Brihaspati's Essence of Ethics — On the Qualities of Royal Officials

Verse 1 (garuda.1.112.1)

सूत उवाच । भृत्या बहुविधा ज्ञेया उत्तमाधममध्यमाः । नियोक्तव्या यथार्हेषु त्रिविधेष्वेव कर्मसु

sūta uvāca bhṛtyā bahuvidhā jñeyā uttamādhamamadhyamāḥ niyoktavyā yathārheṣu trividheṣveva karmasu

Suta said: Servants should be known to be of many kinds — superior, inferior, and middling; they should be appointed to suitable tasks among these three kinds.

Verse 2 (garuda.1.112.2)

भृत्ये परिक्षणं वक्ष्ये यस्ययस्य हि यो गुणः । तमिमं संप्रवक्ष्यामि ये यथाकथितं किल

bhṛtye parikṣaṇaṁ vakṣye yasyayasya hi yo guṇaḥ tamimaṁ saṁpravakṣyāmi ye yathākathitaṁ kila

I shall declare the method of testing servants; whatever quality belongs to each, that I shall declare, as traditionally described.

Verse 3 (garuda.1.112.3)

यथा चतुर्भिः कनकं परीक्ष्यते निघर्षणच्छेदनतापताडनैः । तथा चतुर्भिर्भृतकं परीक्षयेद्वतेन शीलेन कलेन कर्मणा

yathā caturbhiḥ kanakaṁ parīkṣyate nigharṣaṇacchedanatāpatāḍanaiḥ tathā caturbhirbhṛtakaṁ parīkṣayedvatena śīlena kalena karmaṇā

Just as gold is tested by four means — rubbing, cutting, heating, and hammering — so a hired servant should be tested by four means: his vows, character, skill, and actual performance.

Verse 4 (garuda.1.112.4)

कुलशीलगुणोपेतः सत्यधर्मपरायणः । रूपवान्सुप्रसन्नश्च कोशाध्यक्षो विधीयते

kulaśīlaguṇopetaḥ satyadharmaparāyaṇaḥ rūpavānsuprasannaśca kośādhyakṣo vidhīyate

One endowed with good family, character, and virtues, devoted to truth and dharma, of good appearance and cheerful disposition — such a one is appointed as treasurer.

Verse 5 (garuda.1.112.5)

मूल्यरूपपरीक्षाकृद्भवे द्रत्नपरीक्षकः । बलाबलपरिज्ञाता सेनाध्यक्षो विधीयते

mūlyarūpaparīkṣākṛdbhave dratnaparīkṣakaḥ balābalaparijñātā senādhyakṣo vidhīyate

One who can assess value and form is made a jewel-appraiser; one who knows relative strength and weakness is appointed as army commander.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.112.6)

इङ्गिताकारतत्त्वज्ञो बलवान् प्रियदर्शनः । अप्रमादी प्रमाथी च प्रतीहारः स उच्यते

iṅgitākāratattvajño balavān priyadarśanaḥ apramādī pramāthī ca pratīhāraḥ sa ucyate

One who knows the truth of gestures and outward signs, strong, pleasant to look at, vigilant, and forceful — he is called the gatekeeper.

Verse 7 (garuda.1.112.7)

मेधावी वाक्पटुः प्राज्ञः सत्यवादी जितेन्द्रियः । सर्वशास्त्रसमालोकी ह्येष साधुः स लेखकः

medhāvī vākpaṭuḥ prājñaḥ satyavādī jitendriyaḥ sarvaśāstrasamālokī hyeṣa sādhuḥ sa lekhakaḥ

Intelligent, skilled in speech, wise, truthful, of controlled senses, and well-versed in all the scriptures — such a virtuous one is the scribe.

Verse 8 (garuda.1.112.8)

बुद्धिमान्मतिमांश्चैव परचित्तोपलक्षकः । क्रूरो यथोक्तवादी च एष दूतो विधीयते

buddhimānmatimāṁścaiva paracittopalakṣakaḥ krūro yathoktavādī ca eṣa dūto vidhīyate

Intelligent and discerning, able to perceive another's mind, resolute, and one who speaks exactly as instructed — such a one is appointed as ambassador.

Verse 9 (garuda.1.112.9)

समस्तस्मृतिशास्त्रज्ञः पण्डितोऽथ जितेन्द्रियः । शौर्यवीर्यगुणोपेतो धर्माध्यक्षो विधीयते

samastasmṛtiśāstrajñaḥ paṇḍito'tha jitendriyaḥ śauryavīryaguṇopeto dharmādhyakṣo vidhīyate

Knower of all the Smriti-shastras, learned, of controlled senses, endowed with courage and valor — such a one is appointed as the chief judge.

Verse 10 (garuda.1.112.10)

पितृपैतामहो दक्षः शास्त्रज्ञः सत्यवाचकः । शुचिश्च कठिनश्चैव सूपकारः स उच्यते

pitṛpaitāmaho dakṣaḥ śāstrajñaḥ satyavācakaḥ śuciśca kaṭhinaścaiva sūpakāraḥ sa ucyate

One trained through his father's and grandfather's line, skillful, knowledgeable of texts, truthful, pure, and firm — he is called the cook.

Verse 11 (garuda.1.112.11)

आयुर्वेदकृताभ्यासः सर्वेषां प्रियदर्शनः । आयुः शीलगुणोपेतो वैद्य एव विधीयते

āyurvedakṛtābhyāsaḥ sarveṣāṁ priyadarśanaḥ āyuḥ śīlaguṇopeto vaidya eva vidhīyate

One trained in the practice of Ayurveda, pleasant to all, endowed with long life and good character — such a one is appointed as physician.

Verse 12 (garuda.1.112.12)

वेदवेदाङ्गतत्त्वज्ञो जपहमपरायणः । आशीर्वादपरो नित्यमेष राजपुरोहित

vedavedāṅgatattvajño japahamaparāyaṇaḥ āśīrvādaparo nityameṣa rājapurohita

Knower of the truth of the Vedas and Vedangas, devoted to japa and homa, always intent on giving blessings — he is the royal priest.

Verse 13 (garuda.1.112.13)

लेखकः पाठकश्चैव गणकः प्रतिरोधकः । आलस्ययुक्तश्चैद्राजा कर्म संवर्जयेत्सदा

lekhakaḥ pāṭhakaścaiva gaṇakaḥ pratirodhakaḥ ālasyayuktaścaidrājā karma saṁvarjayetsadā

If the scribe, the reader, the accountant, or the guard becomes lazy, the king should always remove him from his post.

Verse 14 (garuda.1.112.14)

द्विजिह्वमुद्वेगकरं क्रूरमेकान्तदारुणम् । खलस्याहेश्च वदनमपकाराय केवलम्

dvijihvamudvegakaraṁ krūramekāntadāruṇam khalasyāheśca vadanamapakārāya kevalam

Double-tongued, causing agitation, cruel, uniformly harsh — the mouth of a wicked man and of a snake serve alike only to cause harm.

Verse 15 (garuda.1.112.15)

दुर्जनः परिहर्तव्यो विद्ययालङ्कृतोऽपिसन् । मणिना भूषितः सर्पः किमसौ न भयङ्करः

durjanaḥ parihartavyo vidyayālaṅkṛto'pisan maṇinā bhūṣitaḥ sarpaḥ kimasau na bhayaṅkaraḥ

A wicked man should be avoided, even if adorned with learning; is a snake adorned with a jewel not still terrifying?

Verse 16 (garuda.1.112.16)

अकारणविष्कृतकोपधारिणः खलाद्भयं कस्य न नाम जायते । विषं महाहेर्विषमस्य दुर्वचः सदुः सहं सन्निपतेत्सदा मुखे

akāraṇaviṣkṛtakopadhāriṇaḥ khalādbhayaṁ kasya na nāma jāyate viṣaṁ mahāherviṣamasya durvacaḥ saduḥ sahaṁ sannipatetsadā mukhe

From a wicked man who displays anger without cause, whose fear does not arise? The venom of a great serpent is terrible, but the harsh, unbearable words of such a difficult man too fall constantly from his mouth.

Verse 17 (garuda.1.112.17)

तुल्यार्थं तुल्यसामर्थ्यं मर्मज्ञं व्यवसायिनम् । अर्धराज्यहरं भृत्यं यो हन्यात्स न हन्यते

tulyārthaṁ tulyasāmarthyaṁ marmajñaṁ vyavasāyinam ardharājyaharaṁ bhṛtyaṁ yo hanyātsa na hanyate

A servant of equal ambition, equal capability, who knows the king's vulnerabilities, and who is enterprising — such a one might seize half the kingdom; whoever preemptively slays such a servant is not himself culpable.

Verse 18 (garuda.1.112.18)

शूरत्वयुक्ता मृदुमन्दवाक्या जितेन्द्रियाः सत्यपराक्रमाश्च । प्रागेव पश्चाद्विपरी तरुपा ये ते तु भृत्या न हिता भवन्ति

śūratvayuktā mṛdumandavākyā jitendriyāḥ satyaparākramāśca prāgeva paścādviparī tarupā ye te tu bhṛtyā na hitā bhavanti

Those who appear endowed with valor, gentle and measured in speech, of controlled senses, and truly courageous, but later prove the opposite — such servants are not beneficial.

Verse 19 (garuda.1.112.19)

निरालस्याः सुसन्तुष्टाः प्रतिबोधकाः । सुखदुः खसमा धीरा भृत्या लोकेषु दुर्लभाः

nirālasyāḥ susantuṣṭāḥ pratibodhakāḥ sukhaduḥ khasamā dhīrā bhṛtyā lokeṣu durlabhāḥ

Free of laziness, well-contented, alert; even-minded in pleasure and pain, and steadfast — such servants are rare in this world.

Verse 20 (garuda.1.112.20)

क्षान्तिस्तयविहीनश्च क्रूरबुद्धिश्च निन्दकः । दाम्भिकः कपटी चैव शठश्च स्पृहयान्वितः । अशक्तो भयभीतश्च राज्ञा त्यक्तव्य एव सः

kṣāntistayavihīnaśca krūrabuddhiśca nindakaḥ dāmbhikaḥ kapaṭī caiva śaṭhaśca spṛhayānvitaḥ aśakto bhayabhītaśca rājñā tyaktavya eva saḥ

Devoid of patience and steadiness, cruel-minded, a slanderer, hypocritical, deceitful, treacherous, greedy, incapable, and fearful — such a person should indeed be dismissed by the king.

Verse 21 (garuda.1.112.21)

सुसन्धानानि चास्त्राणि शस्त्राणि विविधानि च । दुर्गे प्रवेशितव्यानि ततः शत्रुं निपातयेत्

susandhānāni cāstrāṇi śastrāṇi vividhāni ca durge praveśitavyāni tataḥ śatruṁ nipātayet

Well-prepared missiles and various weapons should be brought into the fortress; then one should strike down the enemy.

Verse 22 (garuda.1.112.22)

षण्मासमथ वर्षं वा सन्धिं कुर्यान्नराधिपः । पश्यन्सञ्चितमात्मानं पुनः शत्रुं निपातयेत्

ṣaṇmāsamatha varṣaṁ vā sandhiṁ kuryānnarādhipaḥ paśyansañcitamātmānaṁ punaḥ śatruṁ nipātayet

The king should make peace for six months or a year; seeing that he has gathered his own strength, he should then strike down the enemy again.

Verse 23 (garuda.1.112.23)

मूर्खान्नियोजयेद्यस्तु त्रयोऽप्येते महीपतेः । अयशश्चार्थनाशश्च नरके चैव पातनम्

mūrkhānniyojayedyastu trayo'pyete mahīpateḥ ayaśaścārthanāśaśca narake caiva pātanam

Whichever king employs fools receives all three results: disgrace, loss of wealth, and a fall into hell.

Verse 24 (garuda.1.112.24)

यत्किञ्चित्कुरुते कर्म शुभं वा यादि वाशुभम् । तेन स्म वर्धते राजा सूक्ष्मतो भृत्यकार्यतः

yatkiñcitkurute karma śubhaṁ vā yādi vāśubham tena sma vardhate rājā sūkṣmato bhṛtyakāryataḥ

Whatever deed, auspicious or inauspicious, is performed — by that, subtly, through the actions of his servants, the king rises or falls.

Verse 25 (garuda.1.112.25)

तस्माद्भूमीश्वरः प्राज्ञं धर्मकामार्थसाधने । नियोज येद्धिसततं गोब्राह्मणहिताय वै

tasmādbhūmīśvaraḥ prājñaṁ dharmakāmārthasādhane niyoja yeddhisatataṁ gobrāhmaṇahitāya vai

Therefore, the lord of the earth should always appoint a wise man to the accomplishment of dharma, kama, and artha, for the welfare of cows and brahmins.