The King's City and Its Defences

Verse 1 (12.86.1)

कथंविधं पुरं राजा स्वयमावस्तुमर्हति । कृतं वा कारयित्वा वा तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥

kathaṃvidhaṃ puraṃ rājā svayamāvastumarhati | kṛtaṃ vā kārayitvā vā tanme brūhi pitāmaha

In what kind of city should a king himself live, one already built or one he has had built? Tell me that, grandfather.

Verse 2 (12.86.2)

वस्तव्यं यत्र कौन्तेय सपुत्रज्ञातिबन्धुना । न्याय्यं च परिप्रष्टुं वृत्तिं गुप्तिं च भारत ॥

vastavyaṃ yatra kaunteya saputrajñātibandhunā | nyāyyaṃ ca paripraṣṭuṃ vṛttiṃ guptiṃ ca bhārata

Son of Kunti, a place where one is to live with one's sons, kinsmen and relatives is rightly asked about, O Bharata, both its protection and its livelihood.

Note on the text: The alignment found no match; this is CE 12.87.2 (yatra kaunteya vastavyaṃ saputrabhrātṛbandhunā / nyāyyaṃ tatra paripraṣṭuṃ guptiṃ vṛttiṃ ca bhārata). Wikisource सपुत्रज्ञातिबन्धुना and न्याय्यं च for CE saputrabhrātṛbandhunā and nyāyyaṃ tatra are kept as variants.

Verse 3 (12.86.3)

तस्मात्ते वर्तयिष्यामि दुर्गकर्म विशेषतः । श्रुत्वा तथा विधातव्यमनुष्ठेयं च यत्नतः ॥

tasmātte vartayiṣyāmi durgakarma viśeṣataḥ | śrutvā tathā vidhātavyamanuṣṭheyaṃ ca yatnataḥ

Therefore I shall describe to you in detail the building of fortresses; having heard it, you should arrange things accordingly and carry them out with care.

Note on the text: Corrected तस्मात्ते र्तयिष्यामि → तस्मात्ते वर्तयिष्यामि (misprint in Wikisource; dropped व; CE 12.87.3a has vartayiṣyāmi).

Verse 4 (12.86.4)

षड्विधं दुर्गमास्थाय पुराण्यथ निवेशयेत् । सर्वसंपत्प्रधानं च बाहुल्यं चापि संभवेत् ॥

ṣaḍvidhaṃ durgamāsthāya purāṇyatha niveśayet | sarvasaṃpatpradhānaṃ ca bāhulyaṃ cāpi saṃbhavet

Relying on the six kinds of fortress, he should found his cities: ones that are foremost in every kind of wealth and where abundance is possible.

Note on the text: Corrected षङ्विधं → षड्विधं (misprint in Wikisource; ङ् for ड्; CE 12.87.4a has ṣaḍvidhaṃ).

Verse 5 (12.86.5)

धन्वदुर्गं महीदुर्गं गिरिदुर्गं तथैव च । मनुष्यदुर्गं मृद्दुर्गं वनदुर्गं च तानि षट् ॥

dhanvadurgaṃ mahīdurgaṃ giridurgaṃ tathaiva ca | manuṣyadurgaṃ mṛddurgaṃ vanadurgaṃ ca tāni ṣaṭ

The desert fort, the earth fort, the mountain fort, the human fort, the mud fort and the forest fort: these are the six.

Verse 6 (12.86.6)

यत्पुरं दुर्गसंपन्नं धान्यायुधसमन्वितम् । दृढप्राकारपरिखं हस्त्यश्वरथसंकुलम् ॥

yatpuraṃ durgasaṃpannaṃ dhānyāyudhasamanvitam | dṛḍhaprākāraparikhaṃ hastyaśvarathasaṃkulam

A city that has fortifications and is stocked with grain and weapons, with strong ramparts and moat, crowded with elephants, horses and chariots,

Verse 7 (12.86.7)

विद्वांसः शिल्पिनो यत्र निचयाश्च सुसंचिताः । धार्मिकश्च जनो यत्र दाक्ष्यमुत्तममास्थितः ॥

vidvāṃsaḥ śilpino yatra nicayāśca susaṃcitāḥ | dhārmikaśca jano yatra dākṣyamuttamamāsthitaḥ

where there are learned men and craftsmen and well-gathered stores, where the people are righteous and have attained the highest skill,

Verse 8 (12.86.8)

ऊर्जस्विनरनागाश्वं चत्वरापणशोभितम् । प्रसिद्धव्यवहारं च प्रशान्तमकुतोभयम् ॥

ūrjasvinaranāgāśvaṃ catvarāpaṇaśobhitam | prasiddhavyavahāraṃ ca praśāntamakutobhayam

full of vigorous men, elephants and horses, adorned with squares and markets, with well-established trade, peaceful and without fear from any quarter,

Verse 9 (12.86.9)

सुप्रभं सानुनादं च सुप्रशस्तनिवेशनम् । शूराढ्यं प्राज्ञसंपूर्णं ब्रह्मघोषानुनादितम् ॥

suprabhaṃ sānunādaṃ ca supraśastaniveśanam | śūrāḍhyaṃ prājñasaṃpūrṇaṃ brahmaghoṣānunāditam

bright and resounding, with well-planned dwellings, rich in heroes and full of the wise, echoing with the chanting of the Vedas,

Verse 10 (12.86.10)

समाजोत्सवसंपन्नं सदापूजितदैवतम् । वश्यामात्यबलो राजा तत्पुरं स्वयमाविशेत् ॥

samājotsavasaṃpannaṃ sadāpūjitadaivatam | vaśyāmātyabalo rājā tatpuraṃ svayamāviśet

rich in gatherings and festivals, where the gods are always worshipped: a king whose ministers and army are under his control should himself enter such a city.

Verse 11 (12.86.11)

तत्र कोशं बलं मित्रं व्यवहारं च वर्धयेत् । पुरे जनपदे चैव सर्वदोषान्निवर्तयेत् ॥

tatra kośaṃ balaṃ mitraṃ vyavahāraṃ ca vardhayet | pure janapade caiva sarvadoṣānnivartayet

There he should increase his treasury, army, friends and trade, and remove all faults in the city and in the countryside.

Verse 12 (12.86.12)

भाण्डागारायुधागारं प्रयत्नेनाभिवर्धयेत् । निचयान्वर्धयेत्सर्वांस्तथा यन्त्रकटंकटान् ॥

bhāṇḍāgārāyudhāgāraṃ prayatnenābhivardhayet | nicayānvardhayetsarvāṃstathā yantrakaṭaṃkaṭān

He should diligently enlarge the storehouse and the armoury, and increase every kind of store, as well as the engines of war with their fittings.

Verse 13 (12.86.13)

काष्ठलोहतुषाङ्गारदारुशृङ्गास्थिवैणवान् । मज्जास्नेहवसाक्षौद्रमौषधग्राममेव च ॥

kāṣṭhalohatuṣāṅgāradāruśṛṅgāsthivaiṇavān | majjāsnehavasākṣaudramauṣadhagrāmameva ca

Firewood, iron, husks, charcoal, timber, horn, bone and bamboo; marrow, oil, fat and honey, and a whole village's worth of medicines.

Verse 14 (12.86.14)

शणं सर्जरसं धान्यमायुधानि शरांस्तथा । चर्म स्नायुं तथा वेत्रं मुञ्जवल्वजदंध्वनान् ॥

śaṇaṃ sarjarasaṃ dhānyamāyudhāni śarāṃstathā | carma snāyuṃ tathā vetraṃ muñjavalvajadaṃdhvanān

Hemp, resin, grain, weapons and arrows; leather, sinew, cane, munja grass and balbaja grass, and resounding instruments such as drums.

Verse 15 (12.86.15)

आशयाश्चोदपानाश्च प्रभूतसलिलाकराः । निरोद्धव्याः सदा राज्ञा क्षीरिणश्च महीरुहाः ॥

āśayāścodapānāśca prabhūtasalilākarāḥ | niroddhavyāḥ sadā rājñā kṣīriṇaśca mahīruhāḥ

Reservoirs and wells, great sources of abundant water, and the milk-bearing trees must always be protected by the king.

Verse 16 (12.86.16)

सत्कृताश्च प्रयत्नेन आचार्यर्त्विक्पुरोहिताः । महेष्वासाः स्थपतयः सांवत्सरचिकित्सकाः ॥

satkṛtāśca prayatnena ācāryartvikpurohitāḥ | maheṣvāsāḥ sthapatayaḥ sāṃvatsaracikitsakāḥ

Teachers, officiating priests and household priests should be honoured with care, as should great archers, architects, astrologers and physicians;

Verse 17 (12.86.17)

प्राज्ञा मेधाविनो दान्ता दक्षाः शूरा बहुश्रुताः । कुलीनाः सत्वसंपन्ना युक्ताः सर्वेषु कर्मसु ॥

prājñā medhāvino dāntā dakṣāḥ śūrā bahuśrutāḥ | kulīnāḥ satvasaṃpannā yuktāḥ sarveṣu karmasu

wise, intelligent, self-controlled, skilful, brave, learned, well-born, of firm character, and capable in all tasks.

Verse 18 (12.86.18)

पूजयेद्धार्मिकान्राजा निगृह्णीयादधार्मिकान् । नियुञ्ज्याच्च प्रयत्नेन सर्ववर्णान्स्वकर्मसु ॥

pūjayeddhārmikānrājā nigṛhṇīyādadhārmikān | niyuñjyācca prayatnena sarvavarṇānsvakarmasu

The king should honour the righteous and restrain the unrighteous, and with care assign people of all castes to their own duties.

Note on the text: Corrected अधार्मेकान् → अधार्मिकान् (misprint in Wikisource; ए for इ, not a word; CE 12.87.18a has adhārmikān).

Verse 19 (12.86.19)

बाह्यमाभ्यन्तरं चैव पौरजानपदं तथा । चारैः सुविदितं कृत्वा ततः कर्म प्रयोजयेत् ॥

bāhyamābhyantaraṃ caiva paurajānapadaṃ tathā | cāraiḥ suviditaṃ kṛtvā tataḥ karma prayojayet

Having learned through spies about what is outside and what is within, and about the townspeople and country people alike, he should then set his measures in motion.

Verse 20 (12.86.20)

चरान्मन्त्रं च कोशं च दण्डं चैव विशेषतः । अनुतिष्ठेत्स्वयं राजा सर्वं ह्यत्र प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥

carānmantraṃ ca kośaṃ ca daṇḍaṃ caiva viśeṣataḥ | anutiṣṭhetsvayaṃ rājā sarvaṃ hyatra pratiṣṭhitam

The king himself should attend especially to the spies, his counsel, his treasury and the army, for everything rests on these.

Verse 21 (12.86.21)

उदासीनारिमित्राणां सर्वमेव चिकीर्षितम् । पुरे जनपदे चैव ज्ञातव्यं चारचक्षुषा ॥

udāsīnārimitrāṇāṃ sarvameva cikīrṣitam | pure janapade caiva jñātavyaṃ cāracakṣuṣā

All that neutral kings, enemies and friends intend to do must be learned through the eye of spies, in the city and in the countryside.

Verse 22 (12.86.22)

ततस्तेषां विधातव्यं सर्वमेवाप्रमादतः । भक्तान्पूजयता नित्यं द्विषतश्च निगृह्णता ॥

tatasteṣāṃ vidhātavyaṃ sarvamevāpramādataḥ | bhaktānpūjayatā nityaṃ dviṣataśca nigṛhṇatā

Then everything concerning them should be arranged without negligence, always honouring his supporters and curbing his enemies.

Verse 23 (12.86.23)

यष्टव्यं क्रतुभिर्नित्यं दातव्यं चाप्यपीडया । प्रजानां रक्षणं कार्यं न कार्यं धर्मबाधकम् ॥

yaṣṭavyaṃ kratubhirnityaṃ dātavyaṃ cāpyapīḍayā | prajānāṃ rakṣaṇaṃ kāryaṃ na kāryaṃ dharmabādhakam

He should always perform sacrifices and give gifts without oppressing others; he should protect the people, and do nothing that obstructs dharma.

Verse 24 (12.86.24)

कृपणानाथवृद्धानां विधवानां च योषिताम् । योगक्षेमं च वृत्तिं च नित्यमेव प्रकल्पयेत् ॥

kṛpaṇānāthavṛddhānāṃ vidhavānāṃ ca yoṣitām | yogakṣemaṃ ca vṛttiṃ ca nityameva prakalpayet

He should always provide a livelihood and security of possessions for the wretched, the helpless, the aged, widows and women.

Verse 25 (12.86.25)

आश्रमेषु यथाकालं चैलभाजनभोजनम् । सदैवोपहरेद्राजा सत्कृत्याभ्यर्च्य मान्य च ॥

āśrameṣu yathākālaṃ cailabhājanabhojanam | sadaivopaharedrājā satkṛtyābhyarcya mānya ca

In the hermitages, in due season, the king should always send clothing, vessels and food, having welcomed, revered and honoured the hermits.

Note on the text: Corrected सत्कृयाभ्यर्च्य → सत्कृत्याभ्यर्च्य (misprint in Wikisource; dropped त्; CE 12.87.25c has satkṛtyānavamanya, and Wikisource's मान्य च is kept as a variant).

Verse 26 (12.86.26)

आत्मानं सर्वकार्याणि तापसे राष्ट्रमेव च । निवेदयेत्प्रयत्नेन तिष्ठेत्प्रह्वश्च सर्वदा ॥

ātmānaṃ sarvakāryāṇi tāpase rāṣṭrameva ca | nivedayetprayatnena tiṣṭhetprahvaśca sarvadā

He should carefully present himself, all his affairs and his kingdom to the ascetic, and always stand humbly before him.

Verse 27 (12.86.27)

ते कस्यांचिदवस्थायां शरणं शरणार्थिने । राज्ञे दद्युर्यथाकामं तापसाः शंसितव्रताः ॥

te kasyāṃcidavasthāyāṃ śaraṇaṃ śaraṇārthine | rājñe dadyuryathākāmaṃ tāpasāḥ śaṃsitavratāḥ

In some predicament, those ascetics of praised vows should give refuge, as he wishes, to the king who seeks shelter.

Note on the text: Removed the backtick and quote mark and the doubled daṇḍa Wikisource prints around this couplet (page label 12-86-27). It is a bracketed repeat of verse 33 (CE 12.87.32), which the CE has once, after verse 32; it has no other place in the CE, so ce_ref is null here and 33 carries the reference. Wikisource's शंसितव्रताः (praised vows) is kept against संशितव्रताः in verse 33.

Verse 28 (12.86.28)

सर्वार्थत्यागिनं राजा कुले जातं बहुश्रुतम् । पूजयेत्तादृशं दृष्ट्वा शयनासनभोजनैः ॥

sarvārthatyāginaṃ rājā kule jātaṃ bahuśrutam | pūjayettādṛśaṃ dṛṣṭvā śayanāsanabhojanaiḥ

A man who has given up everything, well-born and learned: seeing such a one, the king should honour him with bed, seat and food.

Verse 29 (12.86.29)

तस्मिन्कुर्वीत विश्वासं राजा कस्यांचिदापदि । तापसेषु हि विश्वासमपि कुर्वन्ति दस्यवः ॥

tasminkurvīta viśvāsaṃ rājā kasyāṃcidāpadi | tāpaseṣu hi viśvāsamapi kurvanti dasyavaḥ

The king may place his trust in him in some calamity, for even robbers place their trust in ascetics.

Verse 30 (12.86.30)

तस्मिन्निधीनादधीत पुनः प्रत्याददीत च । न चाप्यभीक्ष्णं सेवेत भृशं वा प्रतिपूजयेत् ॥

tasminnidhīnādadhīta punaḥ pratyādadīta ca | na cāpyabhīkṣṇaṃ seveta bhṛśaṃ vā pratipūjayet

He may deposit treasures with him and take them back again, but he should not go to him too often, nor honour him excessively.

Verse 31 (12.86.31)

अन्यः कार्यः स्वराष्ट्रेषु परराष्ट्रेषु चापरः । अटवीषु परः कार्यः सामन्तनगरेष्वपि ॥

anyaḥ kāryaḥ svarāṣṭreṣu pararāṣṭreṣu cāparaḥ | aṭavīṣu paraḥ kāryaḥ sāmantanagareṣvapi

One such ascetic should be made a friend in his own realm, another in enemy realms, another in the forests, and another in the cities of neighbouring kings.

Verse 32 (12.86.32)

तेषु सत्कारमानाभ्यां संविभागांश्च कारयेत् । परराष्ट्राटवीस्थेषु यथा स्वविषये तथा ॥

teṣu satkāramānābhyāṃ saṃvibhāgāṃśca kārayet | pararāṣṭrāṭavīstheṣu yathā svaviṣaye tathā

He should have honour, respect and shares given to them, in enemy realms and forests just as in his own territory.

Verse 33 (12.86.33)

ते कस्यांचिदवस्थायां शरणं शरणार्थिने । राज्ञे दद्युर्यथाकामं तापसाः संशितव्रताः ॥

te kasyāṃcidavasthāyāṃ śaraṇaṃ śaraṇārthine | rājñe dadyuryathākāmaṃ tāpasāḥ saṃśitavratāḥ

In some predicament, those ascetics of firm vows should give refuge, as he wishes, to the king who seeks shelter.

Note on the text: Corrected दद्युर्थथाकामं → दद्युर्यथाकामं (misprint in Wikisource; थ for य; CE 12.87.32c has dadyur yathākāmaṃ). This is the CE 12.87.32 verse (the alignment gave it to the bracketed repeat in verse 27); the couplet of verse 27 repeats it earlier on the page.

Verse 34 (12.86.34)

एष ते लक्षणोद्देशः संक्षेपेण प्रकीर्तितः । यादृशे नगरे राजा स्वयमावस्तुमर्हति ॥

eṣa te lakṣaṇoddeśaḥ saṃkṣepeṇa prakīrtitaḥ | yādṛśe nagare rājā svayamāvastumarhati

This is the outline of the marks, told in brief: the kind of city in which a king should himself live.