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Pancharatra: Bhishma concludes the day's teaching by saying: break the enemy's side by both crooked and straight means; delighting the armies, constantly supervising the people, being tireless in duties, and likewise increasing the treasury - are essential; a kingdom is a vast and complex system, hard to sustain for those lacking self-mastery.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
एतत्ते राजधर्माणां नवनीतं युधिष्ठिर। बृहस्पतिर्हि भगवान्नान्यं धर्मं प्रशंसति ॥१२-५८-१॥
O Yudhishthira, this is the essence of kingly duties for you; for Bṛhaspati, the revered one, indeed praises no other duty.
विशालाक्षश्च भगवान्काव्यश्चैव महातपाः। सहस्राक्षो महेन्द्रश्च तथा प्राचेतसो मनुः ॥१२-५८-२॥
Viśālākṣa, the venerable one, Kāvya (Śukra), the great ascetic, Sahasrākṣa (Indra), Mahendra, and also Manu, the son of Pracetas, were present.
भरद्वाजश्च भगवांस्तथा गौरशिरा मुनिः। राजशास्त्रप्रणेतारो ब्रह्मण्या ब्रह्मवादिनः ॥१२-५८-३॥
Bharadvāja and the venerable Gaurashira, both sages, were authors of treatises on polity, devoted to Brahman and expounders of Brahman.
रक्षामेव प्रशंसन्ति धर्मं धर्मभृतां वर। राज्ञां राजीवताम्राक्ष साधनं चात्र वै शृणु ॥१२-५८-४॥
O lotus-copper-eyed, best of the upholders of dharma, protection and righteousness are praised as the means for kings; now listen here.
चारश्च प्रणिधिश्चैव काले दानममत्सरः। युक्त्यादानं न चादानमयोगेन युधिष्ठिर ॥१२-५८-५॥
O Yudhishthira, a spy and an agent at the right time, giving gifts, absence of envy; giving with reason, and not taking improperly—these are to be practiced.
सतां सङ्ग्रहणं शौर्यं दाक्ष्यं सत्यं प्रजाहितम्। अनार्जवैरार्जवैश्च शत्रुपक्षस्य भेदनम् ॥१२-५८-६॥
Gathering the virtuous, valor, dexterity, truth, and the welfare of the people; breaking the enemy's side by both crooked and straight means.
साधूनामपरित्यागः कुलीनानां च धारणम्। निचयश्च निचेयानां सेवा बुद्धिमतामपि ॥१२-५८-७॥
Never abandon the virtuous, support the noble, accumulate and serve even the lowly, and also the wise.
बलानां हर्षणं नित्यं प्रजानामन्ववेक्षणम्। कार्येष्वखेदः कोशस्य तथैव च विवर्धनम् ॥१२-५८-८॥
Always delighting the armies, constantly supervising the people, being tireless in duties, and likewise increasing the treasury—these are essential.
पुरगुप्तिरविश्वासः पौरसङ्घातभेदनम्। केतनानां च जीर्णानामवेक्षा चैव सीदताम् ॥१२-५८-९॥
Protection of the city, trust, breaking up of citizen assemblies, inspection of banners and of those that are worn out, and indeed care for those who are declining.
द्विविधस्य च दण्डस्य प्रयोगः कालचोदितः। अरिमध्यस्थमित्राणां यथावच्चान्ववेक्षणम् ॥१२-५८-१०॥
The application of the two kinds of punishment should be determined according to the time; likewise, the investigation of enemies, neutrals, and friends should be conducted as appropriate.
उपजापश्च भृत्यानामात्मनः परदर्शनात्। अविश्वासः स्वयं चैव परस्याश्वासनं तथा ॥१२-५८-११॥
Secret instigation among one's servants by revealing oneself to others, distrust in oneself, and likewise, giving reassurance to another.
नीतिधर्मानुसरणं नित्यमुत्थानमेव च। रिपूणामनवज्ञानं नित्यं चानार्यवर्जनम् ॥१२-५८-१२॥
Always follow conduct and righteousness, be ever diligent, never disregard enemies, and always avoid the ignoble.
उत्थानं हि नरेन्द्राणां बृहस्पतिरभाषत। राजधर्मस्य यन्मूलं श्लोकांश्चात्र निबोध मे ॥१२-५८-१३॥
Bṛhaspati spoke thus: "The effort of kings is paramount; listen to the verses here, which are the foundation of royal duty, as I explain them to you."
उत्थानेनामृतं लब्धमुत्थानेनासुरा हताः। उत्थानेन महेन्द्रेण श्रैष्ठ्यं प्राप्तं दिवीह च ॥१२-५८-१४॥
Through effort, the nectar of immortality was gained; through effort, the demons were destroyed; through effort, Mahendra (Indra) attained supremacy both in heaven and on earth.
उत्थानधीरः पुरुषो वाग्धीरानधितिष्ठति। उत्थानधीरं वाग्धीरा रमयन्त उपासते ॥१२-५८-१५॥
A man who is steadfast in effort commands those who are wise in speech. The wise in speech delight in and honor the one who is resolute in effort.
उत्थानहीनो राजा हि बुद्धिमानपि नित्यशः। धर्षणीयो रिपूणां स्याद्भुजङ्ग इव निर्विषः ॥१२-५८-१६॥
Even an intelligent king who lacks initiative is always liable to be oppressed by his enemies, just as a serpent without poison is vulnerable.
न च शत्रुरवज्ञेयो दुर्बलोऽपि बलीयसा। अल्पोऽपि हि दहत्यग्निर्विषमल्पं हिनस्ति च ॥१२-५८-१७॥
One should never disregard an enemy, even if he is weak, when one is strong. For even a small fire can burn, and a little poison can destroy.
एकाश्वेनापि सम्भूतः शत्रुर्दुर्गसमाश्रितः। तं तं तापयते देशमपि राज्ञः समृद्धिनः ॥१२-५८-१८॥
Even a single enemy, if he arises with just one horse and takes refuge in a fortress, can trouble any country, even one that is prosperous and ruled by a king.
राज्ञो रहस्यं यद्वाक्यं जयार्थं लोकसङ्ग्रहः। हृदि यच्चास्य जिह्मं स्यात्कारणार्थं च यद्भवेत् ॥१२-५८-१९॥
The king's secret words, whether for victory, for the welfare of the people, or whatever may be hidden in his heart or spoken for a particular reason, should be understood accordingly.
यच्चास्य कार्यं वृजिनमार्जवेनैव धार्यते। दम्भनार्थाय लोकस्य धर्मिष्ठामाचरेत्क्रियाम् ॥१२-५८-२०॥
Whatever action of his that is sinful is borne only with honesty. For the sake of impressing people, one should perform the most righteous act.
राज्यं हि सुमहत्तन्त्रं दुर्धार्यमकृतात्मभिः। न शक्यं मृदुना वोढुमाघातस्थानमुत्तमम् ॥१२-५८-२१॥
Indeed, a kingdom is a vast and complex system, hard to sustain for those lacking self-mastery; the highest position, which is subject to many challenges, cannot be borne by the weak.
राज्यं सर्वामिषं नित्यमार्जवेनेह धार्यते। तस्मान्मिश्रेण सततं वर्तितव्यं युधिष्ठिर ॥१२-५८-२२॥
O Yudhishthira, a kingdom and all its desires are always sustained here by honesty. Therefore, one should always act with a mixture (of qualities or means).
यद्यप्यस्य विपत्तिः स्याद्रक्षमाणस्य वै प्रजाः। सोऽप्यस्य विपुलो धर्म एवंवृत्ता हि भूमिपाः ॥१२-५८-२३॥
Even if a protector's subjects face calamity, his righteousness is still great; for kings of such conduct, this is indeed the case.
एष ते राजधर्माणां लेशः समनुवर्णितः। भूयस्ते यत्र संदेहस्तद्ब्रूहि वदतां वर ॥१२-५८-२४॥
This is a portion of the royal duties described to you. If you have any further doubt, tell me, O best of speakers.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ततो व्यासश्च भगवान्देवस्थानोऽश्मना सह। वासुदेवः कृपश्चैव सात्यकिः सञ्जयस्तथा ॥१२-५८-२५॥
Then Vyāsa, the venerable Devasthāna with Aśman, Vāsudeva, Kṛpa, Sātyaki, and Sañjaya were also present.
साधु साध्विति संहृष्टाः पुष्यमाणैरिवाननैः। अस्तुवंस्ते नरव्याघ्रं भीष्मं धर्मभृतां वरम् ॥१२-५८-२६॥
Delighted, their faces shining as if prospering, they exclaimed "Well done, well done!" and praised Bhishma, the tiger among men, the foremost among the upholders of dharma.
ततो दीनमना भीष्ममुवाच कुरुसत्तमः। नेत्राभ्यामश्रुपूर्णाभ्यां पादौ तस्य शनैः स्पृशन् ॥१२-५८-२७॥
Then, with a sorrowful heart, the foremost of the Kurus spoke to Bhishma, his eyes brimming with tears, as he gently touched his feet.
श्व इदानीं स्वसंदेहं प्रक्ष्यामि त्वं पितामह। उपैति सविताप्यस्तं रसमापीय पार्थिवम् ॥१२-५८-२८॥
O grandsire, tomorrow I will ask you my own doubt. Now the Sun also approaches its setting, having drunk the essence of the earth.
ततो द्विजातीनभिवाद्य केशवः; कृपश्च ते चैव युधिष्ठिरादयः। प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य महानदीसुतं; ततो रथानारुरुहुर्मुदा युताः ॥१२-५८-२९॥
Then, after saluting the twice-born, Keśava, Kṛpa, and Yudhiṣṭhira and the others, circumambulated the son of the great river and then, filled with joy, ascended their chariots.
दृषद्वतीं चाप्यवगाह्य सुव्रताः; कृतोदकार्याः कृतजप्यमङ्गलाः। उपास्य सन्ध्यां विधिवत्परन्तपा; स्ततः पुरं ते विविशुर्गजाह्वयम् ॥१२-५८-३०॥
The well-vowed ones, having bathed in the Dṛṣadvatī, performed the water-rites and completed auspicious mutterings. Having duly worshipped the twilight, those scorcher of foes then entered the city of Gajāhvaya (Hastināpura).
