The King Should Be Like the Peacock

Verse 1 (12.120.1)

राजवृत्तान्यनेकानि त्वया प्रोक्तानि भारत । पूर्वैः पूर्वनियुक्तानि राजधर्मार्थवेदिभिः ॥

rājavṛttānyanekāni tvayā proktāni bhārata | pūrvaiḥ pūrvaniyuktāni rājadharmārthavedibhiḥ

You have spoken, O Bharata, of many ways of kingly conduct, laid down by earlier kings who knew the king's dharma and its aims.

Note on the text: Adhyaya note: the page is the right adhyaya (rows labelled 12-120-1 to 12-120-56; the colophon reads विंशत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः । 120) and it is the critical edition's 12.120 (54 verses); Wikisource and the CE divide the verses differently (WS 8-9 = CE 8-9, WS 13-21 = CE 13-19, WS 22-51 = CE 20-49, WS 52 = CE 50, WS 53-56 = CE 51-54; each verse's note says which CE lines it holds). The title line above the table is a heading, not a verse. The page ends with its colophon; the many glosses printed after the table (12-120-2, 4-10, 13-16, 18, 19, 21, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41-47, 52-56) are not added, and no other block (no पाठान्तर poem, no stray verse of the next adhyaya) follows. Speakers: the page heads Yudhishthira (12-120-1x) and Bhishma (12-120-3x), both spelled correctly.

Verse 2 (12.120.2)

तदेव विस्तरेणोक्तं पूर्ववृत्तं सतां मतम् । प्रणेयं राजधर्माणां प्रब्रूहि भरतर्षभ ॥

tadeva vistareṇoktaṃ pūrvavṛttaṃ satāṃ matam | praṇeyaṃ rājadharmāṇāṃ prabrūhi bharatarṣabha

What you have told at length, the ancient practice approved by the good, give me now in a form that can be held in the mind: the essence of the duties of kings, O best of the Bharatas.

Verse 3 (12.120.3)

रक्षणं सर्वभूतानामिति क्षात्रं परं मतम् । तद्यथा रक्षणं कुर्यात्तथा शृणु महीपते ॥

rakṣaṇaṃ sarvabhūtānāmiti kṣātraṃ paraṃ matam | tadyathā rakṣaṇaṃ kuryāttathā śṛṇu mahīpate

The protection of all beings is held to be the highest aim of the warrior order. Listen, O lord of the earth, to how one should give that protection.

Verse 4 (12.120.4)

यथा बर्हाणि चित्राणि बिभर्ति भुजगाशनः । तथा बहुविधं राजा रूपं कुर्वीत धर्मवित् ॥

yathā barhāṇi citrāṇi bibharti bhujagāśanaḥ | tathā bahuvidhaṃ rājā rūpaṃ kurvīta dharmavit

As the eater of serpents, the peacock, bears feathers of many colours, so a king who knows dharma should take many kinds of forms.

Note on the text: Corrected कुर्वीत् → कुर्वीत (misprint in Wikisource; a stray virāma; CE kurvīta).

Verse 5 (12.120.5)

तैक्ष्ण्यं जिह्मत्वमादानं सत्यमार्जवमेव च । मध्यस्थः सत्वमातिष्ठंस्तथा वै सुखमृच्छति ॥

taikṣṇyaṃ jihmatvamādānaṃ satyamārjavameva ca | madhyasthaḥ satvamātiṣṭhaṃstathā vai sukhamṛcchati

Sharpness, deviousness, seizing what is due, truth and straightness too: holding a middle course and abiding in goodness, a king thus finds happiness.

Note on the text: Corrected जिह्नत्वम् → जिह्मत्वम् (misprint in Wikisource; न for म; CE jihmatvam and the page's own gloss जिह्मत्वम्) and मध्यस्थाः → मध्यस्थः (misprint in Wikisource; a plural with the singular verb ऋच्छति; CE madhyasthaḥ). आदानम् where the CE has ādāntyam is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 6 (12.120.6)

यस्मिन्नर्थे यथैव स्यात्तद्वर्णं रूपमादिशेत् । बहुरूपस्य राज्ञो हि सूक्ष्मोऽप्यर्थो न सीदति ॥

yasminnarthe yathaiva syāttadvarṇaṃ rūpamādiśet | bahurūpasya rājño hi sūkṣmo'pyartho na sīdati

In whatever matter it may be, he should assume the form and colour that fits it; for a king of many forms not even the smallest purpose fails.

Note on the text: Corrected तदूर्णं → तद्वर्णं (misprint in Wikisource; ू for ्व, which made the nonsense word ऊर्ण 'wool'; CE tad varṇam). Line 1 reads यथैव स्यात् where the CE has hitaṃ yat syāt, a recension variant, kept.

Verse 7 (12.120.7)

नित्यं रक्षितमन्त्रः स्याद्यथा मूकः शरच्छिखी । श्लक्ष्णाक्षरगतः श्रीमान्भवेच्छास्त्रविशारदः ॥

nityaṃ rakṣitamantraḥ syādyathā mūkaḥ śaracchikhī | ślakṣṇākṣaragataḥ śrīmānbhavecchāstraviśāradaḥ

He should always keep his counsel guarded, like the silent autumn peacock; soft in speech, prosperous and learned in the scriptures, he should be.

Verse 8 (12.120.8)

आयव्ययेषु युक्तः स्याज्जलस्रवणेष्विव । शैलाद्वर्षोदकानीव द्विजान्सिद्धान्समाश्रयेत् । आत्मार्थं हि सदा राजा कुर्याद्धर्मध्वजोत्तमम् ॥

āyavyayeṣu yuktaḥ syājjalasravaṇeṣviva | śailādvarṣodakānīva dvijānsiddhānsamāśrayet | ātmārthaṃ hi sadā rājā kuryāddharmadhvajottamam

He should be watchful over income and expenditure as over flowing waters; as rainwater streams down from a mountain, so should he resort to accomplished brahmins. For his own good the king should always make dharma his foremost banner.

Note on the text: Three-line verse (12-120-8a/b/c). Lines 1-2 = CE 12.120.8ac (line 1 reads आयव्ययेषु युक्तः स्यात् where the CE has āpaddvāreṣu yattaḥ syāt; recension variant, kept); line 3 corresponds to CE 12.120.9a (arthakāmaḥ śikhāṃ rājā kuryād dharmadhvajopamām; Wikisource आत्मार्थं हि सदा राजा कुर्याद्धर्मध्वजोत्तमम्, a recension variant; the page's gloss records the CE reading as a variant). The alignment found no match.

Verse 9 (12.120.9)

नित्यमुद्यतदण्डः स्यादाचारे चाप्रमादवान् । लोके चायव्ययौ दृष्ट्वा वृक्षाद्वृक्षमिवाव्रजेत् ॥

nityamudyatadaṇḍaḥ syādācāre cāpramādavān | loke cāyavyayau dṛṣṭvā vṛkṣādvṛkṣamivāvrajet

He should always have the rod raised and be careful in his conduct; seeing the income and outgo of the world, he should move on like one going from tree to tree.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.120.9c and 9e (the alignment found no match; the CE has the verse's first line, 9a, in WS verse 8).

Verse 10 (12.120.10)

आज्ञावान्स्यात्स्वयूथ्येषु भौमानि चरणैः किरन् । जातपक्षः परिस्पन्देत्प्रेक्षेद्वैकल्यमात्मनः ॥

ājñāvānsyātsvayūthyeṣu bhaumāni caraṇaiḥ kiran | jātapakṣaḥ parispandetprekṣedvaikalyamātmanaḥ

Let his word be obeyed among his own kin, while he lays waste the enemy's ground-crops with the tread of his march. Once his wings have grown, let him move into action, and let him look for any defect in himself.

Note on the text: Corrected जतिपक्षः → जातपक्षः (misprint in Wikisource; the long ा dropped; CE jātapakṣaḥ). Line 2 reads प्रेक्षेद् where the CE has rakṣed, a recension variant, kept.

Verse 11 (12.120.11)

दोषान्विवृणुयाच्छत्रोः परपक्षांश्च सूदयेत् । काननेष्विव पुष्पाणि बहिरर्थान्समाचरेत् ॥

doṣānvivṛṇuyācchatroḥ parapakṣāṃśca sūdayet | kānaneṣviva puṣpāṇi bahirarthānsamācaret

He should lay bare the enemy's faults and scatter the enemy's partisans; as one gathers flowers in a forest, he should gather his aims from outside.

Note on the text: Corrected क ननेष्विव → काननेष्विव (misprint in Wikisource; the long ा dropped and the word broken by a space; CE kānaneṣv iva). Line 2 reads बहिरर्थान् where the CE has barhīvārthān, a recension variant, kept.

Verse 12 (12.120.12)

उच्छ्रितानाश्रयेत्स्फीतान्नरेन्द्रानचलोपमान् । श्रयेच्छायामिव ज्ञातिं गुप्तं शरणमाश्रयेत् ॥

ucchritānāśrayetsphītānnarendrānacalopamān | śrayecchāyāmiva jñātiṃ guptaṃ śaraṇamāśrayet

Let him rely on eminent, flourishing kings, firm as mountains; let him seek a kinsman as a shade, and take refuge in a hidden shelter.

Note on the text: Corrected स्फूतान् → स्फीतान् (misprint in Wikisource; ू for ी; CE sphītān). Line 2 reads इव ज्ञातिम् where the CE has avijñātām, a recension variant, kept.

Verse 13 (12.120.13)

प्रावृषीवासितग्रीवो माद्येत निशि निर्जने । मायूरेण गुणेनैव स्त्रीभिरारक्षितश्चरेत् ॥

prāvṛṣīvāsitagrīvo mādyeta niśi nirjane | māyūreṇa guṇenaiva strībhirārakṣitaścaret

As the dark-necked peacock revels in the rains in the lonely night, so, after the peacock's way, let him move about guarded by women.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.120.13a and 13c (the alignment found no match). Line 1 reads माद्येत where the CE has majjeta, and line 2 स्त्रीभिरारक्षितः where the CE has strībhiś cālakṣitaḥ; recension variants, kept.

Verse 14 (12.120.14)

न जह्याच्च तनुत्राणं रक्षेदात्मानमात्मना । चारभूमिष्विव ततान्पाशांश्च परिवर्जयेत् ॥

na jahyācca tanutrāṇaṃ rakṣedātmānamātmanā | cārabhūmiṣviva tatānpāśāṃśca parivarjayet

He should not give up his body-armour, but protect himself by himself; and he should avoid the snares laid out in the feeding-grounds.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 12.120.13e; line 2 corresponds to CE 12.120.14a (cārabhūmiṣv abhigamān pāśāṃś ca parivarjayet; Wikisource चारभूमिष्विव ततान्पाशांश्च, a recension variant). The alignment found no match.

Verse 15 (12.120.15)

प्रणयेद्वाऽपि तां भूमिं प्रणश्येद्ग्रहणे पुनः । एवं मयूरधर्मेण वर्तयन्सततं नरः । हन्यात्क्रुद्धानतिविषांस्ताञ्जिह्मगतयोऽहिताः ॥

praṇayedvā'pi tāṃ bhūmiṃ praṇaśyedgrahaṇe punaḥ | evaṃ mayūradharmeṇa vartayansatataṃ naraḥ | hanyātkruddhānativiṣāṃstāñjihmagatayo'hitāḥ

He may cross that ground, and then vanish again into thick cover. Living always in this way of the peacock, a man should kill his angry, deadly-venomous, crooked-moving enemies.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (the backtick before line 2, the closing quote mark and the doubled daṇḍa). Line 1 = CE 12.120.14c; line 2 is the CE star line 12.120.14d*0278_01 (evaṃ mayūradharmeṇa vartayan satataṃ naraḥ), not in the constituted text; line 3 corresponds to CE 12.120.15a (hanyāt kruddhān ativiṣān ye jihmagatayo 'hitān; Wikisource ताञ्जिह्मगतयोऽहिताः). The alignment found no match; ce_ref is that of line 1.

Verse 16 (12.120.16)

नासूयेच्चावगर्ह्याणि सन्निवासान्निवासयेत् । सदा बर्हिसमं कामं प्रशस्तं कृतमाचरेत् । सर्वतश्चाददेत्प्रज्ञां पतङ्गं गहनेष्विव ॥

nāsūyeccāvagarhyāṇi sannivāsānnivāsayet | sadā barhisamaṃ kāmaṃ praśastaṃ kṛtamācaret | sarvataścādadetprajñāṃ pataṅgaṃ gahaneṣviva

He should not resent what deserves scorn, and should settle firm-rooted supporters around him. Always, as he wishes, let him act like the peacock, with praiseworthy deeds; and let him draw in wisdom from every side, as a swarm of locusts settles on thickets.

Note on the text: Three-line verse. Line 1 corresponds to CE 12.120.15c (nāśrayed bālabarhāṇi sannivāsāni vāsayet; Wikisource नासूयेच्चावगर्ह्याणि, a recension variant); line 2 to CE 16a (sadā barhinibhaḥ kāmaṃ prasaktikṛtam ācaret); line 3 to CE 16c (sarvataś cādadet prajñāṃ pataṃgān gahaneṣv iva). The alignment found no match.

Verse 17 (12.120.17)

एवं मयूरवद्राजा स्वराज्यं परिपालयेत् । आत्मबुद्धिकरीं नीतिं विदधीत विचक्षणः ॥

evaṃ mayūravadrājā svarājyaṃ paripālayet | ātmabuddhikarīṃ nītiṃ vidadhīta vicakṣaṇaḥ

So, like the peacock, should a king protect his own realm; a wise man should devise a policy that builds up his own judgement.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 12.120.16e; line 2 corresponds to CE 17a (ātmavṛddhikarīṃ nītiṃ vidadhīta vicakṣaṇaḥ; Wikisource आत्मबुद्धिकरीम्, a recension variant). The alignment found no match.

Verse 18 (12.120.18)

आत्मसंयमनं बुद्ध्या परबुद्ध्या विचारणाम् । बुद्ध्या चात्मगुणप्राप्तिरेतच्छास्त्रनिदर्शनम् ॥

ātmasaṃyamanaṃ buddhyā parabuddhyā vicāraṇām | buddhyā cātmaguṇaprāptiretacchāstranidarśanam

Governing oneself by reason, testing the views of others by their reason, and gaining one's own qualities through insight: this is what the science of policy teaches.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.120.17c and 17e (line 1 reads परबुद्ध्या विचारणाम् where the CE has parabuddhyāvatāraṇam; recension variant, kept). The alignment found no match.

Verse 19 (12.120.19)

परं विश्वासयेत्साम्ना स्वशक्तिं चोपलक्षयेत् । आत्मनः परिमर्शेन बुद्धिं बुद्ध्या विचारयेत् ॥

paraṃ viśvāsayetsāmnā svaśaktiṃ copalakṣayet | ātmanaḥ parimarśena buddhiṃ buddhyā vicārayet

He should win another's trust by conciliation, and take note of his own strength; by self-examination he should weigh judgement against judgement.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.120.18a and 18c (line 1 reads परं विश्वासयेत् where the CE has paraṃ cāśvāsayet; recension variant, kept). The alignment found no match.

Verse 20 (12.120.20)

सान्त्वयोगमतिः प्राज्ञः कार्याकार्यप्रयोजनकः । निगूढबुद्धेर्धीरस्य वक्तव्ये वक्ष्यते तथा ॥

sāntvayogamatiḥ prājñaḥ kāryākāryaprayojanakaḥ | nigūḍhabuddherdhīrasya vaktavye vakṣyate tathā

The wise man whose mind is bent on conciliation and who weighs what should and should not be done, being steadfast and of hidden counsel, will speak when there is something to say, and as is fitting.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 12.120.18e (Wikisource कार्याकार्यप्रयोजनकः for kāryākāryavicārakaḥ); line 2 corresponds to CE 19a (nigūḍhabuddhir dhīraḥ syād vaktavye vakṣyate tathā; Wikisource has the genitive निगूढबुद्धेर्धीरस्य). The alignment found no match.

Verse 21 (12.120.21)

संनिकृष्टां कथां प्राज्ञो यदि बुद्ध्या बृहस्पतिः । स्वभावमेष्यते तप्तं कृष्णायसमिवोदके ॥

saṃnikṛṣṭāṃ kathāṃ prājño yadi buddhyā bṛhaspatiḥ | svabhāvameṣyate taptaṃ kṛṣṇāyasamivodake

If a wise man, though in intelligence a Brihaspati, is drawn into a degraded argument, he will return to his natural state like heated black iron put into water.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.120.19c and 19e. The alignment found no match.

Verse 22 (12.120.22)

अनुयुञ्जीत सत्यानि सर्वाण्येव महीपतिः । आगमैरुपदिष्टानि स्वस्य चैव परस्य च ॥

anuyuñjīta satyāni sarvāṇyeva mahīpatiḥ | āgamairupadiṣṭāni svasya caiva parasya ca

A king should examine all the facts taught by the scriptures, concerning his own side and the other's.

Verse 23 (12.120.23)

मृदुं क्रूरं तथा प्राज्ञं शूरं चार्थविधानवित् । स्वकर्मणि नियुञ्जीत ये चान्ये वचनाधिकाः ॥

mṛduṃ krūraṃ tathā prājñaṃ śūraṃ cārthavidhānavit | svakarmaṇi niyuñjīta ye cānye vacanādhikāḥ

The gentle, the cruel, the wise, the heroic, and the skilled in managing affairs: he should appoint these to their proper tasks, and also others who excel in speech.

Verse 24 (12.120.24)

अप्यदृष्टानि युक्तानि स्वानुरूपेषु कर्मसु । सर्वांस्ताननुवर्तेत स्वरांस्तन्त्रीरिवायताः ॥

apyadṛṣṭāni yuktāni svānurūpeṣu karmasu | sarvāṃstānanuvarteta svarāṃstantrīrivāyatāḥ

Even when he has not seen them, if they are fitted to work that suits them, he should follow them all as stretched strings follow the notes.

Verse 25 (12.120.25)

धर्माणामविरोधेन सर्वेषां प्रियमाचरेत् । ममायमिति राजा यः सपर्वत इवाचलः ॥

dharmāṇāmavirodhena sarveṣāṃ priyamācaret | mamāyamiti rājā yaḥ saparvata ivācalaḥ

Without violating the dharmas he should do what is dear to all; a king who regards each man as "mine" stands unshaken like a mountain.

Verse 26 (12.120.26)

व्यवहारं समाधाय सूर्यो रश्मीनिवायतान् । धर्ममेवाभिरक्षेत कृत्वा तुल्ये प्रियाप्रिये ॥

vyavahāraṃ samādhāya sūryo raśmīnivāyatān | dharmamevābhirakṣeta kṛtvā tulye priyāpriye

Having ordered his affairs as the sun spreads his stretched rays, he should guard dharma alone, treating the pleasant and the unpleasant as equal.

Verse 27 (12.120.27)

कुलप्रकृतिदेशानां धर्मज्ञान्मृदुभाषिणः । मध्ये वयसि निर्दोषान्हिते युक्ताञ्जितक्लमान् ॥

kulaprakṛtideśānāṃ dharmajñānmṛdubhāṣiṇaḥ | madhye vayasi nirdoṣānhite yuktāñjitaklamān

Men who know the dharma of family, nature and country, gentle in speech, of middle age, faultless, devoted to good, and unwearied,

Verse 28 (12.120.28)

अलुब्धाञ्शिक्षितान्दान्तान्धर्मेषु परिनिष्ठितान् । स्थापयेत्सर्वकार्येषु राजा सर्वार्थरक्षिणः ॥

alubdhāñśikṣitāndāntāndharmeṣu pariniṣṭhitān | sthāpayetsarvakāryeṣu rājā sarvārtharakṣiṇaḥ

free of greed, trained, self-controlled, firmly set in dharma: such men, who guard every interest, the king should appoint to all tasks.

Verse 29 (12.120.29)

एतेन च प्रकारेण कृत्यानामागतिं गतिम् । युक्त्या समनुतिष्ठेन तुष्टश्चारैः पुरस्कृतः ॥

etena ca prakāreṇa kṛtyānāmāgatiṃ gatim | yuktyā samanutiṣṭhena tuṣṭaścāraiḥ puraskṛtaḥ

By this method he should carry out in order the coming and going of his undertakings, content, with his spies before him.

Verse 30 (12.120.30)

अमोघक्रोधहर्षस्य स्वयं कृत्याऽनुदर्शिनः । आत्मप्रत्ययकोशस्य वसुधैव वसुंधरा ॥

amoghakrodhaharṣasya svayaṃ kṛtyā'nudarśinaḥ | ātmapratyayakośasya vasudhaiva vasuṃdharā

For the king whose anger and joy never go in vain, who himself oversees what is to be done, and whose treasury is his trust in himself, the earth is indeed a bearer of wealth.

Note on the text: Corrected हर्शस्य → हर्षस्य (misprint in Wikisource; श for ष; CE harṣasya), कृत्याऽनुदर्शिनाः → कृत्याऽनुदर्शिनः (misprint in Wikisource; wrong ending, the word agrees with the genitive; CE kṛtyānvavekṣiṇaḥ) and वसुदैव → वसुधैव (misprint in Wikisource; द for ध; CE vasudhaiva).

Verse 31 (12.120.31)

व्यक्तश्चानुग्रहो यस्य यथोक्तश्चापि निग्रहः । गुप्तात्मा गुप्तराष्ट्रस्य स राजा राजधर्मवित् ॥

vyaktaścānugraho yasya yathoktaścāpi nigrahaḥ | guptātmā guptarāṣṭrasya sa rājā rājadharmavit

He whose favour is plain to see and whose punishment is as it has been laid down, who guards himself and his realm, is a king who knows the duties of a king.

Verse 32 (12.120.32)

नित्यं राष्ट्रमवेक्षेत गोभिः सूर्य इवातपन् । चारांश्चानुचरान्विद्यात्तथा बुद्ध्या स्वयं चरेत् ॥

nityaṃ rāṣṭramavekṣeta gobhiḥ sūrya ivātapan | cārāṃścānucarānvidyāttathā buddhyā svayaṃ caret

He should always watch over his kingdom, as the sun does with his rays; he should regard his spies as his attendants, and himself go about with sound judgement.

Verse 33 (12.120.33)

कालप्राप्तमुपादद्यान्नार्थं राजा प्रसूचयेत् । अहन्यहनि संदुह्यान्महीं गामिव बुद्धिमान् ॥

kālaprāptamupādadyānnārthaṃ rājā prasūcayet | ahanyahani saṃduhyānmahīṃ gāmiva buddhimān

He should take what has come due at the proper time and not publicise the matter of wealth; day after day the wise king should milk the earth as one milks a cow.

Verse 34 (12.120.34)

यथाक्रमेण पुष्पेभ्यश्चिनोति मधु षट्पदः । तथा द्रव्यमुपादाय राजा कुर्वीत संचयम् ॥

yathākrameṇa puṣpebhyaścinoti madhu ṣaṭpadaḥ | tathā dravyamupādāya rājā kurvīta saṃcayam

As the six-footed bee gathers honey from flower after flower in due order, so a king should take wealth and make a store.

Note on the text: Removed a stray zero-width non-joiner inside षट्पदः.

Verse 35 (12.120.35)

यद्धि गुप्तावशिष्टं स्यात्तद्वित्तं धर्मकामयोः । संचयान्न विसर्गी स्याद्राजा शास्त्रविदात्मवान् ॥

yaddhi guptāvaśiṣṭaṃ syāttadvittaṃ dharmakāmayoḥ | saṃcayānna visargī syādrājā śāstravidātmavān

What remains after the cost of safeguarding is wealth for dharma and pleasure; a king who knows the scriptures and is self-possessed should not spend out of his store.

Verse 36 (12.120.36)

नार्थमल्पं परिभवेन्नावमन्येत शात्रवान् । बुद्ध्याऽनुबुद्ध्या चात्मानं न चाबुद्धेषु विश्वसेत् ॥

nārthamalpaṃ paribhavennāvamanyeta śātravān | buddhyā'nubuddhyā cātmānaṃ na cābuddheṣu viśvaset

He should not despise small wealth, nor slight his foes; he should know himself through understanding and reflection, and not trust the unintelligent.

Verse 37 (12.120.37)

धृतिर्दाक्ष्यं संयमो बुद्धिरात्मा । धैर्यं शौर्यं देशकालाप्रमादः । अल्पस्य वा महतो वा विवृद्धौ । धनस्यैतान्यष्ट समिंधनानि ॥

dhṛtirdākṣyaṃ saṃyamo buddhirātmā | dhairyaṃ śauryaṃ deśakālāpramādaḥ | alpasya vā mahato vā vivṛddhau | dhanasyaitānyaṣṭa samiṃdhanāni

Firmness, skill, self-restraint, intelligence, the self (the body), courage, valour, and watchfulness about place and time: these eight are the kindling-sticks of wealth, whether the wealth is to grow from little or from much.

Verse 38 (12.120.38)

अग्निस्तोको वर्धतेऽप्याज्यसिक्तो । बीजं चैकं बहुसहस्रमेति । क्षयोदयौ विपुलौ सन्नियम्यौ । तस्मादल्पं नावमन्येत वित्तम् ॥

agnistoko vardhate'pyājyasikto | bījaṃ caikaṃ bahusahasrameti | kṣayodayau vipulau sanniyamyau | tasmādalpaṃ nāvamanyeta vittam

A tiny fire grows when fed with ghee; a single seed becomes many thousands. Loss and gain can both be vast and must be held in check; therefore one should not despise even a small amount of wealth.

Verse 39 (12.120.39)

बालोऽप्यबालः स्थविरो रिपुर्यः । सदा प्रमत्तं पुरुषं निहन्यात् । कालेनान्यस्तस्य मूलं हरेत् । कालज्ञानं पार्थिवानां वरिष्ठम् ॥

bālo'pyabālaḥ sthaviro ripuryaḥ | sadā pramattaṃ puruṣaṃ nihanyāt | kālenānyastasya mūlaṃ haret | kālajñānaṃ pārthivānāṃ variṣṭham

An enemy, even a boy, is no mere boy, and neither is an old one: he will strike a man who is always careless. In time another, a stronger man, will seize that man's root. Knowledge of the right time is the best thing for kings.

Note on the text: Corrected पार्थिवाना → पार्थिवानां (misprint in Wikisource; anusvara dropped; CE pārthivānāṃ).

Verse 40 (12.120.40)

हरेत्कीर्तिं धर्ममस्योपरुन्ध्या । दर्थे विघ्नं वीर्यमस्योपहन्यात् । रिपुर्द्वेष्टा दुर्बलो वा बली वा । तस्माच्छत्रोर्नैव बिभ्येद्यतात्मा ॥

haretkīrtiṃ dharmamasyoparundhyā | darthe vighnaṃ vīryamasyopahanyāt | ripurdveṣṭā durbalo vā balī vā | tasmācchatrornaiva bibhyedyatātmā

Such a foe may take away his fame, block his dharma, hinder his wealth, and destroy his strength. An enemy is a hater, weak or strong; therefore a self-controlled man should never be afraid of a foe.

Note on the text: Corrected हरेत्कीर्ति → हरेत्कीर्तिं (misprint in Wikisource; the anusvara of the accusative dropped; CE kīrtiṃ) and यथात्मा → यतात्मा (misprint in Wikisource; थ for त; यथात्मा is not a word in context; CE yatātmā). The line reads बिभ्येत् where the CE has heḍet, a recension variant, kept.

Verse 41 (12.120.41)

क्षयं शत्रोः संचयं पालनं वा । उभावर्थौ सहितौ धर्मकामौ । ततश्चान्यन्मतिमान्संदधीत । तस्माद्राजा बुद्धिमन्तं श्रयेत ॥

kṣayaṃ śatroḥ saṃcayaṃ pālanaṃ vā | ubhāvarthau sahitau dharmakāmau | tataścānyanmatimānsaṃdadhīta | tasmādrājā buddhimantaṃ śrayeta

The ruin of the enemy, or one's own store and protection: these two aims, joined, serve dharma and desire; the man of sense should then arrange the rest. Therefore the king should resort to a man of intelligence.

Verse 42 (12.120.42)

बुद्धिर्दीप्ता बलवन्तं हिनस्ति । बलं बुद्ध्या पाल्यते वर्धमानम् । शत्रुर्बुद्ध्या सीदते पीड्यमानो । बुद्धिपूर्वं कर्म यत्तत्प्रशस्तम् ॥

buddhirdīptā balavantaṃ hinasti | balaṃ buddhyā pālyate vardhamānam | śatrurbuddhyā sīdate pīḍyamāno | buddhipūrvaṃ karma yattatpraśastam

Intelligence, when kindled, destroys the strong; strength that is growing is guarded by intelligence; an enemy hard pressed by intelligence sinks; praised is the act that is done with intelligence first.

Verse 43 (12.120.43)

सर्वान्कामान्कामयानो हि धीरः । सत्वेनाल्पेनाप्नुते हीनदोषः । यश्चात्मानं प्रार्थयतेऽर्थ्यमानैः । श्रेयः पात्रं पूरयते च नाल्पम् ॥

sarvānkāmānkāmayāno hi dhīraḥ | satvenālpenāpnute hīnadoṣaḥ | yaścātmānaṃ prārthayate'rthyamānaiḥ | śreyaḥ pātraṃ pūrayate ca nālpam

A steady man, free of faults, who desires all that is desirable, attains it even with little strength; but he who sets himself up to be sought by those who ask of him does not fill the vessel of his welfare, not even a little.

Verse 44 (12.120.44)

तस्माद्राजा प्रगृहीतः प्रजासु । मूलं लक्ष्म्याः सर्वशो ह्याददीत । दीर्घं कालं ह्यपि संपीड्यमानो । व्युष्यात्संपद्व्यवसायेन शक्त्या ॥

tasmādrājā pragṛhītaḥ prajāsu | mūlaṃ lakṣmyāḥ sarvaśo hyādadīta | dīrghaṃ kālaṃ hyapi saṃpīḍyamāno | vyuṣyātsaṃpadvyavasāyena śaktyā

Therefore a king who has won his subjects' affection should draw the root of prosperity from every side; even if hard pressed for a long time, he will blaze forth in fortune by resolve and strength.

Verse 45 (12.120.45)

विद्या तपो वा विपुलं धनं वा । सर्वं ह्येतद्व्यवसायेन शक्यम् । ब्रह्मायत्तं निवसति देहवत्सु । तस्माद्विद्याद्व्यवसायं प्रभूतम् ॥

vidyā tapo vā vipulaṃ dhanaṃ vā | sarvaṃ hyetadvyavasāyena śakyam | brahmāyattaṃ nivasati dehavatsu | tasmādvidyādvyavasāyaṃ prabhūtam

Learning, austerity, or vast wealth: all this can be won by resolute effort. Brahman, firmly set, dwells in embodied beings; therefore one should know resolute effort to be a great power.

Verse 46 (12.120.46)

यत्रासते मतिमन्तो मनस्विनः । शक्रो विष्णुर्यत्र सरस्वती च । वसन्ति भूतानि च यत्र नित्यं । तस्माद्विद्वान्नावमन्येत देहम् ॥

yatrāsate matimanto manasvinaḥ | śakro viṣṇuryatra sarasvatī ca | vasanti bhūtāni ca yatra nityaṃ | tasmādvidvānnāvamanyeta deham

Where the wise and high-minded dwell, where Shakra, Vishnu and Sarasvati dwell, and where beings always live: therefore a learned man should not despise the body.

Verse 47 (12.120.47)

लुब्धं हन्यात्संप्रदानाद्धि नित्यं । लुब्धस्तृप्तिं परवित्तस्य नैति । सर्वो लुब्धः सर्वगुणोपभोगो । योऽर्थैर्हीनो धर्मकामौ जहाति ॥

lubdhaṃ hanyātsaṃpradānāddhi nityaṃ | lubdhastṛptiṃ paravittasya naiti | sarvo lubdhaḥ sarvaguṇopabhogo | yo'rthairhīno dharmakāmau jahāti

One should always subdue a greedy man by giving to him, for the greedy man is never satisfied with another's wealth. Every greedy man craves the enjoyment of every good thing; and one deprived of riches abandons dharma and desire.

Verse 48 (12.120.48)

धनं भोगं पुत्रदारं समृद्धिं । सर्वं लुब्धः प्रार्थयते परेषाम् । लुब्धे दोषाः संभवन्तीह सर्वे । तस्माद्राजा न प्रगृह्णीत लुब्धम् ॥

dhanaṃ bhogaṃ putradāraṃ samṛddhiṃ | sarvaṃ lubdhaḥ prārthayate pareṣām | lubdhe doṣāḥ saṃbhavantīha sarve | tasmādrājā na pragṛhṇīta lubdham

Wealth, enjoyment, sons and wives, prosperity: the greedy man craves all that belongs to others. Every fault arises in the greedy; therefore a king should not take a greedy man into his favour.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रगृह्णीत् → प्रगृह्णीत (misprint in Wikisource; a stray virāma; CE pragṛhṇīta).

Verse 49 (12.120.49)

संदर्शनेन पुरुषं जघन्यमपि चोदयेत् । आरम्भान्द्विषतां प्राज्ञः सर्वार्थांश्च प्रसूदयेत् ॥

saṃdarśanena puruṣaṃ jaghanyamapi codayet | ārambhāndviṣatāṃ prājñaḥ sarvārthāṃśca prasūdayet

By his very appearance he should spur on even a lowly man; the wise king should break up the undertakings of the hostile and crush all their aims.

Verse 50 (12.120.50)

धर्मान्वितेषु विज्ञाता मन्त्रगुप्तिश्च पाण्डव । आप्तो राजन्कुलीनश्च पर्याप्तो राष्ट्रसंग्रहे ॥

dharmānviteṣu vijñātā mantraguptiśca pāṇḍava | āpto rājankulīnaśca paryāpto rāṣṭrasaṃgrahe

One who is skilled in matters joined with dharma and keeps counsel secret, O Pandava; trusted, O king, of good family, and fully competent in holding the realm together:

Note on the text: Corrected मन्त्रगुप्तिंश्च → मन्त्रगुप्तिश्च (misprint in Wikisource; a stray anusvara, which would be wrong sandhi; CE mantrī guptaś ca). The page labels this verse's lines 12-120-50a and 12-120-50d; nothing is missing between them.

Verse 51 (12.120.51)

विधिप्रयुक्तान्नरदेवधर्मा । नुक्तान्समासेन निबोध बुद्ध्या । इमान्विदध्यादनुसृत्य यो वै । राजा महीं पालयितुं स शक्तः ॥

vidhiprayuktānnaradevadharmā | nuktānsamāsena nibodha buddhyā | imānvidadhyādanusṛtya yo vai | rājā mahīṃ pālayituṃ sa śaktaḥ

Hear with understanding the duties of kings, laid down by rule and told in brief. The king who follows and applies these is able to protect the earth.

Note on the text: Corrected विविप्रयुक्तान् → विधिप्रयुक्तान् (misprint in Wikisource; व for ध; CE vidhipravṛttān, with a recension variant in the second element). The lines break inside the sandhi धर्मान् + उक्तान्, as printed on the page.

Verse 52 (12.120.52)

सुनीतिजं यस्य विधानजं सुखं । धर्मप्रणीतं विधिवत्प्रसिद्ध्यति । न निन्द्यते तस्य गतिर्महीपते । स विन्दते राज्यसुखं ह्यनुत्तमम् ॥

sunītijaṃ yasya vidhānajaṃ sukhaṃ | dharmapraṇītaṃ vidhivatprasiddhyati | na nindyate tasya gatirmahīpate | sa vindate rājyasukhaṃ hyanuttamam

The king whose happiness springs from sound policy and proper ordering, who is guided by dharma and prospers fully by rule, whose course is not censured, O lord of the earth, wins the unsurpassed happiness of a kingdom.

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 12.120.50 (anītijaṃ yady avidhānajaṃ sukhaṃ / haṭhapraṇītaṃ vividhaṃ pradṛśyate / na vidyate tasya gatir mahīpater / na vidyate rāṣṭrajam uttamaṃ sukham), which says nearly the opposite in the same metre and rhymes; Wikisource's wording is a recension variant, kept. The alignment found no match.

Verse 53 (12.120.53)

धनैर्विशिष्टान्मतिशीलपूजिता । न्गुणोपपन्नान्युधि दृष्टविक्रमान् । गुणेषु युक्तानचिरादिवात्मवां । स्ततोऽभिसंधाय निहन्ति शात्रवान् ॥

dhanairviśiṣṭānmatiśīlapūjitā | nguṇopapannānyudhi dṛṣṭavikramān | guṇeṣu yuktānacirādivātmavāṃ | stato'bhisaṃdhāya nihanti śātravān

The self-possessed king who soon wins over men eminent in wealth, honoured for intelligence and character, endowed with merit, of proven valour in battle, and expert in the arts of statecraft, then strikes down his enemies.

Verse 54 (12.120.54)

पश्येदुपायान्विविधेषु कर्मसु । न चानुपायेन मतिं निवेशयेत् । श्रियं विशिष्टां विपुलं यशो धनं । न दोषदर्शी पुरुषः समश्नुते ॥

paśyedupāyānvividheṣu karmasu | na cānupāyena matiṃ niveśayet | śriyaṃ viśiṣṭāṃ vipulaṃ yaśo dhanaṃ | na doṣadarśī puruṣaḥ samaśnute

He should look for means in his various undertakings, and never set his mind on a course without a means; a man who sees only faults does not win high prosperity, great fame or wealth.

Verse 55 (12.120.55)

प्रीतिप्रवृत्तिं विनिवर्तनं च । सुहृत्सु विज्ञाय विचार्य चोभयोः । यदेव मित्रं गुरुभारमावहे । त्तदेव सुस्निग्धमुदाहरेद्बुधः ॥

prītipravṛttiṃ vinivartanaṃ ca | suhṛtsu vijñāya vicārya cobhayoḥ | yadeva mitraṃ gurubhāramāvahe | ttadeva susnigdhamudāharedbudhaḥ

Having understood among his friends the tendencies of affection and of withdrawal, and having weighed both sides, the wise man should praise as truly affectionate that friend who bears a heavy burden.

Note on the text: Corrected सुहृसु → सुहृत्सु (misprint in Wikisource; the त dropped from the conjunct; CE suhṛtsu).

Verse 56 (12.120.56)

एतान्मयोक्तांश्चर राजधर्मा । न्नृणां च गुप्तौ मतिमादधत्स्व । अवाप्स्यसे पुण्यफलं सुखेन । सर्वो हि लोको नृप धर्ममूलः ॥

etānmayoktāṃścara rājadharmā | nnṛṇāṃ ca guptau matimādadhatsva | avāpsyase puṇyaphalaṃ sukhena | sarvo hi loko nṛpa dharmamūlaḥ

Follow these duties of kings that I have told you, and set your mind on the protection of men; you will gain the fruit of merit with ease, for the whole world, O king, has dharma for its root.