12.056
Pancharatra: Bhishma starts instructing Yudhishthira the kingly duties: restraint is regarded as the means of governance; royal duties in the world dispel the path of inauspiciousness; prosperity is never attained by fate alone, but only through effort; when an undertaking fails, do not grieve, humility is the highest policy; there is no greater cause for trust than truth; gentle and harsh - practice both qualities; human fortress is the most difficult to overcome; king must act for the welfare of his subjects without self care.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
praṇipatya hṛṣīkeśam abhivādya pitāmaham। anumānya gurūn sarvān paryapṛcchad yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ॥12-56-1॥
Yudhiṣṭhira, after bowing to Hṛṣīkeśa, saluting the grandsire, and taking leave of all the elders, asked his question.
rājyaṃ vai paramo dharma iti dharmavido viduḥ। mahāntametaṃ bhāraṃ ca manye tadbrūhi pārthiva ॥12-56-2॥
The knowers of dharma have declared, 'The kingdom is indeed the highest duty.' I consider this a great burden; tell me about that, O king.
rājadharmān viśeṣeṇa kathayasva pitāmaha। sarvasya jīvalokasya rājadharmāḥ parāyaṇam ॥12-56-3॥
O grandsire, please explain in detail the kingly duties. The kingly duties are the highest refuge for all living beings.
trivargo'tra samāsakto rājadharmeṣu kaurava। mokṣadharmaśca vispaṣṭaḥ sakalo'tra samāhitaḥ ॥12-56-4॥
O Kaurava, here the three aims of life are connected with royal duties, and the law of liberation is also clearly and entirely collected here.
yathā hi raśmayo'śvasya dviradasya-aṅkuśo yathā। narendra-dharmo lokasya tathā pragrahaṇaṃ smṛtam ॥12-56-5॥
Just as reins control a horse and a goad controls an elephant, so too, the king's duty is to govern the people; thus, restraint is regarded as the means of governance.
atra vai sampramūḍhe tu dharme rājarṣisevite। lokasya saṃsthā na bhavet sarvaṃ ca vyākulaṃ bhavet ॥12-56-6॥
Here, when the dharma upheld by royal sages is utterly confused, the order of society would not exist, and everyone would be thrown into distress.
udayan hi yathā sūryo nāśayaty āsuraṃ tamaḥ। rājadharmās tathā lokyām ākṣipanty aśubhāṃ gatim ॥12-56-7॥
Just as the rising sun destroys demonic darkness, so too do royal duties in the world dispel the path of inauspiciousness.
tadagre rājadharmāṇām arthatattvaṃ pitāmaha। prabrūhi bharataśreṣṭha tvaṃ hi buddhimatāṃ varaḥ ॥12-56-8॥
O grandsire, in front of all, please declare the true principle of the duties of kings regarding wealth, O best of the Bharatas, for you are indeed the foremost among the wise.
āgamaś ca paras tvattaḥ sarveṣāṃ naḥ parantapa। bhavantaṃ hi paraṃ buddhau vāsudevo'bhimanyate ॥12-56-9॥
O Parantapa, tradition and the highest knowledge among all of us comes from you; Vasudeva indeed considers you supreme in wisdom.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
namo dharmāya mahate namaḥ kṛṣṇāya vedhase। brāhmaṇebhyo namaskṛtya dharmānvakṣyāmi śāśvatān ॥12-56-10॥
I offer my salutations to the great Dharma and to Kṛṣṇa, the creator. Having bowed to the Brāhmaṇas, I will now explain the eternal dharmas.
śṛṇu kārtsnyena mattastvaṃ rājadhamrānyudhiṣṭhira। nirucyamānānniyato yaccānyadabhivāñchasi ॥12-56-11॥
O Yudhishthira, listen from me in full about the kingly duties as they are being explained, and also whatever else you wish to know, listen with attention.
ādāveva kuruśreṣṭha rājñā rañjanakāmyayā। devatānāṃ dvijānāṃ ca vartitavyaṃ yathāvidhi ॥12-56-12॥
O best of the Kurus, at the outset, the king, wishing to please the deities and the twice-born, should act according to the prescribed rules.
daivatāny arcayitvā hi brāhmaṇāṁś ca kurūdvaha| ānṛṇyaṁ yāti dharmasya lokena ca sa mānyate ||12-56-13||
O best of Kurus, one who has worshipped the divinities and Brāhmaṇas attains freedom from the debt of righteousness and is honored by people.
utthāne ca sadā putra prayatethā yudhiṣṭhira। na hyutthānamṛte daivaṃ rājñāmarthaprasiddhaye ॥12-56-14॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, always strive with effort, my son. For kings, prosperity is never attained by fate alone, but only through effort.
sādhāraṇaṃ dvayaṃ hy etad daivam utthānam eva ca। pauruṣaṃ hi paraṃ manye daivaṃ niścitya ucyate॥12-56-15॥
Both fate and effort are generally regarded as common factors; but I consider human effort to be supreme. Fate is spoken of only after effort has been made.
vipanne ca samārambhe santāpaṃ mā sma vai kṛthāḥ। ghaṭate vinayastāta rājñāmeṣa nayaḥ paraḥ ॥12-56-16॥
When an undertaking fails, do not grieve; humility is the highest policy for kings, dear one.
na hi satyādṛte kiñcid rājñāṃ vai siddhikāraṇam। satye hi rājā nirataḥ pretya ca iha ca nandati ॥12-56-17॥
For kings, there is truly no cause of success other than truth; a king devoted to truth rejoices both in this world and after death.
ṛṣīṇām api rājendra satyam eva paraṃ dhanam। tathā rājñaḥ paraṃ satyān nānyad viśvāsakāraṇam ॥12-56-18॥
O King, even for the seers, truth alone is the highest wealth. Likewise, for a king, there is no greater cause for trust than truth.
guṇavāñśīlavāndānto mṛdurdharmyo jitendriyaḥ। sudarśaḥ sthūlalakṣyaśca na bhraśyeta sadā śriyaḥ॥12-56-19॥
He who possesses virtues, good conduct, self-restraint, gentleness, righteousness, mastery over the senses, is handsome, has a prominent aim, and should never lose prosperity.
ārjavaṃ sarvakāryeṣu śrayethāḥ kurunandana. punarnayavicāreṇa trayīsaṃvaraṇena ca ॥12-56-20॥
O Kurunandana, you should always act with straightforwardness in all matters; further, act with discernment of policy and with restraint as prescribed by the three Vedas.
mṛdur hi rājā satataṃ laṅghyo bhavati sarvaśaḥ। tīkṣṇāc codvijate lokas tasmād ubhayam ācara ॥12-56-21॥
A king who is always gentle is disregarded in every way; people shrink from one who is harsh. Therefore, practice both qualities. 12-56-21.
adaṇḍyāścaiva te nityaṃ viprāḥ syurdadatāṃ vara। bhūtam etat paraṃ loke brāhmaṇā nāma bhārata ॥12-56-22॥
O Bhārata, Brāhmaṇas, those who give, should always be considered not to be punished, O best one. This has become the supreme law in the world, that they are called Brāhmaṇas.
manunā cāpi rājendra gītau ślokau mahātmanā। dharmeṣu sveṣu kauravya hṛdi tau kartum arhasi ॥12-56-23॥
O King, the two verses sung by the great-souled Manu regarding one's own duties, O Kauravya, you should keep in your heart and act accordingly.
adbhyo'gnir brahmataḥ kṣatram aśmano loham utthitam। teṣāṃ sarvatragaṃ tejaḥ svāsu yoniṣu śāmyati॥12-56-24॥
Fire arises from water, the Kṣatriya from Brahman, and iron from stone. The energy that pervades all of them returns and subsides in their respective sources.
ayo hanti yad āśmānam agniś cāpo'bhipadyate। brahma ca kṣatriyo dveṣṭi tadā sīdanti te trayaḥ ॥12-56-25॥
Iron destroys stone, fire and water attack each other, brāhmaṇa and kṣatriya hate each other; then, all three perish.
etajjñātvā mahārāja namasyā eva te dvijāḥ। bhaumaṃ brahma dvijaśreṣṭhā dhārayanti śamānvitāḥ ॥12-56-26॥
O great king, having understood this and having bowed, the Brahmins indeed bear the earthly Brahman, O best of the twice-born, endowed with tranquility.
evaṃ caiva naravyāghra lokatantravighātakāḥ। nigrāhyā eva satataṃ bāhubhyāṃ ye syur īdṛśāḥ ॥12-56-27॥
Therefore, O best of men, those who are destroyers of the people's order, such as these, must always be restrained by force.
ślokau cośanasā gītau purā tāta maharṣiṇā। tau nibodha mahāprājña tvamekāgramanā nṛpa ॥12-56-28॥
O king, O greatly wise one, listen with a concentrated mind to these two verses that were formerly sung by the great sage Uśanas.
udyamya śastram āyāntam api vedāntagam raṇe। nigṛhṇīyāt svadharmeṇa dharmāpekṣī nareśvaraḥ ॥12-56-29॥
If, in battle, someone approaches with a weapon—even if he is a knower of Vedānta—the king who is intent on righteousness should restrain him according to his own duty.
vinaśyamānaṃ dharmaṃ hi yo rakṣati sa dharmavit। na tena bhrūṇahā sa syān manyus taṃ manum ṛcchati ॥12-56-30॥
He who protects righteousness when it is perishing is truly a knower of dharma; such a person is not considered a destroyer of embryo by Manu, and anger does not approach him.
evaṃ caiva naraśreṣṭha rakṣyā eva dvijātayaḥ। svaparāddhān api hi tān viṣayānte samutsṛjet ॥12-56-31॥
Thus, O best of men, the twice-born must always be protected. Even if they are offenders, they should be released at the end of the jurisdiction.
abhiśastam api hyeṣāṃ kṛpāyīta viśāṃ pate। brahma-ghne guru-talpe ca bhrūṇa-hatye tathaiva ca ॥12-56-32॥
O lord of the people, even to those among them who are cursed—such as a Brahmin-killer, one who has violated the teacher's bed, or one who has killed an embryo—compassion should indeed be shown.
rājadviṣṭe ca viprasya viṣayānte visarjanam। vidhīyate na śārīraṃ bhayameṣāṃ kadācana ॥12-56-33॥
If a Brāhmaṇa is hated by the king, expulsion at the border of the kingdom is prescribed; they should never be subjected to bodily harm or fear.
dayitāś ca narās te syur nityaṃ puruṣasattama। na kośaḥ paramo hy anyo rājñāṃ puruṣasañcayāt ॥12-56-34॥
O best among men, those beloved men may always be with you; for kings, there is no treasure greater than the gathering of loyal people.
durgeṣu ca mahārāja ṣaṭsu ye śāstraniścitāḥ। sarveṣu teṣu manyante naradurgaṃ sudustaram ॥12-56-35॥
O great king, among the six types of fortresses described in the scriptures, all agree that the human fortress is the most difficult to overcome.
tasmānnityaṃ dayā kāryā cāturvarṇye vipaścitā। dharmātmā satyavākcaiva rājā rañjayati prajāḥ ॥12-56-36॥
Therefore, the wise should always practice compassion towards all four social orders. A righteous and truthful king brings happiness to his people.
na ca kṣāntena te bhāvyaṃ nityaṃ puruṣasattama। adharmyo hi mṛdū rājā kṣamāvāniva kuñjaraḥ ॥12-56-37॥
O best among men, you should not always be patient; for a gentle king is indeed unrighteous, like an elephant that is only forbearing.
bārhaspatye ca śāstre vai ślokā viniyatāḥ purā। asminnarthe mahārāja tanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu ॥12-56-38॥
O great king, in the treatise of Bṛhaspati and in the scripture, verses were formerly set down. Now, listen to what was spoken to me on this matter.
kṣamamāṇaṃ nṛpaṃ nityaṃ nīcaḥ paribhavej janaḥ। hastiyantā gajasy-eva śira evārurukṣati ॥12-56-39॥
A vile person continually insults a patient king, just as a mahout always seeks to mount only the head of the elephant.
tasmānnaiva mṛdurnityaṃ tīkṣṇo vāpi bhavennṛpaḥ। vasante'rka iva śrīmānna śīto na ca gharmadaḥ॥12-56-40॥
Therefore, a king should be neither always gentle nor always harsh; he should be like the radiant sun in spring—neither cold nor excessively hot.
pratyakṣeṇānumānena tathaupamyopadeśataḥ। parīkṣyāste mahārāja sve pare caiva sarvadā ॥12-56-41॥
O great king, one's own and others' actions should always be examined by direct perception, inference, comparison, and instruction.
vyasanāni ca sarvāṇi tyajethā bhūridakṣiṇa। na caiva na prayuñjīta saṅgaṃ tu parivarjayet ॥12-56-42॥
One should renounce all vices and misfortunes; a generous giver should never engage in them, and should avoid any association with them.
nityaṃ hi vyasanī loke paribhūto bhavatyuta। udvejayati lokaṃ cāpyatidveṣī mahīpatiḥ ॥12-56-43॥
A person who is always afflicted by vice is disregarded in the world and also agitates the people; likewise, a king who is excessively hateful does the same.
bhavitavyaṃ sadā rājñā garbhiṇīsahadharmiṇā। kāraṇaṃ ca mahārāja śṛṇu yenedamiṣyate ॥12-56-44॥
O great king, listen to the reason why it is always proper for the king and his pregnant wife to act thus, and why this is desired.
yathā hi garbhiṇī hitvā svaṃ priyaṃ manaso'nugam। garbhasya hitam ādhatte tathā rājñāpy asaṃśayam ॥12-56-45॥
Just as a pregnant woman, setting aside her own personal desires, cares for the welfare of her unborn child, so too, without doubt, must a king act for the welfare of his subjects.
vartitavyaṃ kuruśreṣṭha nityaṃ dharmānuvartinā। svaṃ priyaṃ samabhityajya yadyallokahitaṃ bhavet ॥12-56-46॥
O best of the Kurus, one who always follows dharma should always act by completely abandoning his own preferences, in whatever way may be beneficial to the world.
na santyājyaṃ ca te dhairyaṃ kadācidapi pāṇḍava। dhīrasya spaṣṭadaṇḍasya na hyājñā pratihanyate ॥12-56-47॥
O Pāṇḍava, your fortitude should never be abandoned at any time. The command of a steadfast person with clear authority is never indeed obstructed.
parihāsaś ca bhṛtyais te na nityaṃ vadatāṃ vara। kartavyo rājaśārdūla doṣam atra hi me śṛṇu ॥12-56-48॥
O best of speakers, jesting by your servants should not always be done, O tiger among kings; now hear my fault in this matter.
avamanyanti bhartāraṃ saṃharṣādupajīvinaḥ। sve sthāne na ca tiṣṭhanti laṅghayanti hi tadvacaḥ॥12-56-49॥
Dependents, due to arrogance, disrespect the husband; they do not stay in their proper place and indeed violate his commands.
preṣyamāṇā vikalpante guhyaṃ cāpy anuyuñjate। ayācyaṃ caiva yācante'bhogyāny āhārayanti ca ॥12-56-50॥
Those who are sent hesitate, employ even secrets, beg for what should not be begged, and bring things that are not to be enjoyed.
krudhyanti paridīpyanti bhūmim adhyāsate'sya ca। utkochair vañcanābhiś ca kāryāṇi anuvihanti ca॥12-56-51॥
They get angry, flare up, occupy his land, and by means of bribes and deceit, continually hinder his undertakings.
jarjaraṃ cāsya viṣayaṃ kurvanti pratirūpakaiḥ। strīrakṣibhiśca sajjante tulyaveṣā bhavanti ca ॥12-56-52॥
They make the object of this worn out by counterfeits; women-guards, similarly dressed, are equipped and become of like appearance.
vātaṃ ca ṣṭhīvanaṃ caiva kurvate cāsya sannidhau। nirlajjā naraśārdūla vyāharanti ca tadvacaḥ ॥12-56-53॥
O tiger among men, the shameless ones do things like passing wind and spitting in his presence, and they also utter such words.
hayaṃ vā dantinaṃ vāpi rathaṃ nṛpati-saṃmatam। adhirohanty-anādṛtya harṣule pārthive mṛdau ॥12-56-54॥
They mount a horse, elephant, or even a chariot approved by the king, disregarding the joyful and gentle king.
idaṃ te duṣkaraṃ rājan idaṃ te durviceṣṭitam। ity evaṃ suhṛdo nāma bruvanti pariṣad-gatāḥ ॥12-56-55॥
O king, your act is difficult and wrongly done—thus do your so-called friends say in the assembly.
kruddhe cāsmin hasanty eva na ca hṛṣyanti pūjitāḥ। saṅgharṣaśīlāś ca sadā bhavanty anyonyakāraṇāt ॥12-56-56॥
When this person is angry, they laugh but do not feel joy even when honored; and they are always quarrelsome with each other for mutual reasons.
visraṁsayanti mantraṁ ca vivṛṇvanti ca duṣkṛtam। līlayā caiva kurvanti sāvajñās tasya śāsanam ॥ alaṅkaraṇabhojyaṁ ca tathā snānānulepanam ॥12-56-57॥
They scatter the mantra, reveal evil deeds, and playfully disregard his commands; they treat his ornaments, food, bath, and unguents with similar disrespect.
helamānā naravyāghra svasthāstasyo-paśṛṇvate। nindanti svānadhīkārān santyajanti ca bhārata ॥12-56-58॥
O Bhārata, those who are negligent and indifferent, O tiger among men, listen to him; they criticize and abandon their own authorities.
na vṛttyā parituṣyanti rājadeyaṃ haranti ca। krīḍituṃ tena cecchanti sasūtreṇeva pakṣiṇā ॥ asmatpraṇeyo rājeti loke caiva vadantyuta ॥12-56-59॥
They are not satisfied with their livelihood; they take the royal tax and wish to play with it, like a bird with a string. In the world, people also say, 'The king is brought by us.'
ete caiva-apare caiva doṣāḥ prādurbhavanti uta। nṛpatau mārdava-upete harṣule ca yudhiṣṭhira ॥12-56-60॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, these and other faults also arise in a king who is gentle and joyful.
