How Republics Prosper and Fall

Verse 1 (12.107.1)

ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्राणां च परंतप । धर्मवृत्तं च वित्तं च वृत्त्युपायाः फलानि च ॥

brāhmaṇakṣatriyaviśāṃ śūdrāṇāṃ ca paraṃtapa | dharmavṛttaṃ ca vittaṃ ca vṛttyupāyāḥ phalāni ca

The duties, the conduct and the wealth of the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras, O scorcher of foes, their means of livelihood and its fruits;

Verse 2 (12.107.2)

राज्ञां वृत्तं च कोशं च कोशसंचयनं जयः । अमात्यगुणवृत्तिश्च प्रकृतीनां च वर्धनम् ॥

rājñāṃ vṛttaṃ ca kośaṃ ca kośasaṃcayanaṃ jayaḥ | amātyaguṇavṛttiśca prakṛtīnāṃ ca vardhanam

the conduct of kings, the treasury, the filling of the treasury, victory, the qualities and ways of ministers, and the growth of the subjects;

Verse 3 (12.107.3)

षाङ्गुण्यगुणकल्पश्च सेनानीतिस्तथैव च । दुष्टस्य च परिज्ञानमदुष्टस्य च लक्षणम् ॥

ṣāṅguṇyaguṇakalpaśca senānītistathaiva ca | duṣṭasya ca parijñānamaduṣṭasya ca lakṣaṇam

the application of the six-fold policy, the policy of the army, the recognition of the wicked and the marks of the not wicked;

Verse 4 (12.107.4)

समहीनाधिकानां च यथावल्लक्षणं च यत् । मध्यमस्य च तुष्ट्यर्थं यथा स्थेयं विवर्धता ॥

samahīnādhikānāṃ ca yathāvallakṣaṇaṃ ca yat | madhyamasya ca tuṣṭyarthaṃ yathā stheyaṃ vivardhatā

the proper marks of equals, inferiors and superiors, and how one who is prospering should stand so as to keep the middle one content;

Verse 5 (12.107.5)

क्षीणग्रहणवृत्तिश्च यथा धर्मं प्रकीर्तितम् । लघुनाऽदेशरूपेण ग्रन्थयोगेन भारत ॥

kṣīṇagrahaṇavṛttiśca yathā dharmaṃ prakīrtitam | laghunā'deśarūpeṇa granthayogena bhārata

and the livelihood of the weakened and the taking up of them: all this, O Bharata, has been declared according to dharma, briefly, in the form of instruction, in a compact treatise.

Verse 6 (12.107.6)

विजिगीषोस्तथा वृत्तमुक्तं चैव तथैव ते । गणानां वृत्तिमिच्छामि श्रोतुं मतिमतां वर ॥

vijigīṣostathā vṛttamuktaṃ caiva tathaiva te | gaṇānāṃ vṛttimicchāmi śrotuṃ matimatāṃ vara

The conduct of one who seeks conquest has likewise been told, and told by you in the same way. O best of the wise, I now wish to hear about the conduct of the gaṇas, the republics.

Verse 7 (12.107.7)

यथा गणाः प्रवर्धन्ते न भिद्यन्ते च भारत । अरींश्च विजिगीषन्ते सुहृदः प्राप्नुवन्ति च ॥

yathā gaṇāḥ pravardhante na bhidyante ca bhārata | arīṃśca vijigīṣante suhṛdaḥ prāpnuvanti ca

How do gaṇas prosper without being split, O Bharata, conquer their foes and win friends?

Verse 8 (12.107.8)

भेदमूलो विनाशो हि गणानामुपलक्षये । मन्त्रसंवरणं दुःखं बहूनामिति मे मतिः ॥

bhedamūlo vināśo hi gaṇānāmupalakṣaye | mantrasaṃvaraṇaṃ duḥkhaṃ bahūnāmiti me matiḥ

For I see that the ruin of gaṇas is rooted in division; and it is hard for many to keep counsel secret. This is my view.

Verse 9 (12.107.9)

एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं निखिलेन परंतप । यथा च ते न भिद्येरंस्तच्च मे वद भारत ॥

etadicchāmyahaṃ śrotuṃ nikhilena paraṃtapa | yathā ca te na bhidyeraṃstacca me vada bhārata

I wish to hear all of this in full, O scorcher of foes, and tell me also, O Bharata, how they may not be divided.

Verse 10 (12.107.10)

गणानां च कुलानां च राज्ञां भरतसत्तम । वैरसंदीपनावेतौ लोभामर्षौ नराधिप ॥

gaṇānāṃ ca kulānāṃ ca rājñāṃ bharatasattama | vairasaṃdīpanāvetau lobhāmarṣau narādhipa

Among gaṇas, families and kings alike, O best of the Bharatas, these two, greed and resentment, kindle enmity, O lord of men.

Verse 11 (12.107.11)

लोभमेको हि वृणुते ततोऽमर्षमनन्तरम् । ततो ह्यमर्षसंयुक्तावन्योन्यजनिताशयौ ॥

lobhameko hi vṛṇute tato'marṣamanantaram | tato hyamarṣasaṃyuktāvanyonyajanitāśayau

One party first takes up greed, and resentment follows hard upon it. Then, joined with resentment, the two feed each other's designs.

Verse 12 (12.107.12)

चारमन्त्रबलादानैः सामदानविभेदनैः । क्षयव्ययभयोपायैः प्रकर्षन्तीतरेतरम् ॥

cāramantrabalādānaiḥ sāmadānavibhedanaiḥ | kṣayavyayabhayopāyaiḥ prakarṣantītaretaram

By spies, counsel, force and seizure, by conciliation, gifts and sowing dissension, by means that bring loss, expense and fear, they harry one another.

Verse 13 (12.107.13)

तत्रादानेन भिद्यन्ते गणाः संघातवृत्तयः । भिन्ना विमनसः सर्वे गच्छन्त्यरिवशं भयात् ॥

tatrādānena bhidyante gaṇāḥ saṃghātavṛttayaḥ | bhinnā vimanasaḥ sarve gacchantyarivaśaṃ bhayāt

Of these, it is by seizure that gaṇas whose strength lies in union are split. Split, they all lose heart, and from fear pass under the power of the enemy.

Verse 14 (12.107.14)

भेदे गणा विनश्युर्हि भिन्नास्तु सुजयाः परैः । तस्मात्संघातयोगेन प्रयतेरन्गणाः सदा ॥

bhede gaṇā vinaśyurhi bhinnāstu sujayāḥ paraiḥ | tasmātsaṃghātayogena prayaterangaṇāḥ sadā

In division gaṇas perish, and once divided they are easily conquered by others. Therefore gaṇas should always strive to act in union.

Verse 15 (12.107.15)

अर्थाश्चैवाधिगम्यन्ते संघातबलपौरुषैः । बाह्याश्च मैत्रीं कुर्वन्ति तेषु संघातवृत्तिषु ॥

arthāścaivādhigamyante saṃghātabalapauruṣaiḥ | bāhyāśca maitrīṃ kurvanti teṣu saṃghātavṛttiṣu

Wealth is won by the strength and manliness of union, and outsiders make friendship with those who live in unity.

Note on the text: Corrected ब्राह्माश्च → बाह्याश्च (misprint in Wikisource; ब्राह्माः "Brahma-related" gives no sense for those who make friends with a united gaṇa; the critical edition reads bāhyāś ca).

Verse 16 (12.107.16)

ज्ञानवृद्धाः प्रशंसन्ति शुश्रूषन्तः परस्परम् । विनिवृत्ताभिसंधानाः सुखमेधन्ति सर्वशः ॥

jñānavṛddhāḥ praśaṃsanti śuśrūṣantaḥ parasparam | vinivṛttābhisaṃdhānāḥ sukhamedhanti sarvaśaḥ

Elders in knowledge, they praise one another and serve one another; with their hostile designs abandoned, they prosper happily on every side.

Verse 17 (12.107.17)

धर्मिष्ठान्व्यवहारांश्च स्थापयन्तश्च शास्त्रतः । यथावत्प्रतिपश्यन्तो विवर्धन्ते गणोत्तमाः ॥

dharmiṣṭhānvyavahārāṃśca sthāpayantaśca śāstrataḥ | yathāvatpratipaśyanto vivardhante gaṇottamāḥ

The best of gaṇas flourish by establishing the most righteous procedures in accordance with the scriptures, and by examining matters as they truly are.

Verse 18 (12.107.18)

पुत्रान्भ्रातृन्निगृह्णन्तो विनयन्तश्च तान्सदा । विनीतांश्च प्रगृह्णन्तो विवर्धन्ते गणोत्तमाः ॥

putrānbhrātṛnnigṛhṇanto vinayantaśca tānsadā | vinītāṃśca pragṛhṇanto vivardhante gaṇottamāḥ

The best of gaṇas flourish by restraining their sons and brothers and always disciplining them, and by favouring those who have become disciplined.

Verse 19 (12.107.19)

चारमन्त्रविधानेषु कोशसंनिचयेषु च । नित्ययुक्ता महाबाहो वर्धन्ते सर्वतो गणाः ॥

cāramantravidhāneṣu kośasaṃnicayeṣu ca | nityayuktā mahābāho vardhante sarvato gaṇāḥ

Gaṇas that are ever diligent in arranging for spies and counsel and in amassing treasure, O mighty-armed, grow on every side.

Verse 20 (12.107.20)

प्राज्ञांश्चारान्महोत्साहान्कर्मसु स्थिरपौरुषान् । मानयन्तः सदा युक्ता विवर्धन्ते गणा नृप ॥

prājñāṃścārānmahotsāhānkarmasu sthirapauruṣān | mānayantaḥ sadā yuktā vivardhante gaṇā nṛpa

Always attentive, and honouring the wise and the spies who are full of energy and steady in valour in their tasks, gaṇas grow, O king.

Verse 21 (12.107.21)

द्रव्यवन्तश्च शूराश्च शस्त्रज्ञाः शास्त्रपारगाः । कृच्छ्रास्वापत्सु संमूढान्गणाः संतारयन्ति ते ॥

dravyavantaśca śūrāśca śastrajñāḥ śāstrapāragāḥ | kṛcchrāsvāpatsu saṃmūḍhāngaṇāḥ saṃtārayanti te

The wealthy, the brave, those who know weapons and are masters of the scriptures: these carry the gaṇas across when they are bewildered in hardships and calamities.

Verse 22 (12.107.22)

क्रोधो भेदो भयं दण्डः कर्षणं निग्रहो वधः । नयत्यरिवशं सद्यो गणान्भरतसत्तम ॥

krodho bhedo bhayaṃ daṇḍaḥ karṣaṇaṃ nigraho vadhaḥ | nayatyarivaśaṃ sadyo gaṇānbharatasattama

Anger, division, fear, punishment, oppression, restraint and killing quickly bring gaṇas under the enemy's power, O best of the Bharatas.

Verse 23 (12.107.23)

तस्मान्मानयितव्यास्ते गणमुख्याः प्रधानतः । लोकयात्रा समायत्ता भूयसी तेषु पार्थिव ॥

tasmānmānayitavyāste gaṇamukhyāḥ pradhānataḥ | lokayātrā samāyattā bhūyasī teṣu pārthiva

Therefore those chiefs of the gaṇas must be honoured first and foremost; the greater part of public life depends on them, O king.

Verse 24 (12.107.24)

मन्त्रगुप्तिः प्रधानेषु चारश्चामित्रकर्शण । न गणाः कृत्स्नशो मन्त्रं श्रोतुमर्हन्ति भारत ॥

mantraguptiḥ pradhāneṣu cāraścāmitrakarśaṇa | na gaṇāḥ kṛtsnaśo mantraṃ śrotumarhanti bhārata

Secrecy of counsel, and the spying, rest with the leaders, O tormentor of foes. The gaṇas as a whole should not hear the counsel in full, O Bharata.

Verse 25 (12.107.25)

गणमुख्यैस्तु संभूय कार्यं गणहितं मिथः ॥

gaṇamukhyaistu saṃbhūya kāryaṃ gaṇahitaṃ mithaḥ

What is to be done for the good of the gaṇa should be done in mutual consultation, the chiefs of the gaṇa assembling together.

Note on the text: One-line verse on the page (12-107-25a) = CE 12.108.25a (gaṇamukhyais tu saṃbhūya kāryaṃ gaṇahitaṃ mithaḥ); the CE's three-line verse 12.108.25 is split by Wikisource across its verses 25 and 26. The alignment found no match.

Verse 26 (12.107.26)

पृथग्गणस्य भिन्नस्य विततस्य ततोऽन्यथा । अर्थाः प्रत्यवसीदन्ति तथाऽनर्था भवन्ति च ॥

pṛthaggaṇasya bhinnasya vitatasya tato'nyathā | arthāḥ pratyavasīdanti tathā'narthā bhavanti ca

When a gaṇa is divided into factions, split and scattered, no longer as it was, its undertakings founder and misfortunes come.

Note on the text: Corrected भवन्ति व → भवन्ति च (misprint in Wikisource; व for च; the critical edition reads bhavanti ca). Lines = CE 12.108.25c and 12.108.25e (the second and third lines of the CE's three-line verse 12.108.25); Wikisource विततस्य (CE vimatasya) is kept as a variant. The alignment found no match.

Verse 27 (12.107.27)

तेषामन्योन्यभिन्नानां स्वशक्तिमनुतिष्ठताम् । निग्रहः पण्डितैः कार्यः क्षिप्रमेव प्रधानतः ॥

teṣāmanyonyabhinnānāṃ svaśaktimanutiṣṭhatām | nigrahaḥ paṇḍitaiḥ kāryaḥ kṣiprameva pradhānataḥ

Among those who are divided from one another and act on their own strength, the wise must quickly impose restraint, above all through the leaders.

Verse 28 (12.107.28)

कुलेषु कलहा जाताः कुलवृद्धैरुपेक्षिताः । गोत्रस्य नाशं कुर्वन्ति गणभेदस्य कारकम् ॥

kuleṣu kalahā jātāḥ kulavṛddhairupekṣitāḥ | gotrasya nāśaṃ kurvanti gaṇabhedasya kārakam

Quarrels that arise within families, if the elders of the family neglect them, bring ruin on the clan and cause the splitting of the gaṇa.

Verse 29 (12.107.29)

आभ्यन्तरं भयं रक्ष्यमसारं बाह्यतो भयम् । आभ्यन्तरं भयं राजन्सद्यो मूलानि कृन्तति ॥

ābhyantaraṃ bhayaṃ rakṣyamasāraṃ bāhyato bhayam | ābhyantaraṃ bhayaṃ rājansadyo mūlāni kṛntati

Danger from within must be guarded against; danger from outside is of little weight. Danger from within, O king, cuts the roots at once.

Verse 30 (12.107.30)

अकस्मात्क्रोधमोहाभ्यां लोभाद्वाऽपि स्वभावजात् । अन्योन्यं नाभिभाषन्ते तत्पराभवलक्षणम् ॥

akasmātkrodhamohābhyāṃ lobhādvā'pi svabhāvajāt | anyonyaṃ nābhibhāṣante tatparābhavalakṣaṇam

When, suddenly, through anger and delusion, or through greed born of their nature, they no longer speak to one another, that is the mark of their defeat.

Verse 31 (12.107.31)

जात्या च सदृशाः सर्वे कुलेन सदृशास्तथा । न चोद्योगेन बुद्ध्या वा रूपद्रव्येण वा पुनः ॥

jātyā ca sadṛśāḥ sarve kulena sadṛśāstathā | na codyogena buddhyā vā rūpadravyeṇa vā punaḥ

All are alike in birth, and alike in family, but not in effort or intellect, or in looks and wealth.

Note on the text: Corrected सदृशास्तथ । → सदृशास्तथा । (misprint in Wikisource; dropped long ा; the critical edition reads tathā).

Verse 32 (12.107.32)

भेदाच्चैव प्रदानाच्च नाम्यन्ते रिपुभिर्गणाः । तस्मात्संघातमेवाहुर्गणानां शरणं महत् ॥

bhedāccaiva pradānācca nāmyante ripubhirgaṇāḥ | tasmātsaṃghātamevāhurgaṇānāṃ śaraṇaṃ mahat

Gaṇas are brought to bow by their enemies through division and through gifts. Therefore they say that unity is the great refuge of gaṇas.