The King's Share of Dharma and Sin; Yudhishthira Wishes for the Forest

Verse 1 (12.75.1)

यया वृत्त्या महीपालो विवर्धयति मानवान् । पुण्यांश्च लोकाञ्जयति तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥

yayā vṛttyā mahīpālo vivardhayati mānavān | puṇyāṃśca lokāñjayati tanme brūhi pitāmaha

By what conduct does a king make his people prosper and win the worlds of merit? Tell me that, grandfather.

Verse 2 (12.75.2)

दानशीलो भवेद्राजा यज्ञशीलश्च भारत । उपवासतपः शीलः प्रजानां पालने रतः ॥

dānaśīlo bhavedrājā yajñaśīlaśca bhārata | upavāsatapaḥ śīlaḥ prajānāṃ pālane rataḥ

A king should be given to charity and to sacrifice, O Bharata, devoted to fasting and austerity, and intent on protecting his subjects.

Verse 3 (12.75.3)

सर्वाश्चैव प्रजा नित्यं राजा धर्मेण पालयन् । उत्थानेन प्रदानेन पूजयेच्चापि धार्मिकान् ॥

sarvāścaiva prajā nityaṃ rājā dharmeṇa pālayan | utthānena pradānena pūjayeccāpi dhārmikān

Ruling all his subjects always by dharma, he should honour the righteous with diligent effort and with gifts.

Verse 4 (12.75.4)

राज्ञा हि पूजितो धर्मस्ततः सर्वत्र पूज्यते । यद्यदाचरते राजा तत्प्रजानां स्म रोचते ॥

rājñā hi pūjito dharmastataḥ sarvatra pūjyate | yadyadācarate rājā tatprajānāṃ sma rocate

When the king honours dharma, dharma is honoured everywhere. Whatever the king does, the people take to.

Verse 5 (12.75.5)

नित्यमुद्यतदण्डश्च भवेन्मृत्युरिवारिषु । निहन्यात्सर्वतो दस्यून्न राज्ञो दस्युषु क्षमा ॥

nityamudyatadaṇḍaśca bhavenmṛtyurivāriṣu | nihanyātsarvato dasyūnna rājño dasyuṣu kṣamā

Let him always keep the rod raised, like Death towards his foes. Let him strike down robbers everywhere; a king has no forbearance for robbers.

Verse 6 (12.75.6)

यं हि धर्मं चरन्तीह प्रजा राज्ञा सुरक्षिताः । चतुर्थं तस्य धर्मस्य राजा भागं च विन्दति ॥

yaṃ hi dharmaṃ carantīha prajā rājñā surakṣitāḥ | caturthaṃ tasya dharmasya rājā bhāgaṃ ca vindati

Whatever dharma the people practise here, well protected by the king, a fourth part of that dharma the king receives.

Verse 7 (12.75.7)

यदधीते यद्ददाति यज्जुहोति यदर्चति । राजा चतुर्थभाक्तस्य प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन् ॥

yadadhīte yaddadāti yajjuhoti yadarcati | rājā caturthabhāktasya prajā dharmeṇa pālayan

Whatever one studies, gives, offers in the fire or worships with, the king who protects the people by dharma receives a fourth share of it.

Note on the text: Corrected यञ्जुहोति → यज्जुहोति (misprint in Wikisource; ञ् for ज्; the sandhi of यत् + जुहोति gives ज्ज, CE yad yajate).

Verse 8 (12.75.8)

यद्राष्ट्रेऽकुशलं किंचिद्राज्ञोऽरक्षयतः प्रजाः । चतुर्थं तस्य पापस्य राजा भारत विन्दति ॥

yadrāṣṭre'kuśalaṃ kiṃcidrājño'rakṣayataḥ prajāḥ | caturthaṃ tasya pāpasya rājā bhārata vindati

Whatever wrong arises in the realm of a king who does not protect his subjects, the king takes a fourth part of that sin, O Bharata.

Note on the text: Corrected राष्ट्रोऽकुशलं → राष्ट्रेऽकुशलं (misprint in Wikisource; ो for े; the locative is needed, CE rāṣṭre 'kuśalam). Corrected राज्ञो रक्षयतः → राज्ञोऽरक्षयतः (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha, which flips the sense: the king who does not protect, CE rājño 'rakṣayataḥ).

Verse 9 (12.75.9)

अप्याहुः सर्वमेवेति भूयोऽर्धमिति निश्चयः । कर्मणा पृथिवीपाल नृशंसोऽनृतवागपि ॥

apyāhuḥ sarvameveti bhūyo'rdhamiti niścayaḥ | karmaṇā pṛthivīpāla nṛśaṃso'nṛtavāgapi

Some even say he takes the whole of it; the settled view is that he takes more than half, according to the deed, O ruler of the earth, if he is cruel or false in speech.

Note on the text: Not auto-matched: the two lines are CE 12.76.9ac; the CE's third line of this verse (9e, tādṛśāt kilbiṣād rājā śṛṇu yena pramucyate) begins the next Wikisource verse.

Verse 10 (12.75.10)

तादृशात्किल्बिषाद्राजा शृणु येन प्रमुच्यते । प्रत्याहर्तुमशक्यं स्याद्धनं चोरैर्हृतं यदि । तत्स्वकोशात्प्रदेयं स्यादशक्तेनोपजीवतः ॥

tādṛśātkilbiṣādrājā śṛṇu yena pramucyate | pratyāhartumaśakyaṃ syāddhanaṃ corairhṛtaṃ yadi | tatsvakośātpradeyaṃ syādaśaktenopajīvataḥ

Hear, O king, how one is freed from such a sin. If wealth carried off by thieves cannot be recovered, the king who is unable to recover it must repay it from his own treasury to those who live by it.

Note on the text: Corrected किल्बिपाद् → किल्बिषाद् (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; CE kilbiṣāt). Line 1 is CE 12.76.9e; lines 2-3 are CE 12.76.10ac (the CE reads उपजीवता, Wikisource उपजीवतः, glossed by the page as 'those who live by wealth').

Verse 11 (12.75.11)

सर्ववर्णैः सदा रक्ष्यं ब्रह्मस्वं ब्राह्मणा यथा । न स्थेयं विषये तेन योऽपकुर्याद्द्विजातिषु ॥

sarvavarṇaiḥ sadā rakṣyaṃ brahmasvaṃ brāhmaṇā yathā | na stheyaṃ viṣaye tena yo'pakuryāddvijātiṣu

Brahmin property must always be guarded by all the castes, as Brahmins themselves guard it. One who harms the twice-born must not be allowed to stay in the realm.

Verse 12 (12.75.12)

ब्रह्मस्वे रक्ष्यमाणे तु सर्वं भवति रक्षितम् । तेषां प्रसादे निर्वृत्ते कृतकृत्यो भवेन्नृपः ॥

brahmasve rakṣyamāṇe tu sarvaṃ bhavati rakṣitam | teṣāṃ prasāde nirvṛtte kṛtakṛtyo bhavennṛpaḥ

When Brahmin property is guarded, everything is guarded. When their favour is won, the king has done what was to be done.

Verse 13 (12.75.13)

पर्जन्यमिव भूतानि महाद्रुममिव द्विजाः । नरास्तमुपजीवन्ति नृपं सर्वार्थसाधकम् ॥

parjanyamiva bhūtāni mahādrumamiva dvijāḥ | narāstamupajīvanti nṛpaṃ sarvārthasādhakam

As creatures live on the rain-cloud and birds on a great tree, so men live on the king who accomplishes all their ends.

Verse 14 (12.75.14)

न हि कामात्मना राज्ञा सततं शठबुद्धिना । नृशंसेनातिलुब्धेन शक्यं पालयितुं प्रजाः ॥

na hi kāmātmanā rājñā satataṃ śaṭhabuddhinā | nṛśaṃsenātilubdhena śakyaṃ pālayituṃ prajāḥ

A king ruled by desire, always crooked in mind, cruel and greedy, cannot protect his subjects.

Note on the text: Corrected नृशंनेन → नृशंसेन (misprint in Wikisource; न for स; CE nṛśaṃsena).

Verse 15 (12.75.15)

नाहं राज्यसुखान्वेषी राज्यमिच्छाम्यपि क्षणम् । धर्मार्थं रोचये राज्यं धर्मश्चात्र न विद्यते ॥

nāhaṃ rājyasukhānveṣī rājyamicchāmyapi kṣaṇam | dharmārthaṃ rocaye rājyaṃ dharmaścātra na vidyate

I am not seeking the pleasure of kingship; I do not want a kingdom even for a moment. I like kingship only for the sake of dharma, and here there is no dharma.

Verse 16 (12.75.16)

तदल मम राज्येन यत्र धर्मो न विद्यते । वनमेव गमिष्यामि तस्माद्धर्मचिकीर्षया ॥

tadala mama rājyena yatra dharmo na vidyate | vanameva gamiṣyāmi tasmāddharmacikīrṣayā

Enough of kingship for me, where there is no dharma. I shall go to the forest itself, wishing to practise dharma.

Verse 17 (12.75.17)

तत्र मेध्येष्वरण्येषु न्यस्तदण्डो जितेन्द्रियः । धर्ममाराधयिष्यामि मुनिर्मूलफलाशनः ॥

tatra medhyeṣvaraṇyeṣu nyastadaṇḍo jitendriyaḥ | dharmamārādhayiṣyāmi munirmūlaphalāśanaḥ

There, in the pure forests, laying down the rod and with my senses conquered, I shall serve dharma as a sage living on roots and fruits.

Verse 18 (12.75.18)

वेदाहं तव या बुद्धिरानृशंस्येऽगुणैव सा । न च नित्यानृशंसेन शक्यं राज्यमुपासितुम् ॥

vedāhaṃ tava yā buddhirānṛśaṃsye'guṇaiva sā | na ca nityānṛśaṃsena śakyaṃ rājyamupāsitum

I know your mind, that it is turned towards gentleness, but in this matter it is no virtue. One who is always gentle cannot manage a kingdom.

Verse 19 (12.75.19)

सदैव त्वां मृदुप्रज्ञमत्यार्यमतिधार्मिकम् । क्लीबं धर्मघृणायुक्तं न लोको बहुमन्यते ॥

sadaiva tvāṃ mṛduprajñamatyāryamatidhārmikam | klībaṃ dharmaghṛṇāyuktaṃ na loko bahumanyate

The world does not esteem you, always mild in judgment, too noble, too righteous, a weakling burdened with squeamishness about dharma.

Verse 20 (12.75.20)

राजधर्ममवेक्षस्व पितृपैतामहोचितम् । नैतद्राज्ञामथो वृत्तं यथा त्वं स्थातुमिच्छसि ॥

rājadharmamavekṣasva pitṛpaitāmahocitam | naitadrājñāmatho vṛttaṃ yathā tvaṃ sthātumicchasi

Look to the royal duty that befits your father and grandfather. The way you wish to live is not the way of kings.

Verse 21 (12.75.21)

न हि वैक्लव्यसंसृष्टमानृशंस्यमिहास्थितः । प्रजापालनसंभूतं प्राप्तो धर्मफलं ह्यसि ॥

na hi vaiklavyasaṃsṛṣṭamānṛśaṃsyamihāsthitaḥ | prajāpālanasaṃbhūtaṃ prāpto dharmaphalaṃ hyasi

You do not truly stand here in a mercy mixed with weakness; you have indeed won the fruit of dharma that comes from protecting the people.

Verse 22 (12.75.22)

न ह्येतामाशिषं पाण्डुर्न च कुन्त्यभ्यभाषत । विचित्रवीर्यो धर्मात्मा चित्रवीर्यो नराधिपः ॥

na hyetāmāśiṣaṃ pāṇḍurna ca kuntyabhyabhāṣata | vicitravīryo dharmātmā citravīryo narādhipaḥ

Pandu never spoke such a blessing over you, nor did Kunti; nor did Vichitravirya, the righteous-souled, nor Chitravirya, lord of men,

Note on the text: Removed a stray backtick opening line 2 (the page prints this line and the first line of the next verse in backticks and quote marks as a loose interpolation). Line 1 is a variant of CE 12.76.22a (the CE reads कुन्त्यन्वयाचत); line 2 is the first line of the CE star passage 12.76.022b*0188_01 (vicitravīryo dharmātmā citravīryo na pārthivaḥ), which is not in the CE's constituted text. The sentence runs on into the next verse.

Verse 23 (12.75.23)

शन्तनुश्च महीपालः सर्वक्षत्रस्य पूजितः । तवैतां प्राज्ञतां तात यथा चरसि मेधया ॥

śantanuśca mahīpālaḥ sarvakṣatrasya pūjitaḥ | tavaitāṃ prājñatāṃ tāta yathā carasi medhayā

nor King Shantanu, honoured by all the Kshatriyas; this wisdom of yours, dear son, by which you conduct yourself through your understanding.

Note on the text: Removed the stray apostrophe closing the backtick-opened passage (after पूजितः) and the doubled daṇḍa. Line 1 = the CE star line 12.76.022b*0188_02 (śaṃtanuś ca mahīpālaḥ sarvakṣatrasya pūjitaḥ); line 2 is a variant of CE 12.76.22c (na caitāṃ prājñatāṃ tāta yayā carasi medhayā).

Verse 24 (12.75.24)

शौर्यं बलं च सत्यं च पिता तव सदाऽब्रवीत् । महत्त्वं बलमौदार्यं भवतः कुन्त्ययाचत ॥

śauryaṃ balaṃ ca satyaṃ ca pitā tava sadā'bravīt | mahattvaṃ balamaudāryaṃ bhavataḥ kuntyayācata

Your father always spoke of courage, strength and truth; Kunti asked for greatness, strength and generosity for you.

Verse 25 (12.75.25)

नित्यं स्वाहा स्वधा नित्यं चोभे मानुषदैवते । पुत्रेष्वाशासते नित्यं पितरो दैवतानि च ॥

nityaṃ svāhā svadhā nityaṃ cobhe mānuṣadaivate | putreṣvāśāsate nityaṃ pitaro daivatāni ca

Always the offerings of svaha and svadha, the one divine and the other human, are what the ancestors and the gods ever hope for from their sons.

Verse 26 (12.75.26)

दानमध्ययनं यज्ञं प्रजानां परिपालनम् । धर्म्यमेतदधर्म्यं वा जन्मनैवाभ्यजायथाः ॥

dānamadhyayanaṃ yajñaṃ prajānāṃ paripālanam | dharmyametadadharmyaṃ vā janmanaivābhyajāyathāḥ

Giving, study, sacrifice and the protection of the people: whether this be righteous or unrighteous, you were born to it by birth itself.

Verse 27 (12.75.27)

कुले धुरि च युक्तानां वहतां भारमीदृशम् । सीदतामपि कौन्तेय कीर्तिर्न परिहीयते ॥

kule dhuri ca yuktānāṃ vahatāṃ bhāramīdṛśam | sīdatāmapi kaunteya kīrtirna parihīyate

For those yoked to the family's burden who carry such a load, even when they sink down, O son of Kunti, their fame does not decline.

Verse 28 (12.75.28)

समन्ततो विनीतो यो वहत्यस्खलितो हि सः । निर्दोषकर्मवचनात्सिद्धिः कर्मण एव सा ॥

samantato vinīto yo vahatyaskhalito hi saḥ | nirdoṣakarmavacanātsiddhiḥ karmaṇa eva sā

He who is fully trained and carries it without stumbling succeeds; success comes from faultless action and speech, from action alone.

Verse 29 (12.75.29)

नैकान्ते विनिपातेऽपि विहरेदिह कश्चन । धर्मी गृही वा राजा वा ब्रह्मचार्यथवा द्विजः ॥

naikānte vinipāte'pi viharediha kaścana | dharmī gṛhī vā rājā vā brahmacāryathavā dvijaḥ

Let no one in this world, whether a man of dharma, a householder, a king, a student of the Veda or a twice-born, go about courting utter ruin.

Verse 30 (12.75.30)

अल्पं हि सारभूयिष्ठं यत्कर्मोदारमेव तत् । कृतमेवाकृताच्छ्रेयो न पापीयोऽस्य कर्मणः ॥

alpaṃ hi sārabhūyiṣṭhaṃ yatkarmodārameva tat | kṛtamevākṛtācchreyo na pāpīyo'sya karmaṇaḥ

A deed that is small but full of substance is indeed a great one. What is done is better than what is left undone; nothing worse comes of this deed.

Verse 31 (12.75.31)

यदा कुलीनो धर्मज्ञः प्राप्नोत्यैश्वर्यमुत्तमम् । योगक्षेमस्तदा राज्ञः कुशलायैव कल्पते ॥

yadā kulīno dharmajñaḥ prāpnotyaiśvaryamuttamam | yogakṣemastadā rājñaḥ kuśalāyaiva kalpate

When a man of good family who knows dharma attains supreme sovereignty, the king's security and welfare then lead only to good.

Verse 32 (12.75.32)

दानेनान्यं बलेनान्यमन्यं सूनृतया गिरा । सर्वतः प्रतिगृह्णीयाद्राज्यं प्राप्येह धार्मिकः ॥

dānenānyaṃ balenānyamanyaṃ sūnṛtayā girā | sarvataḥ pratigṛhṇīyādrājyaṃ prāpyeha dhārmikaḥ

One he should win by gifts, another by force, another by kindly truthful speech; having gained a kingdom here, the righteous man should bring people under his sway from every side.

Verse 33 (12.75.33)

यं हि वैद्याः कुले जाता ह्यवृत्तिभयपीडिताः । प्राप्य तृप्ताः प्रतिष्ठन्ति धर्मः कोऽभ्यधिकस्ततः ॥

yaṃ hi vaidyāḥ kule jātā hyavṛttibhayapīḍitāḥ | prāpya tṛptāḥ pratiṣṭhanti dharmaḥ ko'bhyadhikastataḥ

A king in whom learned men of good family, tormented by fear of want, find contentment and settle once they have reached him: what dharma is higher than that?

Verse 34 (12.75.34)

किं न्वतः परमं स्वर्ग्यं का ततः प्रीतिरुत्तमा । किं ततः परमैश्वर्यं ब्रूहि मे यदि पश्यसि ॥

kiṃ nvataḥ paramaṃ svargyaṃ kā tataḥ prītiruttamā | kiṃ tataḥ paramaiśvaryaṃ brūhi me yadi paśyasi

What is higher than this as a way to heaven? What joy is greater? What is the highest lordship? Tell me, if you see it.

Verse 35 (12.75.35)

यस्मिन्भयार्दिताः सन्तः क्षेमं विन्दन्त्यपि क्षणम् । स स्वर्गजित्तमोऽस्माकं सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥

yasminbhayārditāḥ santaḥ kṣemaṃ vindantyapi kṣaṇam | sa svargajittamo'smākaṃ satyametadbravīmi te

He in whom frightened good people find safety, even for a moment, is the best winner of heaven among us; I tell you this truly.

Verse 36 (12.75.36)

त्वमेव प्रीतिमांस्तस्मात्कुरूणां कुरुसत्तम । भव राजा जय स्वर्गं सतो रक्षाऽसतो जहि ॥

tvameva prītimāṃstasmātkurūṇāṃ kurusattama | bhava rājā jaya svargaṃ sato rakṣā'sato jahi

Therefore, best of the Kurus, you alone are the delight of the Kurus. Become king, win heaven, protect the good and destroy the wicked.

Verse 37 (12.75.37)

अनु त्वां तात जीवन्तु सुहृदः साधुभिः सह । पर्जन्यमिव भूतानि स्वादुद्रुममिव द्विजाः ॥

anu tvāṃ tāta jīvantu suhṛdaḥ sādhubhiḥ saha | parjanyamiva bhūtāni svādudrumamiva dvijāḥ

Dear son, let your friends live by your help, together with the good, as creatures live on the rain-cloud and birds on a tree of sweet fruit.

Verse 38 (12.75.38)

धृष्टं शूरं प्रहर्तारमनृशंसं जितेन्द्रियम् । वत्सलं संविभक्तारमुपजीवन्तु बान्धवाः ॥

dhṛṣṭaṃ śūraṃ prahartāramanṛśaṃsaṃ jitendriyam | vatsalaṃ saṃvibhaktāramupajīvantu bāndhavāḥ

Let your kinsmen live depending on one who is bold and brave, a smiter of foes, merciful, self-controlled, affectionate and generous in sharing.