The Great Essence of Ethics (III) — On Kingship

Verse 1 (garuda.1.111.1)

सूत उवाच । पार्थिवस्य तु वक्ष्यामि भृत्यानाञ्चैव लक्षणम् । सर्वाणि हि महीपालः सम्यङ्नित्यं परीक्षयेत्

sūta uvāca pārthivasya tu vakṣyāmi bhṛtyānāñcaiva lakṣaṇam sarvāṇi hi mahīpālaḥ samyaṅnityaṁ parīkṣayet

Suta said: I shall now declare the characteristics of a king and of his servants; for a king should always duly examine all things.

Verse 2 (garuda.1.111.2)

राज्यं पालयते नित्यं सत्यधर्मपरायणः । निर्जित्य परसैन्यानि क्षितं धर्मेण पालयेत्

rājyaṁ pālayate nityaṁ satyadharmaparāyaṇaḥ nirjitya parasainyāni kṣitaṁ dharmeṇa pālayet

He who is devoted to truth and dharma always protects his kingdom; having conquered enemy armies, he should protect the earth through dharma.

Verse 3 (garuda.1.111.3)

पुष्पात्पुष्पं विचिन्वीत मूलच्छेदं न कारयेत् । मालाकार इवारण्ये न यथाङ्गारकारकः

puṣpātpuṣpaṁ vicinvīta mūlacchedaṁ na kārayet mālākāra ivāraṇye na yathāṅgārakārakaḥ

He should gather flower after flower, but should not cause the root to be cut — like a garland-maker in a forest, not like a charcoal-burner.

Verse 4 (garuda.1.111.4)

दोग्धारः क्षीरभुञ्जाना विकृतं तन्न भुञ्जते । परराष्ट्रं महीपालैर्भोक्तव्यं न च दूषयेत्

dogdhāraḥ kṣīrabhuñjānā vikṛtaṁ tanna bhuñjate pararāṣṭraṁ mahīpālairbhoktavyaṁ na ca dūṣayet

Milkers enjoy the milk but do not consume the cow itself. A conquered kingdom should likewise be enjoyed by kings, but not despoiled.

Verse 5 (garuda.1.111.5)

नोधश्छिन्द्यात्तु यो धेन्वाः क्षारार्थो लभते पयः । एवं राष्ट्रं प्रयोगेण पीड्यमानं न वर्धते

nodhaśchindyāttu yo dhenvāḥ kṣārārtho labhate payaḥ evaṁ rāṣṭraṁ prayogeṇa pīḍyamānaṁ na vardhate

One should not cut off a cow's udder merely to get milk more quickly; likewise, a kingdom oppressed by excessive exploitation does not prosper.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.111.6)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन पृथिवीमनुपालयेन् । पालकस्य भवेद्भूमिः कीर्तिरायुर्यशो बलम्

tasmātsarvaprayatnena pṛthivīmanupālayen pālakasya bhavedbhūmiḥ kīrtirāyuryaśo balam

Therefore, with every effort, one should protect the earth; for the protector, the earth grants renown, long life, fame, and strength.

Verse 7 (garuda.1.111.7)

आभ्यर्च्य विष्णुं धर्मात्मा गोब्राह्मणहिते रतः । प्रजाः पालयितुं शक्तः पार्थिवो विजितेन्द्रियः

ābhyarcya viṣṇuṁ dharmātmā gobrāhmaṇahite rataḥ prajāḥ pālayituṁ śaktaḥ pārthivo vijitendriyaḥ

Having worshipped Vishnu, righteous of soul, devoted to the welfare of cows and brahmins, and having conquered his senses, the king is thereby capable of protecting his subjects.

Verse 8 (garuda.1.111.8)

ऐश्वर्यमध्रुवं प्राप्य राजा धर्मे मतिञ्चरेत् । क्षणेन विभवो नश्येन्नात्मायत्तं धनादिकम्

aiśvaryamadhruvaṁ prāpya rājā dharme matiñcaret kṣaṇena vibhavo naśyennātmāyattaṁ dhanādikam

Having obtained sovereignty, which is impermanent, a king should set his mind on dharma; wealth may perish in an instant, for riches are not truly under one's own control.

Verse 9 (garuda.1.111.9)

सत्यं मनोरमाः कामाः सत्यं रम्या विभूतयः । किन्तु वै वनितापाङ्गभङ्गिलोलं हि जीवितम्

satyaṁ manoramāḥ kāmāḥ satyaṁ ramyā vibhūtayaḥ kintu vai vanitāpāṅgabhaṅgilolaṁ hi jīvitam

It is true that pleasures are delightful; it is true that riches are charming; but life is as fickle as the sidelong glance of a woman.

Verse 10 (garuda.1.111.10)

व्याघ्रीव तिष्ठति जरा परितर्जयन्ती रोगाश्च शत्रव इव प्रभवन्ति गात्रे । आयुः परिस्त्रवति भिन्नघटादिवाम्भो लोको न चात्महितमाचरतीह कश्चित्

vyāghrīva tiṣṭhati jarā paritarjayantī rogāśca śatrava iva prabhavanti gātre āyuḥ paristravati bhinnaghaṭādivāmbho loko na cātmahitamācaratīha kaścit

Old age stands like a tigress, ever threatening; diseases arise in the body like enemies; life flows away like water from a cracked pot — yet no one in this world acts for their own true good.

Verse 11 (garuda.1.111.11)

निः शङ्कं किं मनुष्याः कुरुत परहितं युक्तमग्रे हितं यन्मोदध्वं कामिनीभिर्मदनशरहता मन्दमन्दातिदृष्ट्या । मा पापं संकुरुध्वं द्विजहरिपरमाः संभजध्वं सदैव आयुर्निः शेषमेति स्खलति जलघटीभूतमृत्युच्छलेन

niḥ śaṅkaṁ kiṁ manuṣyāḥ kuruta parahitaṁ yuktamagre hitaṁ yanmodadhvaṁ kāminībhirmadanaśarahatā mandamandātidṛṣṭyā mā pāpaṁ saṁkurudhvaṁ dvijahariparamāḥ saṁbhajadhvaṁ sadaiva āyurniḥ śeṣameti skhalati jalaghaṭībhūtamṛtyucchalena

O men, why do you not fearlessly do what benefits others, which is truly good in the end? Struck by desire's arrow, you delight in the languid glances of women. Do not commit sin; always be devoted supremely to brahmins and Hari — life is entirely slipping away, like water from a jar, under the guise of death.

Verse 12 (garuda.1.111.12)

मातृवत्परदारेषु परद्रव्येषु लोष्टवत् । आत्मवत्सर्वभूतेषु यः पश्यति स पण्डितः

mātṛvatparadāreṣu paradravyeṣu loṣṭavat ātmavatsarvabhūteṣu yaḥ paśyati sa paṇḍitaḥ

He who regards another's wife as a mother, another's wealth as worthless as a clod of earth, and all beings as himself — he is a learned man.

Verse 13 (garuda.1.111.13)

एतदर्थं हि विप्रेन्द्रा राज्यमिच्छन्ति भूभृतः । यदेषां सर्वकार्येषु वचो न प्रतिहन्यते

etadarthaṁ hi viprendrā rājyamicchanti bhūbhṛtaḥ yadeṣāṁ sarvakāryeṣu vaco na pratihanyate

For this very reason kings desire kingship — so that their word is never opposed in any matter.

Verse 14 (garuda.1.111.14)

एतदर्थं हि कुर्वन्ति राजानो धनसञ्चयम् । रक्षयित्वा तु चात्मानं यद्धनं तद्द्विजातये

etadarthaṁ hi kurvanti rājāno dhanasañcayam rakṣayitvā tu cātmānaṁ yaddhanaṁ taddvijātaye

For this very reason kings accumulate wealth — having provided for themselves, whatever wealth remains is for the twice-born.

Verse 15 (garuda.1.111.15)

ओङ्कारशब्दो विप्राणां येन राष्ट्रं प्रवर्धते । स राजा वर्धते योगाद्व्याधिभिश्च न बध्यते

oṅkāraśabdo viprāṇāṁ yena rāṣṭraṁ pravardhate sa rājā vardhate yogādvyādhibhiśca na badhyate

The recitation of Om by brahmins is that by which the kingdom prospers; the king who fosters this prospers through that connection, and is not afflicted by diseases.

Verse 16 (garuda.1.111.16)

असमर्थाश्च कुर्वन्ति मुनयो द्रव्यसञ्चयम् । किं पुनस्तु महीपालः पुत्रवत्पालयन्प्रजाः

asamarthāśca kurvanti munayo dravyasañcayam kiṁ punastu mahīpālaḥ putravatpālayanprajāḥ

Even ordinary sages accumulate merit through their austerities — how much more, then, should a king, who protects his subjects like his own children, do so?

Verse 17 (garuda.1.111.17)

यस्यार्थास्तस्य मित्राणि यस्यार्थास्तस्य बान्धवाः । यस्यार्थाः स मुमांल्लाके यस्यार्थाः स च पण्डितः

yasyārthāstasya mitrāṇi yasyārthāstasya bāndhavāḥ yasyārthāḥ sa mumāṁllāke yasyārthāḥ sa ca paṇḍitaḥ

He who has wealth has friends; he who has wealth has kinsmen; he who has wealth is regarded as a man of standing; he who has wealth is regarded as learned.

Verse 18 (garuda.1.111.18)

त्यजन्ति मित्राणि धनैर्विहीनं पुत्राश्च दाराश्च सुहृज्जनाश्च । ते चार्थवन्तं पुनराश्रयन्ति ह्यर्थो हि लोके पुरुषस्य बन्धुः

tyajanti mitrāṇi dhanairvihīnaṁ putrāśca dārāśca suhṛjjanāśca te cārthavantaṁ punarāśrayanti hyartho hi loke puruṣasya bandhuḥ

Friends abandon a man devoid of wealth, and so do sons, wives, and well-wishers; but they resort again to one who has wealth — for in this world, wealth is a man's truest kinsman.

Verse 19 (garuda.1.111.19)

अन्धा हि राजा भवति यस्तु सास्त्रविवर्जितः । अन्धः पश्यति चारेण शास्त्रहीनो न पश्यति

andhā hi rājā bhavati yastu sāstravivarjitaḥ andhaḥ paśyati cāreṇa śāstrahīno na paśyati

A king devoid of scriptural knowledge is indeed blind; a blind man can still see through a spy, but one devoid of scripture cannot see at all.

Verse 20 (garuda.1.111.20)

यस्य पुत्राश्च भृत्याश्च मन्त्रिणश्च पुरोहिताः । इन्द्रियाणि प्रसुप्तानि तस्य राज्यं चिरं न हि

yasya putrāśca bhṛtyāśca mantriṇaśca purohitāḥ indriyāṇi prasuptāni tasya rājyaṁ ciraṁ na hi

He whose sons, servants, ministers, and priests, and whose own senses, are all negligent — his kingdom does not last long.

Verse 21 (garuda.1.111.21)

येनार्जितास्त्रयोऽप्योऽप्येते पुत्रा भृत्याश्च बान्धवाः । जिता तेन समं भूपैश्चतुरब्धिर्वसुन्धरा

yenārjitāstrayo'pyo'pyete putrā bhṛtyāśca bāndhavāḥ jitā tena samaṁ bhūpaiścaturabdhirvasundharā

By whomever these three — sons, servants, and kinsmen — are properly won over, by him, together with other kings, the earth bounded by the four oceans is as good as conquered.

Verse 22 (garuda.1.111.22)

लङ्घयेच्छास्त्रयुक्तानि हेतुयुक्तानि यानि च । सहि नश्यति वै राजा इह लोके परत्र च

laṅghayecchāstrayuktāni hetuyuktāni yāni ca sahi naśyati vai rājā iha loke paratra ca

Whoever transgresses what is prescribed by scripture and sound reasoning — that king perishes, both in this world and the next.

Verse 23 (garuda.1.111.23)

मनस्तापं न कुर्वीत आपदं प्राप्य पार्थिवः । समबुद्धिः प्रसन्नात्मा प्रसन्नात्मा सुखदुःखे समो भवेत्

manastāpaṁ na kurvīta āpadaṁ prāpya pārthivaḥ samabuddhiḥ prasannātmā prasannātmā sukhaduḥkhe samo bhavet

A king should not fall into mental distress upon encountering calamity; of even mind and serene soul, he should remain equal in pleasure and pain.

Verse 24 (garuda.1.111.24)

धीराः कष्टमनुप्राप्य न भवन्ति विषादिनः । प्रविश्य वदनं राहोः किं नोदति पुनः शशी

dhīrāḥ kaṣṭamanuprāpya na bhavanti viṣādinaḥ praviśya vadanaṁ rāhoḥ kiṁ nodati punaḥ śaśī

The steadfast, upon encountering hardship, do not become despondent; having entered the mouth of Rahu, does the moon not rise again?

Verse 25 (garuda.1.111.25)

धिग्धिक्शरीरसुखलालितमानवेषु मा खेदयेद्धनकृशं हि शरीरमेव । सद्दारका ह्यधनपाण्डुसुताः श्रुता हि दुःखं विहाय पुनरेव सुखं प्रपन्नाः

dhigdhikśarīrasukhalālitamānaveṣu mā khedayeddhanakṛśaṁ hi śarīrameva saddārakā hyadhanapāṇḍusutāḥ śrutā hi duḥkhaṁ vihāya punareva sukhaṁ prapannāḥ

Shame on those men pampered merely by bodily comfort! One should not grieve simply because the body has grown thin from lack of wealth. We have heard of virtuous sons who, though once pale with poverty, left sorrow behind and attained happiness once again.

Verse 26 (garuda.1.111.26)

गन्धर्वविद्यामालोक्य वाद्यं च गणिकागणान् । धनुर्वेदार्थशास्त्राणि लोके रक्षेच्च भूपतिः

gandharvavidyāmālokya vādyaṁ ca gaṇikāgaṇān dhanurvedārthaśāstrāṇi loke rakṣecca bhūpatiḥ

The king should attend to and protect, in his realm, the science of music, instrumental music, groups of courtesans, and the sciences of archery and statecraft.

Verse 27 (garuda.1.111.27)

कारणेन विना भृत्ये यस्तु कुप्यति पार्थिवः । स गृह्णाति विषोन्मादं कृष्णसर्पविसर्जितम्

kāraṇena vinā bhṛtye yastu kupyati pārthivaḥ sa gṛhṇāti viṣonmādaṁ kṛṣṇasarpavisarjitam

The king who becomes angry with a servant without cause takes upon himself a maddening poison, as if released by a black serpent.

Verse 28 (garuda.1.111.28)

चापलाद्वारयेद्दृष्टिं मिथ्यावाक्यञ्च वारयेत् । मानवे श्रोत्रिये चैव भृत्यवर्गे सदैव हि

cāpalādvārayeddṛṣṭiṁ mithyāvākyañca vārayet mānave śrotriye caiva bhṛtyavarge sadaiva hi

He should always restrain fickle glances and false speech toward ordinary men, learned brahmins, and the class of servants.

Verse 29 (garuda.1.111.29)

लीलां करोति यो राजा भृत्यस्वजनगर्वितः । शासने सर्वदा क्षिप्रं रिपुभिः परिभूयते

līlāṁ karoti yo rājā bhṛtyasvajanagarvitaḥ śāsane sarvadā kṣipraṁ ripubhiḥ paribhūyate

The king who indulges in mere frivolity, made arrogant by his servants and kinsmen, is always quickly overcome by his enemies in governance.

Verse 30 (garuda.1.111.30)

हुङ्कारे भृकुटीं नैव सदा कुर्वीत पार्थिवः । विना दोषेण यो भृत्यान्राजाधमण शास्ति च । लीलासुखानि भोग्यानि त्यजेदिह महीपतिः

huṅkāre bhṛkuṭīṁ naiva sadā kurvīta pārthivaḥ vinā doṣeṇa yo bhṛtyānrājādhamaṇa śāsti ca līlāsukhāni bhogyāni tyajediha mahīpatiḥ

The king should never furrow his brow in harsh anger; a base king who punishes his servants without fault is to be condemned. The king should give up mere indulgence in such pleasurable diversions.

Verse 31 (garuda.1.111.31)

सुखप्रवृत्तैः साध्यन्तै शत्रवो विग्रहे स्थितैः

sukhapravṛttaiḥ sādhyantai śatravo vigrahe sthitaiḥ

Enemies engaged in hostility, intent upon their own comfort, are to be subdued by those who remain steadfast in confrontation. (This verse survives as a single line in the source and appears incomplete.)

Verse 32 (garuda.1.111.32)

उद्योगः साहसंधैर्यं बुद्धिः शक्तिः पराक्रमः । षड्विधो यस्य उत्साहस्तस्य देवोऽपि शङ्कते

udyogaḥ sāhasaṁdhairyaṁ buddhiḥ śaktiḥ parākramaḥ ṣaḍvidho yasya utsāhastasya devo'pi śaṅkate

Effort, boldness, patience, intelligence, capability, and valor — he who possesses this sixfold energy, even fate itself is wary of him.

Verse 33 (garuda.1.111.33)

उद्योगेन कृते कार्ये सिद्धर्यस्य न विद्यते । दैवं तस्य प्रमाणं हि कर्तव्यं पौरुषं सदा

udyogena kṛte kārye siddharyasya na vidyate daivaṁ tasya pramāṇaṁ hi kartavyaṁ pauruṣaṁ sadā

When, despite effort, a task undertaken does not attain success, fate alone is the determining authority for it; yet one should always continue to make manly effort.