Vamadeva on Winning Without War

Verse 1 (12.94.1)

अयुद्धेनैव विजयं वर्धयेद्वसुधाधिपः । जघन्यमाहुर्विजयं युद्धेन च नराधिप ॥

ayuddhenaiva vijayaṃ vardhayedvasudhādhipaḥ | jaghanyamāhurvijayaṃ yuddhena ca narādhipa

A king should increase his victory without fighting; O lord of men, a victory won through battle is called the lowest kind.

Verse 2 (12.94.2)

न चाप्यलब्धं लिप्सेत मूले नातिदृढे सति । न हि दुर्बलमूलस्य राज्ञो लाभो विवर्धते ॥

na cāpyalabdhaṃ lipseta mūle nātidṛḍhe sati | na hi durbalamūlasya rājño lābho vivardhate

Nor should he reach for what he has not yet gained while his own root is not firmly set; for the gain of a king whose root is weak does not grow.

Verse 3 (12.94.3)

यस्य स्फीतो जनपदः संपन्नप्रियराजकः । संतुष्टः पुष्टसचिवो दृढमूलः स पार्थिवः ॥

yasya sphīto janapadaḥ saṃpannapriyarājakaḥ | saṃtuṣṭaḥ puṣṭasacivo dṛḍhamūlaḥ sa pārthivaḥ

A king whose country is thriving and prosperous, who is dear to his people, who is himself content and whose ministers are well supported, is firmly rooted.

Verse 4 (12.94.4)

यस्य योधाः सुसंतुष्टाः स्वनुरक्ताः सुपूजिताः । अल्पेनापि स दण्डेन महीं जयति पार्थिवः ॥

yasya yodhāḥ susaṃtuṣṭāḥ svanuraktāḥ supūjitāḥ | alpenāpi sa daṇḍena mahīṃ jayati pārthivaḥ

A ruler whose warriors are well pleased, devoted to him and well honoured conquers the earth even with a small force.

Note on the text: Line 1 is a variant of CE 12.95.4a (CE yasya yodhāḥ susaṃtuṣṭāḥ sāntvitāḥ sūpadhāsthitāḥ); line 2 = CE 12.95.4c. The alignment found no match. The CE then prints a long Appendix I passage (passage 10, @010_0001 to @010_0024) after 12.95.4d, which Wikisource carries in the next verses (5 to 15).

Verse 5 (12.94.5)

दण्डो हि बलवान्यत्र तत्र साम प्रयुज्यते । प्रदानं सामपूर्वं च भेदमूलं प्रशस्यते ॥

daṇḍo hi balavānyatra tatra sāma prayujyate | pradānaṃ sāmapūrvaṃ ca bhedamūlaṃ praśasyate

Where one’s force is strong, there too conciliation is employed; a gift preceded by conciliation, and a policy rooted in division, are praised.

Note on the text: Removed the stray backtick Wikisource prints at the start of this verse (it opens the passage Wikisource marks off as an interpolation; the closing quote mark falls at the end of verse 17). Not in the critical edition’s constituted text: lines 1–2 = CE Appendix I passage 10, lines 1–2 (printed inline as 12,095.004d@010_0001 and @010_0002, after 12.95.4d).

Verse 6 (12.94.6)

त्रयाणां विफलं कर्म यदा पश्येत भूमिपः । रन्ध्रं ज्ञात्वा ततो दण्डं प्रयुञ्जीताविचारयन् ॥

trayāṇāṃ viphalaṃ karma yadā paśyeta bhūmipaḥ | randhraṃ jñātvā tato daṇḍaṃ prayuñjītāvicārayan

When the king sees that the work of the three (conciliation, gifts, division) has failed, then, having found the enemy’s weak point, he should apply force without hesitation.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition’s constituted text: CE Appendix I passage 10, lines 3–4 (12,095.004d@010_0003 and @010_0004, after 12.95.4d).

Verse 7 (12.94.7)

अभिभूतो यदा शत्रुः शत्रुभिर्बलवत्तरैः । उपेक्षा तत्र कर्तव्या वध्यता बलिनां बलम् ॥

abhibhūto yadā śatruḥ śatrubhirbalavattaraiḥ | upekṣā tatra kartavyā vadhyatā balināṃ balam

When an enemy has been overwhelmed by stronger enemies, one should remain indifferent in that case; the vulnerability of the weak to being killed is the strength of the strong.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition’s constituted text: CE Appendix I passage 10, lines 5–6 (12,095.004d@010_0005 and @010_0006, after 12.95.4d). Line 2 differs in one word (Wikisource वध्यता; CE vadhyatāṃ); both are good Sanskrit, kept.

Verse 8 (12.94.8)

दुर्बलो हि महीपालो यदा भवति भारत । उपेक्षा तत्र कर्तव्या चतुर्णामविरोधिनी । उपायः पञ्चमः सोऽपि सर्वेषां बलवत्तरः ॥

durbalo hi mahīpālo yadā bhavati bhārata | upekṣā tatra kartavyā caturṇāmavirodhinī | upāyaḥ pañcamaḥ so'pi sarveṣāṃ balavattaraḥ

When a king is weak, O Bharata, indifference is to be practised in that case; it is not opposed to the four, and as the fifth expedient it is stronger than all of them.

Note on the text: Corrected अविरोधीनि → अविरोधिनी (misprint in Wikisource; the neuter plural cannot agree with उपेक्षा, and the critical edition reads caturṇām avirodhinī). Not in the critical edition’s constituted text: lines 1–3 = CE Appendix I passage 10, lines 7–9 (12,095.004d@010_0007 to @010_0009, after 12.95.4d).

Verse 9 (12.94.9)

भार्गवेण च गीतानां श्लोकानां कोसलाधिप । विज्ञाय तत्वं तत्वज्ञ तत्वतस्तत्करिष्यति ॥

bhārgaveṇa ca gītānāṃ ślokānāṃ kosalādhipa | vijñāya tatvaṃ tatvajña tatvatastatkariṣyati

Having grasped the truth of the verses sung by Bhargava, O king of Kosala, O knower of the truth, he will in truth act upon it.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition’s constituted text: CE Appendix I passage 10, lines 10–11 (12,095.004d@010_0010 and @010_0011, after 12.95.4d). Line 2 ends करिष्यति where the CE has kariṣyasi; the Wikisource form is good Sanskrit and is kept.

Verse 10 (12.94.10)

यदि रक्षःपिशाचेन हन्यते यत्रकुत्रचित् । उपेक्षा तत्र कर्तव्या वाच्यतां बलिनां बलम् ॥

yadi rakṣaḥpiśācena hanyate yatrakutracit | upekṣā tatra kartavyā vācyatāṃ balināṃ balam

If someone, wherever it may be, is being killed by a rakshasa or a pishacha, indifference is to be shown in that case; let it be said that this is the strength of the mighty.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition’s constituted text: CE Appendix I passage 10, lines 12–13 (12,095.004d@010_0012 and @010_0013, after 12.95.4d). Line 2 ends वाच्यतां बलिनां बलम् where the CE has vadhyatāṃ balināṃ baliḥ; the Wikisource wording is good Sanskrit and is kept.

Verse 11 (12.94.11)

दुर्बलोऽपि महीपाल शत्रूणां शत्रुमुद्धरेत् । पादलग्नं करस्थेन कण्टकेनैव कण्टकम् ॥

durbalo'pi mahīpāla śatrūṇāṃ śatrumuddharet | pādalagnaṃ karasthena kaṇṭakenaiva kaṇṭakam

Even a weak king, O protector of the earth, should uproot his enemy from among his foes, as a thorn lodged in the foot is drawn out with a thorn held in the hand.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition’s constituted text: CE Appendix I passage 10, lines 14–15 (12,095.004d@010_0014 and @010_0015, after 12.95.4d).

Verse 12 (12.94.12)

शठानां सचिवानां च म्लेच्छानां च महीपते । एष उक्त उपायानामुपेक्षा बलवत्तम ॥

śaṭhānāṃ sacivānāṃ ca mlecchānāṃ ca mahīpate | eṣa ukta upāyānāmupekṣā balavattama

For rogues, ministers and barbarians, O lord of the earth, this is the expedient said to apply: indifference, O mightiest of men.

Note on the text: Corrected उचिवानां → सचिवानां (misprint in Wikisource; उचिवान् is not a word, the critical edition reads sacivānām, and verse 15 below has सचिवाः). Not in the critical edition’s constituted text: CE Appendix I passage 10, lines 16–17 (12,095.004d@010_0016 and @010_0017, after 12.95.4d). Line 2 ends बलवत्तम (vocative) where the CE has balavattamā (agreeing with उपेक्षा); kept as a recension variant.

Verse 13 (12.94.13)

अश्मना नाशयेल्लोहं लोहेनाश्मानमेव तु । बिल्वानि वा परैर्बिल्वैर्म्लेच्छैर्म्लेच्छान्प्रसादयेत् ॥

aśmanā nāśayellohaṃ lohenāśmānameva tu | bilvāni vā parairbilvairmlecchairmlecchānprasādayet

One breaks iron with stone, and stone with iron; or, as bilva fruits are broken with other bilva fruits, so should one pacify barbarians by means of barbarians.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition’s constituted text: CE Appendix I passage 10, lines 18–19 (12,095.004d@010_0018 and @010_0019, after 12.95.4d). Line 1 ends एव तु where the CE has eva ca, and line 2 begins बिल्वानि वा where the CE has bilvānīva; kept as recension variants.

Verse 14 (12.94.14)

दासानां च प्रदृप्तानामेतदेव हि कारयेत् । चण्डालम्लेच्छजातीनां दण्डेनैव निवारणम् । शठानां दुर्विनीतैश्च पूर्वमुक्तं समाचरेत् ॥

dāsānāṃ ca pradṛptānāmetadeva hi kārayet | caṇḍālamlecchajātīnāṃ daṇḍenaiva nivāraṇam | śaṭhānāṃ durvinītaiśca pūrvamuktaṃ samācaret

The same should be done with slaves who have grown insolent. For people of the Chandala and barbarian classes, restraint is by punishment alone; and with rogues and the ill-disciplined he should act as was said before.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition’s constituted text: CE Appendix I passage 10, lines 20–22 (12,095.004d@010_0020 to @010_0022, after 12.95.4d).

Verse 15 (12.94.15)

अन्त्याः शठाश्च सचिवास्तथा कुब्राह्मणादयः । उपायैः पञ्चभिः साध्याश्चतुर्वर्गविरोधिनः ॥

antyāḥ śaṭhāśca sacivāstathā kubrāhmaṇādayaḥ | upāyaiḥ pañcabhiḥ sādhyāścaturvargavirodhinaḥ

The lowest of men, rogues, ministers, bad brahmins and the like, who are hostile to the four aims of life, are to be managed by the five expedients.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition’s constituted text: CE Appendix I passage 10, lines 23–24 (12,095.004d@010_0023 and @010_0024, after 12.95.4d, the last lines of that passage). Line 1 begins अन्त्याः where the CE has anyāḥ; kept as a recension variant.

Verse 16 (12.94.16)

पौरजानपदा यस्य स्वनुरक्ता अपीडिताः । राष्ट्रकर्मकरा ह्येते राष्ट्रस्य च विरोधिनः ॥

paurajānapadā yasya svanuraktā apīḍitāḥ | rāṣṭrakarmakarā hyete rāṣṭrasya ca virodhinaḥ

The townspeople and country people of a king, devoted to him and unoppressed, are the ones who carry out the work of the realm, and they too may be the realm’s adversaries.

Note on the text: Line 1 is a variant of CE 12.95.5a (CE paurajānapadā yasya svanuraktāḥ supūjitāḥ: अपीडिताः for सुपूजिताः); line 2 is the CE star passage 12.95.5b*0225_01 (rāṣṭrakarmakarā hy ete rāṣṭrasya ca virodhinaḥ). Wikisource marks this and the next verse as part of the interpolated passage opened with a backtick at verse 5.

Verse 17 (12.94.17)

दुर्विनीता विनीताश्च सर्वे साध्याः प्रयत्नतः । चण्डालम्लेच्छजात्याश्च पाषण्डाश्च विकर्मिणः । बलिनश्चाश्रमाश्चैव तथा गायकनर्तकाः ॥

durvinītā vinītāśca sarve sādhyāḥ prayatnataḥ | caṇḍālamlecchajātyāśca pāṣaṇḍāśca vikarmiṇaḥ | balinaścāśramāścaiva tathā gāyakanartakāḥ

The disciplined and the undisciplined alike are all to be managed with care: the Chandala and barbarian classes, the heretics, the doers of forbidden acts, the powerful, the dwellers in the ashramas, and likewise singers and dancers.

Note on the text: Removed the stray closing quote mark and doubled daṇḍa (।।') printed after the last line (it closes the passage Wikisource marks off as an interpolation, opened with a backtick at verse 5). Not in the critical edition’s constituted text: lines 1–3 = CE star passage 12.95.5b*0225_02 to _04 (durvinītā vinītāś ca …; caṇḍālamlecchajātyāś ca …; balinaś cāśramāś caiva tathā gāyakanartakāḥ), printed after 12.95.5a.

Verse 18 (12.94.18)

पौरजानपदा यस्य भूतेषु च दयालवः । सधना धान्यवन्तश्च दृढमूलः स पार्थिवः ॥

paurajānapadā yasya bhūteṣu ca dayālavaḥ | sadhanā dhānyavantaśca dṛḍhamūlaḥ sa pārthivaḥ

A king whose townspeople and country people are kind to living beings, and are wealthy and rich in grain, is firmly rooted.

Note on the text: Line 1 is a variant of CE 12.95.5a (CE paurajānapadā yasya svanuraktāḥ supūjitāḥ); line 2 = CE 12.95.5c. The alignment matched this at low similarity. The CE’s further star passage 12.95.5d*0226 (two lines) is not in Wikisource.

Verse 19 (12.94.19)

प्रतापकालमधिकं यदा मन्येत चात्मनः । तदा लिप्सेत मेधावी परभूमिधनान्युत ॥

pratāpakālamadhikaṃ yadā manyeta cātmanaḥ | tadā lipseta medhāvī parabhūmidhanānyuta

When he judges that the time of his own power has come in full measure, then the wise king should seek another’s land and wealth.

Verse 20 (12.94.20)

भोगेष्वदयमानस्य भूतेषु च दयावतः । वर्धते त्वरमाणस्य विषयो रक्षितात्मनः ॥

bhogeṣvadayamānasya bhūteṣu ca dayāvataḥ | vardhate tvaramāṇasya viṣayo rakṣitātmanaḥ

The realm of one who shows no indulgence to his appetites, who is kind to living beings, who acts promptly and guards himself, grows.

Note on the text: Corrected भोगेषूदयमानस्य → भोगेष्वदयमानस्य (misprint in Wikisource; उदयमान is not a word in this context and the sandhi is broken; the critical edition reads bhogeṣv adayamānasya).

Verse 21 (12.94.21)

तक्षेदात्मानमेवं स वनं परशुना यथा । यः सम्यग्वर्तमानेषु स्वेषु मिथ्या प्रवर्तते ॥

takṣedātmānamevaṃ sa vanaṃ paraśunā yathā | yaḥ samyagvartamāneṣu sveṣu mithyā pravartate

He cuts himself down, as one fells a forest with an axe, who deals falsely with those of his own people who are behaving rightly.

Verse 22 (12.94.22)

नैव द्विषन्तो हीयन्ते राज्ञो नित्यमनिघ्नतः । क्रोधं निहन्तुं यो वेद तस्य द्वेष्टा न विद्यते ॥

naiva dviṣanto hīyante rājño nityamanighnataḥ | krodhaṃ nihantuṃ yo veda tasya dveṣṭā na vidyate

The enemies of a king who never strikes them do not dwindle; but whoever knows how to kill anger has no enemy.

Verse 23 (12.94.23)

यदार्यजनविद्विष्टं कर्म तन्नाचरेद्बुधः । यत्कल्याणमभिध्यायेत्तत्रात्मानं नियोजयेत् ॥

yadāryajanavidviṣṭaṃ karma tannācaredbudhaḥ | yatkalyāṇamabhidhyāyettatrātmānaṃ niyojayet

A wise man should not do the deed that noble people hate; he should engage himself in whatever he judges to be good.

Verse 24 (12.94.24)

नैवमन्येऽवजानन्ति नात्मना परितप्यते । कृत्यशेषेण यो राजा सुखान्यनुबुभूषति ॥

naivamanye'vajānanti nātmanā paritapyate | kṛtyaśeṣeṇa yo rājā sukhānyanububhūṣati

Others do not look down on such a king, nor is he himself tormented — the king who seeks his pleasures while leaving some part of his duty still unfinished.

Verse 25 (12.94.25)

इदं वृत्तं मनुष्येषु वर्तते यो महीपतिः । उभौ लोकौ विनिर्जित्य विजये संप्रतिष्ठते ॥

idaṃ vṛttaṃ manuṣyeṣu vartate yo mahīpatiḥ | ubhau lokau vinirjitya vijaye saṃpratiṣṭhate

The king who lives among men by this rule, having conquered both worlds, stands firmly established in victory.

Verse 26 (12.94.26)

इत्युक्तो वामदेवेन सर्वं तत्कृतवान्नृपः । तथा कुर्वंस्त्वमप्येतौ लोकौ जेता न संशयः ॥

ityukto vāmadevena sarvaṃ tatkṛtavānnṛpaḥ | tathā kurvaṃstvamapyetau lokau jetā na saṃśayaḥ

Being so addressed by Vamadeva, the king did all of that. If you too act in this way, you will without doubt be the conqueror of both these worlds.

Note on the text: Corrected लोकौजेता → लोकौ जेता (the page prints two words run together; the critical edition reads lokau jetā). The speaker here is Bhishma (the page’s heading भीष्म उवाच), closing the account; नृपः is King Vasumanas, as the commentary on the page notes.