The Essence of Kingly Duty; the First Day Ends

Verse 1 (12.57.1)

एतत्ते राजधर्माणां नवनीतं युधिष्ठिर । बृहस्पतिर्हि भगवान्नान्यं धर्मं प्रशंसति ॥

etatte rājadharmāṇāṃ navanītaṃ yudhiṣṭhira | bṛhaspatirhi bhagavānnānyaṃ dharmaṃ praśaṃsati

This, Yudhishthira, is the very butter of the duties of kings; the venerable Brihaspati commends no other dharma.

Verse 2 (12.57.2)

विशालाक्षश्च भगवान्काव्यश्चैव महातपाः । सहस्राक्षो महेन्द्रश्च तथा प्राचेतसो मनुः ॥

viśālākṣaśca bhagavānkāvyaścaiva mahātapāḥ | sahasrākṣo mahendraśca tathā prācetaso manuḥ

Vishalaksha, the venerable Kavya of great austerity, thousand-eyed Mahendra, and Manu, son of Prachetas,

Verse 3 (12.57.3)

भरद्वाजश्च भगवांस्तथा गौरशिरा मुनिः । राजशास्त्रप्रणेतारो ब्राह्मणा ब्रह्मवादिनः ॥

bharadvājaśca bhagavāṃstathā gauraśirā muniḥ | rājaśāstrapraṇetāro brāhmaṇā brahmavādinaḥ

the venerable Bharadvaja and the sage Gaurashiras: these brahmins, expounders of Brahman, are the authors of the science of kingship.

Verse 4 (12.57.4)

रक्षामेव प्रशंसन्ति धर्मं धर्मभृतां वर । राज्ञां राजीवताम्राक्ष साधनं चात्र मे शृणु ॥

rakṣāmeva praśaṃsanti dharmaṃ dharmabhṛtāṃ vara | rājñāṃ rājīvatāmrākṣa sādhanaṃ cātra me śṛṇu

Best of those who uphold dharma, they praise protection alone as the dharma of kings. O you of lotus-red eyes, now hear from me the means of it.

Verse 5 (12.57.5)

चारश्च प्रणिधिश्चैव काले दानममत्सरः । युक्त्या दानं न चादानमयोगेन युधिष्ठिर ॥

cāraśca praṇidhiścaiva kāle dānamamatsaraḥ | yuktyā dānaṃ na cādānamayogena yudhiṣṭhira

Secret agents and open agents; giving at the proper time without grudging; taking by sound method and never by unsound means, Yudhishthira.

Verse 6 (12.57.6)

सतां संग्रहणं शौर्यं दाक्ष्यं सत्यं प्रजाहितम् । अनार्जवैरार्जवैश्च शत्रुपक्षाविवर्धनम् ॥

satāṃ saṃgrahaṇaṃ śauryaṃ dākṣyaṃ satyaṃ prajāhitam | anārjavairārjavaiśca śatrupakṣāvivardhanam

Gathering the good around him, valour, skill, truthfulness, the welfare of his subjects, and keeping the enemy's side from growing, by crooked means and straight alike.

Verse 7 (12.57.7)

केतनानां च जीर्णानामवेक्षा चैव सीदताम् । द्विविधस्य च दण्डस्य प्रयोगः कालचोदितः ॥

ketanānāṃ ca jīrṇānāmavekṣā caiva sīdatām | dvividhasya ca daṇḍasya prayogaḥ kālacoditaḥ

Attention to old and failing houses and buildings, and the use of the twofold punishment as the time requires.

Note on the text: Wikisource has re-paired the CE's lines here: this verse is CE 12.58.9 line 2 (ketanānāṃ ca jīrṇānām avekṣā caiva sīdatām) followed by CE 12.58.10 line 1 (dvividhasya ca daṇḍasya prayogaḥ kālacoditaḥ); the alignment found no match. Text unchanged.

Verse 8 (12.57.8)

साधूनामपरित्यागः कुलीनानां च धारणम् । निचयश्च निचेयानां सेवा बुद्धिमतामपि ॥

sādhūnāmaparityāgaḥ kulīnānāṃ ca dhāraṇam | nicayaśca niceyānāṃ sevā buddhimatāmapi

Never abandoning the good, supporting men of good family, laying in stores of what should be stored, and serving the wise.

Verse 9 (12.57.9)

बलानां हर्षणं नित्यं प्रजानामन्ववेक्षणम् । कार्येष्वखेदः कोशस्य तथैव च विवर्धनम् ॥

balānāṃ harṣaṇaṃ nityaṃ prajānāmanvavekṣaṇam | kāryeṣvakhedaḥ kośasya tathaiva ca vivardhanam

Always gladdening the troops, watching over the subjects, not tiring in his tasks, and likewise increasing the treasury.

Verse 10 (12.57.10)

पुरगुप्तिरविश्वासः पौरसंघातभेदनम् । अरिमध्यस्थमित्राणां यथावच्चान्ववेक्षणम् ॥

puraguptiraviśvāsaḥ paurasaṃghātabhedanam | arimadhyasthamitrāṇāṃ yathāvaccānvavekṣaṇam

Guarding the city, mistrust (even of the watchmen), breaking up the combinations of citizens, and duly keeping watch over enemies, neutrals and friends.

Note on the text: Wikisource has re-paired the CE's lines here: this verse is CE 12.58.9 line 1 (puraguptir aviśvāsaḥ paurasaṃghātabhedanam) followed by CE 12.58.10 line 2 (arimadhyasthamitrāṇāṃ yathāvac cānvavekṣaṇam); the alignment found no match. Text unchanged.

Verse 11 (12.57.11)

उपजापश्च भृत्यानामात्मनः पुरदर्शनम् । अविश्वासः स्वयं चैव परस्याश्वासनं तथा ॥

upajāpaśca bhṛtyānāmātmanaḥ puradarśanam | aviśvāsaḥ svayaṃ caiva parasyāśvāsanaṃ tathā

Sowing division among his servants, inspecting his own city in person, mistrust of his servants, and likewise reassuring others.

Verse 12 (12.57.12)

नीतिवर्त्मानुसारेण नित्यमुत्थानमेव च । रिपूणामनवज्ञानं नित्यं चानार्यवर्जनम् ॥

nītivartmānusāreṇa nityamutthānameva ca | ripūṇāmanavajñānaṃ nityaṃ cānāryavarjanam

Constant exertion along the path of policy, never disdaining enemies, and always avoiding ignoble things.

Verse 13 (12.57.13)

उत्थानं हि नरेन्द्राणां बृहस्पतिरभाषत । राजधर्मस्य यन्मूलं श्लोकांश्चात्र निबोध मे ॥

utthānaṃ hi narendrāṇāṃ bṛhaspatirabhāṣata | rājadharmasya yanmūlaṃ ślokāṃścātra nibodha me

Brihaspati taught that exertion is the root of the duty of kings. Hear from me the verses on this.

Verse 14 (12.57.14)

उत्थानेनामृतं लब्धमुत्थानेनासुरा हताः । उत्थानेन महेन्द्रेण श्रैष्ठ्यं प्राप्तं दिवीह च ॥

utthānenāmṛtaṃ labdhamutthānenāsurā hatāḥ | utthānena mahendreṇa śraiṣṭhyaṃ prāptaṃ divīha ca

By effort the nectar was won; by effort the asuras were slain; by effort great Indra gained pre-eminence in heaven and here.

Verse 15 (12.57.15)

उत्थानधीरः पुरुषो वाग्धीरानधितिष्ठति । उत्थानवीरान्वाग्वीरा रमयन्त उपासते ॥

utthānadhīraḥ puruṣo vāgdhīrānadhitiṣṭhati | utthānavīrānvāgvīrā ramayanta upāsate

A man resolute in effort rules over those who are resolute only in speech; the heroes of speech attend on the heroes of effort and entertain them.

Verse 16 (12.57.16)

उत्थानहीनो राजा हि बुद्धिमानपि नित्यशः । प्रधर्षणीयः शत्रूणां भुजङ्ग इव निर्विषः ॥

utthānahīno rājā hi buddhimānapi nityaśaḥ | pradharṣaṇīyaḥ śatrūṇāṃ bhujaṅga iva nirviṣaḥ

A king without effort, however wise he may be, is always open to attack by his enemies, like a snake without venom.

Verse 17 (12.57.17)

न च शत्रुरवज्ञेयो दुर्बलोऽपि बलीयसा । अल्पोऽपि हि दहत्यग्निर्विषमल्पं हिनस्ति च ॥

na ca śatruravajñeyo durbalo'pi balīyasā | alpo'pi hi dahatyagnirviṣamalpaṃ hinasti ca

A foe should not be despised, even if he is weak and the other is stronger: a little fire burns, and a little poison kills.

Verse 18 (12.57.18)

एकाङ्गेनापि संभूतः शत्रुर्दुर्गमुपाश्रितः । सर्वं तापयते देशमपि राज्ञः समृद्धिनः ॥

ekāṅgenāpi saṃbhūtaḥ śatrurdurgamupāśritaḥ | sarvaṃ tāpayate deśamapi rājñaḥ samṛddhinaḥ

Even an enemy who has risen with only one limb of an army and taken refuge in a fortress can scorch the whole land of a prosperous king.

Verse 19 (12.57.19)

राज्ञो रहस्यं यद्वाक्यं जयार्थे लोकसंग्रहः । हृदि यच्चास्य जिह्नं स्यात्कारणार्थं च यद्भवेत् ॥

rājño rahasyaṃ yadvākyaṃ jayārthe lokasaṃgrahaḥ | hṛdi yaccāsya jihnaṃ syātkāraṇārthaṃ ca yadbhavet

The king's secret speech, whatever aims at victory and the winning of the people, whatever may be crooked in his heart, and whatever is done for some purpose,

Verse 20 (12.57.20)

यच्चास्य कार्यं वृजिनं मार्दवेनैव धार्यते । रञ्जनार्थं च लोकस्य धर्मिष्ठामाचरेत्क्रियाम् ॥

yaccāsya kāryaṃ vṛjinaṃ mārdavenaiva dhāryate | rañjanārthaṃ ca lokasya dharmiṣṭhāmācaretkriyām

and whatever act of his is harsh, is carried through under cover of gentleness; and to please the people he should perform the most righteous acts.

Verse 21 (12.57.21)

राज्यं हि सुमहत्तत्र दुर्धार्यमकृतात्मभिः । न शक्यं मृदुना वोदुमाघातस्थानमुल्वणम् ॥

rājyaṃ hi sumahattatra durdhāryamakṛtātmabhiḥ | na śakyaṃ mṛdunā vodumāghātasthānamulvaṇam

A kingdom is a very great charge, hard to carry for those who have not subdued themselves; and a gentle man cannot bear it, for it is a place of fearsome blows.

Verse 22 (12.57.22)

राज्यं सर्वामिषं नित्यमार्जवेनैव धार्यते । तस्मान्मिश्रेण सततं वर्तितव्यं युधिष्ठिर ॥

rājyaṃ sarvāmiṣaṃ nityamārjavenaiva dhāryate | tasmānmiśreṇa satataṃ vartitavyaṃ yudhiṣṭhira

A kingdom is a prize all crave, and is not held by straightforwardness alone. Therefore, Yudhishthira, one should always proceed by a mixture of both.

Note on the text: The Sanskrit is unchanged (CE has the same: ārjaveneha dhāryate). It is printed without a negative, but the following 'therefore … by a mixture' requires the sense 'is not held by straightforwardness alone'; translated so.

Verse 23 (12.57.23)

यद्यप्यस्य विपत्तिः स्याद्रक्षमाणस्य वै प्रजाः । सोप्यस्य विपुलो धर्म एवं वृत्ता हि भूमिपाः ॥

yadyapyasya vipattiḥ syādrakṣamāṇasya vai prajāḥ | sopyasya vipulo dharma evaṃ vṛttā hi bhūmipāḥ

Even if some mishap should befall him while he protects his subjects, that too is a great merit for him; this is how kings have conducted themselves.

Note on the text: Corrected विपक्तिः → विपत्तिः (misprint in Wikisource; विपक्तिः is not the word wanted here, CE vipattiḥ).

Verse 24 (12.57.24)

एष ते राजधर्माणां लेशः समनुवर्णितः । भूयस्ते यत्र संदेहस्तद्ब्रूहि कुरुसत्तम ॥

eṣa te rājadharmāṇāṃ leśaḥ samanuvarṇitaḥ | bhūyaste yatra saṃdehastadbrūhi kurusattama

I have set out for you only a portion of the duties of kings. Ask me whatever you still doubt, best of the Kurus.

Verse 25 (12.57.25)

ततो व्यासश्च भगवान्देवस्थानोऽश्म एव च । वासुदेवः कृपश्चैव सात्यकिः सञ्जयस्तथा ॥

tato vyāsaśca bhagavāndevasthāno'śma eva ca | vāsudevaḥ kṛpaścaiva sātyakiḥ sañjayastathā

Then the venerable Vyasa, Devasthana and Ashma, Vasudeva, Kripa, Satyaki and Sanjaya,

Verse 26 (12.57.26)

साधुसाध्विति संहृष्टा घुष्यमाणैरिवाननैः । अस्तुवंश्च नरव्याघ्रं भीष्मं धर्मभृतां वरम् ॥

sādhusādhviti saṃhṛṣṭā ghuṣyamāṇairivānanaiḥ | astuvaṃśca naravyāghraṃ bhīṣmaṃ dharmabhṛtāṃ varam

overjoyed, cried 'Well said, well said!' and, as though their very faces resounded, praised Bhishma, the tiger among men, best of those who uphold dharma.

Verse 27 (12.57.27)

ततो दीनमना भीष्ममुवाच कुरुनन्दनः । नेत्राभ्यामश्रुपूर्णाभ्यां पादौ तस्य शनैः स्पृशन् ॥

tato dīnamanā bhīṣmamuvāca kurunandanaḥ | netrābhyāmaśrupūrṇābhyāṃ pādau tasya śanaiḥ spṛśan

Then Yudhishthira, the joy of the Kurus, his heart heavy, his eyes full of tears, slowly touching Bhishma's feet, said to him:

Verse 28 (12.57.28)

श्व इदानीं स्वसंदेहं प्रवक्ष्यामि पितामह । उपैति सविता ह्यस्तं रसमापीय पार्थिवम् ॥

śva idānīṃ svasaṃdehaṃ pravakṣyāmi pitāmaha | upaiti savitā hyastaṃ rasamāpīya pārthivam

Grandfather, tomorrow I will state my remaining doubt. The sun is going to his setting, having drunk the moisture of the earth.

Note on the text: Speaker: the page's heading (वैशंपायन उवाच, before verse 25) still stands, but verse 28 is Yudhishthira's own direct speech (introduced by verse 27, 'ततो दीनमना भीष्ममुवाच'); given to युधिष्ठिर. The CE also has it under Vaishampayana's heading (12.58.25).

Verse 29 (12.57.29)

ततो द्विजातीनभिवाद्य केशवः । कृपश्च ते चैव युधिष्ठिरादयः । प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य महानदीसुतं । ततो रथानारुरुहुर्मुदान्विताः ॥

tato dvijātīnabhivādya keśavaḥ | kṛpaśca te caiva yudhiṣṭhirādayaḥ | pradakṣiṇīkṛtya mahānadīsutaṃ | tato rathānāruruhurmudānvitāḥ

Then Keshava, Kripa and those others, and Yudhishthira and his company, having saluted the brahmins and circled the son of the great river, joyfully climbed into their chariots.

Verse 30 (12.57.30)

दृषद्वतीं चाप्यवगाह्य सुव्रताः । कृतोदकार्थाः कृतजप्यमङ्गलाः । उपास्य संध्यां विधिवत्परंतपा । स्ततः पुरं ते विविशुर्गजाह्वयम् ॥

dṛṣadvatīṃ cāpyavagāhya suvratāḥ | kṛtodakārthāḥ kṛtajapyamaṅgalāḥ | upāsya saṃdhyāṃ vidhivatparaṃtapā | stataḥ puraṃ te viviśurgajāhvayam

Those of firm vows bathed in the Drishadvati, offered the water, performed their silent prayers and auspicious rites, and having duly worshipped at evening twilight, those scorchers of foes entered the city called Gajahvaya, Hastinapura.

Note on the text: Unchanged: the line break after परंतपा falls inside the sandhi परंतपास्ततः, which is why the next line begins स्ततः.