Uchathya Teaches Mandhata the Duty of a King

Verse 1 (12.91.1)

कालवर्षी च पर्जन्यो धर्मचारी च पार्थिवः । संपद्यदेषा भवति सा बिभर्ति सुखं प्रजाः ॥

kālavarṣī ca parjanyo dharmacārī ca pārthivaḥ | saṃpadyadeṣā bhavati sā bibharti sukhaṃ prajāḥ

A cloud that rains in its season, and a king who walks in dharma: when such prosperity comes about, it keeps the people in happiness.

Verse 2 (12.91.2)

यो न जानाति निर्हर्तुं वस्त्राणां रजको मलम् । रत्नानि वा शोधयितुं यथा नास्ति तथैव सः ॥

yo na jānāti nirhartuṃ vastrāṇāṃ rajako malam | ratnāni vā śodhayituṃ yathā nāsti tathaiva saḥ

Like a washerman who does not know how to take the stain out of clothes, or to cleanse jewels, such a one is as though he were not there.

Verse 3 (12.91.3)

एवमेतद्द्विजेन्द्राणां क्षत्रियाणां विशां तथा । शूद्रश्चतुर्थो वर्णानां नानाकर्मस्ववस्थितः ॥

evametaddvijendrāṇāṃ kṣatriyāṇāṃ viśāṃ tathā | śūdraścaturtho varṇānāṃ nānākarmasvavasthitaḥ

So it is with the foremost of the twice-born, with the Kshatriyas and the Vaishyas, and with the Shudra, fourth of the orders, each of them set in his own several kinds of work.

Verse 4 (12.91.4)

कर्म शूद्रे कृषिर्वैश्ये दण्डनीतिश्च राजनि । ब्रह्मचर्यं तपो मन्त्राः सत्यं चापि द्विजातिषु ॥

karma śūdre kṛṣirvaiśye daṇḍanītiśca rājani | brahmacaryaṃ tapo mantrāḥ satyaṃ cāpi dvijātiṣu

Service is the work of the Shudra, farming of the Vaishya, and the rod of justice of the king; celibate study, austerity, the sacred hymns and truth belong to the twice-born.

Verse 5 (12.91.5)

तेषां यः क्षत्रियो वेद पात्राणामिव शोधनम् । शीलदोषान्विनिर्हर्तुं स पिता स प्रजापतिः ॥

teṣāṃ yaḥ kṣatriyo veda pātrāṇāmiva śodhanam | śīladoṣānvinirhartuṃ sa pitā sa prajāpatiḥ

Of these, the Kshatriya who knows how to cleanse, as one cleans vessels, and so remove the faults of conduct, is a father and a lord of creatures.

Verse 6 (12.91.6)

कृतं त्रेता द्वापरश्च कलिश्च भरतर्षभ । राजवृत्तानि सर्वाणि राजैव युगमुच्यते ॥

kṛtaṃ tretā dvāparaśca kaliśca bharatarṣabha | rājavṛttāni sarvāṇi rājaiva yugamucyate

Krita, Treta, Dvapara and Kali, O best of the Bharatas, are all of them ways of kings; it is the king himself who is called the age.

Verse 7 (12.91.7)

चातुर्वर्ण्यं तथा वेदाश्चातुराश्रम्यमेव च । सर्वमेतत्प्रमुह्येत यदा राजा प्रमाद्यति ॥

cāturvarṇyaṃ tathā vedāścāturāśramyameva ca | sarvametatpramuhyeta yadā rājā pramādyati

The four orders, the Vedas and the four stages of life — all of this falls into confusion when the king grows negligent.

Verse 8 (12.91.8)

अग्नित्रेता त्रयी विद्या यज्ञाश्च सहदक्षिणाः । सर्व एव प्रमुह्यन्ते यदा राजा प्रमाद्यति ॥

agnitretā trayī vidyā yajñāśca sahadakṣiṇāḥ | sarva eva pramuhyante yadā rājā pramādyati

The three sacred fires, the threefold knowledge, and the sacrifices with their fees — all fall into confusion when the king grows negligent.

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 12.92.7d*0219_01-02 (agnitretā trayī vidyā yajñāś ca sahadakṣiṇāḥ / sarva eva pramādyanti yadā rājā pramādyati), with Wikisource प्रमुह्यन्ते for pramādyanti.

Verse 9 (12.91.9)

राजैव कर्ता भूतानां राजैव च विनाशकः । धर्मात्मा यः स कर्ता स्यादधर्मात्मा विनाशकः ॥

rājaiva kartā bhūtānāṃ rājaiva ca vināśakaḥ | dharmātmā yaḥ sa kartā syādadharmātmā vināśakaḥ

The king alone is the maker of beings, and the king alone is their destroyer. He whose self is righteous is the maker; he whose self is unrighteous is the destroyer.

Verse 10 (12.91.10)

राज्ञो भार्याश्च पुत्राश्च बान्धवाः सुहृदस्तथा । समेत्य सर्वे शोचन्ति यदा राजा प्रमाद्यति ॥

rājño bhāryāśca putrāśca bāndhavāḥ suhṛdastathā | sametya sarve śocanti yadā rājā pramādyati

The king's wives and sons, his kinsmen and his friends, all come together and grieve when the king grows negligent.

Verse 11 (12.91.11)

हस्तिनोऽश्वाश्च गावश्चाप्युष्ट्राश्वतरगर्दभाः । अधर्मवृत्ते नृपतौ सर्वे सीदन्ति जन्तवः ॥

hastino'śvāśca gāvaścāpyuṣṭrāśvataragardabhāḥ | adharmavṛtte nṛpatau sarve sīdanti jantavaḥ

Elephants and horses, cows, camels, mules and donkeys — all living creatures sink in misery when the king follows unrighteousness.

Verse 12 (12.91.12)

दुर्बलार्थं बलं सृष्टं धात्रा मान्धातरुच्यते । अबलं तु महद्भूतं यस्मिन्सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥

durbalārthaṃ balaṃ sṛṣṭaṃ dhātrā māndhātarucyate | abalaṃ tu mahadbhūtaṃ yasminsarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam

Strength was made by the Creator for the sake of the weak, Mandhata, so it is said; and the weak is a great power, in which everything rests.

Note on the text: Removed the opening square bracket Wikisource prints before verses 12-13 (the page's footnote glosses the pair). Line 1 = CE 12.92.11a, line 2 = CE 12.92.11c; the pair is in the critical edition.

Verse 13 (12.91.13)

यश्च भूतं संभजते ये च भूतास्तदन्वयाः । अधर्मस्थे हि नृपतौ सर्वे शोचन्ति पार्थिव ॥

yaśca bhūtaṃ saṃbhajate ye ca bhūtāstadanvayāḥ | adharmasthe hi nṛpatau sarve śocanti pārthiva

Whoever depends on a creature, and those who spring from that creature's line — all of them grieve, O king, when the ruler stands in unrighteousness.

Note on the text: Removed the closing square bracket and the stray doubled danda printed before the verse-end mark (the bracket closes the pair 12-13). Line 1 = CE 12.92.12a, line 2 = CE 12.92.12c, with Wikisource सीदन्ति → शोचन्ति.

Verse 14 (12.91.14)

दुर्बलस्य च यच्चक्षुर्मुनेराशीविषस्य च । अविषह्यतमं मन्ये मा स्म दुर्बलमासदः ॥

durbalasya ca yaccakṣurmunerāśīviṣasya ca | aviṣahyatamaṃ manye mā sma durbalamāsadaḥ

I hold the gaze of the weak, of a sage, and of a venomous snake to be the hardest of all to bear. Never go against the weak.

Verse 15 (12.91.15)

दुर्बलांस्तात मन्येथा नित्यमेवाविमानितान् । मा त्वां दुर्बलचक्षूंषि प्रदहेयुः सबान्धवम् ॥

durbalāṃstāta manyethā nityamevāvimānitān | mā tvāṃ durbalacakṣūṃṣi pradaheyuḥ sabāndhavam

My child, always count the weak among those who must never be slighted. Let the eyes of the weak not burn you up together with your kinsmen.

Note on the text: Corrected नित्यमेवाविमानि तान् → नित्यमेवाविमानितान् (misprint in Wikisource; a stray space splits अविमानितान्; the critical edition reads nityam evāvimānitān). Wikisource मन्येथा against CE budhyethā is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 16 (12.91.16)

न हि दुर्बलदग्धस्य कुले किंचित्प्ररोहति । आमूलं निर्दहन्त्येव मा स्म दुर्बलमासदः ॥

na hi durbaladagdhasya kule kiṃcitprarohati | āmūlaṃ nirdahantyeva mā sma durbalamāsadaḥ

Nothing ever sprouts again in the family burned by the weak; they burn it down to the root. Do not go against the weak.

Note on the text: Corrected मा स्म दुर्बलमासद → मा स्म दुर्बलमासदः (misprint in Wikisource; the visarga of the injunctive आसदः is dropped, as in verse 14; the critical edition reads āsadaḥ).

Verse 17 (12.91.17)

अबलं वै बलाच्छ्रेयो यच्चातिबलवद्बलम् । बलस्याबलदग्धस्य न किंचिदवशिष्यते ॥

abalaṃ vai balācchreyo yaccātibalavadbalam | balasyābaladagdhasya na kiṃcidavaśiṣyate

The strength of the weak is better than any strength, for it is mightier than the mightiest; of the strong man burned by the weak, nothing is left at all.

Note on the text: Corrected किंचितवशिष्यते → किंचिदवशिष्यते (misprint in Wikisource; त for द; the critical edition reads kiṃ cid avaśiṣyate).

Verse 18 (12.91.18)

विमानितो हतः क्लिष्टस्त्रातारं चेन्न विन्दति । अमानुषकृतस्तत्र दण्डो हन्ति नराधिपम् ॥

vimānito hataḥ kliṣṭastrātāraṃ cenna vindati | amānuṣakṛtastatra daṇḍo hanti narādhipam

If a man who has been insulted, struck down and tormented finds no protector, then a punishment not wrought by men strikes the king dead.

Note on the text: Corrected विन्दन्ते → विन्दति (misprint in Wikisource; the plural does not agree with the singular subject and spoils the metre; the critical edition reads vindati). Wikisource क्लिष्टः against CE hatotkruṣṭaḥ is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 19 (12.91.19)

मा स्म तात बलस्थस्त्वं भुञ्जीथा दुर्बलं जनम् । मा त्वां दुर्बलचक्षूंषि दहन्त्वग्निरिवाशयम् ॥

mā sma tāta balasthastvaṃ bhuñjīthā durbalaṃ janam | mā tvāṃ durbalacakṣūṃṣi dahantvagnirivāśayam

My child, do not rely on your strength and devour the weak. Let the eyes of the weak not burn you as fire burns a dwelling.

Note on the text: The alignment found no match; this is CE 12.92.18 (mā sma tāta bale stheyā bādhiṣṭhā māpi durbalam / mā tvā durbalacakṣūṃṣi dhakṣyanty agnir ivāśrayam). Line 1 is a recension variant (Wikisource बलस्थस्त्वं भुञ्जीथा दुर्बलं जनम्); line 2 differs only in दहन्त्वग्निरिवाशयम् for dhakṣyanty agnir ivāśrayam. Kept as printed.

Verse 20 (12.91.20)

यानि मिथ्याभिशस्तानां पतन्त्यश्रूणि रोदताम् । तानि पुत्रान्पशून्घ्नन्ति तेषां मिथ्याभिशंसिनां ॥

yāni mithyābhiśastānāṃ patantyaśrūṇi rodatām | tāni putrānpaśūnghnanti teṣāṃ mithyābhiśaṃsināṃ

The tears that fall from the weeping eyes of those falsely accused destroy the sons and the cattle of the men who accused them falsely.

Verse 21 (12.91.21)

यदि नात्मनि पुत्रेषु न चेत्पौत्रेषु नप्तृषु । न हि पापं कृतं कर्म सद्यः फलति गौरिब ॥

yadi nātmani putreṣu na cetpautreṣu naptṛṣu | na hi pāpaṃ kṛtaṃ karma sadyaḥ phalati gauriba

If it does not fall on the man himself, then it falls on his sons; if not on his sons, then on his grandsons and their children. For a sinful deed, once done, does not bear fruit at once, like the earth.

Note on the text: Corrected नप्नृषु → नप्तृषु (misprint in Wikisource; न for त; the critical edition reads naptṛṣu).

Verse 22 (12.91.22)

यत्राबलो वध्यमानस्त्रातारं नाधिगच्छति । महान्दैवकृतस्तत्र दण्डः पतति दारुणः ॥

yatrābalo vadhyamānastrātāraṃ nādhigacchati | mahāndaivakṛtastatra daṇḍaḥ patati dāruṇaḥ

Where a weak man is being slain and finds no protector, a great and terrible punishment, wrought by Providence, comes down there.

Verse 23 (12.91.23)

युक्ता यदा जानपदा भिक्षन्ते ब्राह्मणा इव । अभीक्ष्णं भिक्षुरूपेण राजानं घ्नन्ति तादृशाः ॥

yuktā yadā jānapadā bhikṣante brāhmaṇā iva | abhīkṣṇaṃ bhikṣurūpeṇa rājānaṃ ghnanti tādṛśāḥ

When country people, driven to it, go begging again and again like brahmins, such beggars in a beggar's guise bring the king down.

Verse 24 (12.91.24)

राज्ञो यदा जनपदे बहवो राजपूरुषाः । अनयेनोपवर्तन्ते तद्राज्ञः किल्बिषं महत् ॥

rājño yadā janapade bahavo rājapūruṣāḥ | anayenopavartante tadrājñaḥ kilbiṣaṃ mahat

When many of the king's officers act unjustly in his realm, that is a great sin of the king.

Verse 25 (12.91.25)

यदा युक्त्या नयेदर्थान्कामादर्थवशेन वा । कृपणं याचमानानां तद्राज्ञो वैशसं महत् ॥

yadā yuktyā nayedarthānkāmādarthavaśena vā | kṛpaṇaṃ yācamānānāṃ tadrājño vaiśasaṃ mahat

When wealth is taken by contrivance, out of desire or in greed for gain, from wretched people who plead for mercy, that is a great cruelty on the king's part.

Verse 26 (12.91.26)

महान्वृक्षो जायते वर्धते च । तं चैव भूतानि समाश्रयन्ति । यदा वृक्षश्छिद्यते दह्यते च । तदाश्रया अनिकेता भवन्ति ॥

mahānvṛkṣo jāyate vardhate ca | taṃ caiva bhūtāni samāśrayanti | yadā vṛkṣaśchidyate dahyate ca | tadāśrayā aniketā bhavanti

A great tree is born and grows, and creatures take shelter in it; when the tree is cut down or burned, those who depended on it are left homeless.

Verse 27 (12.91.27)

यदा राष्ट्रे धर्ममग्र्यं चरन्ति । संस्कारं वा राजगुणं ब्रुवाणाः । तैश्चाधर्मश्चरितो धर्ममोहा । त्तूर्णं जह्यात्सुकृतं दुष्कृतं च ॥

yadā rāṣṭre dharmamagryaṃ caranti | saṃskāraṃ vā rājaguṇaṃ bruvāṇāḥ | taiścādharmaścarito dharmamohā | ttūrṇaṃ jahyātsukṛtaṃ duṣkṛtaṃ ca

When people in the realm practise what they call the highest dharma, declaring it a rite of refinement or a royal virtue, yet by those same people unrighteousness is practised through delusion about dharma, then he would soon lose both his merit and his demerit.

Note on the text: Corrected संस्कारं का → संस्कारं वा (misprint in Wikisource; का for वा; the critical edition reads saṃskāraṃ vā; the page's footnote records राजपुत्रं as a variant of राजगुणं, which is kept as printed) and त्तूप → त्तूर्णं (तूप is not a word; the critical edition reads tūrṇaṃ jahyāt, and no smaller fix gives a word).

Verse 28 (12.91.28)

यत्र पापा ज्ञायमानाश्चरन्ति । सभां कलिर्विन्दते तत्र राज्ञः । यत्र राजा शास्ति नरान्न शक्त्या । न तद्राज्यं वर्धते भूमिपस्य ॥

yatra pāpā jñāyamānāścaranti | sabhāṃ kalirvindate tatra rājñaḥ | yatra rājā śāsti narānna śaktyā | na tadrājyaṃ vardhate bhūmipasya

Where wrongdoers move about openly though known, strife finds its way into that king's assembly; where the king does not rule his men with power, his kingdom does not prosper.

Verse 29 (12.91.29)

यश्चामात्यान्मानयित्वा यथा हि । मन्त्रे च युद्धे च नृपोऽनुयुञ्ज्यात् । विवर्धते तस्य राष्ट्रं नृपस्य । भुङ्क्ते महीं चाप्यखिलां चिराय ॥

yaścāmātyānmānayitvā yathā hi | mantre ca yuddhe ca nṛpo'nuyuñjyāt | vivardhate tasya rāṣṭraṃ nṛpasya | bhuṅkte mahīṃ cāpyakhilāṃ cirāya

The king who honours his ministers as is fitting and employs them in counsel and in war sees his kingdom grow, and enjoys the whole earth for a long time.

Note on the text: Corrected बिबर्धते → विवर्धते (misprint in Wikisource; ब for व; the critical edition has the cognate pravardhate). Wikisource यथा हि against CE yathārhaṃ is kept as printed.

Verse 30 (12.91.30)

अत्रापि सुकृतं कर्म वाचं चैव सुभाषिताम् । समीक्ष्य पूजयन्राजा धर्मं प्राप्नोत्यनुत्तमम् ॥

atrāpi sukṛtaṃ karma vācaṃ caiva subhāṣitām | samīkṣya pūjayanrājā dharmaṃ prāpnotyanuttamam

Here too, a king who takes note of good deeds and well-spoken words and honours them attains the highest dharma.

Verse 31 (12.91.31)

संविभज्य यदा भुङ्क्ते नचान्यानवमन्यते । निहन्ति बलिनं दृप्तं स राज्ञो धर्म उच्यते ॥

saṃvibhajya yadā bhuṅkte nacānyānavamanyate | nihanti balinaṃ dṛptaṃ sa rājño dharma ucyate

When he enjoys only after sharing, does not despise others, and strikes down the strong and proud, that is called the dharma of a king.

Verse 32 (12.91.32)

त्रायते हि यदा सर्वं वाचा कायेन कर्मणा । पुत्रस्यापि न मृष्येच्च स राज्ञो धर्म उच्यते ॥

trāyate hi yadā sarvaṃ vācā kāyena karmaṇā | putrasyāpi na mṛṣyecca sa rājño dharma ucyate

When he protects everyone by word, body and deed, and does not overlook a wrong even in his own son, that is called the dharma of a king.

Verse 33 (12.91.33)

संविभज्य यदा भुङ्क्ते नृपतिर्दुर्बलान्नरान् । तदा भवन्ति बलिनः स राज्ञो धर्म उच्यते ॥

saṃvibhajya yadā bhuṅkte nṛpatirdurbalānnarān | tadā bhavanti balinaḥ sa rājño dharma ucyate

When the king enjoys only after sharing with the weak, so that they become strong, that is called the dharma of a king.

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 12.92.31d*0220_01-02 (saṃvibhajya yadā bhuṅkte nṛpatir durbalān narān / tadā bhavanti balinaḥ sa rājño dharma ucyate). The raw page prints a stray empty label 12-91-32b just before it.

Verse 34 (12.91.34)

यदा रक्षति राष्ट्राणि यदा दस्यूनपोहति । यदा जयति संग्रामे स राज्ञो धर्म उच्यते ॥

yadā rakṣati rāṣṭrāṇi yadā dasyūnapohati | yadā jayati saṃgrāme sa rājño dharma ucyate

When he guards the realms, drives out the robbers and wins in battle, that is called the dharma of a king.

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 12.92.31d*0221_01-02 (yadā rakṣati rāṣṭrāṇi yadā dasyūn apohati / yadā jayati saṃgrāme sa rājño dharma ucyate).

Verse 35 (12.91.35)

पापमाचरतो यत्र कर्मणा व्याहृतेन वा । प्रियस्यापि न मृष्येत स राज्ञो धर्म उच्यते ॥

pāpamācarato yatra karmaṇā vyāhṛtena vā | priyasyāpi na mṛṣyeta sa rājño dharma ucyate

When he does not overlook a wrong, whether done or only spoken, even in someone dear to him, that is called the dharma of a king.

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 12.92.31d*0222_01-02 (pāpam ācarato yatra karmaṇā vyāhṛtena vā / priyasyāpi na mṛṣyeta sa rājño dharma ucyate).

Verse 36 (12.91.36)

यदा सारणिकान्राजा पुत्रवत्परिरक्षति । भिनत्ति न च मर्यादां स राज्ञो धर्म उच्यते ॥

yadā sāraṇikānrājā putravatparirakṣati | bhinatti na ca maryādāṃ sa rājño dharma ucyate

When the king protects the traders like his own sons and does not break the bounds of right, that is called the dharma of a king.

Verse 37 (12.91.37)

यदाप्तदक्षिणैर्यज्ञैर्यजते श्रद्धयाऽन्वितः । कामद्वेषावनादृत्य स राज्ञो धर्म उच्यते ॥

yadāptadakṣiṇairyajñairyajate śraddhayā'nvitaḥ | kāmadveṣāvanādṛtya sa rājño dharma ucyate

When, full of faith, he sacrifices with sacrifices rich in fees, setting aside desire and hatred, that is called the dharma of a king.

Verse 38 (12.91.38)

कृपणानाथवृद्धानां यदाऽश्रु परिमार्जति । हर्षं संजनयन्नॄणां स राज्ञो धर्म उच्यते ॥

kṛpaṇānāthavṛddhānāṃ yadā'śru parimārjati | harṣaṃ saṃjanayannṝṇāṃ sa rājño dharma ucyate

When he wipes the tears of the wretched, the helpless and the old, bringing joy to men, that is called the dharma of a king.

Verse 39 (12.91.39)

विवर्धयति मित्राणि तथाऽरींश्चापि कर्षति । संपूजयति साधूंश्च स राज्ञो धर्म उच्यते ॥

vivardhayati mitrāṇi tathā'rīṃścāpi karṣati | saṃpūjayati sādhūṃśca sa rājño dharma ucyate

When he makes his friends prosper, draws his enemies down, and honours the good, that is called the dharma of a king.

Verse 40 (12.91.40)

सत्यं पालयति प्रीत्या नित्यं भूमिं प्रयच्छति । पूजयेदतिथीन्भृत्यान्स राज्ञो धर्म उच्यते ॥

satyaṃ pālayati prītyā nityaṃ bhūmiṃ prayacchati | pūjayedatithīnbhṛtyānsa rājño dharma ucyate

When he keeps faith lovingly, gives land continually, and honours guests and servants, that is called the dharma of a king.

Verse 41 (12.91.41)

निग्रहानुग्रहौ चोभौ यत्र स्यातां प्रतिष्ठितौ । अस्मिँल्लोके परे चैव राजा स प्राप्नुते फलम् ॥

nigrahānugrahau cobhau yatra syātāṃ pratiṣṭhitau | asmim̐lloke pare caiva rājā sa prāpnute phalam

Where both punishment and favour stand firmly established, there the king reaps the fruit in this world and the next.

Verse 42 (12.91.42)

यमो राजा धार्मिकाणां मान्धातः परमेश्वरः । संयच्छन्यमवत्प्राणानसंयच्छंस्तु पावकः ॥

yamo rājā dhārmikāṇāṃ māndhātaḥ parameśvaraḥ | saṃyacchanyamavatprāṇānasaṃyacchaṃstu pāvakaḥ

Yama is the king of the righteous, Mandhata, and their supreme lord. One who restrains his senses is like Yama; one who does not is like fire.

Verse 43 (12.91.43)

ऋत्विक्पुरोहिताचार्यान्सत्कृत्यानवमत्य च । यदा सम्यक्प्रगृह्णाति स राज्ञो धर्म उच्यते ॥

ṛtvikpurohitācāryānsatkṛtyānavamatya ca | yadā samyakpragṛhṇāti sa rājño dharma ucyate

When he honours the priests who perform his rites, the household priest and the teacher, never slighting them, and deals with them rightly, that is called the dharma of a king.

Verse 44 (12.91.44)

यमो यच्छति भूतानि सर्वाण्येवाविशेषतः । तथा राज्ञाऽनुकर्तव्यं यन्तव्या विधिवत्प्रजाः ॥

yamo yacchati bhūtāni sarvāṇyevāviśeṣataḥ | tathā rājñā'nukartavyaṃ yantavyā vidhivatprajāḥ

Yama restrains all beings without distinction. In the same way the king must follow him, restraining his subjects according to the rule.

Verse 45 (12.91.45)

सहस्राक्षेण राजा हि सर्वथैवोपमीयते । स पश्यति च यं धर्मं स धर्मः पुरुषर्षभ ॥

sahasrākṣeṇa rājā hi sarvathaivopamīyate | sa paśyati ca yaṃ dharmaṃ sa dharmaḥ puruṣarṣabha

A king is in every way likened to the thousand-eyed Indra. Whatever dharma he sees, that is dharma, O best of men.

Note on the text: Corrected यं धर्म → यं धर्मं (misprint in Wikisource; the accusative anusvara is dropped; the critical edition reads yaṃ dharmaṃ).

Verse 46 (12.91.46)

अप्रमादेन शिक्षेथाः क्षमां बुद्धिं धृतिं मतिम् । भूतानां तत्त्वजिज्ञासा साध्वसाधु च सर्वदा ॥

apramādena śikṣethāḥ kṣamāṃ buddhiṃ dhṛtiṃ matim | bhūtānāṃ tattvajijñāsā sādhvasādhu ca sarvadā

Through heedfulness, learn patience, understanding, steadiness and judgment, and always seek to know the truth about beings, the good and the bad.

Verse 47 (12.91.47)

संग्रहः सर्वभूतानां दानं च मधुरा च वाक् । पौरजानपदाश्चैव गोप्तव्याः स्वप्रजा यथा ॥

saṃgrahaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ dānaṃ ca madhurā ca vāk | paurajānapadāścaiva goptavyāḥ svaprajā yathā

Winning over all beings, giving, and sweet speech; and the townsfolk and country people must be guarded as one's own children.

Verse 48 (12.91.48)

न जात्वदक्षो नृपतिः प्रजाः शक्नोति रक्षितुम् । भारो हि सुमहांस्तात राज्यं नाम सुदुर्वहम् ॥

na jātvadakṣo nṛpatiḥ prajāḥ śaknoti rakṣitum | bhāro hi sumahāṃstāta rājyaṃ nāma sudurvaham

An unskilled king can never protect his subjects. Kingship is a very great burden, my child, and hard to bear.

Verse 49 (12.91.49)

तद्दण्डविन्नृपः प्राज्ञः शूरः शक्नोति रक्षितुम् । न हि शक्यमदण्डेन क्लीबेनाबुद्धिनाऽपि वा ॥

taddaṇḍavinnṛpaḥ prājñaḥ śūraḥ śaknoti rakṣitum | na hi śakyamadaṇḍena klībenābuddhinā'pi vā

Therefore only a wise and heroic king who understands the rod can protect; it cannot be done without the rod, or by an impotent or foolish man.

Verse 50 (12.91.50)

अभिरूपैः कुले जातैर्दक्षैर्भक्तैर्बहुश्रुतैः । सर्वं बुद्ध्या परीक्षेथास्तापसाश्रमिणामपि ॥

abhirūpaiḥ kule jātairdakṣairbhaktairbahuśrutaiḥ | sarvaṃ buddhyā parīkṣethāstāpasāśramiṇāmapi

With ministers who are accomplished, of good family, able, devoted and learned, examine everything with your own judgment, even the affairs of ascetics and those in the orders of life.

Verse 51 (12.91.51)

अतस्त्वं सर्वभूतानां धर्मं वेत्स्यसि वै परम् । स्वदेशे परदेशे वा न ते धर्मो विनङ्क्ष्यति ॥

atastvaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ dharmaṃ vetsyasi vai param | svadeśe paradeśe vā na te dharmo vinaṅkṣyati

Thus you will come to know the highest dharma of all beings, and whether in your own land or another's, your dharma will not be lost.

Verse 52 (12.91.52)

धर्मेचार्थे च कामे च धर्म एवोत्तरो भवेत् । अस्मिंल्लोके परे चैव धर्मात्मा सुखमेधते ॥

dharmecārthe ca kāme ca dharma evottaro bhavet | asmiṃlloke pare caiva dharmātmā sukhamedhate

Among dharma, wealth and desire, let dharma be the highest. One whose self is dharma prospers in this world and the next.

Verse 53 (12.91.53)

त्यजन्ति दारान्पुत्रांश्च मनुष्याः परिपूजिताः । संग्रहश्चैव भूतानां दानं च मधुरा च वाक् ॥

tyajanti dārānputrāṃśca manuṣyāḥ paripūjitāḥ | saṃgrahaścaiva bhūtānāṃ dānaṃ ca madhurā ca vāk

Men who are greatly honoured give up even wives and sons; so too, winning over beings, giving, and sweet speech bring this about.

Verse 54 (12.91.54)

अप्रमादश्च शौचं च राज्ञो भूतिकरं महत् । एतेभ्यश्चैव मान्धातः सततं मा प्रमादिथाः ॥

apramādaśca śaucaṃ ca rājño bhūtikaraṃ mahat | etebhyaścaiva māndhātaḥ satataṃ mā pramādithāḥ

Heedfulness and purity bring a king great prosperity. Never be negligent in these, Mandhata.

Verse 55 (12.91.55)

अप्रमत्तो भवेद्राजा छिद्रदर्शी परात्मनोः । नास्य च्छिद्रं परः पश्येच्छिद्रेषु परमन्वियात् ॥

apramatto bhavedrājā chidradarśī parātmanoḥ | nāsya cchidraṃ paraḥ paśyecchidreṣu paramanviyāt

The king should be heedful, watching for the weak points of himself and of his enemy. Let no enemy see his weak point, and let him pursue the enemy into his weak points.

Verse 56 (12.91.56)

एतद्वृत्तं वासवस्य यमस्य वरुणस्य च । राजर्षीणां च सर्वेषां तत्त्वमप्यनुपालय ॥

etadvṛttaṃ vāsavasya yamasya varuṇasya ca | rājarṣīṇāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ tattvamapyanupālaya

This is the conduct of Vasava, of Yama, of Varuna and of all the royal sages; follow it faithfully yourself as well.

Note on the text: Corrected एतद्वॄत्तं → एतद्वृत्तं (misprint in Wikisource; long ॄ-sign for ृ; the critical edition reads vṛttaṃ).

Verse 57 (12.91.57)

तत्कुरुष्व महाराज वृत्तं राजर्षिसेवितम् । आतिष्ठ दिव्यं पन्थानमह्नाय पुरुषर्षभ ॥

tatkuruṣva mahārāja vṛttaṃ rājarṣisevitam | ātiṣṭha divyaṃ panthānamahnāya puruṣarṣabha

Do that, great king: follow the conduct that the royal sages followed. Take the divine path, and quickly, O best of men.

Verse 58 (12.91.58)

धर्मवृत्तं हि राजानं प्रेत्य चेह च भारत । देवर्षिपितृगन्धर्वाः कीर्तयन्ति महौजसः ॥

dharmavṛttaṃ hi rājānaṃ pretya ceha ca bhārata | devarṣipitṛgandharvāḥ kīrtayanti mahaujasaḥ

O Bharata, gods, sages, ancestors and gandharvas, full of might, sing the praise of a king who keeps to dharma, both in this world and after death.

Verse 59 (12.91.59)

स एवमुक्तो मान्धाता तेनोचथ्येन भारत । कृतवानविशङ्कश्च एकः प्राप च मेदिनीम् ॥

sa evamukto māndhātā tenocathyena bhārata | kṛtavānaviśaṅkaśca ekaḥ prāpa ca medinīm

Thus addressed by Uchathya, Mandhata, O Bharata, acted without hesitation, and alone gained the earth.

Verse 60 (12.91.60)

भवानपि तथा सम्यङ्मान्धातेव महीपते । धर्मं कृत्वा महीं रक्ष स्वर्गे स्थानमवाप्स्यसि ॥

bhavānapi tathā samyaṅmāndhāteva mahīpate | dharmaṃ kṛtvā mahīṃ rakṣa svarge sthānamavāpsyasi

You too, O lord of the earth, like Mandhata, do dharma and protect the earth; you will win a place in heaven.

Note on the text: Corrected भान्धातेव → मान्धातेव (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म; the critical edition reads māndhāteva).