Arjuna Extols the Rod of Punishment

Verse 1 (12.15.1)

याज्ञसेन्या वचः श्रुत्वा पुनरेवार्जुनोऽब्रवीत् । अनुमान्य महाबाहुं ज्येष्ठं भ्रातरमीश्वरम् ॥

yājñasenyā vacaḥ śrutvā punarevārjuno'bravīt | anumānya mahābāhuṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ bhrātaramīśvaram

Hearing the words of Yajnaseni, Arjuna spoke again, after showing due respect to his elder brother, the mighty-armed lord.

Verse 2 (12.15.2)

दण्डः शास्ति प्रजाः सर्वा दण्ड एवाभिरक्षति । दण्डः सुप्तेषु जागर्ति दण्डं धर्मं विदुर्बुधाः ॥

daṇḍaḥ śāsti prajāḥ sarvā daṇḍa evābhirakṣati | daṇḍaḥ supteṣu jāgarti daṇḍaṃ dharmaṃ vidurbudhāḥ

The rod rules all creatures; the rod alone protects them; the rod stays awake while they sleep. The wise know the rod to be dharma itself.

Note on the text: Removed a stray invisible zero-width joiner inside दण्डः (Wikisource encoding glitch).

Verse 3 (12.15.3)

दण्डः संरक्षते धर्मं तथैवार्थं जनाधिप । कामं संरक्षते दण्डस्त्रिवर्गो दण्ड उच्यते ॥

daṇḍaḥ saṃrakṣate dharmaṃ tathaivārthaṃ janādhipa | kāmaṃ saṃrakṣate daṇḍastrivargo daṇḍa ucyate

The rod preserves dharma, O lord of men, and likewise wealth; the rod preserves desire. The rod is said to be the triple aim of life.

Note on the text: Corrected तथैवार्यं → तथैवार्थं (misprint in Wikisource; आर्यं gives no sense; the critical edition reads arthaṃ (12.15.3), and dharma, artha, kāma are listed).

Verse 4 (12.15.4)

दण्डेन रक्ष्यते धान्यं धनं दण्डेन रक्ष्यते । एतद्विद्वानुपादाय स्वभावं पश्य लौकिकम् ॥

daṇḍena rakṣyate dhānyaṃ dhanaṃ daṇḍena rakṣyate | etadvidvānupādāya svabhāvaṃ paśya laukikam

By the rod grain is protected, and by the rod wealth is protected. Understanding this, look at the way of the world as it is.

Verse 5 (12.15.5)

राजदण्डभयादेके नराः पापं न कुर्वते । यमदण्डभयादेके परलोकभयादपि ॥

rājadaṇḍabhayādeke narāḥ pāpaṃ na kurvate | yamadaṇḍabhayādeke paralokabhayādapi

Some men refrain from sin for fear of the king's rod; some for fear of Yama's rod, and some for fear of the world beyond.

Verse 6 (12.15.6)

परस्परभयादेके पापाः पापं न कुर्वते । एवं सांसिद्धिके लोके सर्वं दण्डे प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥

parasparabhayādeke pāpāḥ pāpaṃ na kurvate | evaṃ sāṃsiddhike loke sarvaṃ daṇḍe pratiṣṭhitam

Some sinners refrain from sin out of fear of one another. Thus, in a world constituted as this one is, everything rests on the rod.

Verse 7 (12.15.7)

दण्डस्यैव भयादेके न खादन्ति परस्परम् । अन्धेतमसि मज्जेयुर्यदि दण्डो न पालयेत् ॥

daṇḍasyaiva bhayādeke na khādanti parasparam | andhetamasi majjeyuryadi daṇḍo na pālayet

Some do not devour one another only from fear of the rod. If the rod did not guard them, they would sink into blind darkness.

Verse 8 (12.15.8)

यस्माददान्तान्दमयत्यशिष्टान्दण्डयत्यपि । दमनाद्दण्डनाच्चैव तस्माद्दण्डं विदुर्बुधाः ॥

yasmādadāntāndamayatyaśiṣṭāndaṇḍayatyapi | damanāddaṇḍanāccaiva tasmāddaṇḍaṃ vidurbudhāḥ

Because it tames the untamed and punishes the unruly, the wise call it the rod, from taming and from punishing.

Verse 9 (12.15.9)

वाचि दण्डो ब्राह्मणानां क्षत्रियाणां भुजार्पणम् । धनदण्डाः स्मृता वैश्या निर्दण्डः शूद्र उच्यते ॥

vāci daṇḍo brāhmaṇānāṃ kṣatriyāṇāṃ bhujārpaṇam | dhanadaṇḍāḥ smṛtā vaiśyā nirdaṇḍaḥ śūdra ucyate

For Brahmanas the rod lies in speech; for Kshatriyas it is the reduction of the allowance to bare food; Vaishyas are said to be punished by fines; the Shudra is called one without a rod.

Verse 10 (12.15.10)

असंमोहाय मर्त्यानामर्थसंरक्षणाय च । मर्यादा स्थापिता लोके दण्डसंज्ञा विशांपते ॥

asaṃmohāya martyānāmarthasaṃrakṣaṇāya ca | maryādā sthāpitā loke daṇḍasaṃjñā viśāṃpate

To keep mortals from confusion and to protect property, this boundary was set in the world, O lord of the people, and it is named the rod.

Verse 11 (12.15.11)

यत्र श्यामो लोहिताक्षो दण्डश्चरति सूद्यतः । प्रजास्तत्र न मुह्यन्ति नेता चेत्साधु पश्यति ॥

yatra śyāmo lohitākṣo daṇḍaścarati sūdyataḥ | prajāstatra na muhyanti netā cetsādhu paśyati

Where the rod, dark and red-eyed, moves upraised and well poised, the people are not bewildered, provided the leader judges rightly.

Note on the text: No automatic match, but the verse is 12.15.11 of the critical edition. Wikisource reads सूद्यतः (glossed in its commentary as सुतरामुद्यतः), the critical edition सूनृतः: a recension variant, kept.

Verse 12 (12.15.12)

ब्रह्मचारी गृहस्थश्च वानप्रस्थश्च भिक्षुकः । दण्डस्यैव भयादेते मनुष्या वर्त्मनि स्थिताः ॥

brahmacārī gṛhasthaśca vānaprasthaśca bhikṣukaḥ | daṇḍasyaiva bhayādete manuṣyā vartmani sthitāḥ

The student, the householder, the forest-dweller and the mendicant: it is out of fear of the rod alone that these men remain on their paths.

Note on the text: Corrected वानप्रस्थस्च → वानप्रस्थश्च (misprint in Wikisource; critical edition vānaprastho; the form is not a Sanskrit word).

Verse 13 (12.15.13)

नाभीतो यजते राजन्नाभीतो दातुमिच्छति । नाभीतः पुरुषः कश्चित्समये स्थातुमिच्छति ॥

nābhīto yajate rājannābhīto dātumicchati | nābhītaḥ puruṣaḥ kaścitsamaye sthātumicchati

No one who is without fear performs a sacrifice, O king; no one without fear wishes to give; no man without fear wishes to abide by an agreed rule.

Verse 14 (12.15.14)

नाच्छित्त्वा परमर्माणि नाकृत्वा कर्म दुष्करम् । नाहत्वा मत्स्यघातीव प्राप्नोति महतीं श्रियम् ॥

nācchittvā paramarmāṇi nākṛtvā karma duṣkaram | nāhatvā matsyaghātīva prāpnoti mahatīṃ śriyam

Without cutting into the vital parts of others, without doing hard deeds, without killing, like a fisherman, no one wins great prosperity.

Verse 15 (12.15.15)

नाघ्नतः कीर्तिरस्तीह न वित्तं न पुनः प्रजाः । इन्द्रो वृत्रवधेनैव महेन्द्रः समपद्यत । माहेन्द्रं च गृहं लेभे लोकानां चेश्वरोऽभवत् ॥

nāghnataḥ kīrtirastīha na vittaṃ na punaḥ prajāḥ | indro vṛtravadhenaiva mahendraḥ samapadyata | māhendraṃ ca gṛhaṃ lebhe lokānāṃ ceśvaro'bhavat

One who does not slay has no fame here, no wealth, nor offspring. It was only by slaying Vritra that Indra became Mahendra. He won the great abode of Mahendra and became lord of the worlds.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks (backtick and apostrophe) and the doubled danda printed inside the line. The third line (माहेन्द्रं च गृहं लेभे …) is star passage *0016_01 of the critical edition (printed there after 12.15.15d, with ग्रहं for गृहं); the first two lines are 12.15.15cd.

Verse 16 (12.15.16)

य एव देवा हन्तारस्ताँल्लोकोऽर्चयते भृशम् । हन्तारुद्रस्तथास्कन्दः शक्रोऽग्निर्वरुणो यमः ॥

ya eva devā hantārastām̐lloko'rcayate bhṛśam | hantārudrastathāskandaḥ śakro'gnirvaruṇo yamaḥ

Those very gods who are slayers the world worships most earnestly: Rudra the slayer, Skanda, Shakra, Agni, Varuna and Yama.

Verse 17 (12.15.17)

हन्ता कालस्तथा वायुर्मृत्युर्वैश्रवणो रविः । वसवो मरुतः साध्या विश्वेदेवाश्च भारत ॥

hantā kālastathā vāyurmṛtyurvaiśravaṇo raviḥ | vasavo marutaḥ sādhyā viśvedevāśca bhārata

Slayers too are Kala, Vayu, Mrityu, Vaishravana and the Sun; the Vasus, the Maruts, the Sadhyas and the Vishvedevas, O Bharata.

Verse 18 (12.15.18)

एतान्देवान्नमस्यन्ति प्रतापप्रणता जनाः । न ब्रह्माणं न धातारं न पूषाणं कथंचन ॥

etāndevānnamasyanti pratāpapraṇatā janāḥ | na brahmāṇaṃ na dhātāraṃ na pūṣāṇaṃ kathaṃcana

Men, bowed down by their might, worship these gods; never Brahma, nor Dhata, nor Pushan.

Verse 19 (12.15.19)

मध्यस्थान्सर्वभूतेषु दान्ताञ्शमपरायणान् । यजन्ते मानवाः केचित्प्रशान्तान्सर्वकर्मसु ॥

madhyasthānsarvabhūteṣu dāntāñśamaparāyaṇān | yajante mānavāḥ kecitpraśāntānsarvakarmasu

A few men worship those who are impartial toward all beings, self-controlled, devoted to peace and calm in all their actions.

Verse 20 (12.15.20)

न हि पश्यामि जीवन्तं लोके कंचिदहिंसया । सत्वैः सत्वा हि जीवन्ति दुर्बलैर्बलवत्तराः ॥

na hi paśyāmi jīvantaṃ loke kaṃcidahiṃsayā | satvaiḥ satvā hi jīvanti durbalairbalavattarāḥ

I see no one in the world who lives without harming. Beings live upon beings, the stronger upon the weaker.

Note on the text: Corrected कंचिदर्हिसया → कंचिदहिंसया (misprint in Wikisource; critical edition ahiṃsayā; the printed form is not a word).

Verse 21 (12.15.21)

नकुलो मूषिकानत्ति बिडालो नकुलं तथा । बिडालमत्ति श्वा राजञ्श्वानं व्यालमृगस्तथा ॥

nakulo mūṣikānatti biḍālo nakulaṃ tathā | biḍālamatti śvā rājañśvānaṃ vyālamṛgastathā

The mongoose eats mice, the cat eats the mongoose, the dog eats the cat, O king, and the dog is eaten by the savage beast of prey.

Verse 22 (12.15.22)

तानत्ति पुरुषः सर्वान्पश्य धर्मो यथा गतः । प्राणस्यान्नमिदं सर्वं जङ्गमं स्थावरं च यत् ॥

tānatti puruṣaḥ sarvānpaśya dharmo yathā gataḥ | prāṇasyānnamidaṃ sarvaṃ jaṅgamaṃ sthāvaraṃ ca yat

Man eats them all; see how dharma has gone. All this, moving and unmoving, is the food of life.

Verse 23 (12.15.23)

विधानं दैवविहितं तत्र विद्वान्न मुह्यति । यथा सृष्टोऽसि राजेन्द्र तथा भवितुमर्हसि ॥

vidhānaṃ daivavihitaṃ tatra vidvānna muhyati | yathā sṛṣṭo'si rājendra tathā bhavitumarhasi

This is the ordinance laid down by the gods, and the wise man is not confused by it. As you were created, O king of kings, so you ought to be.

Verse 24 (12.15.24)

विनीतक्रोधहर्षा हि मन्दा वनमुपाश्रिताः । विना वधं न कुर्वन्ति तापसाः प्राणयापनम् ॥

vinītakrodhaharṣā hi mandā vanamupāśritāḥ | vinā vadhaṃ na kurvanti tāpasāḥ prāṇayāpanam

Even those dull ascetics who have mastered anger and joy and taken refuge in the forest cannot sustain life without killing.

Verse 25 (12.15.25)

उदके बहवः प्राणाः पृथिव्यां च फलेषु च । न च कश्चिन्न तान्हन्ति किमन्यत्प्राणयापनम् ॥

udake bahavaḥ prāṇāḥ pṛthivyāṃ ca phaleṣu ca | na ca kaścinna tānhanti kimanyatprāṇayāpanam

Many lives dwell in the water, on the earth and in fruits. There is no one who does not kill them; what else is there to sustain life?

Verse 26 (12.15.26)

सूक्ष्मयोनीनि भूतानि तर्कगम्यानि कानिचित् । पक्ष्मणोऽपि निपातेन येषां स्यात्स्कन्धपर्ययः ॥

sūkṣmayonīni bhūtāni tarkagamyāni kānicit | pakṣmaṇo'pi nipātena yeṣāṃ syātskandhaparyayaḥ

There are beings of such minute birth that they can be known only by reasoning; the mere fall of an eyelash would undo their bodies.

Verse 27 (12.15.27)

ग्रामान्निष्क्रम्य मुनयो विगतक्रोधमत्सराः । वने कुटुम्बधर्माणो दृश्यन्ते परिमोहिताः ॥

grāmānniṣkramya munayo vigatakrodhamatsarāḥ | vane kuṭumbadharmāṇo dṛśyante parimohitāḥ

Sages who have left the village, free of anger and envy, are seen living a household life in the forest, quite deluded.

Verse 28 (12.15.28)

भूमिं भित्त्वौषधीश्छित्त्वा वृक्षादीनण्डजान्पशून् । मनुष्यास्तन्वते यज्ञांस्ते स्वर्गं प्राप्नुवन्ति च ॥

bhūmiṃ bhittvauṣadhīśchittvā vṛkṣādīnaṇḍajānpaśūn | manuṣyāstanvate yajñāṃste svargaṃ prāpnuvanti ca

Splitting the earth, cutting plants, trees, egg-born creatures and animals, men perform sacrifices, and so they reach heaven.

Note on the text: Corrected तन्वये → तन्वते (misprint in Wikisource; critical edition tanvate; the printed form makes no sense with यज्ञान्).

Verse 29 (12.15.29)

दण्डनीत्यां प्रणीतायां सर्वे सिध्यन्त्युपक्रमाः । कौन्तेय सर्वभूतानां तत्र मे नास्ति संशयः ॥

daṇḍanītyāṃ praṇītāyāṃ sarve sidhyantyupakramāḥ | kaunteya sarvabhūtānāṃ tatra me nāsti saṃśayaḥ

When the policy of the rod is properly applied, all undertakings succeed. Of this, son of Kunti, I have no doubt, for all beings.

Verse 30 (12.15.30)

दण्डश्चेन्न भवेल्लोके विनश्येयुरिमाः प्रजाः । जले मत्स्यानिवाभक्ष्यन्दुर्बलान्बलवत्तराः ॥

daṇḍaścenna bhavelloke vinaśyeyurimāḥ prajāḥ | jale matsyānivābhakṣyandurbalānbalavattarāḥ

If there were no rod in the world, these creatures would perish, the strong devouring the weak like fish in water.

Verse 31 (12.15.31)

सत्यं बतेदं ब्रह्मणा पूर्वमुक्तं दण्डः प्रजा रक्षति साधुनीतः । पश्याग्नयः पूतिमांसस्य भीताः सन्तर्जिता दण्डभयाज्ज्वलन्ति ॥

satyaṃ batedaṃ brahmaṇā pūrvamuktaṃ daṇḍaḥ prajā rakṣati sādhunītaḥ | paśyāgnayaḥ pūtimāṃsasya bhītāḥ santarjitā daṇḍabhayājjvalanti

This was truly said long ago by Brahma: the rod, rightly applied, protects the people. See how even the fires, fearful and rebuked, blaze up from dread of the rod over putrid flesh.

Note on the text: Wikisource prints the two long lines of this verse as two half-verses; the critical edition divides the same text into four short lines at 12.15.31ab, cd (with variants such as बत for च and भीताः for अभीताः). Its star line *0017_01 is not on the page.

Verse 32 (12.15.32)

अन्धंतम इवेदं स्यान्न प्रज्ञायेत किंचन । दण्डश्चेन्न भवेल्लोके विभजन्साध्वसाधुनी ॥

andhaṃtama ivedaṃ syānna prajñāyeta kiṃcana | daṇḍaścenna bhavelloke vibhajansādhvasādhunī

This world would be like blind darkness and nothing would be discerned, if there were no rod in the world to distinguish the good from the bad.

Verse 33 (12.15.33)

येऽपि संभिन्नमर्यादा नास्तिका वेदनिन्दकाः । तेऽपि भोगाय कल्पन्ते दण्डेनाशु निपीडिताः ॥

ye'pi saṃbhinnamaryādā nāstikā vedanindakāḥ | te'pi bhogāya kalpante daṇḍenāśu nipīḍitāḥ

Even those who have broken all bounds, the unbelievers and revilers of the Veda, become fit for orderly enjoyment of life when swiftly crushed by the rod.

Verse 34 (12.15.34)

सर्वो दण्डजितो लोको दुर्लभो हि शुचिर्जनः । दण्डस्य हि भयाद्भीतो भोगायैव प्रकल्पते ॥

sarvo daṇḍajito loko durlabho hi śucirjanaḥ | daṇḍasya hi bhayādbhīto bhogāyaiva prakalpate

The whole world is held in check by the rod; a pure man is hard to find. It is fear of the rod that makes a man fit for enjoyment.

Note on the text: Not auto-matched, but the verse corresponds to 12.15.34 of the critical edition, with minor variants (शुचिर्जनः for शुचिर्नरः, भोगायैव for भोगायेह).

Verse 35 (12.15.35)

चातुर्वर्ण्यप्रमोदाय सुनीतिकरणाय च । दण्डो विधात्रा विहितो धर्मार्थौ भुवि रक्षितुम् ॥

cāturvarṇyapramodāya sunītikaraṇāya ca | daṇḍo vidhātrā vihito dharmārthau bhuvi rakṣitum

For the delight of the four castes and for the carrying out of right policy, the Creator ordained the rod, to protect dharma and wealth on earth.

Note on the text: Corrected धर्मार्थौं → धर्मार्थौ (misprint in Wikisource; stray anusvāra; dual धर्मार्थौ, critical edition dharmārthāv).

Verse 36 (12.15.36)

यदि दण्डान्न विभ्येयुर्वयांसि श्वापदानि च । अद्युः पशून्मनुष्यांश्च यज्ञार्थानि हवींषि च ॥

yadi daṇḍānna vibhyeyurvayāṃsi śvāpadāni ca | adyuḥ paśūnmanuṣyāṃśca yajñārthāni havīṃṣi ca

If birds and beasts of prey did not fear the rod, they would devour animals and men, and the offerings meant for sacrifice.

Verse 37 (12.15.37)

न ब्रह्मचार्यधीयीत न काल्यं दुहते च गौः । न कन्योद्वहनं गच्छेद्यदि दण्डो न पालयेत् ॥

na brahmacāryadhīyīta na kālyaṃ duhate ca gauḥ | na kanyodvahanaṃ gacchedyadi daṇḍo na pālayet

The student would not study, the cow would not be milked at dawn, and no maiden would go to marriage, if the rod did not guard.

Verse 38 (12.15.38)

विष्वग्लोपः प्रवर्तेत भिद्येरन्सर्वसेतवः । ममत्वं न प्रजानीयुर्यदि दण्डो न पालयेत् ॥

viṣvaglopaḥ pravarteta bhidyeransarvasetavaḥ | mamatvaṃ na prajānīyuryadi daṇḍo na pālayet

Ruin would spread on every side, all boundaries would break, and people would not recognise ownership, if the rod did not guard.

Verse 39 (12.15.39)

न संवत्सरसत्राणि तिष्ठेयुरकुतोभयाः । विधिवद्दक्षिणावन्ति यदि दण्डो न पालयेत् ॥

na saṃvatsarasatrāṇi tiṣṭheyurakutobhayāḥ | vidhivaddakṣiṇāvanti yadi daṇḍo na pālayet

Year-long sacrifices with their proper fees to the priests would not go on without fear of harm, if the rod did not guard.

Verse 40 (12.15.40)

चरेयुर्नाश्रमे धर्मं यथोक्तं विधिमाश्रिताः । न विद्यां प्राप्नुयात्कश्चिद्यदि दण्डो न पालयेत् ॥

careyurnāśrame dharmaṃ yathoktaṃ vidhimāśritāḥ | na vidyāṃ prāpnuyātkaścidyadi daṇḍo na pālayet

People would not follow the dharma of the stages of life as prescribed, and no one would gain learning, if the rod did not guard.

Verse 41 (12.15.41)

न चोष्ट्रा न बलीवर्दा नाश्वाश्वतरगर्दभाः । युक्ता वहेयुर्यानानि यदि दण्डो न पालयेत् ॥

na coṣṭrā na balīvardā nāśvāśvataragardabhāḥ | yuktā vaheyuryānāni yadi daṇḍo na pālayet

Camels, oxen, horses, mules and donkeys, yoked, would not draw vehicles, if the rod did not guard.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (12.15.41cd): Wikisource prints न विद्यां प्राप्नुर्यानानि, a garbled repeat of the previous verse's wording ("न विद्यां प्राप्नुयात्…") that cannot be construed with the camels, oxen and mules of the first line; the critical edition reads युक्ता वहेयुर्यानानि (yuktā vaheyur yānāni). The rest of the line is unchanged.

Verse 42 (12.15.42)

न प्रेष्या वचनं कुर्युर्न बालो जातु कर्हिचित् । तिष्ठेत्पितुर्मते धर्मे यदि दण्डो न पालयेत् ॥

na preṣyā vacanaṃ kuryurna bālo jātu karhicit | tiṣṭhetpiturmate dharme yadi daṇḍo na pālayet

Servants would not carry out orders, nor would a boy ever remain in dharma by his father's will, if the rod did not guard.

Verse 43 (12.15.43)

दण्डे स्थिताः प्रजाः सर्वा भयं दण्डे विदुर्बुधाः । दण्डे स्वर्गो मनुष्याणां लोकोऽयं च प्रतिष्ठितः ॥

daṇḍe sthitāḥ prajāḥ sarvā bhayaṃ daṇḍe vidurbudhāḥ | daṇḍe svargo manuṣyāṇāṃ loko'yaṃ ca pratiṣṭhitaḥ

All creatures stand upon the rod, and the wise know fear to dwell in the rod. Heaven for men rests on the rod, and so does this world.

Verse 44 (12.15.44)

न तत्र कूटं पापं वा वञ्चना वाऽपि दृश्यते । यत्र दण्डः सुविहितश्चरत्यरिविनाशनः ॥

na tatra kūṭaṃ pāpaṃ vā vañcanā vā'pi dṛśyate | yatra daṇḍaḥ suvihitaścaratyarivināśanaḥ

Where the rod, destroyer of enemies, is well applied, neither fraud, nor sin, nor deceit is seen.

Verse 45 (12.15.45)

हविः श्वा प्रलिहेद्दृष्ट्वा दण्डश्चेन्नोद्यतो भवेत् । हरेत्काकः पुरोडाशं यदि दण्डो न पालयेत् ॥

haviḥ śvā praliheddṛṣṭvā daṇḍaścennodyato bhavet | haretkākaḥ puroḍāśaṃ yadi daṇḍo na pālayet

The dog would lick the offering as soon as it saw it, if the rod were not raised; the crow would carry off the sacrificial cake, if the rod did not guard.

Verse 46 (12.15.46)

यदीदं धर्मतो राज्यं विहितं यद्यधर्मतः । कार्यस्तत्र न शोको वै भुङ्क्ष्व भोगान्यजस्व च ॥

yadīdaṃ dharmato rājyaṃ vihitaṃ yadyadharmataḥ | kāryastatra na śoko vai bhuṅkṣva bhogānyajasva ca

Whether this kingdom was gained by dharma or by adharma, you should feel no grief over it. Enjoy pleasures and perform sacrifices.

Verse 47 (12.15.47)

सुखेन धर्मं श्रीमन्तश्चरन्ति शुचिवाससः । संवसन्तः प्रियैर्दारैर्भुञ्जानाश्चान्नमुत्तमम् ॥

sukhena dharmaṃ śrīmantaścaranti śucivāsasaḥ | saṃvasantaḥ priyairdārairbhuñjānāścānnamuttamam

The prosperous, in clean garments, practise dharma in comfort, living with their dear wives and eating the finest food.

Verse 48 (12.15.48)

अर्थे सर्वे समारम्भाः समायत्ता न संशयः । स च दण्डे समायत्तः पश्य दण्डस्य गौरवम् ॥

arthe sarve samārambhāḥ samāyattā na saṃśayaḥ | sa ca daṇḍe samāyattaḥ paśya daṇḍasya gauravam

All undertakings depend on wealth, without doubt, and wealth depends on the rod. See the weight of the rod.

Note on the text: Corrected गौस्वम् → गौरवम् (misprint in Wikisource; critical edition gauravam; the printed form is not a word).

Verse 49 (12.15.49)

लोकयात्रार्थमेवेह धर्मप्रवचनं कृतम् । अहिंसाऽसाधुहिंसेति श्रेयान्धर्मपरिग्रहः ॥

lokayātrārthameveha dharmapravacanaṃ kṛtam | ahiṃsā'sādhuhiṃseti śreyāndharmaparigrahaḥ

The teaching of dharma was made only for the conduct of the world. 'Non-injury' means injury to the wicked; to hold dharma in this way is the better course.

Verse 50 (12.15.50)

नात्यन्तं गुणवत्किंचिन्न चाप्यत्यन्तनिर्गुणम् । उभयं सर्वकार्येषु दृश्यते साध्वसाधु च ॥

nātyantaṃ guṇavatkiṃcinna cāpyatyantanirguṇam | ubhayaṃ sarvakāryeṣu dṛśyate sādhvasādhu ca

Nothing is wholly good, nor is anything wholly without good; in all undertakings both the good and the bad are seen.

Verse 51 (12.15.51)

पशूनां वृषणं छित्त्वा ततो भिन्दन्ति नस्सु तान् । वहन्ति बहवो भारान्बध्नन्ति दमयन्ति च ॥

paśūnāṃ vṛṣaṇaṃ chittvā tato bhindanti nassu tān | vahanti bahavo bhārānbadhnanti damayanti ca

Having cut off the bulls' testicles, men then pierce their noses; many are made to carry burdens, and are bound and tamed.

Verse 52 (12.15.52)

एवं पर्याकुले लोके वितथैर्जर्झरीकृते । तैस्तैर्न्यायैर्महाराज पुराणं धर्ममाचर ॥

evaṃ paryākule loke vitathairjarjharīkṛte | taistairnyāyairmahārāja purāṇaṃ dharmamācara

Thus, in a world thrown into confusion and shattered by falsehoods, follow the ancient dharma, great king, by these several means.

Verse 53 (12.15.53)

यज देहि प्रजा रक्ष धर्मं समनुपालय । अमित्राञ्जहि कौन्तेय मित्राणि परिपालय ॥

yaja dehi prajā rakṣa dharmaṃ samanupālaya | amitrāñjahi kaunteya mitrāṇi paripālaya

Sacrifice, give, protect the people, uphold dharma. Slay your enemies, son of Kunti, and cherish your friends.

Verse 54 (12.15.54)

मा च ते निघ्नतः शत्रून्मन्युर्भवतु पार्थिव । न तत्र किल्विषं किंचिद्धन्तुर्भवति भारत ॥

mā ca te nighnataḥ śatrūnmanyurbhavatu pārthiva | na tatra kilviṣaṃ kiṃciddhanturbhavati bhārata

Let there be no dejection in you as you strike down your foes, O king. No sin attaches to the slayer in that, O Bharata.

Verse 55 (12.15.55)

आततायी हि यो हन्यादाततायिनमागतम् । न तेन भ्रूणहा स स्यान्मन्युस्तं मन्युमार्च्छति ॥

ātatāyī hi yo hanyādātatāyinamāgatam | na tena bhrūṇahā sa syānmanyustaṃ manyumārcchati

If an attacker kills an attacker who comes against him, he does not thereby become a slayer of the unborn; anger meets anger.

Verse 56 (12.15.56)

अवध्यः सर्वभूतानामन्तरात्मा न संशयः । अवध्ये चात्मनि कथं वध्यो भवति कस्यचित् ॥

avadhyaḥ sarvabhūtānāmantarātmā na saṃśayaḥ | avadhye cātmani kathaṃ vadhyo bhavati kasyacit

The inner self of all beings cannot be slain, without doubt. When the self cannot be slain, how can anyone be slain by anyone?

Verse 57 (12.15.57)

यथा हि पुरुषः शालां पुनः संप्रविशेन्नवाम् । एवं जीवः शरीराणि तानितानि प्रपद्यते ॥

yathā hi puruṣaḥ śālāṃ punaḥ saṃpraviśennavām | evaṃ jīvaḥ śarīrāṇi tānitāni prapadyate

As a man enters a new house again and again, so the soul enters one body after another.

Note on the text: Corrected एव जीवः → एवं जीवः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvāra; critical edition evaṃ jīvaḥ, and the sense needs "thus").

Verse 58 (12.15.58)

देहान्पुराणानुत्सृज्य नवान्संप्रतिपद्यते । एवं मृत्युमुखं प्राहुर्जना ये तत्त्वदर्शिनः ॥

dehānpurāṇānutsṛjya navānsaṃpratipadyate | evaṃ mṛtyumukhaṃ prāhurjanā ye tattvadarśinaḥ

Casting off old bodies, it takes up new ones. This, say those who see the truth, is what is called the mouth of death.