrected कच्चिदात्सानमर्न्वाक्ष्य → कच्चिदात्मानमन्वीक्ष्य (misprint in Wikisource; स for म and a garbled अन्वीक्ष्य — the critical edition reads kaccid ātmānam anvīkṣya).

Verse 26 (2.5.26)

कच्चित्प्रकृतयः सप्त न लुप्ता भरतर्षभ । आढ्यास्तथाऽव्यसनिनः स्वनुरक्ताश्च सर्वशः ॥

kaccitprakṛtayaḥ sapta na luptā bharatarṣabha | āḍhyāstathā'vyasaninaḥ svanuraktāśca sarvaśaḥ

Bull among the Bharatas, are the seven elements of your state unimpaired? Are they prosperous, free from vice, and wholly devoted to you?

Note on the text: Corrected आढ्यास्तथा व्यसनिनः → आढ्यास्तथाऽव्यसनिनः (misprint in Wikisource; the split made the word "addicted to vice", reversing the sense — the critical edition reads tathāvyasaninaḥ, "free from vice"). "Seven" prakritis (CE: six) is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 27 (2.5.27)

कच्चिन्न कृतकैर्दूतैर्ये चाप्यपरिशङ्किताः । त्वत्तो वा तव चामात्यैर्भिद्यते मन्त्रितं तथा ॥

kaccinna kṛtakairdūtairye cāpyapariśaṅkitāḥ | tvatto vā tava cāmātyairbhidyate mantritaṃ tathā

Is your counsel never betrayed by false envoys, or by those whom no one suspects, or by you yourself or your ministers?

Verse 28 (2.5.28)

मित्रोदासीनशत्रूणां कच्चिद्वेत्सि चिकीर्षितम् । कच्चित्सन्धिं यथाकालं विग्रहं चोपसेवसे ॥

mitrodāsīnaśatrūṇāṃ kaccidvetsi cikīrṣitam | kaccitsandhiṃ yathākālaṃ vigrahaṃ copasevase

Do you know what your friends, the neutrals and your enemies intend to do? Do you resort to peace and to war each at its proper time?

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition (vulgate recension); the second corresponds to CE 2.5.15ab.

Verse 29 (2.5.29)

कच्चिद्वृत्तिमुदासीने मध्यमे चानुमन्यसे । कच्चिदात्मसमा वृद्धाः शुद्धाः सम्बोधनक्षमाः ॥

kaccidvṛttimudāsīne madhyame cānumanyase | kaccidātmasamā vṛddhāḥ śuddhāḥ sambodhanakṣamāḥ

Do you adopt a fitting stance towards the neutral king and the middle king? O hero, have you made your counsellors of men who are like yourself—mature, pure, able to advise,

Note on the text: The lines correspond to CE 2.5.15cd and 2.5.16ab (with variants).

Verse 30 (2.5.30)

कुलीनाश्चानुरक्ताश्च कृतास्ते वीरमन्त्रिणः । विजयो मन्त्रमूलो हि राज्ञो भवति भारत ॥

kulīnāścānuraktāśca kṛtāste vīramantriṇaḥ | vijayo mantramūlo hi rājño bhavati bhārata

well-born and devoted to you? For a king's victory, O Bharata, has its root in counsel.

Note on the text: The lines correspond to CE 2.5.16cd and 2.5.17ab.

Verse 31 (2.5.31)

कच्चित्संवृतमन्त्रैस्ते अमात्यैः शास्त्रकोविदैः । राष्ट्रं सुरक्षितं तात शत्रुभिर्न विलुप्यते ॥

kaccitsaṃvṛtamantraiste amātyaiḥ śāstrakovidaiḥ | rāṣṭraṃ surakṣitaṃ tāta śatrubhirna vilupyate

Dear son, with ministers who keep counsel close and are learned in the sciences, is your kingdom well guarded, so that enemies cannot despoil it?

Note on the text: The first line corresponds to CE 2.5.17cd (with variants); the second line is not in the critical edition (vulgate recension).

Verse 32 (2.5.32)

कच्चिन्निद्रावशं नैषि कच्चित्काले विबुद्ध्यसे । कच्चिच्चापररात्रेषु चिन्तयस्यर्थमर्थवित् ॥

kaccinnidrāvaśaṃ naiṣi kaccitkāle vibuddhyase | kacciccāpararātreṣu cintayasyarthamarthavit

Do you not fall into the power of sleep? Do you wake at the proper time? And in the last hours of the night, knowing what profits, do you reflect on your affairs?

Verse 33 (2.5.33)

कच्चिन्मन्त्रयसे नैकः कच्चिन्न बहुभिः सह । कच्चित्ते मन्त्रितो मन्त्रो न राष्ट्रं परिधावति ॥

kaccinmantrayase naikaḥ kaccinna bahubhiḥ saha | kaccitte mantrito mantro na rāṣṭraṃ paridhāvati

Do you not take counsel alone, nor with too many? Does the counsel you have taken not run abroad through the kingdom?

Verse 34 (2.5.34)

कच्चिदर्थान्विनिश्चित्य लघुमूलान्महोदयान् । क्षिप्रमारभसे कर्तुं न विघ्नयसि तादृशान् ॥

kaccidarthānviniścitya laghumūlānmahodayān | kṣipramārabhase kartuṃ na vighnayasi tādṛśān

Having settled on undertakings that cost little and yield much, do you begin them promptly, and not put obstacles in the way of such works?

Verse 35 (2.5.35)

कच्चिन्न सर्वे कर्मान्ताः परोक्षास्ते विशङ्किताः । सर्वे वा पुनरुत्सृष्टाः संसृष्टं चात्र कारणम् ॥

kaccinna sarve karmāntāḥ parokṣāste viśaṅkitāḥ | sarve vā punarutsṛṣṭāḥ saṃsṛṣṭaṃ cātra kāraṇam

Are your works—farming and the like—not all out of your sight and so open to doubt? Or are they all simply left to themselves? Close involvement is what makes them succeed.

Note on the text: Corrected स्रवे → सर्वे (misprint in Wikisource; transposed akshara — the critical edition reads sarve).

Verse 36 (2.5.36)

आप्तैरलुब्धैः क्रमिकैस्ते च कच्चिदनुष्ठिताः । कच्चिद्राजन्कृतान्येव कृतप्रायाणि वा पुनः ॥

āptairalubdhaiḥ kramikaiste ca kaccidanuṣṭhitāḥ | kaccidrājankṛtānyeva kṛtaprāyāṇi vā punaḥ

Are they carried out by trusted, uncovetous men who have risen in your service step by step? O king, do people come to know of your works only when they are done or nearly done,

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition (vulgate recension); the second corresponds to CE 2.5.22ab.

Verse 37 (2.5.37)

विदुस्ते वीर कर्माणि नानवाप्तानि कानिचित् । कच्चित्कारणिका धर्मे सर्वशास्त्रेषु कोविदाः । कारयन्ति कुमारांश्च योधमुख्यांश्च सर्वशः ॥

viduste vīra karmāṇi nānavāptāni kānicit | kaccitkāraṇikā dharme sarvaśāstreṣu kovidāḥ | kārayanti kumārāṃśca yodhamukhyāṃśca sarvaśaḥ

O hero, and never any that are not yet achieved? Do your instructors, versed in dharma and in all the sciences, train the princes and the chief warriors in every way?

Note on the text: The first line corresponds to CE 2.5.22cd; the other two to CE 2.5.23.

Verse 38 (2.5.38)

कच्चित्सहस्रैर्मूर्खाणामेकं क्रीणासि पण्डितम् । पण्डितो ह्यर्थकृच्छ्रेषु कुर्यान्निःश्रेयसं परम् ॥

kaccitsahasrairmūrkhāṇāmekaṃ krīṇāsi paṇḍitam | paṇḍito hyarthakṛcchreṣu kuryānniḥśreyasaṃ param

Do you buy a single wise man at the price of a thousand fools? For in hard straits it is the wise man who can bring about the highest good.

Note on the text: Corrected कुर्यान्नः श्रेयसं → कुर्यान्निःश्रेयसं (misprint in Wikisource; the split leaves श्रेयसं without a valid construction — the critical edition reads kuryān niḥśreyasaṃ).

Verse 39 (2.5.39)

कच्चिद्दुर्गाणि सर्वाणि धनधान्यायुधोदकैः । यन्त्रैश्च परिपूर्णानि तथा शिल्पिधनुर्धरैः ॥

kacciddurgāṇi sarvāṇi dhanadhānyāyudhodakaiḥ | yantraiśca paripūrṇāni tathā śilpidhanurdharaiḥ

Are all your forts fully stocked with wealth, grain, weapons and water, with engines of war, and with craftsmen and archers?

Verse 40 (2.5.40)

एकोप्यमात्यो मेधावी शूरो दान्तो विचक्षणः । राजानं राजपुत्रं वा प्रापयेन्महतीं श्रियम् ॥

ekopyamātyo medhāvī śūro dānto vicakṣaṇaḥ | rājānaṃ rājaputraṃ vā prāpayenmahatīṃ śriyam

Even one minister who is intelligent, brave, self-controlled and discerning can raise a king or a prince to great fortune.

Verse 41 (2.5.41)

कच्चिदष्टादशान्येषु स्वपक्षे दश पञ्च च । त्रिभिस्त्रिभिरविज्ञातैर्वेत्सि तीर्थानि चारकैः ॥

kaccidaṣṭādaśānyeṣu svapakṣe daśa pañca ca | tribhistribhiravijñātairvetsi tīrthāni cārakaiḥ

Do you keep watch over the eighteen chief offices of the enemy and the fifteen of your own side through spies, three for each, unknown to one another?

Verse 42 (2.5.42)

कच्चिद्द्विषामविदितः प्रतिपन्नश्च सर्वदा । नित्ययुक्तो रिपून्सर्वान्वीक्षसे रिपुसूदन ॥

kacciddviṣāmaviditaḥ pratipannaśca sarvadā | nityayukto ripūnsarvānvīkṣase ripusūdana

Slayer of foes, unknown to your enemies, always on your guard and ever alert, do you keep watch over all your enemies?

Note on the text: Corrected सरवदा → सर्वदा (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct — the critical edition reads sarvadā).

Verse 43 (2.5.43)

कच्चिद्विनयसम्पन्नः कुलपुत्रो बहुश्रुतः । अनसूयुरनुप्रष्टा सत्कृतस्ते पुरोहितः ॥

kaccidvinayasampannaḥ kulaputro bahuśrutaḥ | anasūyuranupraṣṭā satkṛtaste purohitaḥ

Is your family priest held in honour—a man rich in humility, of good family, deeply learned, free from envy, and ready to inquire into every matter?

Verse 44 (2.5.44)

कच्चिदग्निषु ते युक्तो विधिज्ञो मतिमानृजुः । हुतं च होष्यमाणं च काले वेदयते सदा ॥

kaccidagniṣu te yukto vidhijño matimānṛjuḥ | hutaṃ ca hoṣyamāṇaṃ ca kāle vedayate sadā

Is the man appointed to your sacred fires versed in the rites, intelligent and upright? Does he always tell you in good time what has been offered and what is still to be offered?

Verse 45 (2.5.45)

कच्चिदङ्गेषु निष्णातो ज्योतिषः प्रतिपादकः । उत्पातेषु च सर्वेषु दैवज्ञः कुशलस्तव ॥

kaccidaṅgeṣu niṣṇāto jyotiṣaḥ pratipādakaḥ | utpāteṣu ca sarveṣu daivajñaḥ kuśalastava

Is your reader of fate skilled in the limbs of the Veda, an expounder of the science of the heavenly bodies, and able to interpret every kind of portent?

Note on the text: Corrected ज्योतिपः → ज्योतिषः (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष — cf. the critical edition, jyotiṣāṃ).

Verse 46 (2.5.46)

कच्चिन्मुख्या महत्स्वेव मध्यमेषु च मध्यमाः । जघन्याश्च जघन्येषु भृत्याः कर्मसु योजिताः ॥

kaccinmukhyā mahatsveva madhyameṣu ca madhyamāḥ | jaghanyāśca jaghanyeṣu bhṛtyāḥ karmasu yojitāḥ

Are your servants set to tasks that suit them—the foremost to great tasks, the middling to middling ones, and the lowest to the lowest?

Verse 47 (2.5.47)

अमात्यानुपधातीतान्पितृपैतामहाञ्शुचीन् । श्रेष्ठाञ्श्रेष्ठेषु कच्चित्त्वं नियोजयसि कर्मसु ॥

amātyānupadhātītānpitṛpaitāmahāñśucīn | śreṣṭhāñśreṣṭheṣu kaccittvaṃ niyojayasi karmasu

Do you appoint to the highest offices your best ministers—men who have passed the tests of loyalty, pure, and serving as their fathers and grandfathers served before them?

Verse 48 (2.5.48)

कच्चिन्नोग्रेण दण्डेन भृशमुद्वेजितप्रजाः । राष्ट्रं तवानुशासन्ति मन्त्रिणो भरतर्षभ ॥

kaccinnogreṇa daṇḍena bhṛśamudvejitaprajāḥ | rāṣṭraṃ tavānuśāsanti mantriṇo bharatarṣabha

Bull among the Bharatas, do your ministers not govern your kingdom with harsh punishment, leaving your subjects in terror?

Note on the text: Corrected भृशमुद्विजसे प्रजाः → भृशमुद्वेजितप्रजाः (misprint in Wikisource; उद्विजसे, "you are afraid", cannot govern प्रजाः and leaves the line without sense — following the critical edition, bhṛśam udvejitaprajāḥ).

Verse 49 (2.5.49)

कच्चित्त्वां नावजानन्ति याजकाः पतितं यथा । उग्रप्रतिग्रहीतारं कामयानमिव स्त्रियः ॥

kaccittvāṃ nāvajānanti yājakāḥ patitaṃ yathā | ugrapratigrahītāraṃ kāmayānamiva striyaḥ

Do the priests who sacrifice for you not despise you as they would a fallen man, or as women despise a lustful man who takes them roughly?

Verse 50 (2.5.50)

कच्चिद्धृष्टश्च शूरश्च मतिमान्धृतिमाञ्शुचिः । कुलीनश्चानुरक्तश्च दक्षः सेनापतिस्तथा ॥

kacciddhṛṣṭaśca śūraśca matimāndhṛtimāñśuciḥ | kulīnaścānuraktaśca dakṣaḥ senāpatistathā

Is the commander of your army bold, brave, intelligent, steadfast, pure, well-born, devoted and capable?

Verse 51 (2.5.51)

कच्चिद्बलस्य ते मुख्याः सर्वयुद्धविशारदाः । धृष्टावदाता विक्रान्तास्त्वया सत्कृत्य मानिताः ॥

kaccidbalasya te mukhyāḥ sarvayuddhaviśāradāḥ | dhṛṣṭāvadātā vikrāntāstvayā satkṛtya mānitāḥ

Are the leading officers of your army skilled in every kind of warfare, bold and of spotless record, and valiant? Do you honour them and treat them with respect?

Verse 52 (2.5.52)

कच्चिद्बलस्य भक्तं च वेतनं च यथोचितम् । सम्प्राप्तकाले दातव्यं ददासि न विकर्षसि ॥

kaccidbalasya bhaktaṃ ca vetanaṃ ca yathocitam | samprāptakāle dātavyaṃ dadāsi na vikarṣasi

Do you give your troops their rations and pay as is proper, when the time for giving them has come, and not hold them back?

Note on the text: Corrected कच्चिद्वलस्य → कच्चिद्बलस्य (misprint in Wikisource; व for ब — the critical edition reads balasya).

Verse 53 (2.5.53)

कालातिक्रमणादेते भक्तवेतनयोर्भृताः । भर्तुः कुप्यन्ति दौर्गत्यात्सोऽनर्थः सुमहान्स्मृतः ॥

kālātikramaṇādete bhaktavetanayorbhṛtāḥ | bhartuḥ kupyanti daurgatyātso'narthaḥ sumahānsmṛtaḥ

When rations and pay are held back beyond their time, these hired men turn in their hardship against their master, and that is reckoned a very great evil.

Verse 54 (2.5.54)

कच्चित्सर्वेऽनुरक्तास्त्वां कुलपुत्राः प्रधानतः । कच्चित्प्राणांस्तवार्थेषु सन्त्यजन्ति सदा युधि ॥

kaccitsarve'nuraktāstvāṃ kulaputrāḥ pradhānataḥ | kaccitprāṇāṃstavārtheṣu santyajanti sadā yudhi

Are all the men of noble family, and above all the leading ones, devoted to you? Do they always stand ready to give their lives for your cause in battle?

Verse 55 (2.5.55)

कच्चिन्नैको बहूनर्थान्सर्वशः साम्परायिकान् । अनुशास्ति यथाकामं कामात्मा शासनातिगः ॥

kaccinnaiko bahūnarthānsarvaśaḥ sāmparāyikān | anuśāsti yathākāmaṃ kāmātmā śāsanātigaḥ

Does no single man, ruled by his desires and defying your commands, direct as he pleases the many affairs of war in their entirety?

Verse 56 (2.5.56)

कच्चित्पुरुषकारेण पुरुषः कर्म शोभयन् । लभते मानमधिकं भूयो वा भक्तवेतनम् ॥

kaccitpuruṣakāreṇa puruṣaḥ karma śobhayan | labhate mānamadhikaṃ bhūyo vā bhaktavetanam

When a man distinguishes his work by his own effort, does he receive greater honour, or more in rations and pay?

Verse 57 (2.5.57)

कच्चिद्विद्याविनीतांश्च नराञ्ज्ञानविशारदान् । यथार्हं गुणतश्चैव दानेनाभ्युपपद्यसे ॥

kaccidvidyāvinītāṃśca narāñjñānaviśāradān | yathārhaṃ guṇataścaiva dānenābhyupapadyase

Do you favour with gifts, according to their worth and merit, men disciplined by learning and skilled in knowledge?

Verse 58 (2.5.58)

कच्चिद्दारान्मनुष्याणां तवार्थे मृत्युमीयुषाम् । व्यसनं चाभ्युपेतानां बिभर्षि भरतर्षभ ॥

kacciddārānmanuṣyāṇāṃ tavārthe mṛtyumīyuṣām | vyasanaṃ cābhyupetānāṃ bibharṣi bharatarṣabha

Bull among the Bharatas, do you support the wives of men who have died for your sake or fallen into misfortune for you?

Verse 59 (2.5.59)

कच्चिद्भयादुपगतं क्षीणं वा रिपुमागतम् । युद्धे वा विजितं पार्थ पुत्रवत्परिरक्षसि ॥

kaccidbhayādupagataṃ kṣīṇaṃ vā ripumāgatam | yuddhe vā vijitaṃ pārtha putravatparirakṣasi

O Partha, do you protect like a son an enemy who comes to you out of fear, or comes weakened, or has been defeated in battle?

Verse 60 (2.5.60)

कच्चित्त्वमेव सर्वस्याः पृथिव्याः पृथिवीपते । समश्चानभिशङ्क्यश्च यथा माता यथा पिता ॥

kaccittvameva sarvasyāḥ pṛthivyāḥ pṛthivīpate | samaścānabhiśaṅkyaśca yathā mātā yathā pitā

Lord of the earth, are you to the whole earth impartial and beyond suspicion, like a mother, like a father?

Verse 61 (2.5.61)

कच्चिद्व्यसनिनं शत्रुं निशम्य भरतर्षभ । अभियासि जवेनैव समीक्ष्य त्रिविधं बलम् ॥

kaccidvyasaninaṃ śatruṃ niśamya bharatarṣabha | abhiyāsi javenaiva samīkṣya trividhaṃ balam

Bull among the Bharatas, when you hear that an enemy has fallen into difficulties, do you march against him swiftly, having weighed the three kinds of strength?

Verse 62 (2.5.62)

यात्रामारभसे दिष्ट्या प्राप्तकालमरिन्दम । पार्ष्णिमूलं च विज्ञाय व्यवसायं पराजयम् ॥

yātrāmārabhase diṣṭyā prāptakālamarindama | pārṣṇimūlaṃ ca vijñāya vyavasāyaṃ parājayam

Tamer of foes, do you set out on your campaign when the right moment comes, as fortune favours, having considered your rear and your base, your resolve, and the chance of defeat,

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition (vulgate recension); the second corresponds to CE 2.5.48ab.

Verse 63 (2.5.63)

बलस्य च महाराज दत्त्वा वेतनमग्रतः । कच्चिच्च बलमुख्येभ्यः परराष्ट्रे परन्तप । उपच्छन्नानि रत्नानि प्रयच्छसि यथार्हतः ॥

balasya ca mahārāja dattvā vetanamagrataḥ | kaccicca balamukhyebhyaḥ pararāṣṭre parantapa | upacchannāni ratnāni prayacchasi yathārhataḥ

and, great king, having paid your army in advance? Scorcher of foes, do you secretly give jewels, as each deserves, to the leading men of the forces in the enemy's kingdom?

Note on the text: The first line corresponds to CE 2.5.48cd; the other two to CE 2.5.49.

Verse 64 (2.5.64)

कच्चिदात्मानमेवाग्रे विजित्य विजितेन्द्रियः । पराञ्जिगीषसे पार्थ प्रमत्तानजितेन्द्रियान् ॥

kaccidātmānamevāgre vijitya vijitendriyaḥ | parāñjigīṣase pārtha pramattānajitendriyān

O Partha, having first conquered yourself and mastered your senses, do you seek to conquer your enemies, who are careless and have not mastered theirs?

Note on the text: Corrected पारञ्जिगीषसे → पराञ्जिगीषसे (misprint in Wikisource; long ā for short a — the object is parān, "enemies", as in the critical edition).

Verse 65 (2.5.65)

कच्चित्ते यास्यतः शत्रून्पूर्वं यान्ति स्वनुष्ठिताः । साम दानं च भेदश्च दण्डश्च विधिवद्गुणाः ॥

kaccitte yāsyataḥ śatrūnpūrvaṃ yānti svanuṣṭhitāḥ | sāma dānaṃ ca bhedaśca daṇḍaśca vidhivadguṇāḥ

When you march against your enemies, do the four means—conciliation, gifts, sowing dissension and force—go before you, duly applied?

Note on the text: Corrected पर्वं → पूर्वं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign — the critical edition reads pūrvaṃ).

Verse 66 (2.5.66)

तांश्च विक्रमसे जेतुं जित्वा च परिरक्षसि । कच्चिदष्टाङ्गसंयुक्ता चतुर्विधबला चमूः ॥

tāṃśca vikramase jetuṃ jitvā ca parirakṣasi | kaccidaṣṭāṅgasaṃyuktā caturvidhabalā camūḥ

And do you exert your valour to conquer them, and having conquered, protect them? Is your army, with its eight parts and its four kinds of troops,

Note on the text: The lines correspond to CE 2.5.52cd and 2.5.53ab. (Wikisource lacks CE 2.5.52ab, kaccin mūlaṃ dṛḍhaṃ kṛtvā yātrāṃ yāsi viśāṃ pate; its verse 62 speaks of the march instead — a recension difference, not restored.)

Verse 67 (2.5.67)

बलमुख्यैः सुनीता ते द्विषतां प्रतिवर्धिनी । कच्चिल्लवं च मुष्टिं च परराष्ट्रे परन्तप ॥

balamukhyaiḥ sunītā te dviṣatāṃ prativardhinī | kaccillavaṃ ca muṣṭiṃ ca pararāṣṭre parantapa

well led by its commanders, a force that strikes back at your foes? Scorcher of foes, in the enemy's kingdom, without letting slip the time of reaping and the time of storing the harvest,

Note on the text: The lines correspond to CE 2.5.53cd and 2.5.54ab.

Verse 68 (2.5.68)

अविहाय महाराज निहंसि समरे रिपून् । कच्चित्स्वपरराष्ट्रेषु बहवोऽधिकृतास्तव ॥

avihāya mahārāja nihaṃsi samare ripūn | kaccitsvapararāṣṭreṣu bahavo'dhikṛtāstava

great king, do you slay your enemies in battle? Are there many officers of yours, in your own kingdom and in the enemy's,

Note on the text: The lines correspond to CE 2.5.54cd and 2.5.55ab.

Verse 69 (2.5.69)

अर्थान्समधितिष्ठन्ति रक्षन्ति च परस्परम् ॥

arthānsamadhitiṣṭhanti rakṣanti ca parasparam

who look after your interests and guard one another?

Note on the text: A single line in Wikisource, closing the question begun in the previous verse; it corresponds to CE 2.5.55cd. Nothing is lost — the half-verse offset runs from verse 66.

Verse 70 (2.5.70)

कच्चिदभ्यवहार्याणि गात्रसंस्पर्शनानि च । घ्रेयाणि च महाराज रक्षन्त्यनुमतास्तव ॥

kaccidabhyavahāryāṇi gātrasaṃsparśanāni ca | ghreyāṇi ca mahārāja rakṣantyanumatāstava

Great king, are your food, the things that touch your body, and your perfumes guarded by men you trust?

Verse 71 (2.5.71)

कच्चित्कोशश्च कोष्ठं च वाहनं द्वारमायुधम् । आयश्च कृतकल्याणैस्तव भक्तैरनुष्ठितः ॥

kaccitkośaśca koṣṭhaṃ ca vāhanaṃ dvāramāyudham | āyaśca kṛtakalyāṇaistava bhaktairanuṣṭhitaḥ

Are your treasury, granary, vehicles, gates, weapons and revenue looked after by loyal men devoted to your welfare?

Verse 72 (2.5.72)

कच्चिदाभ्यन्तरेभ्यश्च बाह्येभ्यश्च विशाम्पते । रक्षस्यात्मानमेवाग्रे तांश्च स्वेभ्यो मिथश्च तान् ॥

kaccidābhyantarebhyaśca bāhyebhyaśca viśāmpate | rakṣasyātmānamevāgre tāṃśca svebhyo mithaśca tān

Lord of the people, do you guard yourself first of all against those within your household and those without, and guard them from your own kin and from one another?

Verse 73 (2.5.73)

कच्चिन्न पाने द्यूते वा क्रीडासु प्रमदासु च । प्रतिजानन्ति पूर्वाह्णे व्ययं व्यसनजं तव ॥

kaccinna pāne dyūte vā krīḍāsu pramadāsu ca | pratijānanti pūrvāhṇe vyayaṃ vyasanajaṃ tava

Do your officers not lay before you in the forenoon expenses that arise from vice—from drink, dice, amusements and women?

Verse 74 (2.5.74)

कच्चिदायस्य चार्धेन चतुर्भागेन वा पुनः । पादभागैस्त्रिभिर्वापि व्ययः संशुद्ध्यते तव ॥

kaccidāyasya cārdhena caturbhāgena vā punaḥ | pādabhāgaistribhirvāpi vyayaḥ saṃśuddhyate tava

Is your expenditure covered by half, a quarter, or three quarters of your income?

Verse 75 (2.5.75)

कच्चिज्ज्ञातीन्गुरून्वृद्धान्वणिजः शिल्पिनः श्रितान् । अभीक्ष्णमनुगृह्णासि धनधान्येन दुर्गतान् ॥

kaccijjñātīngurūnvṛddhānvaṇijaḥ śilpinaḥ śritān | abhīkṣṇamanugṛhṇāsi dhanadhānyena durgatān

Do you constantly help with wealth and grain those of your kinsmen, teachers, elders, merchants, craftsmen and dependants who have fallen on hard times?

Note on the text: Rejoined the word वृद्धान् split across two printed lines and set the verse as two half-verses. Corrected अनुगृहाणिसि → अनुगृह्णासि (misprint in Wikisource; garbled verb — the critical edition reads anugṛhṇāsi).

Verse 76 (2.5.76)

कच्चिच्चायव्यये युक्ताः सर्वे गणकलेखकाः । अनुतिष्ठन्ति पूर्वाह्णे नित्यमायं व्ययं तव ॥

kacciccāyavyaye yuktāḥ sarve gaṇakalekhakāḥ | anutiṣṭhanti pūrvāhṇe nityamāyaṃ vyayaṃ tava

Do all the accountants and clerks employed on income and expenditure report your income and expenditure to you every forenoon?

Verse 77 (2.5.77)

कच्चिदर्थेषु सम्प्रौढान्हितकामाननुप्रियान् । नापकर्षसि कर्मभ्यः पूर्वमप्राप्य किल्बिषम् ॥

kaccidartheṣu samprauḍhānhitakāmānanupriyān | nāpakarṣasi karmabhyaḥ pūrvamaprāpya kilbiṣam

Do you not dismiss from their posts men who are experienced in affairs, who wish you well and are devoted to you, without their first being found at fault?

Verse 78 (2.5.78)

कच्चिद्विदित्वा पुरुषानुत्तमाधममध्यमान् । त्वं कर्मस्वनुरूपेषु नियोजयसि भारत ॥

kaccidviditvā puruṣānuttamādhamamadhyamān | tvaṃ karmasvanurūpeṣu niyojayasi bhārata

O Bharata, having judged men as best, worst or middling, do you employ them in tasks that suit them?

Verse 79 (2.5.79)

कच्चिन्न लुब्धाश्चौरा वा वैरिणो वा विशाम्पते । अप्राप्तव्यवहारा वा तव कर्मस्वनुष्ठिताः ॥

kaccinna lubdhāścaurā vā vairiṇo vā viśāmpate | aprāptavyavahārā vā tava karmasvanuṣṭhitāḥ

Lord of the people, are no greedy men, thieves, enemies, or men without experience of affairs employed in your service?

Verse 80 (2.5.80)

कच्चिन्न चौरैर्लुब्धैर्वा कुमारैः स्त्रीबलेन वा । त्वया वा पीड्यते राष्ट्रं कच्चित्तुष्टाः कृषीवलाः ॥

kaccinna caurairlubdhairvā kumāraiḥ strībalena vā | tvayā vā pīḍyate rāṣṭraṃ kaccittuṣṭāḥ kṛṣīvalāḥ

Is your kingdom not oppressed by thieves or greedy men, by princes, by the power of women, or by you yourself? Are your farmers content?

Verse 81 (2.5.81)

कच्चिद्राष्ट्रे तटाकानि पूर्णानि च बृहन्ति च । भागशो विनिविष्टानि न कृषिर्देवमातृका ॥

kaccidrāṣṭre taṭākāni pūrṇāni ca bṛhanti ca | bhāgaśo viniviṣṭāni na kṛṣirdevamātṛkā

Are there large reservoirs, full of water, set at intervals throughout your kingdom, so that farming does not depend on the rain alone?

Verse 82 (2.5.82)

कच्चिन्न भक्तं बीजं च कर्षकस्यावसीदति । प्रत्येकं च शतं वृद्ध्या ददास्यृणमनुग्रहम् ॥

kaccinna bhaktaṃ bījaṃ ca karṣakasyāvasīdati | pratyekaṃ ca śataṃ vṛddhyā dadāsyṛṇamanugraham

Does the farmer's food and seed never run short? Do you, as a favour, lend to each of them at an interest of one in a hundred?

Note on the text: Corrected कच्चिन्नं → कच्चिन्न (misprint in Wikisource; stray anusvara on kaccin na).

Verse 83 (2.5.83)

कच्चित्स्वनुष्ठिता तात वार्ता ते साधुभिर्जनैः । वार्तायां संश्रितस्तात लोकोऽयं सुखमेधते ॥

kaccitsvanuṣṭhitā tāta vārtā te sādhubhirjanaiḥ | vārtāyāṃ saṃśritastāta loko'yaṃ sukhamedhate

Dear son, is your livelihood of farming, cattle and trade well managed by honest men? For it is on this livelihood, dear son, that the world depends and prospers.

Verse 84 (2.5.84)

कच्चिच्छूराः कृतप्रज्ञाः पञ्चपञ्च स्वनुष्ठिताः । क्षेमं कुर्वन्ति संहत्य राजञ्जनपदे तव ॥

kaccicchūrāḥ kṛtaprajñāḥ pañcapañca svanuṣṭhitāḥ | kṣemaṃ kurvanti saṃhatya rājañjanapade tava

O king, do brave and wise men, five in each place and well established in their duties, work together for the welfare of your country?

Verse 85 (2.5.85)

कच्चिन्नगरगुप्त्यर्थं ग्रामा नगरवत्कृताः । ग्रामवच्च कृताः प्रान्तास्ते च सर्वे त्वदर्पणाः ॥

kaccinnagaraguptyarthaṃ grāmā nagaravatkṛtāḥ | grāmavacca kṛtāḥ prāntāste ca sarve tvadarpaṇāḥ

For the protection of the cities, have the villages been made like towns, and the outlying lands like villages? And do they all render their dues to you?

Verse 86 (2.5.86)

कच्चिद्बलेनानुगताः समानि विषमाणि च । पुराणि चौरान्निघ्नन्तश्चरन्ति विषये तव ॥

kaccidbalenānugatāḥ samāni viṣamāṇi ca | purāṇi caurānnighnantaścaranti viṣaye tava

Do your men, with troops at their back, range through the towns of your realm, over level ground and rough, putting down thieves?

Verse 87 (2.5.87)

कच्चित्स्त्रियः सान्त्वयसि कच्चित्ताश्च सुरक्षिताः । कच्चिन्न श्रद्दधास्यासां कच्चिद्गुह्यं न भाषसे ॥

kaccitstriyaḥ sāntvayasi kaccittāśca surakṣitāḥ | kaccinna śraddadhāsyāsāṃ kaccidguhyaṃ na bhāṣase

Do you treat women kindly? Are they well protected? Do you not place your full trust in them, and do you not tell them secrets?

Note on the text: Corrected कच्चित्स्रियः → कच्चित्स्त्रियः (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct — the critical edition reads striyaḥ).

Verse 88 (2.5.88)

कच्चिदात्ययिकं श्रुत्वा तदर्थमनुचिन्त्य च । प्रियाण्यनुभवञ्शेषे न त्वमन्तः पुरे नृप ॥

kaccidātyayikaṃ śrutvā tadarthamanucintya ca | priyāṇyanubhavañśeṣe na tvamantaḥ pure nṛpa

O king, when you hear of some pressing danger, do you think it through, and not lie in the inner apartments enjoying your pleasures?

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 2.5.74 (with variants).

Verse 89 (2.5.89)

कच्चिद्द्वौ प्रथमौ यामौ रात्रेः सुप्त्वा विशाम्पते । सञ्चिन्तयसि धर्मार्थौ याम उत्थाय पश्चिमे ॥

kacciddvau prathamau yāmau rātreḥ suptvā viśāmpate | sañcintayasi dharmārthau yāma utthāya paścime

Lord of the people, having slept through the first two watches of the night, do you rise in the last watch and reflect on dharma and wealth?

Verse 90 (2.5.90)

कच्चिद्दर्शयसे नित्यं मनुष्यान्समलङ्कृतः । उत्थाय काले कालज्ञैः सह पाण्डव मन्त्रिभिः ॥

kacciddarśayase nityaṃ manuṣyānsamalaṅkṛtaḥ | utthāya kāle kālajñaiḥ saha pāṇḍava mantribhiḥ

Son of Pandu, rising at the proper time and fully adorned, do you show yourself daily to the people, together with ministers who know the right time for things?

Verse 91 (2.5.91)

कच्चिद्रक्ताम्बरधराः खड्गहस्ताः स्वलङ्कृताः । उपासते त्वामभितो रक्षणार्थमरिन्दम ॥

kaccidraktāmbaradharāḥ khaḍgahastāḥ svalaṅkṛtāḥ | upāsate tvāmabhito rakṣaṇārthamarindama

Tamer of foes, do men clad in red, sword in hand and finely adorned, attend you on every side to guard you?

Verse 92 (2.5.92)

कच्चिद्दण्ड्येषु यमवत्पूज्येषु च विशाम्पते । परीक्ष्य वर्तसे सम्यगप्रियेषु प्रियेषु च ॥

kacciddaṇḍyeṣu yamavatpūjyeṣu ca viśāmpate | parīkṣya vartase samyagapriyeṣu priyeṣu ca

Lord of the people, after due examination, do you deal rightly with those you like and those you dislike—like Yama towards those who deserve punishment, and with reverence towards those who deserve honour?

Verse 93 (2.5.93)

कच्चिच्छारीरमाबाधमौषधैर्नियमेन वा । मानसं वृद्धसेवाभिः सदा पार्थापकर्षसि ॥

kaccicchārīramābādhamauṣadhairniyamena vā | mānasaṃ vṛddhasevābhiḥ sadā pārthāpakarṣasi

O Partha, do you always drive away bodily ailments with medicines and a disciplined regimen, and troubles of the mind by attending on the elders?

Verse 94 (2.5.94)

कच्चिद्वैद्याश्चिकित्सायामष्टाङ्गायां विशारदाः । सुहृदश्चानुरक्ताश्च शरीरे ते हिताः सदा ॥

kaccidvaidyāścikitsāyāmaṣṭāṅgāyāṃ viśāradāḥ | suhṛdaścānuraktāśca śarīre te hitāḥ sadā

Are your physicians skilled in the eightfold science of healing, friendly and devoted to you, and always attentive to the welfare of your body?

Verse 95 (2.5.95)

कच्चिन्न लोभान्मोहाद्वा मानाद्वापि विशाम्पते । अर्थिप्रत्यर्थिनः प्राप्तान्नापास्यसि कथञ्चन ॥

kaccinna lobhānmohādvā mānādvāpi viśāmpate | arthipratyarthinaḥ prāptānnāpāsyasi kathañcana

Lord of the people, do you never, out of greed, delusion or pride, turn away plaintiffs and defendants who come before you?

Verse 96 (2.5.96)

कच्चिन्न लोभान्मोहाद्वा विश्रम्भात्प्रणयेन वा । आश्रितानां मनुष्याणां वृत्तिं त्वं संरुणत्सि वै ॥

kaccinna lobhānmohādvā viśrambhātpraṇayena vā | āśritānāṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ vṛttiṃ tvaṃ saṃruṇatsi vai

Do you never, out of greed or delusion, misplaced trust or fondness, cut off the livelihood of those who depend on you?

Note on the text: Corrected संरुणात्सि → संरुणत्सि (misprint in Wikisource; spurious long ā — the critical edition reads saṃruṇatsi).

Verse 97 (2.5.97)

कच्चित्पौरा न सहिता ये च ते राष्ट्रवासिनः । त्वया सह विरुध्यन्ते परैः क्रीताः कथञ्चन ॥

kaccitpaurā na sahitā ye ca te rāṣṭravāsinaḥ | tvayā saha virudhyante paraiḥ krītāḥ kathañcana

Are the townsfolk and the people of your countryside never bought by enemies and joined together in opposition to you in any way?

Verse 98 (2.5.98)

कच्चिन्न दुर्बलः शत्रुर्बलेन परिपीडितः । मन्त्रेण बलवान्कश्चिदुभाभ्यां च कथञ्चन ॥

kaccinna durbalaḥ śatrurbalena paripīḍitaḥ | mantreṇa balavānkaścidubhābhyāṃ ca kathañcana

Do you not keep a weak enemy down by force, a strong one by counsel, and some by the two together?

Verse 99 (2.5.99)

कच्चित्सर्वेऽनुरक्तास्त्वां भूमिपालाः प्रधानतः । कच्चित्प्राणांस्त्वदर्थेषु सन्त्यजन्ति त्वया हृताः ॥

kaccitsarve'nuraktāstvāṃ bhūmipālāḥ pradhānataḥ | kaccitprāṇāṃstvadartheṣu santyajanti tvayā hṛtāḥ

Are all the rulers of the land, and above all the leading ones, devoted to you? Won over by you, do they give their lives for your cause?

Verse 100 (2.5.100)

कच्चित्ते सर्वविद्यासु गुणतोऽर्चा प्रवर्तते । ब्राह्मणानां च साधूनां तव नैःश्रेयसी शुभा । दक्षिणास्त्वं ददास्येषां नित्यं स्वर्गापवर्गदाः ॥

kaccitte sarvavidyāsu guṇato'rcā pravartate | brāhmaṇānāṃ ca sādhūnāṃ tava naiḥśreyasī śubhā | dakṣiṇāstvaṃ dadāsyeṣāṃ nityaṃ svargāpavargadāḥ

Is honour paid in your realm to men of every branch of learning according to their merit? Is your worship of brahmins and holy men auspicious and conducive to their highest good? Do you always give them gifts that lead to heaven and to liberation?

Note on the text: Closed the space in नैः श्रेयसी → नैःश्रेयसी (one word, "conducive to the highest good"). The first two lines correspond to CE 2.5.86; the third line is not in the critical edition (vulgate recension).

Verse 101 (2.5.101)

कच्चिद्धर्मे त्रयीमूले पूर्वैराचरिते जनैः । यतमानस्तथा कर्तुं तस्मिन्कर्मणि वर्तसे ॥

kacciddharme trayīmūle pūrvairācarite janaiḥ | yatamānastathā kartuṃ tasminkarmaṇi vartase

Striving to act as they did, do you abide by the dharma rooted in the three Vedas that was practised by those who came before?

Verse 102 (2.5.102)

कच्चित्तव गृहेऽन्नानि स्वादून्यश्रन्ति वै द्विजाः । गुणवन्ति गुणोपेतास्तवाध्यक्षं सदक्षिणम् ॥

kaccittava gṛhe'nnāni svādūnyaśranti vai dvijāḥ | guṇavanti guṇopetāstavādhyakṣaṃ sadakṣiṇam

Do brahmins of good qualities eat fine and tasty food in your house, in your presence, and receive gifts besides?

Verse 103 (2.5.103)

कच्चित्क्रतूनेकचित्तो वाजपेयांश्च सर्वशः । पौण्डरीकांश्च कार्त्स्न्येन यतसे कर्तुमात्मवान् ॥

kaccitkratūnekacitto vājapeyāṃśca sarvaśaḥ | pauṇḍarīkāṃśca kārtsnyena yatase kartumātmavān

With a single mind and self-possessed, do you strive to perform the sacrifices in full—the Vajapeyas and the Paundarikas—in all their parts?

Verse 104 (2.5.104)

कच्चिज्ज्ञातीन्गुरून्वृद्धान्दैवतांस्तापसानपि । चैत्यांश्च वृक्षान्कल्याणान्ब्राह्मणांश्च नमस्यसि ॥

kaccijjñātīngurūnvṛddhāndaivatāṃstāpasānapi | caityāṃśca vṛkṣānkalyāṇānbrāhmaṇāṃśca namasyasi

Do you bow to your kinsmen, teachers and elders, to the gods and ascetics, to sacred shrines and auspicious trees, and to brahmins?

Verse 105 (2.5.105)

कच्चिच्छोको न मन्युर्वा त्वया प्रोत्पाद्यतेऽनघ । अपि मङ्गलहस्तश्च जनः पार्श्वे न तिष्ठति ॥

kaccicchoko na manyurvā tvayā protpādyate'nagha | api maṅgalahastaśca janaḥ pārśve na tiṣṭhati

Sinless one, do you never cause anyone grief or anger? And do people bearing auspicious offerings stand at your side?

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 106 (2.5.106)

कच्चिदेषा च ते बुद्धिर्वृत्तिरेषा च तेऽनघ । आयुष्या च यशस्या च धर्मकामार्थदर्शिनी ॥

kaccideṣā ca te buddhirvṛttireṣā ca te'nagha | āyuṣyā ca yaśasyā ca dharmakāmārthadarśinī

Sinless one, is this your understanding and this your conduct—one that brings long life and fame, and keeps dharma, desire and wealth in view?

Verse 107 (2.5.107)

एतया वर्तमानस्य बुद्ध्या राष्ट्रं न सीदति । विजित्य च महीं राजा सोऽत्यन्तं सुखमेधते ॥

etayā vartamānasya buddhyā rāṣṭraṃ na sīdati | vijitya ca mahīṃ rājā so'tyantaṃ sukhamedhate

For when a king lives by such an understanding, his kingdom does not decline; having conquered the earth, he prospers in boundless happiness.

Note on the text: Corrected सोत्यन्तं → सोऽत्यन्तं (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha — the critical edition reads so 'tyantaṃ).

Verse 108 (2.5.108)

कच्चिदार्यो विशुद्धात्मा क्षारितश्चौरकर्मणि । अदृष्टशास्त्रकुशलैर्न लोभाद्वध्यते शुचिः ॥

kaccidāryo viśuddhātmā kṣāritaścaurakarmaṇi | adṛṣṭaśāstrakuśalairna lobhādvadhyate śuciḥ

Is no honourable man, pure of heart and innocent, who has been falsely charged with theft, put to death out of greed by men who think themselves clever but have never studied the law?

Note on the text: Corrected शुचि → शुचिः (misprint in Wikisource; the nominative is needed, agreeing with आर्यः — the critical edition reads śuciḥ).

Verse 109 (2.5.109)

दुष्टो गृहीतस्तत्कारी तज्ज्ञैर्दृष्टः सकारणः । कच्चिन्न मुच्यते स्तेनो द्रव्यलोभान्नरर्षभ ॥

duṣṭo gṛhītastatkārī tajjñairdṛṣṭaḥ sakāraṇaḥ | kaccinna mucyate steno dravyalobhānnararṣabha

Bull among men, is a guilty thief—caught, known to be the doer, seen by those who know of the deed, and with the evidence against him—never set free out of greed for money?

Note on the text: Corrected तत्कारितज्ज्ञैर् → तत्कारी तज्ज्ञैर् (misprint in Wikisource; the long ī of tatkārī, "the doer of it", was lost and the words run together — the critical edition reads tatkārī tajjñair). दुष्टो for CE pṛṣṭo is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 110 (2.5.110)

उत्पन्नान्कच्चिदाढ्यस्य दरिद्रस्य च भारत । अर्थान्न मिथ्या पश्यन्ति तवामात्या हृता धनैः ॥

utpannānkaccidāḍhyasya daridrasya ca bhārata | arthānna mithyā paśyanti tavāmātyā hṛtā dhanaiḥ

O Bharata, when disputes arise between the rich and the poor, do your ministers, bought with money, not judge the matters falsely?

Note on the text: Corrected उत्पन्नानकच्चिद् → उत्पन्नान्कच्चिद् (misprint in Wikisource; a missing virama added a syllable and broke the metre; utpannān qualifies arthān. The critical edition reads vyutpanne).

Verse 111 (2.5.111)

नास्तिक्यमनृतं क्रोधं प्रमादं दीर्घसूत्रताम् । अदर्शनं ज्ञानवतामालस्यं पञ्चवृत्तिताम् । एकचिन्तनमर्थानामनर्थज्ञैश्च चिन्तनम् ॥

nāstikyamanṛtaṃ krodhaṃ pramādaṃ dīrghasūtratām | adarśanaṃ jñānavatāmālasyaṃ pañcavṛttitām | ekacintanamarthānāmanarthajñaiśca cintanam

Unbelief, falsehood, anger, carelessness, procrastination, keeping away from the wise, sloth, surrender to the five senses, brooding over affairs alone, and taking counsel with those who do not understand them;

Note on the text: The first two lines correspond to CE 2.5.96 (पञ्चवृत्तिताम् for kṣiptacittatām is a recension variant); the third to CE 2.5.97ab.

Verse 112 (2.5.112)

निश्चितानामनारम्भं मन्त्रस्यापरिरक्षणम् । मङ्गलाद्यप्रयोगं च प्रत्युत्थानं च सर्वतः ॥

niścitānāmanārambhaṃ mantrasyāparirakṣaṇam | maṅgalādyaprayogaṃ ca pratyutthānaṃ ca sarvataḥ

failing to begin what has been decided, failing to guard counsel, neglecting auspicious rites, and taking the field against all foes at once—

Note on the text: The lines correspond to CE 2.5.97cd and 2.5.98ab (with variants).

Verse 113 (2.5.113)

कच्चित्त्वं वर्जयस्येतान्राजदोषांश्चतुर्दश । प्रायशो यैर्विनश्यन्ति कृतमूलापि पार्थिवाः ॥

kaccittvaṃ varjayasyetānrājadoṣāṃścaturdaśa | prāyaśo yairvinaśyanti kṛtamūlāpi pārthivāḥ

do you shun these fourteen faults of kings, through which, for the most part, kings are ruined even when they are firmly rooted?

Note on the text: Corrected पार्थिवः → पार्थिवाः (misprint in Wikisource; the plural verb विनश्यन्ति and the page's own gloss "कृतमूलाः अपि" need the plural) and separated प्रायशो यैर्. The first line corresponds to CE 2.5.98cd; the second line is not in the critical edition (vulgate recension).

Verse 114 (2.5.114)

कच्चित्ते सफला वेदाः कच्चित्ते सफलं धनम् । कच्चित्ते सफला दाराः कच्चित्ते सफलं श्रुतम् ॥

kaccitte saphalā vedāḥ kaccitte saphalaṃ dhanam | kaccitte saphalā dārāḥ kaccitte saphalaṃ śrutam

Are your Vedas fruitful? Is your wealth fruitful? Are your wives fruitful? Is your learning fruitful?

Note on the text: Corrected सफळं → सफलं (misprint in Wikisource; ळ for ल — the critical edition reads saphalaṃ).

Verse 115 (2.5.115)

कथं वै सफला वेदाः कथं वै सफलं धनम् । कथं वै सफला दाराः कथं वै सफलं श्रुतम् ॥

kathaṃ vai saphalā vedāḥ kathaṃ vai saphalaṃ dhanam | kathaṃ vai saphalā dārāḥ kathaṃ vai saphalaṃ śrutam

How are the Vedas fruitful? How is wealth fruitful? How are wives fruitful? How is learning fruitful?

Verse 116 (2.5.116)

अग्निहोत्रफला वेदा दत्तभुक्तफलं धनम् । रतिपुत्रफला दाराः शीलवृत्तफलं श्रुतम् ॥

agnihotraphalā vedā dattabhuktaphalaṃ dhanam | ratiputraphalā dārāḥ śīlavṛttaphalaṃ śrutam

The Vedas bear fruit in the agnihotra; wealth bears fruit when it is given and enjoyed; wives bear fruit in love and in sons; learning bears fruit in good character and conduct.

Verse 117 (2.5.117)

एतदाख्याय स मुनिर्नारदो वै महातपाः । पप्रच्छानन्तरमिदं धर्मात्मानं युधिष्ठिरम् ॥

etadākhyāya sa munirnārado vai mahātapāḥ | papracchānantaramidaṃ dharmātmānaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram

Having said this, the sage Narada, great in austerity, went on to ask the righteous Yudhishthira the following.

Verse 118 (2.5.118)

कच्चिदभ्यागता दूराद्वणिजो लाभकारणात् । यथोक्तमवहार्यन्ते शुल्कं शुल्कोपजीविभिः ॥

kaccidabhyāgatā dūrādvaṇijo lābhakāraṇāt | yathoktamavahāryante śulkaṃ śulkopajīvibhiḥ

Are merchants who come from far away in search of profit charged only the prescribed duty by the officials who live on duties?

Verse 119 (2.5.119)

कच्चित्ते पुरुषा राजन्पुरे राष्ट्रे च मानिताः । उपानयन्ति पण्यानि उपधाभिरवञ्चिताः ॥

kaccitte puruṣā rājanpure rāṣṭre ca mānitāḥ | upānayanti paṇyāni upadhābhiravañcitāḥ

O king, are those men honoured in your city and your kingdom, and do they bring in their wares without being cheated by tricks?

Note on the text: Corrected उपाधाभिर् → उपधाभिर् (misprint in Wikisource; upadhā, "fraud, trickery" — the critical edition reads upadhābhir).

Verse 120 (2.5.120)

कच्चिच्छृणोषि वृद्धानां धर्मार्थसहिता गिरः । नित्यमर्थविदां तात यथाधर्मार्थदर्शिनाम् ॥

kaccicchṛṇoṣi vṛddhānāṃ dharmārthasahitā giraḥ | nityamarthavidāṃ tāta yathādharmārthadarśinām

Dear son, do you always listen to the words of the elders, full of dharma and good sense—men who understand affairs and see things as dharma and wealth require?

Verse 121 (2.5.121)

कच्चित्ते कृषितन्त्रेषु गोषु पुष्पफलेषु च । धर्मार्थं च द्विजातिभ्यो दीयेते मधुसर्पिषी ॥

kaccitte kṛṣitantreṣu goṣu puṣpaphaleṣu ca | dharmārthaṃ ca dvijātibhyo dīyete madhusarpiṣī

From your farming, your cattle, your flowers and your fruit, are honey and ghee given to the twice-born for the sake of dharma?

Verse 122 (2.5.122)

द्रव्योपकरणं किञ्चित्सर्वदा सर्वशिल्पिनाम् । चातुर्मास्यावरं सम्यङ्नियतं सम्प्रयच्छसि ॥

dravyopakaraṇaṃ kiñcitsarvadā sarvaśilpinām | cāturmāsyāvaraṃ samyaṅniyataṃ samprayacchasi

Do you always give every craftsman, properly and regularly, materials and tools enough for four months at the least?

Verse 123 (2.5.123)

कच्चित्कृतं विजानीषे कर्तारं च प्रशंससि । सतां मध्ये महाराज सत्करोषि च पूजयन् ॥

kaccitkṛtaṃ vijānīṣe kartāraṃ ca praśaṃsasi | satāṃ madhye mahārāja satkaroṣi ca pūjayan

Great king, do you take note of work well done and praise the one who did it, honouring and rewarding him in the midst of good men?

Verse 124 (2.5.124)

कच्चित्सूत्राणि सर्वाणि गृह्णासि भरतर्षभ । हस्तिसूत्राश्वसूत्राणि रथसूत्राणि वा विभो ॥

kaccitsūtrāṇi sarvāṇi gṛhṇāsi bharatarṣabha | hastisūtrāśvasūtrāṇi rathasūtrāṇi vā vibho

Bull among the Bharatas, do you master all the manuals—the manuals on elephants, on horses and on chariots, O lord?

Verse 125 (2.5.125)

कच्चिदभ्यस्यते सम्यग्गृहे ते भरतर्षभ । धनुर्वेदस्य सूत्रं वै यन्त्रसूत्रं च नागरम् ॥

kaccidabhyasyate samyaggṛhe te bharatarṣabha | dhanurvedasya sūtraṃ vai yantrasūtraṃ ca nāgaram

Bull among the Bharatas, is the manual of archery, and the manual of engines used in the defence of cities, properly studied in your house?

Verse 126 (2.5.126)

कच्चिदस्त्राणि सर्वाणि ब्रह्मदण्डश्च तेऽनघ । विषयोगास्तथा सर्वे विदिताः शत्रुनाशनाः ॥

kaccidastrāṇi sarvāṇi brahmadaṇḍaśca te'nagha | viṣayogāstathā sarve viditāḥ śatrunāśanāḥ

Sinless one, do you know all the weapons, the Brahmadanda, and all the uses of poison that destroy enemies?

Verse 127 (2.5.127)

कच्चिदग्निभयाच्चैव सर्वं व्यालभयात्तथा । रोगरक्षोभयाच्चैव राष्ट्रं स्वं परिरक्षसि ॥

kaccidagnibhayāccaiva sarvaṃ vyālabhayāttathā | rogarakṣobhayāccaiva rāṣṭraṃ svaṃ parirakṣasi

Do you guard your whole kingdom against the danger of fire and of beasts of prey, and against the danger of disease and of rakshasas?

Note on the text: Corrected परिरक्षशि → परिरक्षसि (misprint in Wikisource; श for स — the critical edition reads parirakṣasi).

Verse 128 (2.5.128)

कच्चिदन्धांश्च मूकांश्च पङ्गून्व्यङ्गानबान्धवान् । पितेव पासि धर्मज्ञ तथा प्रव्रजितानपि ॥

kaccidandhāṃśca mūkāṃśca paṅgūnvyaṅgānabāndhavān | piteva pāsi dharmajña tathā pravrajitānapi

Knower of dharma, do you protect like a father the blind, the mute, the lame, the deformed, those who have no kin, and wandering ascetics as well?

Verse 129 (2.5.129)

षडनर्था महाराज कच्चित्ते पृष्ठतः कृताः । निद्राऽऽलस्यं भयं क्रोधो मार्दवं दीर्घसूत्रता ॥

ṣaḍanarthā mahārāja kaccitte pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtāḥ | nidrā''lasyaṃ bhayaṃ krodho mārdavaṃ dīrghasūtratā

Great king, have you put behind you the six evils—sleep, sloth, fear, anger, weakness and procrastination?

Note on the text: Corrected षडवर्था → षडनर्था (misprint in Wikisource; व for न — "avartha" is no word; the six are evils, anarthāḥ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 130 (2.5.130)

ततः कुरूणामृषभो महात्मा श्रुत्वा गिरो ब्राह्मणसत्तमस्य । प्रणम्य पादावभिवाद्य तुष्टो राजाऽब्रवीन्नारदं देवरूपम् ॥

tataḥ kurūṇāmṛṣabho mahātmā śrutvā giro brāhmaṇasattamasya | praṇamya pādāvabhivādya tuṣṭo rājā'bravīnnāradaṃ devarūpam

Then the great-souled king, bull of the Kurus, having heard the words of that best of brahmins, bowed at his feet and saluted him, and, well pleased, said to Narada of godlike form:

Note on the text: Set the trishtubh verse as two half-verses (Wikisource prints one quarter per line); text unchanged.

Verse 131 (2.5.131)

एवं करिष्यामि यथा त्वयोक्तं प्रज्ञा हि मे भूय एवाभिवृद्धा । उक्त्वा तथा चैव चकार राजा लेभे महीं सागरमेखलां च ॥

evaṃ kariṣyāmi yathā tvayoktaṃ prajñā hi me bhūya evābhivṛddhā | uktvā tathā caiva cakāra rājā lebhe mahīṃ sāgaramekhalāṃ ca

"I shall do as you have told me, for my understanding has grown greater still." Having said this, the king did so, and he won the earth girdled by the ocean.

Note on the text: Set the trishtubh verse as two half-verses (Wikisource prints one quarter per line); text unchanged. The first half is Yudhishthira's reply, quoted within Vaishampayana's narration without a speaker heading.

Verse 132 (2.5.132)

एवं यो वर्तते राजा चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य रक्षणे । स विहृत्येह सुसुखी शक्रस्यैति सलोकताम् ॥

evaṃ yo vartate rājā cāturvarṇyasya rakṣaṇe | sa vihṛtyeha susukhī śakrasyaiti salokatām

A king who conducts himself in this way, protecting the four varnas, lives here in great happiness and then attains the world of Shakra.

Note on the text: Corrected शुक्रस्यैति → शक्रस्यैति (misprint in Wikisource; उ-sign for अ — the reward is the world of Shakra (Indra), as in the critical edition, śakrasyaiti).