12.021
Library: Divine sages advise Yudhishthira - The knower of dharma should restrain the wicked, favour the good, and, having established his subjects on the path of righteousness, conduct himself accordingly.
The temple spoke:
Right here, they recount this ancient story: When Indra asked at that time, Bṛhaspati spoke as follows.
Contentment is truly the highest heaven; contentment is the greatest happiness. Nothing stands better than contentment.
When one withdraws all desires like a tortoise withdraws its limbs, then the self, shining by its own light, becomes peaceful by itself.
When this person does not fear, and when he does not fear us, and conquers desire and hatred, then he clearly perceives the self.
When a person, towards all beings, neither becomes angry nor is corrupted in action, mind, or speech, then he attains Brahman.
O son of Kunti, beings perceive their respective duties in various ways at different times; therefore, O Bharata, understand this.
Some praise tranquility, others praise exertion; some do not praise either one or the other, while some others praise both.
Some people praise sacrifice, others praise renunciation; some praise charity, and some praise only the acceptance of gifts. Some, having abandoned everything, sit in silence and meditate.
Some praise the rule and protection of all; others, after killing, piercing, and cutting, are devoted to solitude.
After considering all this, the wise have concluded: the duty which consists in non-injury to beings is regarded as the highest by the virtuous.
Absence of hostility, speaking the truth, sharing with others, steadfastness, forgiveness, having offspring, gentleness with one's own wives, modesty, and absence of fickleness.
Manu Svāyambhuva declared, "Wealth is to be sought when righteousness is primary." Therefore, O son of Kunti, you should protect it diligently in this way.
He who, established in the kingdom, is always self-controlled, impartial to pleasure and displeasure, a Kṣatriya who partakes of the remnants of sacrifice and knows the true essence of royal scriptures.
The knower of dharma should restrain the wicked, favor the good, and, having established his subjects on the path of righteousness, conduct himself accordingly.
But when a man's prosperity has passed to his son, he should live in the forest, sustaining himself on forest produce, following the rules like an ascetic, and spend his time diligently.
A king who acts in this way, firmly established in the duties of kingship, will find both this world and the next fruitful, O king. However, in my opinion, liberation is very difficult to attain and is beset with many obstacles.
Thus, having followed dharma, devoted to truth, charity, and austerity, endowed with the qualities of compassion, and free from desire and anger.
They, engaged in protecting the people and practicing supreme self-restraint, attained the highest state through battle for the sake of cows and Brāhmaṇas.
O scorcher of foes, thus the Rudras, Vasus, Ādityas, Sādhyas, and assemblies of royal sages have all resorted to this dharma. By being vigilant, they attained heaven through the merits of their own actions.
