Honouring Guests and Guarding Counsel

Verse 1 (5.38.1)

ऊर्ध्वं प्राणा ह्युत्क्रामन्ति यूनः स्थविर आयति । प्रत्युत्थानाभिवादाभ्यां पुनस्तान्प्रतिपद्यते ॥

ūrdhvaṃ prāṇā hyutkrāmanti yūnaḥ sthavira āyati | pratyutthānābhivādābhyāṃ punastānpratipadyate

When an elder approaches, a young man's life-breaths rise up as if to leave him; by rising to meet the elder and greeting him with respect, he regains them.

Verse 2 (5.38.2)

पीठं दत्त्वा साधवेऽभ्यागताय । आनीयापः परिनिर्णिज्य पादौ । सुखं पृष्ट्वा प्रतिवेद्यात्मसंस्थां । ततो दद्यादन्नमवेक्ष्य धीरः ॥

pīṭhaṃ dattvā sādhave'bhyāgatāya | ānīyāpaḥ parinirṇijya pādau | sukhaṃ pṛṣṭvā prativedyātmasaṃsthāṃ | tato dadyādannamavekṣya dhīraḥ

When a good man comes as a guest, a wise host should offer him a seat, bring water and wash his feet, ask after his welfare, tell him of his own circumstances, and then, after due thought, give him food.

Verse 3 (5.38.3)

यस्योदकं मधुपर्कं च गां च । न मन्त्रवित्प्रतिगृह्णाति गेहे । लोभाद्भयादथ कार्पण्यतो वा । तस्यानर्थं जीवितमाहुरार्याः ॥

yasyodakaṃ madhuparkaṃ ca gāṃ ca | na mantravitpratigṛhṇāti gehe | lobhādbhayādatha kārpaṇyato vā | tasyānarthaṃ jīvitamāhurāryāḥ

The noble say that a man's life is worthless if, in his house, a brahmin versed in the mantras will not accept water, the honey-offering and a cow because of the host's greed, fear or meanness.

Note on the text: Corrected आहुरर्याः → आहुरार्याः (Wikisource typo; sanskritdocuments and the critical edition read आहुरार्याः). Dropped ā-mātrā.

Verse 4 (5.38.4)

चिकित्सकः शल्यकर्तावकीर्णी । स्तेनः क्रूरो मद्यपो भ्रूणहा च । सेनाजीवी श्रुतिविक्रायकश्च । भृशं प्रियोऽप्यतिथिर्नोदकार्हः ॥

cikitsakaḥ śalyakartāvakīrṇī | stenaḥ krūro madyapo bhrūṇahā ca | senājīvī śrutivikrāyakaśca | bhṛśaṃ priyo'pyatithirnodakārhaḥ

A physician, a maker of arrows, a student who has broken his vow of celibacy, a thief, a cruel man, a drunkard, one who has killed an unborn child, one who lives by soldiering, and one who sells the Veda: such a guest, however dear, does not deserve even water for his feet.

Verse 5 (5.38.5)

अविक्रेयं लवणं पक्वमन्नं । दधि क्षीरं मधु तैलं घृतं च । तिला मांसं फलमूलानि शाकं । रक्तं वासः सर्वगन्धा गुडाश्च ॥

avikreyaṃ lavaṇaṃ pakvamannaṃ | dadhi kṣīraṃ madhu tailaṃ ghṛtaṃ ca | tilā māṃsaṃ phalamūlāni śākaṃ | raktaṃ vāsaḥ sarvagandhā guḍāśca

Salt, cooked food, curd, milk, honey, oil, ghee, sesame, meat, fruits and roots, vegetables, red cloth, perfumes of every kind, and molasses: these are not to be sold.

Verse 6 (5.38.6)

अरोषणो यः समलोष्ठाश्मकाञ्चनः । प्रहीणशोको गतसन्धिविग्रहः । निन्दाप्रशंसोपरतः प्रियाप्रिये । त्यजन्नुदासीनवदेष भिक्षुकः ॥

aroṣaṇo yaḥ samaloṣṭhāśmakāñcanaḥ | prahīṇaśoko gatasandhivigrahaḥ | nindāpraśaṃsoparataḥ priyāpriye | tyajannudāsīnavadeṣa bhikṣukaḥ

He who is free of anger, to whom a clod of earth, a stone and gold are the same, who has left sorrow behind and given up both alliance and strife, who is unmoved by blame and praise, and who lets go of the pleasant and the unpleasant, living as one detached: such a man is a true mendicant.

Verse 7 (5.38.7)

नीवारमूलेङ्गुदशाकवृत्तिः । सुसंयतात्माग्निकार्येषु चोद्यः । वने वसन्नतिथिष्वप्रमत्तो । धुरन्धरः पुण्यकृदेष तापसः ॥

nīvāramūleṅgudaśākavṛttiḥ | susaṃyatātmāgnikāryeṣu codyaḥ | vane vasannatithiṣvapramatto | dhurandharaḥ puṇyakṛdeṣa tāpasaḥ

He who lives on wild rice, roots, ingudi fruit and greens, who is well restrained in mind and diligent in tending the sacred fire, who dwells in the forest yet is ever attentive to guests: that bearer of the burden of duty, the doer of merit, is a true ascetic.

Verse 8 (5.38.8)

अपकृत्य बुद्धिमतो दूरस्थोऽस्मीति नाश्वसेत् । दीर्घौ बुद्धिमतो बाहू याभ्यां हिंसति हिंसितः ॥

apakṛtya buddhimato dūrastho'smīti nāśvaset | dīrghau buddhimato bāhū yābhyāṃ hiṃsati hiṃsitaḥ

Having wronged a wise man, one should not feel safe thinking, 'I am far away.' Long are the arms of the wise; when he is harmed, he strikes back with them.

Verse 9 (5.38.9)

न विश्वसेदविश्वस्ते विश्वस्ते नातिविश्वसेत् । विश्वासाद्भयमुत्पन्नं मूलान्यपि निकृन्तति ॥

na viśvasedaviśvaste viśvaste nātiviśvaset | viśvāsādbhayamutpannaṃ mūlānyapi nikṛntati

Do not trust one who is not trustworthy, and do not trust too far even one who is trustworthy. Danger that springs from trust cuts away even the roots.

Verse 10 (5.38.10)

अनीर्ष्युर्गुप्तदारश्च संविभागी प्रियंवदः । श्लक्ष्णो मधुरवाक्स्त्रीणां न चासां वशगो भवेत् ॥

anīrṣyurguptadāraśca saṃvibhāgī priyaṃvadaḥ | ślakṣṇo madhuravākstrīṇāṃ na cāsāṃ vaśago bhavet

A man should be free of jealousy and should guard his wife; he should share what he has and speak kindly. Toward women he should be gentle and sweet-spoken, but never fall under their sway.

Note on the text: Corrected अनीर्षुर् → अनीर्ष्युर् (Wikisource typo; sanskritdocuments and the critical edition read अनीर्ष्युर्). Broken conjunct.

Verse 11 (5.38.11)

पूजनीया महाभागाः पुण्याश्च गृहदीप्तयः । स्त्रियः श्रियो गृहस्योक्तास्तस्माद्रक्ष्या विशेषतः ॥

pūjanīyā mahābhāgāḥ puṇyāśca gṛhadīptayaḥ | striyaḥ śriyo gṛhasyoktāstasmādrakṣyā viśeṣataḥ

Women are worthy of honour, greatly blessed and pure; they are the light of the home. They are called the prosperity of the household, and so they should be protected with special care.

Verse 12 (5.38.12)

पितुरन्तःपुरं दद्यान्मातुर्दद्यान्महानसम् । गोषु चात्मसमं दद्यात्स्वयमेव कृषिं व्रजेत् । भृत्यैर्वाणिज्यचारं च पुत्रैः सेवेत च द्विजान् ॥

piturantaḥpuraṃ dadyānmāturdadyānmahānasam | goṣu cātmasamaṃ dadyātsvayameva kṛṣiṃ vrajet | bhṛtyairvāṇijyacāraṃ ca putraiḥ seveta ca dvijān

Entrust the inner apartments to your father and the kitchen to your mother; set someone like yourself over the cattle, and see to the farming yourself. Carry on trade through servants, and serve the twice-born through your sons.

Verse 13 (5.38.13)

अद्भ्योऽग्निर्ब्रह्मतः क्षत्रमश्मनो लोहमुत्थितम् । तेषां सर्वत्रगं तेजः स्वासु योनिषु शाम्यति ॥

adbhyo'gnirbrahmataḥ kṣatramaśmano lohamutthitam | teṣāṃ sarvatragaṃ tejaḥ svāsu yoniṣu śāmyati

Fire arose from water, the kshatriya from the brahmin, and iron from stone. Their power reaches everywhere, yet it is quenched when it meets its own source.

Verse 14 (5.38.14)

नित्यं सन्तः कुले जाताः पावकोपमतेजसः । क्षमावन्तो निराकाराः काष्ठेऽग्निरिव शेरते ॥

nityaṃ santaḥ kule jātāḥ pāvakopamatejasaḥ | kṣamāvanto nirākārāḥ kāṣṭhe'gniriva śerate

Good men born in noble families, whose power is like fire, are always forbearing and show no outward sign of it, resting like fire in wood.

Note on the text: Corrected नित्यं सन्तं → नित्यं सन्तः (Wikisource typo; sanskritdocuments and the critical edition read नित्यं सन्तः). Anusvara for visarga; the subject is plural.

Verse 15 (5.38.15)

यस्य मन्त्रं न जानन्ति बाह्याश्चाभ्यन्तराश्च ये । स राजा सर्वतश्चक्षुश्चिरमैश्वर्यमश्नुते ॥

yasya mantraṃ na jānanti bāhyāścābhyantarāśca ye | sa rājā sarvataścakṣuściramaiśvaryamaśnute

The king whose counsel is known neither to outsiders nor to those close to him, and whose eyes are everywhere, enjoys his sovereignty for a long time.

Verse 16 (5.38.16)

करिष्यन्न प्रभाषेत कृतान्येव तु दर्शयेत् । धर्मकामार्थकार्याणि तथा मन्त्रो न भिद्यते ॥

kariṣyanna prabhāṣeta kṛtānyeva tu darśayet | dharmakāmārthakāryāṇi tathā mantro na bhidyate

One should not speak of what one is about to do, but should show only what has been done, whether the task concerns dharma, desire or wealth. In this way counsel is not betrayed.

Verse 17 (5.38.17)

गिरिपृष्ठमुपारुह्य प्रासादं वा रहोगतः । अरण्ये निःशलाके वा तत्र मन्त्रोऽभिधीयते ॥

giripṛṣṭhamupāruhya prāsādaṃ vā rahogataḥ | araṇye niḥśalāke vā tatra mantro'bhidhīyate

Climbing to a mountain top or to the upper terrace of a palace, or going to a lonely spot in the forest where no reeds or grass can hide a listener: there counsel should be taken.

Verse 18 (5.38.18)

नासुहृत्परमं मन्त्रं भारतार्हति वेदितुम् । अपण्डितो वापि सुहृत्पण्डितो वाप्यनात्मवान् ॥

nāsuhṛtparamaṃ mantraṃ bhāratārhati veditum | apaṇḍito vāpi suhṛtpaṇḍito vāpyanātmavān

O Bharata, one who is not a friend is not fit to know one's highest counsel; nor is a friend who lacks learning, nor a learned man who lacks self-control.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 5.38.18ab–cd. The vulgate divides the following couplets differently from the critical edition (from here to verse 29), so these verses did not align automatically and were matched by hand.

Verse 19 (5.38.19)

नापरीक्ष्य महीपालः कुर्यात्सचिवमात्मनः । अमात्ये ह्यर्थलिप्सा च मन्त्ररक्षणमेव च ॥

nāparīkṣya mahīpālaḥ kuryātsacivamātmanaḥ | amātye hyarthalipsā ca mantrarakṣaṇameva ca

A king should not make anyone his minister without first testing him, for on the minister rest both the gaining of wealth and the guarding of counsel.

Note on the text: First line not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); second line = CE 5.38.18ef.

Verse 20 (5.38.20)

कृतानि सर्वकार्याणि यस्य पारिषदा विदुः । धर्मे चार्थे च कामे च स राजा राजसत्तमः ॥

kṛtāni sarvakāryāṇi yasya pāriṣadā viduḥ | dharme cārthe ca kāme ca sa rājā rājasattamaḥ

The king whose undertakings in dharma, wealth and desire his courtiers come to know only after they are complete is the best of kings.

Note on the text: First line = CE 5.38.19ab; second line not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 21 (5.38.21)

गूढमन्त्रस्य नृपतेस्तस्य सिद्धिरसंशयम् । अप्रशस्तानि कार्याणि यो मोहादनुतिष्ठति ॥

gūḍhamantrasya nṛpatestasya siddhirasaṃśayam | apraśastāni kāryāṇi yo mohādanutiṣṭhati

Success is beyond doubt for such a king, who keeps his counsel secret. But the man who in his folly undertakes blameworthy deeds

Note on the text: Lines = CE 5.38.19cd and 5.38.20ab (different couplet division in the vulgate).

Verse 22 (5.38.22)

स तेषां विपरिभ्रंशाद्भ्रश्यते जीवितादपि । कर्मणां तु प्रशस्तानामनुष्ठानं सुखावहम् ॥

sa teṣāṃ viparibhraṃśādbhraśyate jīvitādapi | karmaṇāṃ tu praśastānāmanuṣṭhānaṃ sukhāvaham

falls even from life itself when those deeds miscarry. The doing of praiseworthy deeds brings happiness,

Note on the text: Lines = CE 5.38.20cd and 5.38.21ab (different couplet division in the vulgate).

Verse 23 (5.38.23)

तेषामेवाननुष्ठानं पश्चात्तापकरं मतम् । अनधीत्य यथा वेदान्न विप्रः श्राद्धमर्हति ॥

teṣāmevānanuṣṭhānaṃ paścāttāpakaraṃ matam | anadhītya yathā vedānna vipraḥ śrāddhamarhati

and failing to do them is held to bring remorse. Just as a brahmin who has not studied the Vedas is not fit to be fed at a shraddha,

Note on the text: First line = CE 5.38.21cd; second line not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 24 (5.38.24)

एवमश्रुतषाड्गुण्यो न मन्त्रं श्रोतुमर्हति । स्थानवृद्धिक्षयज्ञस्य षाड्गुण्यविदितात्मनः ॥

evamaśrutaṣāḍguṇyo na mantraṃ śrotumarhati | sthānavṛddhikṣayajñasya ṣāḍguṇyaviditātmanaḥ

so one who has not learned the six measures of statecraft is not fit to hear counsel. For the king who knows the states of standstill, growth and decline, and whose mind is versed in the six measures,

Note on the text: First line not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); second line = CE 5.38.22ab. Corrected षाङ्गुण्य → षाड्गुण्य, twice (Wikisource typo; sanskritdocuments and the critical edition read षाड्गुण्य in the second line; the first line is not in either edition, but it is the same word and is corrected to match).

Verse 25 (5.38.25)

अनवज्ञातशीलस्य स्वाधीना पृथिवी नृप । अमोघक्रोधहर्षस्य स्वयं कृत्वान्ववेक्षिणः ॥

anavajñātaśīlasya svādhīnā pṛthivī nṛpa | amoghakrodhaharṣasya svayaṃ kṛtvānvavekṣiṇaḥ

and whose conduct no one holds in contempt, the earth lies in his own hands, O king. For the king whose anger and favour never go to waste, who acts himself and then keeps watch over what is done,

Note on the text: Lines = CE 5.38.22cd and 5.38.23ab (different couplet division in the vulgate).

Verse 26 (5.38.26)

आत्मप्रत्ययकोशस्य वसुदैव वसुन्धरा । नाममात्रेण तुष्येत छत्रेण च महीपतिः ॥

ātmapratyayakośasya vasudaiva vasundharā | nāmamātreṇa tuṣyeta chatreṇa ca mahīpatiḥ

and who keeps his treasury under his own eye, the earth becomes a giver of wealth. A ruler should be content with the mere title of king and the royal umbrella;

Note on the text: Lines = CE 5.38.23cd and 5.38.24ab (different couplet division in the vulgate). Corrected नाममात्रेणा तुष्येत → नाममात्रेण तुष्येत (Wikisource typo; sanskritdocuments and the critical edition read नाममात्रेण तुष्येत). Stray ā-mātrā.

Verse 27 (5.38.27)

भृत्येभ्यो विसृजेदर्थान्नैकः सर्वहरो भवेत् । ब्राह्मणं ब्राह्मणो वेद भर्ता वेद स्त्रियं तथा ॥

bhṛtyebhyo visṛjedarthānnaikaḥ sarvaharo bhavet | brāhmaṇaṃ brāhmaṇo veda bhartā veda striyaṃ tathā

he should share wealth among his servants and not take everything for himself alone. A brahmin knows a brahmin, and a husband knows his wife;

Note on the text: Lines = CE 5.38.24cd and 5.38.25ab (different couplet division in the vulgate).

Verse 28 (5.38.28)

अमात्यं नृपतिर्वेद राजा राजानमेव च । न शत्रुर्वशमापन्नो मोक्तव्यो वध्यतां गतः ॥

amātyaṃ nṛpatirveda rājā rājānameva ca | na śatrurvaśamāpanno moktavyo vadhyatāṃ gataḥ

a ruler knows his minister, and a king knows a king. An enemy who has fallen into one's power and deserves death should not be let go.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 5.38.25cd and 5.38.26ab (different couplet division in the vulgate).

Verse 29 (5.38.29)

न्यग्भूत्वा पर्युपासीत वध्यं हन्याद्बले सति । अहताद्धि भयं तस्माज्जायते नचिरादिव ॥

nyagbhūtvā paryupāsīta vadhyaṃ hanyādbale sati | ahatāddhi bhayaṃ tasmājjāyate nacirādiva

While one is weak, one should bow low and wait on such an enemy; when one has the strength, one should slay him who deserves death. For from an enemy left unslain, danger arises before long.

Note on the text: First line not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); second line = CE 5.38.26cd. Corrected वध्वं → वध्यं (misprint in Wikisource; the printed form does not fit the sense, "one who deserves death").

Verse 30 (5.38.30)

दैवतेषु प्रयत्नेन राजसु ब्राह्मणेषु च । नियन्तव्यः सदा क्रोधो वृद्धबालातुरेषु च ॥

daivateṣu prayatnena rājasu brāhmaṇeṣu ca | niyantavyaḥ sadā krodho vṛddhabālātureṣu ca

One should always take care to restrain anger toward the gods, kings, brahmins, the old, children and the sick.

Verse 31 (5.38.31)

निरर्थं कलहं प्राज्ञो वर्जयेन्मूढसेवितम् । कीर्तिं च लभते लोके न चानर्थेन युज्यते ॥

nirarthaṃ kalahaṃ prājño varjayenmūḍhasevitam | kīrtiṃ ca labhate loke na cānarthena yujyate

A wise man should avoid the pointless quarrels that fools indulge in. He then gains fame in the world and does not meet with misfortune.

Note on the text: Corrected कीर्ति च → कीर्तिं च (Wikisource typo; sanskritdocuments and the critical edition read कीर्तिं च). Dropped anusvara.

Verse 32 (5.38.32)

प्रसादो निष्फलो यस्य क्रोधश्चापि निरर्थकः । न तं भर्तारमिच्छन्ति षण्ढं पतिमिव स्त्रियः ॥

prasādo niṣphalo yasya krodhaścāpi nirarthakaḥ | na taṃ bhartāramicchanti ṣaṇḍhaṃ patimiva striyaḥ

A master whose favour bears no fruit and whose anger achieves nothing is not wanted by his people, just as women do not want an impotent husband.

Verse 33 (5.38.33)

न बुद्धिर्धनलाभाय न जाड्यमसमृद्धये । लोकपर्यायवृत्तान्तं प्राज्ञो जानाति नेतरः ॥

na buddhirdhanalābhāya na jāḍyamasamṛddhaye | lokaparyāyavṛttāntaṃ prājño jānāti netaraḥ

Intelligence does not ensure wealth, nor does dullness ensure poverty. Only the wise understand how the world turns; others do not.

Verse 34 (5.38.34)

विद्याशीलवयोवृद्धान्बुद्धिवृद्धांश्च भारत । धनाभिजातवृद्धांश्च नित्यं मूढोऽवमन्यते ॥

vidyāśīlavayovṛddhānbuddhivṛddhāṃśca bhārata | dhanābhijātavṛddhāṃśca nityaṃ mūḍho'vamanyate

O Bharata, a fool always looks down on those who are advanced in learning, character, age and understanding, and on those who are great in wealth and birth.

Verse 35 (5.38.35)

अनार्यवृत्तमप्राज्ञमसूयकमधार्मिकम् । अनर्थाः क्षिप्रमायान्ति वाग्दुष्टं क्रोधनं तथा ॥

anāryavṛttamaprājñamasūyakamadhārmikam | anarthāḥ kṣipramāyānti vāgduṣṭaṃ krodhanaṃ tathā

Misfortunes come quickly to the man of ignoble conduct, the unwise, the envious, the unrighteous, the foul-mouthed and the wrathful.

Verse 36 (5.38.36)

अविसंवादनं दानं समयस्याव्यतिक्रमः । आवर्तयन्ति भूतानि सम्यक्प्रणिहिता च वाक् ॥

avisaṃvādanaṃ dānaṃ samayasyāvyatikramaḥ | āvartayanti bhūtāni samyakpraṇihitā ca vāk

Keeping one's word, giving, not breaking an agreement, and speech that is well considered: these win over all beings.

Verse 37 (5.38.37)

अविसंवादको दक्षः कृतज्ञो मतिमानृजुः । अपि संक्षीणकोशोऽपि लभते परिवारणम् ॥

avisaṃvādako dakṣaḥ kṛtajño matimānṛjuḥ | api saṃkṣīṇakośo'pi labhate parivāraṇam

The man who keeps his word and is capable, grateful, intelligent and straightforward finds followers even when his treasury is exhausted.

Verse 38 (5.38.38)

धृतिः शमो दमः शौचं कारुण्यं वागनिष्ठुरा । मित्राणां चानभिद्रोहः सप्तैताः समिधः श्रियः ॥

dhṛtiḥ śamo damaḥ śaucaṃ kāruṇyaṃ vāganiṣṭhurā | mitrāṇāṃ cānabhidrohaḥ saptaitāḥ samidhaḥ śriyaḥ

Fortitude, calm, self-control, purity, compassion, gentle speech and never betraying friends: these seven are the kindling that feeds the fire of prosperity.

Verse 39 (5.38.39)

असंविभागी दुष्टात्मा कृतघ्नो निरपत्रपः । तादृङ्नराधमो लोके वर्जनीयो नराधिप ॥

asaṃvibhāgī duṣṭātmā kṛtaghno nirapatrapaḥ | tādṛṅnarādhamo loke varjanīyo narādhipa

One who does not share with others, who is wicked, ungrateful and shameless: such a vile man should be shunned in this world, O ruler of men.

Note on the text: Corrected तादृङ्वराधिपो → तादृङ्नराधमो (Wikisource typo; sanskritdocuments and the critical edition read तादृङ्नराधमो). The Wikisource form gives an impossible sandhi (ङ् before व) and no sense in context.

Verse 40 (5.38.40)

न च रात्रौ सुखं शेते ससर्प इव वेश्मनि । यः कोपयति निर्दोषं सदोषोऽभ्यन्तरं जनम् ॥

na ca rātrau sukhaṃ śete sasarpa iva veśmani | yaḥ kopayati nirdoṣaṃ sadoṣo'bhyantaraṃ janam

The man who is himself at fault and yet angers the blameless people of his own household does not sleep easily at night, like one who shares his house with a snake.

Verse 41 (5.38.41)

येषु दुष्टेषु दोषः स्याद्योगक्षेमस्य भारत । सदा प्रसादनं तेषां देवतानामिवाचरेत् ॥

yeṣu duṣṭeṣu doṣaḥ syādyogakṣemasya bhārata | sadā prasādanaṃ teṣāṃ devatānāmivācaret

Those who, if offended, could damage one's welfare and security, O Bharata, should always be kept pleased, as one keeps the gods pleased.

Verse 42 (5.38.42)

येऽर्थाः स्त्रीषु समायुक्ताः प्रमत्तपतितेषु च । ये चानार्ये समासक्ताः सर्वे ते संशयं गताः ॥

ye'rthāḥ strīṣu samāyuktāḥ pramattapatiteṣu ca | ye cānārye samāsaktāḥ sarve te saṃśayaṃ gatāḥ

Wealth placed in the hands of women, of the careless and of the fallen, and wealth bound up with the ignoble: all of it is in jeopardy.

Verse 43 (5.38.43)

यत्र स्त्री यत्र कितवो बालो यत्रानुशासिता । मज्जन्ति तेऽवशा राजन्नद्यामश्मप्लवा इव ॥

yatra strī yatra kitavo bālo yatrānuśāsitā | majjanti te'vaśā rājannadyāmaśmaplavā iva

Where a woman, a gambler or a child is the one who rules, O king, the people sink helplessly, like rafts of stone in a river.

Note on the text: Corrected मञ्जन्ति → मज्जन्ति (Wikisource typo; sanskritdocuments and the critical edition read मज्जन्ति).

Verse 44 (5.38.44)

प्रयोजनेषु ये सक्ता न विशेषेषु भारत । तानहं पण्डितान्मन्ये विशेषा हि प्रसङ्गिनः ॥

prayojaneṣu ye saktā na viśeṣeṣu bhārata | tānahaṃ paṇḍitānmanye viśeṣā hi prasaṅginaḥ

Those who attend to the main purpose and not to minor details, O Bharata, I consider wise, for details lead to entanglement.

Verse 45 (5.38.45)

यं प्रशंसन्ति कितवा यं प्रशंसन्ति चारणाः । यं प्रशंसन्ति बन्धक्यो न स जीवति मानवः ॥

yaṃ praśaṃsanti kitavā yaṃ praśaṃsanti cāraṇāḥ | yaṃ praśaṃsanti bandhakyo na sa jīvati mānavaḥ

The man whom gamblers praise, whom wandering bards praise and whom harlots praise does not truly live.

Verse 46 (5.38.46)

हित्वा तान्परमेष्वासान्पाण्डवानमितौजसः । आहितं भारतैश्वर्यं त्वया दुर्योधने महत् ॥

hitvā tānparameṣvāsānpāṇḍavānamitaujasaḥ | āhitaṃ bhārataiśvaryaṃ tvayā duryodhane mahat

Passing over those great archers, the Pandavas of boundless might, you have placed the vast sovereignty of the Bharatas in the hands of Duryodhana.

Verse 47 (5.38.47)

तं द्रक्ष्यसि परिभ्रष्टं तस्मात्त्वमचिरादिव । ऐश्वर्यमदसंमूढं बलिं लोकत्रयादिव ॥

taṃ drakṣyasi paribhraṣṭaṃ tasmāttvamacirādiva | aiśvaryamadasaṃmūḍhaṃ baliṃ lokatrayādiva

Before long you will see him fall from it, blinded by the intoxication of power, as Bali fell from the three worlds.