Bhishma Begins the Duties of Kings

Verse 1 (12.55.1)

प्रणिपत्य हृषीकेशमभिवाद्य पितामहम् । अनुमान्य गुरून्सर्वान्पर्यपृच्छद्युधिष्ठिरः ॥

praṇipatya hṛṣīkeśamabhivādya pitāmaham | anumānya gurūnsarvānparyapṛcchadyudhiṣṭhiraḥ

Vaishampayana said: Having bowed to Hrishikesha and saluted the grandsire, and having taken the leave of all his elders, Yudhishthira questioned him.

Verse 2 (12.55.2)

राज्ञां वै परमो धर्म इति धर्मविदो विदुः । महान्तमेतं भारं च मन्ये तद्ब्रूहि पार्थिव ॥

rājñāṃ vai paramo dharma iti dharmavido viduḥ | mahāntametaṃ bhāraṃ ca manye tadbrūhi pārthiva

Those who know dharma say that the highest dharma is that of kings, and I think it a great burden. Tell me of it, O king.

Note on the text: Yudhishthira's question (no heading printed; CE 12.56.2 gives it to him within Vaishampayana's frame).

Verse 3 (12.55.3)

राजधर्मान्विशेषेण कथयस्व पितामह । सर्वस्य जीवलोकस्य राजधर्मः परायणम् ॥

rājadharmānviśeṣeṇa kathayasva pitāmaha | sarvasya jīvalokasya rājadharmaḥ parāyaṇam

Tell me especially the duties of kings, grandsire; for the whole world of the living the duties of kings are the refuge.

Note on the text: Corrected कथयस्य → कथयस्व (misprint in Wikisource; imperative कथयस्व, CE kathayasva).

Verse 4 (12.55.4)

त्रिवर्गो हि समासक्तो राजधर्मेषु कौरव । मोक्षधर्मश्च विस्पष्टः सकलोऽत्र समाहितः ॥

trivargo hi samāsakto rājadharmeṣu kaurava | mokṣadharmaśca vispaṣṭaḥ sakalo'tra samāhitaḥ

The three aims of life are bound up in the duties of kings, Kaurava, and the dharma of liberation too is plainly contained in them whole.

Verse 5 (12.55.5)

यथा हि रश्मयोऽश्वस्य द्विरदस्याङ्कुशो यथा । नरेन्द्रधर्मो लोकस्य तथा प्रग्रहणं स्मृतम् ॥

yathā hi raśmayo'śvasya dviradasyāṅkuśo yathā | narendradharmo lokasya tathā pragrahaṇaṃ smṛtam

As reins are to a horse and the goad to an elephant, so is the dharma of kings to the world: it is said to be its restraint.

Verse 6 (12.55.6)

अत्र वै संप्रमूढे तु धर्मे राजर्षिसेविते । लोकस्य संस्था न भवेत्सर्वं च व्याकुलीभवेत् ॥

atra vai saṃpramūḍhe tu dharme rājarṣisevite | lokasya saṃsthā na bhavetsarvaṃ ca vyākulībhavet

If this dharma, followed by royal sages, were to fall into confusion, the order of the world would not stand and everything would be thrown into disorder.

Verse 7 (12.55.7)

उदयन्हि यथा सूर्यो नाशयत्यशुभं तमः । राजधर्मस्तथा लोक्यामाक्षिपत्यशुभां गतिम् ॥

udayanhi yathā sūryo nāśayatyaśubhaṃ tamaḥ | rājadharmastathā lokyāmākṣipatyaśubhāṃ gatim

As the rising sun destroys foul darkness, so the duties of kings drive away the evil course of the world.

Verse 8 (12.55.8)

तदग्रे राजधर्मान्हि मदर्थे त्वं पितामह । प्रब्रूहि भरतश्रेष्ठ त्वं हि धर्मभूतां वरः ॥

tadagre rājadharmānhi madarthe tvaṃ pitāmaha | prabrūhi bharataśreṣṭha tvaṃ hi dharmabhūtāṃ varaḥ

So tell me first, grandsire, best of the Bharatas, the duties of kings, for my sake; for you are the best of those who uphold dharma.

Verse 9 (12.55.9)

आगमश्च परस्त्वत्तः सर्वेषां नः परन्तप । भवन्तं हि परं बुद्धौ वासुदेवोऽभिमन्यते ॥

āgamaśca parastvattaḥ sarveṣāṃ naḥ parantapa | bhavantaṃ hi paraṃ buddhau vāsudevo'bhimanyate

And the highest source of learning for all of us is from you alone, scorcher of foes; Vasudeva too holds you to be supreme in understanding.

Verse 10 (12.55.10)

नमो धर्माय महते नमः कृष्णाय वेधसे । ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नमस्कृत्य धर्मान्वक्ष्यामि शाश्वतान् ॥

namo dharmāya mahate namaḥ kṛṣṇāya vedhase | brāhmaṇebhyo namaskṛtya dharmānvakṣyāmi śāśvatān

Bhishma said: Homage to great Dharma, homage to Krishna the Ordainer; having bowed to the brahmins, I shall declare the eternal duties.

Verse 11 (12.55.11)

शृणु कार्त्स्न्येन मत्तस्त्वं राजधर्मान्युधिष्ठिर । निरुच्यमानान्नियतो यच्चान्यदपि वाञ्छसि ॥

śṛṇu kārtsnyena mattastvaṃ rājadharmānyudhiṣṭhira | nirucyamānānniyato yaccānyadapi vāñchasi

Listen, Yudhishthira, to the duties of kings as I set them out for you in full, and to whatever else you wish to know.

Verse 12 (12.55.12)

आदावेव कुरुश्रेष्ठ राज्ञा रञ्जनमिच्छता । देवतानां द्विजानां च वर्तितव्यं यथाविधि ॥

ādāveva kuruśreṣṭha rājñā rañjanamicchatā | devatānāṃ dvijānāṃ ca vartitavyaṃ yathāvidhi

First of all, best of the Kurus, a king who wishes to win his people's hearts must act toward the gods and the twice-born as the rule requires.

Verse 13 (12.55.13)

दैवतान्यर्चयित्वा हि ब्राह्मणांश्च कुरूद्वह । आनृण्यं याति धर्मस्य लोकेन च समर्च्यते ॥

daivatānyarcayitvā hi brāhmaṇāṃśca kurūdvaha | ānṛṇyaṃ yāti dharmasya lokena ca samarcyate

By worshipping the deities and the brahmins, bull of the Kurus, he is freed from his debt to dharma and is honored by the world.

Verse 14 (12.55.14)

उत्थानेन सदा पुत्र प्रयतेथा युधिष्ठिर । न ह्युत्थानमृते दैवं राज्ञामर्थं प्रसाधयेत् ॥

utthānena sadā putra prayatethā yudhiṣṭhira | na hyutthānamṛte daivaṃ rājñāmarthaṃ prasādhayet

Always strive by effort, my son Yudhishthira; without effort fate cannot accomplish the ends of kings.

Verse 15 (12.55.15)

साधारणं द्वयं ह्येतद्दैवमुत्थानमेव च । पौरुषं हि परं मन्ये दैवं निश्चित्य मुह्यते ॥

sādhāraṇaṃ dvayaṃ hyetaddaivamutthānameva ca | pauruṣaṃ hi paraṃ manye daivaṃ niścitya muhyate

Fate and effort are the two common means; yet I hold effort to be supreme, for one who settles upon fate alone is bewildered.

Verse 16 (12.55.16)

विपन्ने च समारम्भे सन्तापं मा स्म वै कृथाः । घटेतैवं सदाऽऽत्मानं राज्ञामेष परो नयः ॥

vipanne ca samārambhe santāpaṃ mā sma vai kṛthāḥ | ghaṭetaivaṃ sadā''tmānaṃ rājñāmeṣa paro nayaḥ

Do not grieve when an undertaking fails; keep striving always in this way. This is the highest policy for kings.

Verse 17 (12.55.17)

न हि सत्यादृते किंचिद्राज्ञां वै सिद्धिकारकम् । सत्ये हि राजा निरतः प्रेत्य चेह च नन्दति ॥

na hi satyādṛte kiṃcidrājñāṃ vai siddhikārakam | satye hi rājā nirataḥ pretya ceha ca nandati

Nothing but truth brings success to kings; a king established in truth rejoices both here and after death.

Verse 18 (12.55.18)

ऋषीणामपि राजेन्द्र सत्यमेव परं धनम् । तथा राज्ञां परं सत्यान्नान्यद्विश्वासकारणम् ॥

ṛṣīṇāmapi rājendra satyameva paraṃ dhanam | tathā rājñāṃ paraṃ satyānnānyadviśvāsakāraṇam

Even for sages, king of kings, truth is the highest wealth; and for kings there is no other ground of trust greater than truth.

Verse 19 (12.55.19)

गुणवाञ्शीलवान्दान्तो मृदुदण्डो जितेन्द्रियः । सुदर्शः स्थूललक्ष्यश्च न भ्रश्येत सदा श्रियः ॥

guṇavāñśīlavāndānto mṛdudaṇḍo jitendriyaḥ | sudarśaḥ sthūlalakṣyaśca na bhraśyeta sadā śriyaḥ

Let him be virtuous, well-conducted, self-controlled, gentle in punishment, master of his senses, pleasing to look on and openhanded; then he never falls from fortune.

Verse 20 (12.55.20)

आर्जवं सर्वकार्येषु श्रयेथाः कुरुनन्दन । पुनर्नयविचारेण त्रयीसंवरणेन च । आर्जवेन समायुक्ता मोदन्ते ऋषयो दिवि ॥

ārjavaṃ sarvakāryeṣu śrayethāḥ kurunandana | punarnayavicāreṇa trayīsaṃvaraṇena ca | ārjavena samāyuktā modante ṛṣayo divi

Practise uprightness in every undertaking, joy of the Kurus, together with careful reflection on policy and the shielding of the threefold Veda. Those who are joined with uprightness rejoice in heaven among the sages.

Note on the text: Three-line verse as on the page (labelled 12-55-20a,b,c). Lines 1-2 = CE 12.56.20a,c; line 3 is the CE star line 12.56.20b*0122_01 (ārjavena samāyuktā modante ṛṣayo divi), which the CE prints between them and Wikisource prints last. Removed the backtick and quote marks and the stray doubled daṇḍa Wikisource prints around line 3.

Verse 21 (12.55.21)

मृदुर्हि राजा सततं लङ्घ्यो भवति सर्वशः । तीक्ष्णाच्चोद्विजते लोकस्तस्मादुभयमाचरेत् ॥

mṛdurhi rājā satataṃ laṅghyo bhavati sarvaśaḥ | tīkṣṇāccodvijate lokastasmādubhayamācaret

A gentle king is always overstepped by everyone, while a harsh one makes the world shrink from him; therefore practise both.

Verse 22 (12.55.22)

अदण्ड्याश्चैव ते पुत्र विप्राः स्युर्ददतां वर । भूतमेतत्परं लोके ब्राह्मणा नाम पाण्डव ॥

adaṇḍyāścaiva te putra viprāḥ syurdadatāṃ vara | bhūtametatparaṃ loke brāhmaṇā nāma pāṇḍava

And brahmins, my son, giver of gifts, must always be exempt from punishment; brahmins are the highest being on earth, Pandava.

Verse 23 (12.55.23)

मनुना चात्र राजेन्द्र गीतौ श्लोकौ महात्मना । धर्मेषु स्वेषु कौरव्य हृदि तौ कर्तुमर्हसि ॥

manunā cātra rājendra gītau ślokau mahātmanā | dharmeṣu sveṣu kauravya hṛdi tau kartumarhasi

Manu too, king of kings, sang two verses on this; you should take them to heart in your own duties, descendant of Kuru.

Verse 24 (12.55.24)

अद्भ्योऽग्निर्ब्रह्मतः क्षत्रमश्मनो लोहमुत्थितम् । तेषां सर्वत्रगं तेजः स्वासु योनिषु शाम्यति ॥

adbhyo'gnirbrahmataḥ kṣatramaśmano lohamutthitam | teṣāṃ sarvatragaṃ tejaḥ svāsu yoniṣu śāmyati

From water came fire, from brahmins the kshatriyas, from stone iron arose; their all-pervading force is quenched in their own sources.

Note on the text: Corrected अभ्द्योऽग्निर् → अद्भ्योऽग्निर् (misprint in Wikisource; the ablative of अप् is अद्भ्यः, CE adbhyo 'gnir).

Verse 25 (12.55.25)

अयो हन्ति यदाऽश्मानमग्निरापो निहन्ति च । ब्रह्म च क्षत्रियो द्वेष्टि तदा सीदन्ति ते त्रयः ॥

ayo hanti yadā'śmānamagnirāpo nihanti ca | brahma ca kṣatriyo dveṣṭi tadā sīdanti te trayaḥ

When iron strikes stone, when fire strikes water, or when the kshatriya hates the brahmin, then all three are brought low.

Verse 26 (12.55.26)

एवं कृत्वा महाराज नमस्या एव ते द्विजाः । भौमं ब्रह्म द्विजश्रेष्ठा धारयन्ति शमान्विताः ॥

evaṃ kṛtvā mahārāja namasyā eva te dvijāḥ | bhaumaṃ brahma dvijaśreṣṭhā dhārayanti śamānvitāḥ

Knowing this, great king, those brahmins deserve homage; the best of the twice-born, full of calm, uphold the earthly Brahman.

Verse 27 (12.55.27)

एवं चैव नरव्याघ्र लोकयात्राविघातकाः । निग्राह्या एव बाहुभ्यां ब्राह्मणास्ते नरेश्वर ॥

evaṃ caiva naravyāghra lokayātrāvighātakāḥ | nigrāhyā eva bāhubhyāṃ brāhmaṇāste nareśvara

And in this way, tiger among men, brahmins who ruin the conduct of the world must be restrained, lord of men, by force of arm.

Note on the text: The alignment found no match. CE 12.56.27: Wikisource लोकयात्राविघातकाः (CE lokatantravighātakāḥ) and line 2 निग्राह्या एव बाहुभ्यां ब्राह्मणास्ते नरेश्वर (CE nigrāhyā eva satataṃ bāhubhyāṃ ye syur īdṛśāḥ) are recension variants, kept.

Verse 28 (12.55.28)

श्लोकौ चोशनसा गीतौ पुरा तात महर्षिणा । तौ निवोध महाराज त्वमेकाग्रमना नृप ॥

ślokau cośanasā gītau purā tāta maharṣiṇā | tau nivodha mahārāja tvamekāgramanā nṛpa

Two verses were also sung long ago by the great sage Ushanas, dear one; listen to them, great king, with a single mind.

Verse 29 (12.55.29)

उद्यम्य शस्त्रमायान्तमपि वेदान्तगं रणे । निगृह्णीयात्स्वधर्मेण धर्मापेक्षी नराधिपः ॥

udyamya śastramāyāntamapi vedāntagaṃ raṇe | nigṛhṇīyātsvadharmeṇa dharmāpekṣī narādhipaḥ

Even a man who knows the Vedanta, if he comes at you in battle with raised weapon, a king who looks to dharma should restrain by his own dharma.

Verse 30 (12.55.30)

विनश्यमानं धर्मं हि योऽभिरक्षेत्स धर्मवित् । न तेन धर्महा स स्यान्मन्युस्तन्मन्युमृच्छति ॥

vinaśyamānaṃ dharmaṃ hi yo'bhirakṣetsa dharmavit | na tena dharmahā sa syānmanyustanmanyumṛcchati

He who protects dharma as it perishes knows dharma; he is not a destroyer of dharma by that, for wrath simply meets wrath.

Verse 31 (12.55.31)

एवं चैव नरश्रेष्ठ रक्ष्या एव द्विजातयः । सापराधानपि हि तान्विषयान्ते समुत्सृजेत् ॥

evaṃ caiva naraśreṣṭha rakṣyā eva dvijātayaḥ | sāparādhānapi hi tānviṣayānte samutsṛjet

Likewise, best of men, brahmins are to be protected; even if guilty, send them away at the edge of the realm.

Verse 32 (12.55.32)

अभिशस्तमपि ह्येषां पीडयेन्न विशांपते । ब्रह्मघ्ने गुरुतल्पे च भ्रूणहत्ये तथैव च ॥

abhiśastamapi hyeṣāṃ pīḍayenna viśāṃpate | brahmaghne gurutalpe ca bhrūṇahatye tathaiva ca

Even one of them who stands accused should not be tormented, lord of the people, though the charge be killing a brahmin, violating a teacher's bed or destroying an embryo.

Verse 33 (12.55.33)

राजद्विष्टे च विप्रस्य विषयान्ते विवासनम् । विधीयते न शारीरं भयमेषां कदाचन ॥

rājadviṣṭe ca viprasya viṣayānte vivāsanam | vidhīyate na śārīraṃ bhayameṣāṃ kadācana

For one who has offended the king, banishment at the border of the realm is the sentence; no bodily harm is ever to fall on them.

Verse 34 (12.55.34)

दयिताश्च नरास्ते स्युर्भक्तिमन्तो द्विजेषु ये । न कोशः परमा तुष्टी राज्ञां भवति संचयात् ॥

dayitāśca narāste syurbhaktimanto dvijeṣu ye | na kośaḥ paramā tuṣṭī rājñāṃ bhavati saṃcayāt

Let those men be dear to you who are devoted to brahmins; kings do not find their highest contentment in hoarding a treasury.

Note on the text: The alignment found no match. Corrected शोकः → कोशः (misprint in Wikisource; शोकः gives no sense, CE 12.56.34 has kośaḥ: na kośaḥ paramo hy anyo rājñāṃ puruṣasaṃcayāt). The rest of line 2 (परमा तुष्टी … भवति संचयात्) differs from the CE and is kept as a recension variant.

Verse 35 (12.55.35)

दुर्गेषु च महाराज षट्सु ये शास्त्रनिश्चिताः । सर्वदुर्गेषु मन्यन्ते नरदुर्गं सुदुर्गमम् ॥

durgeṣu ca mahārāja ṣaṭsu ye śāstraniścitāḥ | sarvadurgeṣu manyante naradurgaṃ sudurgamam

Of the six kinds of fortress fixed by the scriptures, great king, men regard the fortress of men as the hardest of all to overcome.

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

Verse 36 (12.55.36)

तस्मान्नित्यं दया कार्या चातुर्वर्ण्ये विपश्चिता । धर्मात्मा सत्यवाक्चैव राजा रञ्जयति प्रजाः ॥

tasmānnityaṃ dayā kāryā cāturvarṇye vipaścitā | dharmātmā satyavākcaiva rājā rañjayati prajāḥ

Therefore the wise king must always show compassion toward all four orders; a righteous-souled and truthful king delights his subjects.

Verse 37 (12.55.37)

न च क्षान्तेन ते नित्यं भाव्यं पुरुषसत्तम । अधर्मो हि मृदू राजा क्षमावानिव कुञ्जरः ॥

na ca kṣāntena te nityaṃ bhāvyaṃ puruṣasattama | adharmo hi mṛdū rājā kṣamāvāniva kuñjaraḥ

But you must not be always forbearing, best of men; a gentle king is a breach of dharma, like a patient elephant.

Note on the text: Corrected मृद् राजा → मृदू राजा (misprint in Wikisource; मृद् is no adjective here, CE mṛdū rājā).

Verse 38 (12.55.38)

वार्हस्पत्ये च शास्त्रे च श्लोकोऽयं नियतः प्रभो । अस्मिन्नर्थे निगदितस्तन्मे निगदतः शृणु ॥

vārhaspatye ca śāstre ca śloko'yaṃ niyataḥ prabho | asminnarthe nigaditastanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu

On this matter there is a verse in the science of Brihaspati, firmly fixed; hear it from me as I recite what is declared on this point.

Verse 39 (12.55.39)

क्षममाणं नृपं नित्यं नीचः परिभवेज्जनः । हस्तियन्ता गजस्येव शिर एवारुरुक्षति ॥

kṣamamāṇaṃ nṛpaṃ nityaṃ nīcaḥ paribhavejjanaḥ | hastiyantā gajasyeva śira evārurukṣati

A lowly man insults a king who is always forbearing, as an elephant driver climbs onto the head of his elephant.

Note on the text: Corrected परिभवेञ्जनः → परिभवेज्जनः (misprint in Wikisource; ञ्ज for ज्ज, CE paribhavej janaḥ).

Verse 40 (12.55.40)

तस्मान्नैव मृदुर्नित्यं तीक्ष्णो वाऽपि भवेन्नृपः । वसन्तेऽर्क इव श्रीमान्न शीतो न च घर्मदः ॥

tasmānnaiva mṛdurnityaṃ tīkṣṇo vā'pi bhavennṛpaḥ | vasante'rka iva śrīmānna śīto na ca gharmadaḥ

Therefore a king should be neither always gentle nor always harsh; like the sun in spring, radiant, neither cold nor scorching.

Verse 41 (12.55.41)

प्रत्यक्षेणानुमानेन तथौपम्यागमैरपि । परीक्ष्यास्ते महाराज स्वे परे चैव नित्यशः ॥

pratyakṣeṇānumānena tathaupamyāgamairapi | parīkṣyāste mahārāja sve pare caiva nityaśaḥ

By direct perception, inference, comparison and the scriptures, great king, you should always examine both your own people and others.

Verse 42 (12.55.42)

व्यसनानि च सर्वाणि त्यजेथा भूरिदक्षिण । न चैतानि प्रयुञ्जीथाः सङ्गं तु परिवर्जय ॥

vyasanāni ca sarvāṇi tyajethā bhūridakṣiṇa | na caitāni prayuñjīthāḥ saṅgaṃ tu parivarjaya

Give up all vices, O giver of great gifts; do not practise them, and avoid attachment.

Note on the text: Separated the run-together नचैतानि as न चैतानि (spacing misprint in Wikisource; न च एतानि).

Verse 43 (12.55.43)

व्यसनी यस्तु लोकेऽस्मिन्परिभूतो भवत्युत । उद्वेजयति लोकं च योऽतिद्वेषी महीपतिः ॥

vyasanī yastu loke'sminparibhūto bhavatyuta | udvejayati lokaṃ ca yo'tidveṣī mahīpatiḥ

One addicted to vice becomes despised in this world; and a king who is too full of hatred makes the world tremble.

Verse 44 (12.55.44)

भवितव्यं सदा राज्ञा गर्भिणीसहधर्मिणा । कारणं च महाराज शृणु येनेदमुच्यते ॥

bhavitavyaṃ sadā rājñā garbhiṇīsahadharmiṇā | kāraṇaṃ ca mahārāja śṛṇu yenedamucyate

A king should always be like a woman with child; and hear, great king, the reason why this is said.

Verse 45 (12.55.45)

यथा हि गर्भिणी हित्वा स्वं प्रियं मनसोऽनुगम् । गर्भस्य हितमाधत्ते तथा राज्ञाऽप्यसंशयम् ॥

yathā hi garbhiṇī hitvā svaṃ priyaṃ manaso'nugam | garbhasya hitamādhatte tathā rājñā'pyasaṃśayam

As a pregnant woman, setting aside what her mind craves, does what is good for the child in her womb, so too must a king, without doubt,

Note on the text: Verse 45 runs on into verse 46 (one sentence).

Verse 46 (12.55.46)

वर्तितव्यं कुरुश्रेष्ठ सदा धर्मानुवर्तिना । स्वं प्रियं तु परित्यज्य यद्यल्लोकहितं भवेत् ॥

vartitavyaṃ kuruśreṣṭha sadā dharmānuvartinā | svaṃ priyaṃ tu parityajya yadyallokahitaṃ bhavet

act always following dharma, setting aside his own pleasure, doing whatever is for the good of the world, best of the Kurus.

Verse 47 (12.55.47)

न सन्त्याज्यं च ते धैर्यं कदाचिदपि पाण्डव । धीरस्य स्पष्टदण्डस्य न ह्याज्ञा प्रतिहन्यते ॥

na santyājyaṃ ca te dhairyaṃ kadācidapi pāṇḍava | dhīrasya spaṣṭadaṇḍasya na hyājñā pratihanyate

And never give up your steadiness, Pandava; the command of a firm king whose punishment is open is never turned back.

Verse 48 (12.55.48)

परिहासश्च भृत्यैस्ते नात्यर्थं वदतां वर । कर्तव्यो राजशार्दूल दोषमत्र हि मे शृणु ॥

parihāsaśca bhṛtyaiste nātyarthaṃ vadatāṃ vara | kartavyo rājaśārdūla doṣamatra hi me śṛṇu

Do not jest too much with your servants, best of speakers; hear from me the fault in it, tiger among kings.

Verse 49 (12.55.49)

अवमन्यन्ति भर्तारं सहर्षमुपजीविनः । स्वे स्थाने न च तिष्ठन्ति लङ्घयन्ति च तद्वचः ॥

avamanyanti bhartāraṃ saharṣamupajīvinaḥ | sve sthāne na ca tiṣṭhanti laṅghayanti ca tadvacaḥ

Those who live on him, once emboldened, look down on their master; they do not keep their own place and they overstep his word.

Note on the text: Corrected लङ्घ्यन्ति → लङ्घयन्ति (misprint in Wikisource; the verb is लङ्घयन्ति, CE laṅghayanti).

Verse 50 (12.55.50)

प्रेष्यमाणा विकल्पन्ते गुह्यं चाप्यनुयुञ्जते । अयाच्यं चैव याचन्ते भोज्यान्याहारयन्ति च ॥

preṣyamāṇā vikalpante guhyaṃ cāpyanuyuñjate | ayācyaṃ caiva yācante bhojyānyāhārayanti ca

When sent on errands they hesitate, they pry into secrets, they ask for what should not be asked, and they have fine foods brought for themselves.

Verse 51 (12.55.51)

क्रुध्यन्ति परिदीप्यन्ति भूमिपायाधितिष्ठते । उत्कोचैर्वञ्चनाभिश्च कार्याणि घ्नन्ति चास्य ते ॥

krudhyanti paridīpyanti bhūmipāyādhitiṣṭhate | utkocairvañcanābhiśca kāryāṇi ghnanti cāsya te

They grow angry, they flare up, they presume upon the lord of the earth, and by bribes and deceits they ruin his affairs.

Note on the text: The alignment found no match; CE 12.56.51 reads krudhyanti paridīpyanti bhūmim adhyāsate 'sya ca / utkocair vañcanābhiś ca kāryāṇy anuvihanti ca. Corrected क्रुथ्यन्ति → क्रुध्यन्ति and परिदीप्तन्ति → परिदीप्यन्ति (misprints in Wikisource; थ for ध, त for य, CE krudhyanti paridīpyanti). भूमिपायाधितिष्ठते (CE bhūmim adhyāsate 'sya ca) is a recension variant, kept; its sense is uncertain.

Verse 52 (12.55.52)

जर्झरं चास्य विषयं कुर्वन्ति प्रतिरूपकैः । स्त्रीरक्षिभिश्च सज्जन्ते तुल्यवेषा भवन्ति च ॥

jarjharaṃ cāsya viṣayaṃ kurvanti pratirūpakaiḥ | strīrakṣibhiśca sajjante tulyaveṣā bhavanti ca

They hollow out his country with forged documents, they take up with the guards of the women's quarters, and they dress in the same dress as he.

Verse 53 (12.55.53)

वान्तं निष्ठीवनं चैव कुर्वते चास्य सन्निधौ । निर्लज्जा राजशार्दूल व्याहरन्ति च तद्वचः ॥

vāntaṃ niṣṭhīvanaṃ caiva kurvate cāsya sannidhau | nirlajjā rājaśārdūla vyāharanti ca tadvacaḥ

They vomit and spit in his presence, and shameless, tiger among kings, they answer back his words.

Verse 54 (12.55.54)

हयं वा दन्तिनं वाऽपि रथं वा नृपसंमतम् । अधिरोहन्त्यवज्ञाय सहर्षाः पार्थिवे मृदौ ॥

hayaṃ vā dantinaṃ vā'pi rathaṃ vā nṛpasaṃmatam | adhirohantyavajñāya saharṣāḥ pārthive mṛdau

The horse, elephant or chariot that the king favors they mount in disregard of him, elated, when the king is gentle.

Verse 55 (12.55.55)

इदं ते दुष्करं राजन्निदं ते दुर्विचेष्टितम् । इत्येवं सुहृदो नाम ब्रुवते परिपद्गताः ॥

idaṃ te duṣkaraṃ rājannidaṃ te durviceṣṭitam | ityevaṃ suhṛdo nāma bruvate paripadgatāḥ

"This of yours is hard to do, this of yours is ill done," so those called friends say, once they are seated in the assembly, O king.

Verse 56 (12.55.56)

क्रुद्धे चास्मिन्हसन्त्येव न च हृष्यन्ति पूजिताः । सङ्घर्षशीलाश्च तदा भवन्त्यन्योन्यकारणात् ॥

kruddhe cāsminhasantyeva na ca hṛṣyanti pūjitāḥ | saṅgharṣaśīlāśca tadā bhavantyanyonyakāraṇāt

When he is angry they only laugh, and when honored they are not pleased; and they become quarrelsome among themselves over one cause or another.

Verse 57 (12.55.57)

विस्रंसयन्ति मन्त्रं च विवृण्वन्ति च दुष्कृतम् । लीलया चैव कुर्वन्ति सावज्ञास्तस्य शासनम् ॥

visraṃsayanti mantraṃ ca vivṛṇvanti ca duṣkṛtam | līlayā caiva kurvanti sāvajñāstasya śāsanam

They leak his counsels, they reveal his misdeeds, and they carry out his command in sport, with contempt.

Note on the text: The alignment found no match. Lines 1-2 = CE 12.56.57a,c; the CE's third line 57e (alaṃkaraṇabhojyaṃ ca tathā snānānulepanam) is the first line of the next verse on the page.

Verse 58 (12.55.58)

अलङ्काराणि भोज्यं च तथा स्नानानुलेपने । हेलमाना नरव्याघ्र स्वस्थास्तस्योपभुञ्जते ॥

alaṅkārāṇi bhojyaṃ ca tathā snānānulepane | helamānā naravyāghra svasthāstasyopabhuñjate

Ornaments, food, baths and ointments of his, they enjoy at ease, tiger among men, treating him with contempt.

Note on the text: The alignment found no match. Line 1 = CE 12.56.57e; line 2 = CE 12.56.58a (helamānā naravyāghra svasthās tasyopaśṛṇvate). Corrected हेलयाना → हेलमाना and उपभुञ्जये → उपभुञ्जते (misprints in Wikisource; उपभुञ्जये is no verb form; CE reads helamānā … tasyopaśṛṇvate and the page's उपभुञ्जते is the evident word).

Verse 59 (12.55.59)

निन्दन्ते स्वानधीकारान्सन्त्यजन्ते च भारत । न वृत्त्या परितृष्यन्ति राजदेयं हरन्ति च ॥

nindante svānadhīkārānsantyajante ca bhārata | na vṛttyā paritṛṣyanti rājadeyaṃ haranti ca

They revile their own offices and abandon them, Bharata; they are not content with their pay and they take what is due to the king.

Note on the text: The alignment found no match. Line 1 = CE 12.56.58c; line 2 = CE 12.56.59a.

Verse 60 (12.55.60)

क्रीडितुं तेन चेच्छन्ति ससूत्रेणेव पक्षिणा । अस्मत्प्रणेयो राजेति लोकांश्चैव वदन्त्युत ॥

krīḍituṃ tena cecchanti sasūtreṇeva pakṣiṇā | asmatpraṇeyo rājeti lokāṃścaiva vadantyuta

They wish to play with him as with a bird tied on a string, and they say to the people, "The king is led by us."

Note on the text: The alignment found no match. Line 1 = CE 12.56.59c; line 2 = CE 12.56.59e (asmatpraṇeyo rājeti loke caiva vadanty uta; Wikisource लोकांश्चैव is a variant of loke caiva, kept).

Verse 61 (12.55.61)

एते चैवापरे चैव दोषाः प्रादुर्भवन्त्युत । नृपतौ मार्दवोपेते हर्षुले च युधिष्ठिर ॥

ete caivāpare caiva doṣāḥ prādurbhavantyuta | nṛpatau mārdavopete harṣule ca yudhiṣṭhira

These and other faults arise, Yudhishthira, when a king is gentle and given to merriment.