Utathya's Counsel to Mandhatri: The King and Dharma

Verse 1 (12.90.1)

यानङ्गिराः क्षत्रधर्मानुतथ्यो ब्रह्मवित्तमः । मान्धात्रे यौवनाश्चाय प्रीतिमानभ्यभाषत ॥

yānaṅgirāḥ kṣatradharmānutathyo brahmavittamaḥ | māndhātre yauvanāścāya prītimānabhyabhāṣata

The duties of a Kshatriya that Utathya of the line of Angiras, the best of the knowers of Brahman, kindly taught to Mandhatri, son of Yuvanashva—

Verse 2 (12.90.2)

स यथाऽनुशशासैनमुतथ्यो ब्रह्मवित्तमः । तत्तेऽहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि निखिलेन युधिष्ठिर ॥

sa yathā'nuśaśāsainamutathyo brahmavittamaḥ | tatte'haṃ saṃpravakṣyāmi nikhilena yudhiṣṭhira

how that Utathya, best of the knowers of Brahman, instructed him, that I shall now tell you in full, Yudhishthira.

Verse 3 (12.90.3)

धर्माय राजा भवति न कामकरणाय तु । मान्धातरभिजानीहि राजा लोकस्य रक्षिता ॥

dharmāya rājā bhavati na kāmakaraṇāya tu | māndhātarabhijānīhi rājā lokasya rakṣitā

A king exists for dharma, not to indulge his desires; know this, Mandhatri: the king is the protector of the world.

Verse 4 (12.90.4)

राजा चरति चेद्धर्मं देवत्वायैव कल्पते । स चेदधर्मं चरति नरकायैव गच्छति ॥

rājā carati ceddharmaṃ devatvāyaiva kalpate | sa cedadharmaṃ carati narakāyaiva gacchati

If a king practises dharma, he becomes fit for godhood; but if he practises adharma, he goes to hell.

Verse 5 (12.90.5)

धर्मे तिष्ठन्ति भूतानि धर्मो राजनि तिष्ठति । तं राजा साधु यः शास्ति स राजा श्रियमश्नुते ॥

dharme tiṣṭhanti bhūtāni dharmo rājani tiṣṭhati | taṃ rājā sādhu yaḥ śāsti sa rājā śriyamaśnute

Living beings stand on dharma, and dharma stands on the king; the king who rules it well wins fortune.

Note on the text: Corrected राजनि तिष्ठाति → राजनि तिष्ठति (misprint in Wikisource; तिष्ठाति is not a valid form; the critical edition reads tiṣṭhati).

Verse 6 (12.90.6)

राजापराधान्मान्धातर्लक्ष्मीवान्पाप उच्यते । देवाश्च गर्हां गच्छन्ति धर्मो नास्तीति चोच्यते ॥

rājāparādhānmāndhātarlakṣmīvānpāpa ucyate | devāśca garhāṃ gacchanti dharmo nāstīti cocyate

Through the king's fault, Mandhatri, even the prosperous man is called wicked; the gods are put to shame, and it is said, "There is no dharma."

Verse 7 (12.90.7)

अधर्मे वर्तमानानामर्थसिद्धिः प्रदृश्यते । तदेव मङ्गलं लोकः सर्वः समनुवर्तते ॥

adharme vartamānānāmarthasiddhiḥ pradṛśyate | tadeva maṅgalaṃ lokaḥ sarvaḥ samanuvartate

Success in their aims is seen among those who live in adharma, and the whole world follows that as the auspicious course.

Verse 8 (12.90.8)

उच्छिद्यते धर्मवृत्तमधर्मो वर्तते महान् । भयमाहुर्दिवारात्रं यदा पापो न वार्यते ॥

ucchidyate dharmavṛttamadharmo vartate mahān | bhayamāhurdivārātraṃ yadā pāpo na vāryate

The practice of dharma is cut off and great adharma prevails; when the wicked man is not restrained, they say, there is fear by day and by night.

Note on the text: Corrected यदा पापा न वार्यते → यदा पापो न वार्यते (misprint in Wikisource; the subject is the masculine पापः, as in the refrain of the following verses; the critical edition reads pāpo).

Verse 9 (12.90.9)

इदं मम इदं नेति साधूनां तात धर्मतः । न वै व्यवस्था भवति यदा पापो न वार्यते ॥

idaṃ mama idaṃ neti sādhūnāṃ tāta dharmataḥ | na vai vyavasthā bhavati yadā pāpo na vāryate

"This is mine, this is not"—for good men, my son, there is no such settled order according to dharma when the wicked man is not restrained.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it as the star passage 12.91.8d*0217 (lines 01–02).

Verse 10 (12.90.10)

नैव भार्या न पशवो न क्षेत्रं न निवेशनम् । संदृश्येत मनुष्याणां यदा पापबलं भवेत् ॥

naiva bhāryā na paśavo na kṣetraṃ na niveśanam | saṃdṛśyeta manuṣyāṇāṃ yadā pāpabalaṃ bhavet

Neither wife nor cattle, neither field nor house would be found to remain with men, when the power of evil prevails.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it as the star passage 12.91.8d*0217 (lines 03–04).

Verse 11 (12.90.11)

देवाः पूजां न जानन्ति न स्वधां पितरस्तदा । न पूज्यन्ते ह्यतिथयो यदा पापो न वार्यते ॥

devāḥ pūjāṃ na jānanti na svadhāṃ pitarastadā | na pūjyante hyatithayo yadā pāpo na vāryate

The gods then receive no worship, nor the ancestors the svadha offering, and guests are not honoured, when the wicked man is not restrained.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it as the star passage 12.91.8d*0217 (lines 05–06).

Verse 12 (12.90.12)

न वेदानधिगच्छन्ति व्रतवन्तो द्विजातयः । न यज्ञांस्तन्वते विप्रा यदा पापो न वार्यते ॥

na vedānadhigacchanti vratavanto dvijātayaḥ | na yajñāṃstanvate viprā yadā pāpo na vāryate

The twice-born who keep their vows do not master the Vedas, and Brahmins do not perform sacrifices, when the wicked man is not restrained.

Verse 13 (12.90.13)

वध्यानामिव सत्वानां मनो भवति विह्वलम् । मनुष्याणां महाराज यदा पापो न वार्यते ॥

vadhyānāmiva satvānāṃ mano bhavati vihvalam | manuṣyāṇāṃ mahārāja yadā pāpo na vāryate

The minds of men, great king, become distraught like those of creatures about to be slain, when the wicked man is not restrained.

Verse 14 (12.90.14)

उभौ लोकावभिप्रेक्ष्य राजानमसृजंस्तथा । मुनयोऽथ महद्भूतमयं धर्मो भविष्यति ॥

ubhau lokāvabhiprekṣya rājānamasṛjaṃstathā | munayo'tha mahadbhūtamayaṃ dharmo bhaviṣyati

With both worlds in view the sages created the king, saying, "This will be a great being; this will be dharma."

Verse 15 (12.90.15)

यस्मिन्धर्मो विराजेत तं राजानं प्रचक्षते । यस्मिन्विलीयते धर्मस्तं देवा वृषलं विदुः ॥

yasmindharmo virājeta taṃ rājānaṃ pracakṣate | yasminvilīyate dharmastaṃ devā vṛṣalaṃ viduḥ

In whom dharma shines, him they call king; in whom dharma dissolves, him the gods know as a vrishala.

Verse 16 (12.90.16)

वृषो हि भगवान्धर्मो यस्तस्य कुरुते लयम् । वृषलं तं विदुर्देवास्तस्माद्धर्मं न लोपयेत् ॥

vṛṣo hi bhagavāndharmo yastasya kurute layam | vṛṣalaṃ taṃ vidurdevāstasmāddharmaṃ na lopayet

For dharma is the blessed Vrisha, the bull; he who brings about its dissolution the gods call a vrishala; therefore one must not let dharma be destroyed.

Note on the text: Corrected वीवदुर्देवास् → विदुर्देवास् (misprint in Wikisource; वीवदुः is not a valid verb form and overfills the line; the critical edition reads viduḥ).

Verse 17 (12.90.17)

धर्मे वर्धति वर्धन्ति सर्वभूतानि सर्वदा । तस्मिन्ह्रसति हीयन्ते तस्माद्धर्मं विवर्धयेत् ॥

dharme vardhati vardhanti sarvabhūtāni sarvadā | tasminhrasati hīyante tasmāddharmaṃ vivardhayet

When dharma grows, all beings always grow; when it wanes, they decline; therefore one should foster dharma.

Verse 18 (12.90.18)

धनानि स्रवति धर्मो हि धारणाद्वेति निश्चयः । मानवान् मनुष्येन्द्र स सीमान्तकरः स्मृतः ॥

dhanāni sravati dharmo hi dhāraṇādveti niścayaḥ | mānavān manuṣyendra sa sīmāntakaraḥ smṛtaḥ

Dharma pours out wealth, and it is so called, it is settled, from upholding; it is remembered, O lord of men, as the one that sets the bounds for men.

Note on the text: Corrected धनानि स्पौति → धनानि स्रवति (misprint in Wikisource; स्पौति is not a Sanskrit word; the critical edition reads sravati). Corrected मानवान मनुष्येन्द्र → मानवान् मनुष्येन्द्र (misprint in Wikisource; the virāma of मानवान् is dropped).

Verse 19 (12.90.19)

प्रभवार्थं हि भूतानां धर्मः सृष्टः स्वयंभुवा । तस्मात्प्रवर्धयेद्धर्मं प्रजानुग्रहकारणात् ॥

prabhavārthaṃ hi bhūtānāṃ dharmaḥ sṛṣṭaḥ svayaṃbhuvā | tasmātpravardhayeddharmaṃ prajānugrahakāraṇāt

For the origin and growth of beings dharma was created by the Self-born; therefore one should foster dharma, for the sake of favour to the people.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रभवार्थंमहि → प्रभवार्थं हि (misprint in Wikisource; a stray म is printed; the critical edition reads prabhavārthaṃ hi).

Verse 20 (12.90.20)

तस्माद्धि राजशार्दूल धर्मः श्रेष्ठतरः स्मृतः । स राजायः प्रजाः शास्ति साधुकृत्पुरुषर्षभ ॥

tasmāddhi rājaśārdūla dharmaḥ śreṣṭhataraḥ smṛtaḥ | sa rājāyaḥ prajāḥ śāsti sādhukṛtpuruṣarṣabha

For that reason, O tiger among kings, dharma is held to be the best. He is a king, bull among men, who rules his subjects as one who does good.

Verse 21 (12.90.21)

कामक्रोधावनादृत्य धर्ममेवानुपालयेत् । धर्मः श्रेयस्करतमो राज्ञां भरतसत्तम ॥

kāmakrodhāvanādṛtya dharmamevānupālayet | dharmaḥ śreyaskaratamo rājñāṃ bharatasattama

Disregarding desire and anger, he should protect dharma alone; for kings, best of the Bharatas, dharma is the surest source of welfare.

Verse 22 (12.90.22)

धर्मस्य ब्राह्मणे योनिस्तस्मात्तान्पूजयेत्सदा । ब्राह्मणानां च मान्धातः कुर्यात्कामानमत्सरी ॥

dharmasya brāhmaṇe yonistasmāttānpūjayetsadā | brāhmaṇānāṃ ca māndhātaḥ kuryātkāmānamatsarī

The Brahmins are the source of dharma, so he should always honour them; and he should fulfil the wishes of Brahmins, Mandhatri, without envy.

Verse 23 (12.90.23)

तेषां ह्यकामकरणाद्राज्ञः संजायते भयम् । मित्राणि न च वर्धन्ते तथाऽमित्रीभवन्त्यपि ॥

teṣāṃ hyakāmakaraṇādrājñaḥ saṃjāyate bhayam | mitrāṇi na ca vardhante tathā'mitrībhavantyapi

From not fulfilling their wishes fear comes upon the king; his friends do not prosper, and even become enemies.

Verse 24 (12.90.24)

ब्राह्मणानां सदासूयन्बाल्याद्वैरोचनिर्बलिः । अथास्माच्छ्रीरपाक्रामद्याऽस्मिन्नासीत्प्रतापिनी ॥

brāhmaṇānāṃ sadāsūyanbālyādvairocanirbaliḥ | athāsmācchrīrapākrāmadyā'sminnāsītpratāpinī

Bali, son of Virochana, in his youthful folly was always jealous of the Brahmins; then Fortune, who had dwelt in him in all her splendour, departed from him.

Verse 25 (12.90.25)

ततस्तस्मादपाक्रम्य साऽगच्छत्पाकशासनम् । अथ सोऽन्वतपत्पश्चाच्छ्रियं दृष्ट्वा पुरंदरे ॥

tatastasmādapākramya sā'gacchatpākaśāsanam | atha so'nvatapatpaścācchriyaṃ dṛṣṭvā puraṃdare

Leaving him, she went to Indra, the chastiser of Paka; and afterwards Bali was tormented when he saw Fortune in Purandara.

Verse 26 (12.90.26)

एतत्फलमसूयाया अभिमानस्य चाभिभो । तस्माद्बुध्यस्व मान्धातर्मा त्वां जह्यात्प्रतापिनी ॥

etatphalamasūyāyā abhimānasya cābhibho | tasmādbudhyasva māndhātarmā tvāṃ jahyātpratāpinī

This is the fruit of envy and of pride, O mighty one; so take heed, Mandhatri, that radiant Fortune does not abandon you.

Verse 27 (12.90.27)

दर्पोनाम श्रियः पुत्रो जज्ञेऽधर्मादिति श्रुतिः । तेन देवासुरा राजन्नीताः सुबहवो व्ययम् ॥

darponāma śriyaḥ putro jajñe'dharmāditi śrutiḥ | tena devāsurā rājannītāḥ subahavo vyayam

Pride was born as the son of Fortune, out of adharma, so the scripture says; by him, O king, very many gods and asuras have been brought to ruin.

Note on the text: Corrected सुबहवोऽव्ययम् → सुबहवो व्ययम् (misprint in Wikisource; the avagraha is spurious and turns "to ruin" into "to the imperishable"; the critical edition has a different ending, subahuśo vaśam).

Verse 28 (12.90.28)

राजर्षयश्च बहवस्तथा बुध्यस्व पार्थिव । राजा भवति तं जित्वा दासस्तेन पराजितः ॥

rājarṣayaśca bahavastathā budhyasva pārthiva | rājā bhavati taṃ jitvā dāsastena parājitaḥ

And many royal sages too; understand this, O king: he who conquers pride becomes a king, and he who is conquered by it becomes its slave.

Verse 29 (12.90.29)

स यथा दर्पसहितमधर्मं नानुसेवते । तथा वर्तस्व मान्धातश्चिरं चेत्स्थातुमिच्छसि ॥

sa yathā darpasahitamadharmaṃ nānusevate | tathā vartasva māndhātaściraṃ cetsthātumicchasi

Act, Mandhatri, so that a king does not take up adharma joined with pride, if you wish to endure long.

Verse 30 (12.90.30)

मत्तात्प्रमत्तात्पौगण्डादुन्मत्ताच्च विशेषतः । निन्दिताच्चासदाचाराद्दुर्हृदां चापि सेवनात् ॥

mattātpramattātpaugaṇḍādunmattācca viśeṣataḥ | ninditāccāsadācārāddurhṛdāṃ cāpi sevanāt

From the drunk, the heedless, the immature, and especially the mad; from the censured and ill-conducted, and from keeping company with ill-wishers—

Note on the text: The automatic alignment found no match. Line 1 is CE 12.91.27ab (mattāt pramattāt pogaṇḍād unmattāc ca viśeṣataḥ); line 2 is a recension variant of CE 27cd (tadabhyāsād upāvartād ahitānāṃ ca sevanāt); the page's commentary records another reading (कदम्याशादुदावर्ताद्दुर्हृदां चापि).

Verse 31 (12.90.31)

निगृहीतादमात्याच्च स्त्रीभ्यश्चैव विशेषतः । पर्वताद्विषमाद्दुर्गाद्धस्तिनोऽश्वात्सरीसृपात् ॥

nigṛhītādamātyācca strībhyaścaiva viśeṣataḥ | parvatādviṣamāddurgāddhastino'śvātsarīsṛpāt

from a minister who has been disciplined, and especially from women; from mountains, rough ground and strongholds; from elephant, horse and creeping creature—

Verse 32 (12.90.32)

एतेभ्योऽनित्ययुक्तः स्यान्नक्तं चर्यां च वर्जयेत् । अत्याशां चाभिमानं च दम्भं क्रोधं च वर्जयेत् ॥

etebhyo'nityayuktaḥ syānnaktaṃ caryāṃ ca varjayet | atyāśāṃ cābhimānaṃ ca dambhaṃ krodhaṃ ca varjayet

from these he should keep himself ever apart, and shun roaming at night; let him shun excessive greed, arrogance, hypocrisy and anger.

Verse 33 (12.90.33)

अविज्ञातासु च स्त्रीषु क्लीबासु स्वैरिणीषु च । परभार्यासु कन्यासु नाचरेन्मैथुनं नृप ॥

avijñātāsu ca strīṣu klībāsu svairiṇīṣu ca | parabhāryāsu kanyāsu nācarenmaithunaṃ nṛpa

With unknown women, with sexless women, with wanton women, with other men's wives and with maidens, O king, he should not have intercourse.

Verse 34 (12.90.34)

कुलेषु पापरक्षांसि जायन्ते वर्णसंकरात् । अपुमांसोऽङ्गहीनाश्च स्थूलजिह्वा विचेतसः ॥

kuleṣu pāparakṣāṃsi jāyante varṇasaṃkarāt | apumāṃso'ṅgahīnāśca sthūlajihvā vicetasaḥ

Through the mixing of classes, evil rakshasas are born in families, as well as the sexless, the maimed, the thick-tongued and the witless.

Verse 35 (12.90.35)

एते चान्ये च जायन्ते यदा राजा प्रमाद्यति । तस्माद्राज्ञा विशेषेण वर्तितव्यं प्रजाहिते ॥

ete cānye ca jāyante yadā rājā pramādyati | tasmādrājñā viśeṣeṇa vartitavyaṃ prajāhite

These and others are born when a king grows negligent; therefore a king must act with special care for the good of his subjects.

Note on the text: Corrected विशेषेणं → विशेषेण (misprint in Wikisource; a stray anusvāra; the critical edition reads viśeṣeṇa).

Verse 36 (12.90.36)

क्षत्रियस्य प्रमत्तस्य दोषः संजायते महान् । अधर्माः संप्रवर्धन्ते प्रजासंकरकारकाः ॥

kṣatriyasya pramattasya doṣaḥ saṃjāyate mahān | adharmāḥ saṃpravardhante prajāsaṃkarakārakāḥ

When a Kshatriya is negligent, great fault arises; adharmas multiply that bring about confusion among the people.

Verse 37 (12.90.37)

अशीते विद्यते शीतं शीते शीतं न विद्यते । अवृष्टिरतिवृष्टिश्च व्याधिश्चाप्याविशेत्प्रजाः ॥

aśīte vidyate śītaṃ śīte śītaṃ na vidyate | avṛṣṭirativṛṣṭiśca vyādhiścāpyāviśetprajāḥ

Cold is found where it should not be, and in the cold there is no cold; drought and excessive rain, and disease, enter the people.

Verse 38 (12.90.38)

नक्षत्राण्युपतिष्ठन्ति ग्रहा घोरास्तथापरे । उत्पाताश्चात्र दृश्यन्ते बहवो राजनाशनाः ॥

nakṣatrāṇyupatiṣṭhanti grahā ghorāstathāpare | utpātāścātra dṛśyante bahavo rājanāśanāḥ

Stars rise in ill portent, dreadful planets too, and others besides; many omens appear here that spell destruction for kings.

Note on the text: Corrected ग्रहा घोरास्तथागते → ग्रहा घोरास्तथापरे (misprint in Wikisource; तथागते is not a valid form in context; the critical edition reads tathāpare).

Verse 39 (12.90.39)

अरक्षितात्मा यो राजा प्रजाश्चापि न रक्षति । प्रजाश्च तस्य क्षीयन्ते ततः सोऽनु विनश्यति ॥

arakṣitātmā yo rājā prajāścāpi na rakṣati | prajāśca tasya kṣīyante tataḥ so'nu vinaśyati

A king who does not guard himself and does not guard his subjects—his subjects waste away, and then he too perishes.

Verse 40 (12.90.40)

द्वावाददाते ह्येकस्य द्वयोः सुबहवोऽपरे । कुमार्यः संप्रलुप्यन्ते तदाहुर्नृपदूषणम् ॥

dvāvādadāte hyekasya dvayoḥ subahavo'pare | kumāryaḥ saṃpralupyante tadāhurnṛpadūṣaṇam

Two seize the property of one, and many others that of the two; maidens are ravished—this, they say, is a blot on the king.

Verse 41 (12.90.41)

ममैतदिति नैतच्च मनुष्येष्ववतिष्ठति । त्यक्त्वा धर्मं यदा राजा प्रमादमनुतिष्ठति ॥

mamaitaditi naitacca manuṣyeṣvavatiṣṭhati | tyaktvā dharmaṃ yadā rājā pramādamanutiṣṭhati

"This is mine"—even that notion does not remain among men when the king, abandoning dharma, gives himself to negligence.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रमादमनुतिष्ठित → प्रमादमनुतिष्ठति (misprint in Wikisource; अनुतिष्ठित is not a valid verb form; the critical edition reads anutiṣṭhati).