Kalakavrikshiya Warns the King of Kosala

Verse 1 (12.82.1)

एषा प्रथमतो वृत्तिर्द्वितीयां शृणु भारत । यः कश्चिद्वेदयेदर्थं राज्ञा रक्ष्यः स मानवः ॥

eṣā prathamato vṛttirdvitīyāṃ śṛṇu bhārata | yaḥ kaścidvedayedarthaṃ rājñā rakṣyaḥ sa mānavaḥ

This is the first rule of conduct; now hear the second, O Bharata. Whoever makes a matter known to the king must be protected by the king.

Verse 2 (12.82.2)

ह्रियमाणममात्येन भृत्यो वा यदि वा भृतः । यो राजकोशं नश्यन्तमाचक्षीत युधिष्ठिर ॥

hriyamāṇamamātyena bhṛtyo vā yadi vā bhṛtaḥ | yo rājakośaṃ naśyantamācakṣīta yudhiṣṭhira

If a man, whether a servant or a hired hand, reports that the royal treasury is being carried off and ruined by a minister, O Yudhishthira,

Verse 3 (12.82.3)

श्रोतव्यमस्य च रहो रक्ष्यश्चामात्यतो भवेत् । अमात्या ह्यपहर्तारो भूयिष्ठं घ्नन्ति भारत ॥

śrotavyamasya ca raho rakṣyaścāmātyato bhavet | amātyā hyapahartāro bhūyiṣṭhaṃ ghnanti bhārata

his words should be heard in private, and he should be shielded from that minister; for thieving ministers, O Bharata, most often kill the one who informs against them.

Verse 4 (12.82.4)

राजकोशस्य गोप्तारं राजकोशविलोपकाः । समेत्य सर्वे बाधन्ते स विनश्यत्यरक्षितः ॥

rājakośasya goptāraṃ rājakośavilopakāḥ | sametya sarve bādhante sa vinaśyatyarakṣitaḥ

The plunderers of the royal treasury all band together and harass the one who guards it; left unprotected, he perishes.

Verse 5 (12.82.5)

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । मुनिः कालकवृक्षीयः कौसल्यं यदुवाच ह ॥

atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | muniḥ kālakavṛkṣīyaḥ kausalyaṃ yaduvāca ha

On this point they tell an ancient tale: what the sage Kalakavrikshiya once said to the king of Kosala.

Verse 6 (12.82.6)

कोसलानामाधिपत्यं संप्राप्तं क्षेमदर्शिनम् । मुनिः कालकवृक्षीय आजगामेति नः श्रुतम् ॥

kosalānāmādhipatyaṃ saṃprāptaṃ kṣemadarśinam | muniḥ kālakavṛkṣīya ājagāmeti naḥ śrutam

We have heard that when Kshemadarshin had come into the sovereignty of the Kosalas, the sage Kalakavrikshiya came to him.

Note on the text: Corrected आजगोमेति → आजगामेति (misprint in Wikisource; the verb is आजगाम, CE ājagāmeti).

Verse 7 (12.82.7)

स काकं पञ्जरे बद्ध्वा विषयं क्षेमदर्शिनः । सर्वं पर्यचरद्युक्तः प्रवृत्त्यर्थी पुनः पुनः ॥

sa kākaṃ pañjare baddhvā viṣayaṃ kṣemadarśinaḥ | sarvaṃ paryacaradyuktaḥ pravṛttyarthī punaḥ punaḥ

Shutting a crow in a cage, and intent on his purpose, he went about the whole of Kshemadarshin's realm, carefully, again and again.

Verse 8 (12.82.8)

अधीये वायसीं विद्यां शंसन्ति मम वायसाः । अनागतमतीतं च यच्च संप्रति वर्तते ॥

adhīye vāyasīṃ vidyāṃ śaṃsanti mama vāyasāḥ | anāgatamatītaṃ ca yacca saṃprati vartate

‘I have studied the lore of crows; my crows tell me of the future, the past, and whatever is happening now.’

Note on the text: Speaker: the page heads this verse under भीष्म उवाच (the frame), but the whole verse is the sage's own speech, so the speaker is the sage.

Verse 9 (12.82.9)

इति राष्ट्रे परिपतन्बहुभिः पुरुषैः सह । सर्वेषां राजयुक्तानां दुष्कृतं परिदृष्टवान् ॥

iti rāṣṭre paripatanbahubhiḥ puruṣaiḥ saha | sarveṣāṃ rājayuktānāṃ duṣkṛtaṃ paridṛṣṭavān

So, roaming the country with many men, he came to see the misdeeds of all the king's officers.

Verse 10 (12.82.10)

स बुद्ध्वा तस्य राष्ट्रस्य व्यवसायं हि सर्वशः । राजयुक्तापचारांश्च सर्वान्बुद्ध्वा ततस्ततः ॥

sa buddhvā tasya rāṣṭrasya vyavasāyaṃ hi sarvaśaḥ | rājayuktāpacārāṃśca sarvānbuddhvā tatastataḥ

Having understood on every side how that country was run, and having learned here and there of all the malpractices of the king's officers,

Verse 11 (12.82.11)

ततः स काकमादाय राजानं द्रष्टुमागमत् । सर्वज्ञोऽस्मीति वचनं ब्रुवाणः संशितव्रतः ॥

tataḥ sa kākamādāya rājānaṃ draṣṭumāgamat | sarvajño'smīti vacanaṃ bruvāṇaḥ saṃśitavrataḥ

that sage of firm vows took the same crow and went to see the king, declaring, ‘I know all things.’

Verse 12 (12.82.12)

स स्म कौसल्यमागम्य राजामात्यमलंकृतम् । प्राह काकस्य वचनादमुत्रेदं त्वया कृतम् ॥

sa sma kausalyamāgamya rājāmātyamalaṃkṛtam | prāha kākasya vacanādamutredaṃ tvayā kṛtam

Coming to the king of Kosala, he spoke, on the crow's word, to a minister adorned with the king's honours: ‘In such a place you did this.’

Note on the text: Speaker: narration by Bhishma; the sage's words begin with अमुत्रेदं त्वया कृतम् in line 2.

Verse 13 (12.82.13)

असौ चासौ च जानीते राजकोशस्त्वया हृतः । एवमाख्याति काकोऽयं तच्छीघ्रमनुगम्यताम् ॥

asau cāsau ca jānīte rājakośastvayā hṛtaḥ | evamākhyāti kāko'yaṃ tacchīghramanugamyatām

‘This man and that man know that you have stolen the king's treasure; so says this crow. Let it be looked into at once.’

Note on the text: Corrected राजकेशस्त्वया → राजकोशस्त्वया (misprint in Wikisource; क for को, the treasure is राजकोश, CE rājakośas). Speaker: the page heads this verse under भीष्म उवाच (the frame), but the whole verse is the sage's own speech, so the speaker is the sage.

Verse 14 (12.82.14)

तथाऽन्यानपि स प्राह राजकोशहरांस्तदा । न चास्य वचनं किंचिदनृतं श्रूयते क्वचित् ॥

tathā'nyānapi sa prāha rājakośaharāṃstadā | na cāsya vacanaṃ kiṃcidanṛtaṃ śrūyate kvacit

In the same way he named others, too, who had plundered the royal treasury; and never was any word of his heard to be false.

Verse 15 (12.82.15)

तेन विप्रकृताः सर्वे राजयुक्ताः कुरूद्वह । तमतिक्रम्य सुप्तं तु निशि काकमपोथयन् ॥

tena viprakṛtāḥ sarve rājayuktāḥ kurūdvaha | tamatikramya suptaṃ tu niśi kākamapothayan

Wronged by him, all the king's officers, O scion of the Kurus, slipped past him while he slept and killed the crow in the night.

Verse 16 (12.82.16)

वायसं तु विनिर्भिन्नं दृष्ट्वा वाणेन पञ्जरे । पूर्वाह्णे ब्राह्मणो वाक्यं क्षेमदर्शिनमब्रवीत् ॥

vāyasaṃ tu vinirbhinnaṃ dṛṣṭvā vāṇena pañjare | pūrvāhṇe brāhmaṇo vākyaṃ kṣemadarśinamabravīt

Seeing the crow pierced by an arrow in its cage, the brahmin spoke to Kshemadarshin in the forenoon:

Verse 17 (12.82.17)

राजंस्त्वामभयं याचे प्रभुं प्राणधनेश्वरम् । अनुज्ञातस्त्वया ब्रूयां वचनं भवतो हितम् ॥

rājaṃstvāmabhayaṃ yāce prabhuṃ prāṇadhaneśvaram | anujñātastvayā brūyāṃ vacanaṃ bhavato hitam

‘O King, you are the lord of life and wealth; I ask you for freedom from fear. Once you permit me, I shall speak words for your good.’

Note on the text: Speaker: the page heads this verse under भीष्म उवाच (the frame), but the whole verse is the sage's own speech, so the speaker is the sage.

Verse 18 (12.82.18)

मित्रार्थमभिसंतप्तो भक्त्या सर्वात्मनाऽऽगतः । ह्रियन्ते हि महार्थाश्च पुरुषे विक्रमत्यपि ॥

mitrārthamabhisaṃtapto bhaktyā sarvātmanā''gataḥ | hriyante hi mahārthāśca puruṣe vikramatyapi

‘Tormented on a friend's account, I have come with my whole heart; for great fortunes are carried off even from a man who exerts himself valiantly.’

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment. Line 1 = CE 12.83.18a (mitrārtham abhisaṃtapto bhaktyā sarvātmanā gataḥ; Wikisource गतः→आगतः is a variant, kept); line 2 is the CE star line 12.83.18d*0201_01 (hriyate hi mahārthaś ca puruṣe vikramaty api). The CE's line 18c (ayaṃ tavārthaṃ harate yo brūyād akṣamānvitaḥ) is not in Wikisource's table. Speaker: the page heads this verse under भीष्म उवाच (the frame), but the whole verse is the sage's own speech, so the speaker is the sage.

Verse 19 (12.82.19)

संबुबोधयिषुर्मित्रं सदश्वमिव सारथिः । अतिमन्युप्रसक्तो हि प्रसह्य हितकारणात् ॥

saṃbubodhayiṣurmitraṃ sadaśvamiva sārathiḥ | atimanyuprasakto hi prasahya hitakāraṇāt

‘As a charioteer rouses a good horse, so I wish to rouse my friend; swept up in great indignation, I press him hard for the sake of his good.’

Note on the text: Speaker: the page heads this verse under भीष्म उवाच (the frame), but the whole verse is the sage's own speech, so the speaker is the sage.

Verse 20 (12.82.20)

तथाविधस्य सुहृदा क्षन्तव्यं संविजानता । ऐश्वर्यमिच्छता नित्यं पुरुषेण बुभूषता ॥

tathāvidhasya suhṛdā kṣantavyaṃ saṃvijānatā | aiśvaryamicchatā nityaṃ puruṣeṇa bubhūṣatā

‘A man who understands, who always desires prosperity and wishes to thrive, should forgive a friend of that kind.’

Note on the text: Speaker: the page heads this verse under भीष्म उवाच (the frame), but the whole verse is the sage's own speech, so the speaker is the sage.

Verse 21 (12.82.21)

तं राजा प्रत्युवाचेदं यत्किंचिन्मां भवान्वदेत् । कस्मादहं न क्षमेयमाकाङ्क्षन्नात्मनो हितम् ॥

taṃ rājā pratyuvācedaṃ yatkiṃcinmāṃ bhavānvadet | kasmādahaṃ na kṣameyamākāṅkṣannātmano hitam

The king answered him: ‘Whatever you may say to me, why should I not bear it, when I desire my own good?’

Note on the text: Speaker: line 1 is narration by Bhishma; the king's reply begins with यत्किंचिन्मां भवान्वदेत्.

Verse 22 (12.82.22)

ब्राह्मण प्रतिजाने ते प्रब्रूहि यदिहेच्छसि । करिष्यामि हि ते वाक्यं यन्मां विप्र प्रवक्ष्यसि ॥

brāhmaṇa pratijāne te prabrūhi yadihecchasi | kariṣyāmi hi te vākyaṃ yanmāṃ vipra pravakṣyasi

‘Brahmin, I give you my word: say whatever you wish here. Whatever you tell me, O sage, I shall do.’

Note on the text: Speaker: the page heads this verse under भीष्म उवाच (the frame), but the whole verse is the king's own speech, so the speaker is the king.

Verse 23 (12.82.23)

विद्वान्नयानपायांश्च भयाख्यातॄन्भयानि च । भक्त्या वृत्तिं समाख्यातुं भवतोऽन्तिकमागतः ॥

vidvānnayānapāyāṃśca bhayākhyātṝnbhayāni ca | bhaktyā vṛttiṃ samākhyātuṃ bhavato'ntikamāgataḥ

‘Knowing right courses and wrong, the dangers that come from servants, and those who give warning of dangers, I have come to you out of devotion to explain how a man should conduct himself.’

Verse 24 (12.82.24)

प्रागेवोक्तं तु दोषोऽयमाचार्यैर्नृपसेवनम् । अगतेः कुगतिर्ह्येषा या राज्ञा सहजीविका ॥

prāgevoktaṃ tu doṣo'yamācāryairnṛpasevanam | agateḥ kugatirhyeṣā yā rājñā sahajīvikā

‘The teachers declared long ago that this is the fault of serving kings: living alongside a king is a wretched course, the last resort of one who has no other.’

Verse 25 (12.82.25)

आशीविषैश्च तस्याहुः संगमं यस्य राजभिः । बहुमित्राश्च राजानो बह्वमित्रास्तथैव च ॥

āśīviṣaiśca tasyāhuḥ saṃgamaṃ yasya rājabhiḥ | bahumitrāśca rājāno bahvamitrāstathaiva ca

‘They say that whoever consorts with kings consorts with venomous snakes; and kings have many friends and just as many enemies.’

Note on the text: Corrected बहुमित्रांश्च → बहुमित्राश्च (misprint in Wikisource; stray anusvara, the subject is राजानः, CE bahumitrāś). Corrected बह्वभित्रास् → बह्वमित्रास् (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म, CE bahvamitrās).

Verse 26 (12.82.26)

तेभ्यः सर्वेभ्य एवाहुर्भयं राजोपजीविनाम् । तथाऽस्य राजतो राजन्मुहुर्तादागतं भयम् ॥

tebhyaḥ sarvebhya evāhurbhayaṃ rājopajīvinām | tathā'sya rājato rājanmuhurtādāgataṃ bhayam

‘From all of these, they say, danger comes to those who live by kings; and so, O King, danger may come to such a man from the king himself in a single moment.’

Verse 27 (12.82.27)

नैकान्तेनाप्रमादो हि शक्यः कर्तुं महीपतौ । न तु प्रमादः कर्तव्यः कथंचिद्भूतिमिच्छता ॥

naikāntenāpramādo hi śakyaḥ kartuṃ mahīpatau | na tu pramādaḥ kartavyaḥ kathaṃcidbhūtimicchatā

‘One cannot be perfectly watchful toward a king at every moment; yet one who desires prosperity must never be careless in any way.’

Verse 28 (12.82.28)

प्रमादात्स्खलते बुद्धिः स्खलतो नास्ति जीवितम् । अग्निं दीप्तमिवासीदेद्राजानमुपशिक्षितः ॥

pramādātskhalate buddhiḥ skhalato nāsti jīvitam | agniṃ dīptamivāsīdedrājānamupaśikṣitaḥ

‘Through carelessness the mind slips, and for one who slips there is no life. One who has learned how should approach a king as one approaches a blazing fire,’

Note on the text: Corrected राजानप्नुपशिक्षितः → राजानमुपशिक्षितः (misprint in Wikisource; garbled म + उ, CE rājānam upaśikṣitaḥ).

Verse 29 (12.82.29)

आशीविषमिव क्रुद्धं प्रभुं प्राणधनेश्वरम् । यत्नेनोपचरेन्नित्यं नाहमस्मीति मानवः ॥

āśīviṣamiva kruddhaṃ prabhuṃ prāṇadhaneśvaram | yatnenopacarennityaṃ nāhamasmīti mānavaḥ

‘as one approaches an angry venomous snake. A man should always serve the lord of life and wealth with care, counting himself as nothing.’

Verse 30 (12.82.30)

दुर्व्याहृताच्छङ्कमानो दुःस्थिताद्दुरनुष्ठितात् । दुरासदाद्दुर्वृजिनादिङ्गिताद्ध्यायितादपि ॥

durvyāhṛtācchaṅkamāno duḥsthitādduranuṣṭhitāt | durāsadāddurvṛjinādiṅgitāddhyāyitādapi

‘Let him be wary of a badly spoken word, of bad deportment, of an ill-done act, of an unsafe approach, of misconduct, of a gesture, even of a passing thought,’

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment. A recension variant of CE 12.83.30: only durvyāhṛtāc chaṅkamāno is shared; Wikisource दुःस्थिताद्दुरनुष्ठितात् । दुरासदाद्दुर्वृजिनादिङ्गिताद्ध्यायितादपि against CE duṣkṛtād duradhiṣṭhitāt / durāsitād durvrajitād iṅgitād aṅgaceṣṭitāt. Kept as printed.

Verse 31 (12.82.31)

देवतेव हि सर्वार्थान्कुर्याद्राजा प्रसादितः । वैश्वानर इव क्रुद्धः समूलमपि निर्दहेत् ॥

devateva hi sarvārthānkuryādrājā prasāditaḥ | vaiśvānara iva kruddhaḥ samūlamapi nirdahet

‘for a king who is pleased can fulfil every purpose like a god, but when he is angered, like fire he can burn a man down to the roots.’

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment; = CE 12.83.31a, 31c.

Verse 32 (12.82.32)

इति राजन्यमः प्राह वर्तते च तथैव तत् । अथ भूयांसमेवार्थं करिष्यामि पुनः पुनः ॥

iti rājanyamaḥ prāha vartate ca tathaiva tat | atha bhūyāṃsamevārthaṃ kariṣyāmi punaḥ punaḥ

‘Thus, O King, Yama declared, and it holds true even now. Now I shall do still greater service, again and again.’

Note on the text: Not matched by the alignment. Line 1 = CE 12.83.31e (iti rājan mayaḥ prāha vartate ca tathaiva tat; Wikisource यमः against CE mayaḥ is a recension variant, kept); line 2 = CE 12.83.32a.

Verse 33 (12.82.33)

ददात्यस्मद्विधोऽमात्यो बुद्धिसाहाय्यमापदि । वायसस्त्वेष मे राजन्नन्तकायाभिसंहितः ॥

dadātyasmadvidho'mātyo buddhisāhāyyamāpadi | vāyasastveṣa me rājannantakāyābhisaṃhitaḥ

‘A minister such as I gives the help of intelligence in time of trouble. This crow of mine, O King, was marked out for death.’

Note on the text: Corrected ददात्यत्मद्विधोऽऽमात्यो → ददात्यस्मद्विधोऽमात्यो (misprint in Wikisource; त for स in अस्मद् and a doubled avagraha, CE dadāty asmadvidho 'mātyo). Line 1 = CE 12.83.32c; line 2 = CE 12.83.33a (Wikisource वायसस्त्वेष against CE vāyasaś caiva is a recension variant, kept).

Verse 34 (12.82.34)

न च मेऽत्र भवान्गर्ह्यो न च येषां भवान्प्रियः । हिताहितांस्तु बुद्ध्येथा मा परोक्षमतिर्भव ॥

na ca me'tra bhavāngarhyo na ca yeṣāṃ bhavānpriyaḥ | hitāhitāṃstu buddhyethā mā parokṣamatirbhava

‘In this you are not to blame, nor are those to whom you are dear. But tell your friends from your foes, and do not let your judgment rest on what is out of sight.’

Note on the text: Corrected मापरोक्षमतिर्भव → मा परोक्षमतिर्भव (misprint in Wikisource; मा and परोक्ष run together, CE mā parokṣamatir bhava). Line 1 = CE 12.83.33c; line 2 = CE 12.83.33e (Wikisource बुद्ध्येथा against CE budhyethā, kept).

Verse 35 (12.82.35)

ये त्वादानपरा एव वसन्ति भवतो गृहे । अभूतिकामा भूतानां तादृशैर्मेऽभिसंहितम् ॥

ye tvādānaparā eva vasanti bhavato gṛhe | abhūtikāmā bhūtānāṃ tādṛśairme'bhisaṃhitam

‘Those who live in your house intent only on taking, wishing ill to living beings: it was by such men as these that the plot against me was made.’

Verse 36 (12.82.36)

यो वा भवद्विनाशेन राज्यमिच्छत्यनन्तरम् । आन्तरैरभिसंधाय राजन्सिद्ध्यति नान्यथा ॥

yo vā bhavadvināśena rājyamicchatyanantaram | āntarairabhisaṃdhāya rājansiddhyati nānyathā

‘Or the man who wants the kingdom the moment you are gone, and plots through insiders, O King, succeeds in no other way.’

Note on the text: Corrected आन्तरैराभेसंधाय → आन्तरैरभिसंधाय (misprint in Wikisource; garbled अभि, CE abhisaṃdhāya).

Verse 37 (12.82.37)

तेषामहं भयाद्राजन्गमिष्याम्यन्यमाश्रमम् । तैर्हि मे संधितो बाणः काके निपतितः प्रभो ॥

teṣāmahaṃ bhayādrājangamiṣyāmyanyamāśramam | tairhi me saṃdhito bāṇaḥ kāke nipatitaḥ prabho

‘Out of fear of them, O King, I shall go to another hermitage. It was they who aimed the arrow at me, O lord; it fell upon the crow.’

Verse 38 (12.82.38)

छद्मना मम काकश्च गमितो यमसादनम् । दृष्टं ह्येतन्मया राजंस्तपोदीर्घेण चक्षुषा ॥

chadmanā mama kākaśca gamito yamasādanam | dṛṣṭaṃ hyetanmayā rājaṃstapodīrgheṇa cakṣuṣā

‘By a trick my crow was sent to Yama's abode. I have seen this, O King, with the long eye of my austerities.’

Note on the text: Corrected छझना → छद्मना (misprint in Wikisource; द्म garbled as झ, CE chadmanā). Corrected तपोदीर्घेन → तपोदीर्घेण (misspelling in Wikisource; न for ण after र, CE dīrgheṇa).

Verse 39 (12.82.39)

बहुनक्रझषग्राहां तिमिंगिलगणैर्युताम् । काकेन वालिशेनेमामतार्षमहमापगाम् ॥

bahunakrajhaṣagrāhāṃ timiṃgilagaṇairyutām | kākena vāliśenemāmatārṣamahamāpagām

‘By means of the crow, simple creature that it was, I have crossed this river, thick with crocodiles, fish and sharks and shoals of great sea-monsters.’

Verse 40 (12.82.40)

स्थाण्वश्मकण्टकवतीं सिंहव्याघ्रसमाकुलाम् । दुरासदां दुष्प्रसहां गुहां हैमवतीमिव ॥

sthāṇvaśmakaṇṭakavatīṃ siṃhavyāghrasamākulām | durāsadāṃ duṣprasahāṃ guhāṃ haimavatīmiva

‘It is studded with stumps, rocks and thorns, crowded with lions and tigers, hard to approach and hard to enter, like a cave in the Himalayas.’

Note on the text: Corrected स्थाण्वश्मकण्टकवर्तीं → स्थाण्वश्मकण्टकवतीं (misprint in Wikisource; कण्टकवर्ती is not a word here, CE kaṇṭakavatīm). Corrected सिंह व्याघ्र → सिंहव्याघ्र (stray space inside the compound).

Verse 41 (12.82.41)

अग्निना तामसं दुर्गं नौभिराप्यं च गम्यते । राजदुर्गावतरणे नोपायं पण्डिता विदुः ॥

agninā tāmasaṃ durgaṃ naubhirāpyaṃ ca gamyate | rājadurgāvataraṇe nopāyaṃ paṇḍitā viduḥ

‘A fastness of darkness is crossed with fire, and a fastness of water with boats; but for getting through the stronghold of a king the learned know no means.’

Verse 42 (12.82.42)

गहनं भवतो राज्यमन्धकारं तमोन्वितम् । नेह विश्वसितुं शक्यं भवताऽपि कुतो मया ॥

gahanaṃ bhavato rājyamandhakāraṃ tamonvitam | neha viśvasituṃ śakyaṃ bhavatā'pi kuto mayā

‘Your kingdom is a thicket, wrapped in blinding darkness. Here no one can be trusted: not even you, still less I.’

Verse 43 (12.82.43)

अतो नायं शुभो वासस्तुल्ये सदसती इह । वधो ह्येवात्र सुकृते दुष्कृते न च संशयः ॥

ato nāyaṃ śubho vāsastulye sadasatī iha | vadho hyevātra sukṛte duṣkṛte na ca saṃśayaḥ

‘Therefore this is no good place to live: here the good and the bad are treated alike, and without doubt death falls here on the doer of good as on the evildoer.’

Verse 44 (12.82.44)

न्यायतो दुष्कृते घातः सुकृते न कथंचन । नेह युक्तं स्थिरं स्थातुं जवेनैवाव्रजेद्बुधः ॥

nyāyato duṣkṛte ghātaḥ sukṛte na kathaṃcana | neha yuktaṃ sthiraṃ sthātuṃ javenaivāvrajedbudhaḥ

‘By right, the wrongdoer should be struck down, but the doer of good never. It is not fitting to stay on here; a wise man should leave with speed.’

Note on the text: Corrected सुकृते न कथनम् → सुकृते न कथंचन (misprint in Wikisource; कथनम् gives no sense after न, the evident word is कथंचन (cf. CE kathaṃ vadhaḥ)). Corrected जवेनैवाव्रजेद्वुधः → जवेनैवाव्रजेद्बुधः (misprint in Wikisource; व for ब in बुध).

Verse 45 (12.82.45)

सीता नाम नदी राजन्प्लवो यस्यां निमज्जति । तथोपमामिमां मन्ये वागुरां सर्वघातिनीम् ॥

sītā nāma nadī rājanplavo yasyāṃ nimajjati | tathopamāmimāṃ manye vāgurāṃ sarvaghātinīm

‘There is a river called Sita, O King, in which even a raft sinks. I take this net that kills everyone to be like it.’

Note on the text: Corrected तयोपमामिमां → तथोपमामिमां (misprint in Wikisource; य for थ, CE tathopamām). Corrected सर्वधातिनीम् → सर्वघातिनीम् (misprint in Wikisource; ध for घ, CE sarvaghātinīm).

Verse 46 (12.82.46)

मधुप्रपातो हि भवान्भोजनं विषसंयुतम् । असतामिव ते भावो वर्तते न सतामिव ॥

madhuprapāto hi bhavānbhojanaṃ viṣasaṃyutam | asatāmiva te bhāvo vartate na satāmiva

‘You are a precipice sweet with honey, a meal laced with poison; your nature is that of the wicked, not of the good.’

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.83.45a, 45c.

Verse 47 (12.82.47)

आशीविषैः परिवृतः कूपस्त्वमसि पार्थिव ॥

āśīviṣaiḥ parivṛtaḥ kūpastvamasi pārthiva

‘You are like a well ringed with venomous snakes, O King.’

Note on the text: A single line, as on the page; = CE 12.83.45e (āśīviṣaiḥ parivṛtaḥ kūpas tvam iva pārthiva; Wikisource त्वमसि against CE tvam iva). The CE's star lines 12.83.45f*0202_01-02 are not on the page.

Verse 48 (12.82.48)

दुर्गतीर्था बृहत्कूला कावेरी चोरसंयुता । नदी मधुरपानीया यथा राजंस्तथा भवान् । श्वगृध्रगोमायुयुतो राजहंससमो ह्यसि ॥

durgatīrthā bṛhatkūlā kāverī corasaṃyutā | nadī madhurapānīyā yathā rājaṃstathā bhavān | śvagṛdhragomāyuyuto rājahaṃsasamo hyasi

‘Like a river whose fords are hard to reach, whose banks are high, the Kaveri beset with robbers, yet with sweet water: such are you, O King; and you are like a royal swan among dogs, vultures and jackals.’

Note on the text: Three-line verse, as on the page; lines = CE 12.83.46a, 46c, 46e. Wikisource कावेरी चोरसंयुता against CE karīrīvetrasaṃyutā is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 49 (12.82.49)

यथाऽऽश्रित्य महावृक्षं कक्षः संवर्धते महान् । ततस्तं संवृणोत्येव तमतीत्य च वर्धते ॥

yathā''śritya mahāvṛkṣaṃ kakṣaḥ saṃvardhate mahān | tatastaṃ saṃvṛṇotyeva tamatītya ca vardhate

‘As undergrowth grows large by leaning on a great tree, then wraps it round and grows higher than the tree itself,’

Verse 50 (12.82.50)

तेनैवोग्रेन्धनेनैनं दावो दहति दारुणः । तथोपमा ह्यमात्यास्ते राजंस्तान्परिशोधय ॥

tenaivogrendhanenainaṃ dāvo dahati dāruṇaḥ | tathopamā hyamātyāste rājaṃstānpariśodhaya

‘so, fed by that same fierce fuel, a dreadful wildfire burns the tree too. Your ministers are like that, O King; purge them.’

Verse 51 (12.82.51)

त्वया चैव कृता राजन्भवता परिपालिताः । भवन्तं पर्यवज्ञाय जिघांसन्ति भवत्प्रियम् ॥

tvayā caiva kṛtā rājanbhavatā paripālitāḥ | bhavantaṃ paryavajñāya jighāṃsanti bhavatpriyam

‘They were made what they are by you, O King, and nurtured by you; yet, scorning you, they seek to kill you, their benefactor.’

Verse 52 (12.82.52)

उषितं शङ्कमानेन प्रमादं परिरक्षता । अन्तः सर्प इवागारे वीरपत्न्या इवालये । शीलं जिज्ञासमानेन राज्ञः साहसजीविनः ॥

uṣitaṃ śaṅkamānena pramādaṃ parirakṣatā | antaḥ sarpa ivāgāre vīrapatnyā ivālaye | śīlaṃ jijñāsamānena rājñaḥ sāhasajīvinaḥ

‘I have stayed here suspicious and on guard against carelessness, like a snake inside a house, like a hero's wife in her dwelling, wishing to learn the character of a king who lives by rash force.’

Note on the text: Three-line verse, as on the page; lines = CE 12.83.50a, 50c, 50e (Wikisource साहसजीविनः against CE sahajīvinā, kept).

Verse 53 (12.82.53)

कच्चिज्जितेन्द्रियो राजा कच्चिदस्यान्तरा जिताः । कच्चिदेषां प्रियो राजा कच्चिद्राज्ञः प्रियाः प्रजाः ॥

kaccijjitendriyo rājā kaccidasyāntarā jitāḥ | kaccideṣāṃ priyo rājā kaccidrājñaḥ priyāḥ prajāḥ

‘Is the king master of his senses? Are those of his inner circle held in check? Are they fond of the king? Are the people dear to the king?’

Verse 54 (12.82.54)

विजिज्ञासुरिह प्राप्तस्तवाहं राजसत्तम । तस्य मे रोचते राजन्क्षुधितस्येव भोजनम् ॥

vijijñāsuriha prāptastavāhaṃ rājasattama | tasya me rocate rājankṣudhitasyeva bhojanam

‘I came here wishing to learn this, O best of kings; and you please me, O King, as food pleases a hungry man.’

Verse 55 (12.82.55)

अमात्या मे न रोचन्ते वितृष्णस्य यथोदकम् । भवतोऽर्थकृदित्येवं मयि ते दोषमादधन् । विद्यते कारणं नान्यदिति मे नात्र संशयः ॥

amātyā me na rocante vitṛṣṇasya yathodakam | bhavato'rthakṛdityevaṃ mayi te doṣamādadhan | vidyate kāraṇaṃ nānyaditi me nātra saṃśayaḥ

‘Your ministers do not please me, as water does not please one who is not thirsty. Because I work for your good, they have laid the blame on me; there is no other cause, of this I have no doubt.’

Note on the text: Three-line verse, as on the page; lines = CE 12.83.53a, 53c, 53e.

Verse 56 (12.82.56)

न हि तेषामहं द्रोग्धा तत्तेषां द्रोहवद्गतम् । अरेर्हि दुर्हृदाद्भेयं भग्नपृष्ठादिवोरगात् ॥

na hi teṣāmahaṃ drogdhā tatteṣāṃ drohavadgatam | arerhi durhṛdādbheyaṃ bhagnapṛṣṭhādivoragāt

‘I have done them no wrong; their ill will toward me comes from their own guilt. One must fear a malicious enemy, as one fears a snake with a broken back.’

Verse 57 (12.82.57)

भूयसा परिहारेण सत्कारेण च भूयसा । पूजितो ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ भूयो वस गृहे मम ॥

bhūyasā parihāreṇa satkāreṇa ca bhūyasā | pūjito brāhmaṇaśreṣṭha bhūyo vasa gṛhe mama

‘Honoured with abundant marks of favour and abundant hospitality, O best of brahmins, stay on in my house.’

Verse 58 (12.82.58)

ये त्वां ब्राह्मण नेच्छन्ति ते न वत्स्यन्ति मे गृहे । भवतैव हि तज्ज्ञेयं यत्तदेषामनन्तरम् ॥

ye tvāṃ brāhmaṇa necchanti te na vatsyanti me gṛhe | bhavataiva hi tajjñeyaṃ yattadeṣāmanantaram

‘Those, brahmin, who do not want you shall not stay in my house; you yourself must decide what is to follow for them.’

Verse 59 (12.82.59)

यथा स्यात्सुधृतो दण्डो यथा च सुकृतं कृतम् । तथा समीक्ष्य भगवञ्श्रेयसे विनियुङ्क्ष्व माम् ॥

yathā syātsudhṛto daṇḍo yathā ca sukṛtaṃ kṛtam | tathā samīkṣya bhagavañśreyase viniyuṅkṣva mām

‘So that the wicked may be well punished and good deeds rewarded, consider the matter, venerable sir, and direct me to what is best.’

Verse 60 (12.82.60)

अदर्शयन्निमं दोषमेकैकं दुर्बलं कुरु । ततः कारणमाज्ञाय पुरुषंपुरुषं जहि । एकदोषा हि बहवो मृद्नीयुरपि कण्टकान् ॥

adarśayannimaṃ doṣamekaikaṃ durbalaṃ kuru | tataḥ kāraṇamājñāya puruṣaṃpuruṣaṃ jahi | ekadoṣā hi bahavo mṛdnīyurapi kaṇṭakān

‘Without showing them this suspicion, weaken them one at a time; then, having learned the cause, strike down each man in turn. For many who share a single fault can crush even thorns.’

Note on the text: Corrected मृद्गीयुरपि → मृद्नीयुरपि (misprint in Wikisource; ग for न, CE mṛdnīyur). Three-line verse, as on the page; lines = CE 12.83.58a, 58c, 59a.

Verse 61 (12.82.61)

अर्थे सर्वं जगद्बद्धमर्थेनैव निबध्यते । अर्थे दर्पो मनुष्याणां तस्मादर्थं विरोचय ॥

arthe sarvaṃ jagadbaddhamarthenaiva nibadhyate | arthe darpo manuṣyāṇāṃ tasmādarthaṃ virocaya

‘The whole world is tied to wealth and is held bound by wealth alone; men's pride rests on wealth. Therefore put wealth foremost.’

Note on the text: Corrected `अर्थे → अर्थे (stray wiki backtick removed). Corrected जगद्वद्धमर्थेनैव → जगद्बद्धमर्थेनैव (misprint in Wikisource; व for ब, CE jagad baddham). Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines 1-2 are the CE star lines 12.83.59b*0203_01-02, printed in the CE after 12.83.59a.

Verse 62 (12.82.62)

एकेनैकस्य दोषेण तद्विरुद्धं प्रचोदय । स तस्य दोषानुद्भाव्य तस्यार्थं ग्राहयिष्यति ॥

ekenaikasya doṣeṇa tadviruddhaṃ pracodaya | sa tasya doṣānudbhāvya tasyārthaṃ grāhayiṣyati

‘Through the fault of one, set his opponent against him; that man will bring out the other's faults and get his wealth taken from him.’

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines 1-2 are the CE star lines 12.83.59b*0203_03-04.

Verse 63 (12.82.63)

सामपूर्वं च केषांचिद्भेदेन च परस्परम् । वैरं कारय भूपाल पश्चाद्दण्डं प्रचोदय ॥

sāmapūrvaṃ ca keṣāṃcidbhedena ca parasparam | vairaṃ kāraya bhūpāla paścāddaṇḍaṃ pracodaya

‘Some by conciliation, and some by sowing division among them, O King of the earth, stir up enmity between them, and afterwards apply the rod.’

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines 1-2 are the CE star lines 12.83.59b*0203_05-06.

Verse 64 (12.82.64)

बिल्वेन च यथा बिल्वमाकारं छाद्य बुद्धिमान् । अशुद्धं सचिवं राजन्नशुद्धेनैव नाशय ॥

bilvena ca yathā bilvamākāraṃ chādya buddhimān | aśuddhaṃ sacivaṃ rājannaśuddhenaiva nāśaya

‘As a clever man, hiding his intent, breaks one bilva fruit with another, so, O King, destroy a corrupt minister by means of another corrupt one.’

Note on the text: Corrected नाशय।।' ॥ → नाशय ॥ (stray wiki marks (a doubled daṇḍa and a quote mark) removed from the verse end). Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines 1-2 are the CE star lines 12.83.59b*0203_07-08.

Verse 65 (12.82.65)

मन्त्रभेदभयाद्राजंस्तस्मादेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥

mantrabhedabhayādrājaṃstasmādetadbravīmi te

‘It is for fear that the counsel may leak out, O King, that I tell you this.’

Note on the text: A single line, as on the page; = CE 12.83.59c.

Verse 66 (12.82.66)

वयं तु ब्राह्मणा नाम मृदुदण्डाः कृपालवः । स्वस्ति चेच्छाम भवतः परेषां च यथाऽऽत्मनः ॥

vayaṃ tu brāhmaṇā nāma mṛdudaṇḍāḥ kṛpālavaḥ | svasti cecchāma bhavataḥ pareṣāṃ ca yathā''tmanaḥ

‘We brahmins, as is well known, use a mild rod and are compassionate; I wish well to you and to others as I do to myself.’

Verse 67 (12.82.67)

राजन्नात्मानमाचक्षे संबन्धी भवतो ह्यहम् । मुनिः कालकवृक्षीय इत्येवमभिसंज्ञितः । पितुः सखा च भवतः संमतः सत्यसंगरः ॥

rājannātmānamācakṣe saṃbandhī bhavato hyaham | muniḥ kālakavṛkṣīya ityevamabhisaṃjñitaḥ | pituḥ sakhā ca bhavataḥ saṃmataḥ satyasaṃgaraḥ

‘O King, I tell you who I am: I am your kinsman, the sage known as Kalakavrikshiya, a friend of your father, esteemed, true to my word.’

Note on the text: Three-line verse, as on the page; lines = CE 12.83.61a, 61c, 62a.

Verse 68 (12.82.68)

व्यापन्ने भवतो राज्ये राजन्पितरि संस्थिते । सर्वकामान्परित्यज्य तपस्तप्तं तदा मया ॥

vyāpanne bhavato rājye rājanpitari saṃsthite | sarvakāmānparityajya tapastaptaṃ tadā mayā

‘When your kingdom fell into ruin, O King, and your father had passed away, I gave up all desires and practised austerities.’

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.83.62c, 63a.

Verse 69 (12.82.69)

स्नेहात्त्वां तु ब्रवीम्येतन्मा भूयो विभ्रमेदिति ॥

snehāttvāṃ tu bravīmyetanmā bhūyo vibhramediti

‘It is out of affection that I tell you this, so that you may not go astray again.’

Note on the text: Corrected विभ्रो दिति → विभ्रमेदिति (misprint in Wikisource; broken word, CE vibhramed iti). A single line, as on the page; = CE 12.83.63c.

Verse 70 (12.82.70)

उभे दृष्ट्वा दुःखसुखे राज्यं प्राप्य यदृच्छया । राज्येनामात्यसंस्थेन कथं राजन्प्रमाद्यसि ॥

ubhe dṛṣṭvā duḥkhasukhe rājyaṃ prāpya yadṛcchayā | rājyenāmātyasaṃsthena kathaṃ rājanpramādyasi

‘Having seen both sorrow and happiness, and having come by a kingdom by chance, how can you be careless, O King, with a kingdom that rests on your ministers?’

Verse 71 (12.82.71)

ततो राजकुले नान्दी संजज्ञे भूयसा पुनः । पुरोहितकुले चैव संप्राप्ते ब्राह्मणर्षभे ॥

tato rājakule nāndī saṃjajñe bhūyasā punaḥ | purohitakule caiva saṃprāpte brāhmaṇarṣabhe

Then great rejoicing arose again in the king's household, and in the household of the priest, when the best of brahmins had come.

Verse 72 (12.82.72)

एकच्छत्रां महीं कृत्वा कौसल्याय यशस्विने । मुनिः कालकवृक्षीय ईजे क्रतुभिरुत्तमैः ॥

ekacchatrāṃ mahīṃ kṛtvā kausalyāya yaśasvine | muniḥ kālakavṛkṣīya īje kratubhiruttamaiḥ

Having brought the whole earth under a single umbrella for the glorious king of Kosala, the sage Kalakavrikshiya performed excellent sacrifices.

Verse 73 (12.82.73)

हितं तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कौसल्योऽप्यजयन्महीम् । तथा च कृतवान्राजा यथोक्तं तेन भारत ॥

hitaṃ tadvacanaṃ śrutvā kausalyo'pyajayanmahīm | tathā ca kṛtavānrājā yathoktaṃ tena bhārata

Hearing those beneficial words, the king of Kosala also conquered the earth; and he did, O Bharata, exactly as the sage had told him.