12.065
Library: Continued conversation between King Madhata and Indra, elaborating on the governance of thieves and others who deviate from the path.
इन्द्र उवाच॥
Indra said:
एवंवीर्यः सर्वधर्मोपपन्नः; क्षात्रः श्रेष्ठः सर्वधर्मेषु धर्मः। पाल्यो युष्माभिर्लोकसिंहैरुदारै; र्विपर्यये स्यादभावः प्रजानाम् ॥१२-६५-१॥
Thus, strength endowed with all virtues; the kṣatriya's righteousness is the highest among all virtues. You, noble lions among men, must protect the people; otherwise, the people would cease to exist.
भुवः संस्कारं राजसंस्कारयोग; मभैक्षचर्यां पालनं च प्रजानाम्। विद्याद्राजा सर्वभूतानुकम्पां; देहत्यागं चाहवे धर्ममग्र्यम् ॥१२-६५-२॥
The king should understand that the refinement of the earth is achieved through royal consecration, not by mendicancy, and that protecting the subjects is his duty. He should know that compassion for all beings and sacrificing his body in battle constitute the highest dharma.
त्यागं श्रेष्ठं मुनयो वै वदन्ति; सर्वश्रेष्ठो यः शरीरं त्यजेत। नित्यं त्यक्तं राजधर्मेषु सर्वं; प्रत्यक्षं ते भूमिपालाः सदैते ॥१२-६५-३॥
The sages indeed say that renunciation is the best; the one who abandons the body is the most excellent. In royal duties, everything is always abandoned; this is evident to you, O kings, always.
बहुश्रुत्या गुरुशुश्रूषया वा; परस्य वा संहननाद्वदन्ति। नित्यं धर्मं क्षत्रियो ब्रह्मचारी; चरेदेको ह्याश्रमं धर्मकामः ॥१२-६५-४॥
It is said that knowledge is gained by extensive study, by serving the teacher, or by association with others. A Kṣatriya or a celibate student, always desiring righteousness, should practice his stage of life alone.
सामान्यार्थे व्यवहारे प्रवृत्ते; प्रियाप्रिये वर्जयन्नेव यत्नात्। चातुर्वर्ण्यस्थापनात्पालनाच्च; तैस्तैर्योगैर्नियमैरौरसैश्च ॥१२-६५-५॥
When acting in general conduct, one should diligently avoid both the pleasant and the unpleasant; and through the establishment and protection of the four varṇas, as well as by various unions, rules, and natural means.
सर्वोद्योगैराश्रमं धर्ममाहुः; क्षात्रं ज्येष्ठं सर्वधर्मोपपन्नम्। स्वं स्वं धर्मं ये न चरन्ति वर्णा; स्तांस्तान्धर्मानयथावद्वदन्ति ॥१२-६५-६॥
It is said that the āśrama is duty by all efforts; the kṣātra (warrior's) is considered the highest, endowed with all duties. Those classes who do not perform their own respective duties, those duties are not properly declared for them.
निर्मर्यादे नित्यमर्थे विनष्टा; नाहुस्तान्वै पशुभूतान्मनुष्यान्। यथा नीतिं गमयत्यर्थलोभा; च्छ्रेयांस्तस्मादाश्रमः क्षत्रधर्मः ॥१२-६५-७॥
Humans who are always intent on wealth without boundaries are said to be destroyed and become like animals. Just as greed for wealth leads conduct, therefore the āśrama and the kṣatriya's duty are better.
त्रैविद्यानां या गतिर्ब्राह्मणानां; यश्चैवोक्तोऽथाश्रमो ब्राह्मणानाम्। एतत्कर्म ब्राह्मणस्याहुरग्र्य; मन्यत्कुर्वञ्शूद्रवच्छस्त्रवध्यः ॥१२-६५-८॥
The state attained by those who know the three Vedas, and the prescribed stage of life for Brāhmaṇas—this is considered the highest duty for a Brāhmaṇa. But if one acts like a Śūdra in this regard, he is deemed worthy of capital punishment.
चातुराश्रम्यधर्माश्च वेदधर्माश्च पार्थिव। ब्राह्मणेनानुगन्तव्या नान्यो विद्यात्कथञ्चन ॥१२-६५-९॥
O king, the duties of the four āśramas and those prescribed by the Vedas are to be followed by a brāhmaṇa; no one else should ever observe them.
अन्यथा वर्तमानस्य न सा वृत्तिः प्रकल्प्यते। कर्मणा व्यज्यते धर्मो यथैव श्वा तथैव सः ॥१२-६५-१०॥
Otherwise, the present conduct is not regarded as such. Dharma is revealed by action; just as a dog is known by its actions, so is he.
यो विकर्मस्थितो विप्रो न स सन्मानमर्हति। कर्मस्वनुपयुञ्जानमविश्वास्यं हि तं विदुः ॥१२-६५-११॥
A brāhmaṇa who engages in improper actions does not deserve honor; one who does not properly perform his duties is indeed considered untrustworthy.
एते धर्माः सर्ववर्णाश्च वीरै; रुत्क्रष्टव्याः क्षत्रियैरेष धर्मः। तस्माज्ज्येष्ठा राजधर्मा न चान्ये; वीर्यज्येष्ठा वीरधर्मा मता मे ॥१२-६५-१२॥
These duties of all classes are to be excelled by heroes; this is the duty to be excelled by kṣatriyas. Therefore, royal duties are the foremost, not others; I consider heroic duties as the foremost by valor.
मान्धातोवाच॥
Māndhāta said:
यवनाः किराता गान्धाराश्चीनाः शबरबर्बराः। शकास्तुषाराः कह्वाश्च पह्लवाश्चान्ध्रमद्रकाः ॥१२-६५-१३॥
The Greeks, Kirātas, Gandhāras, Chinese, Śabaras, Barbaras, Śakas, Tuṣāras, Kahvas, Pahlavas, and Āndhramadrakas (Andhra and Madraka tribes) are mentioned here as various peoples or tribes.
ओड्राः पुलिन्दा रमठाः काचा म्लेच्छाश्च सर्वशः। ब्रह्मक्षत्रप्रसूताश्च वैश्याः शूद्राश्च मानवाः ॥१२-६५-१४॥
The Odras, Pulindas, Ramaṭhas, Kachas, and all Mlecchas; as well as those born from Brahmins and Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and all humans.
कथं धर्मं चरेयुस्ते सर्वे विषयवासिनः। मद्विधैश्च कथं स्थाप्याः सर्वे ते दस्युजीविनः ॥१२-६५-१५॥
How can all those who dwell in sense-objects practice dharma? And by people like me, how can all those who live like bandits be brought under control?
एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं भगवंस्तद्ब्रवीहि मे। त्वं बन्धुभूतो ह्यस्माकं क्षत्रियाणां सुरेश्वर ॥१२-६५-१६॥
O lord of the gods, I wish to hear this from you. Please tell me, for you have indeed become a kinsman to us kṣatriyas.
इन्द्र उवाच॥
Indra said:
मातापित्रोर्हि कर्तव्या शुश्रूषा सर्वदस्युभिः। आचार्यगुरुशुश्रूषा तथैवाश्रमवासिनाम् ॥१२-६५-१७॥
All disciples should indeed serve their mother and father; likewise, they should serve their teachers, preceptors, and the dwellers of the hermitage.
भूमिपालानां च शुश्रूषा कर्तव्या सर्वदस्युभिः। वेदधर्मक्रियाश्चैव तेषां धर्मो विधीयते ॥१२-६५-१८॥
All bandits must serve the kings; for them, performing Vedic religious duties is prescribed as their righteous conduct.
पितृयज्ञास्तथा कूपाः प्रपाश्च शयनानि च। दानानि च यथाकालं द्विजेषु दद्युरेव ते ॥१२-६५-१९॥
They should indeed perform ancestral rites, construct wells, watering places, beds, and give gifts to the twice-born at the proper time.
अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधो वृत्तिदायानुपालनम्। भरणं पुत्रदाराणां शौचमद्रोह एव च ॥१२-६५-२०॥
Non-violence, truthfulness, absence of anger, fulfilling the duties towards the provider of livelihood, supporting one's sons and wives, purity, and complete absence of malice—these indeed are to be observed.
दक्षिणा सर्वयज्ञानां दातव्या भूतिमिच्छता। पाकयज्ञा महार्हाश्च कर्तव्याः सर्वदस्युभिः ॥१२-६५-२१॥
One who desires prosperity should give offerings for all sacrifices. Cooking-sacrifices, which are very costly, should also be performed by all robbers.
एतान्येवम्प्रकाराणि विहितानि पुरानघ। सर्वलोकस्य कर्माणि कर्तव्यानीह पार्थिव ॥१२-६५-२२॥
O king, these various kinds of actions were enjoined in ancient times, O sinless one. Here, the actions of all beings are to be performed.
मान्धातोवाच॥
Māndhāta said:
दृश्यन्ते मानवा लोके सर्ववर्णेषु दस्यवः। लिङ्गान्तरे वर्तमाना आश्रमेषु चतुर्ष्वपि ॥१२-६५-२३॥
Thieves are found among people of all castes in the world; they exist in different forms, even within all four āśramas.
इन्द्र उवाच॥
Indra said:
विनष्टायां दण्डनीतौ राजधर्मे निराकृते। सम्प्रमुह्यन्ति भूतानि राजदौरात्म्यतो नृप ॥१२-६५-२४॥
O king, when the policy of punishment is destroyed and the king's duty is neglected, all beings become utterly confused because of the king's wickedness.
असङ्ख्याता भविष्यन्ति भिक्षवो लिङ्गिनस्तथा। आश्रमाणां विकल्पाश्च निवृत्तेऽस्मिन्कृते युगे ॥१२-६५-२५॥
When the Kṛta age ends, there will be innumerable mendicants and ascetics, and various alternatives to the āśramas will arise.
अशृण्वानाः पुराणानां धर्माणां प्रवरा गतीः। उत्पथं प्रतिपत्स्यन्ते काममन्युसमीरिताः ॥१२-६५-२६॥
Those who do not listen to the excellent ways of dharma taught in the ancient texts, driven by desire and anger, will go astray.
यदा निवर्त्यते पापो दण्डनीत्या महात्मभिः। तदा धर्मो न चलते सद्भूतः शाश्वतः परः ॥१२-६५-२७॥
When the great-souled turn away sin through the policy of punishment, then righteousness, which is truly existent, eternal, and supreme, remains unshaken.
परलोकगुरुं चैव राजानं योऽवमन्यते। न तस्य दत्तं न हुतं न श्राद्धं फलति क्वचित् ॥१२-६५-२८॥
Whoever disrespects the spiritual teacher and the king, none of his offerings, oblations, or śrāddha rituals yield any result anywhere.
मानुषाणामधिपतिं देवभूतं सनातनम्। देवाश्च बहु मन्यन्ते धर्मकामं नरेश्वरम् ॥१२-६५-२९॥
The gods highly regard the lord of men, who has become divine and is eternal, as one who desires righteousness.
प्रजापतिर्हि भगवान्यः सर्वमसृजज्जगत्। स प्रवृत्तिनिवृत्त्यर्थं धर्माणां क्षत्रमिच्छति ॥१२-६५-३०॥
Indeed, the divine Prajāpati, who created the entire world, established the kṣatriya order for the regulation and cessation of dharmas.
प्रवृत्तस्य हि धर्मस्य बुद्ध्या यः स्मरते गतिम्। स मे मान्यश्च पूज्यश्च तत्र क्षत्रं प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥१२-६५-३१॥
He who, being engaged in dharma, remembers its path with intellect, is to me worthy of honor and worship; there, the kṣatriya order is established.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said:
एवमुक्त्वा स भगवान्मरुद्गणवृतः प्रभुः। जगाम भवनं विष्णुरक्षरं परमं पदम् ॥१२-६५-३२॥
Having thus spoken, the illustrious lord, surrounded by the hosts of Maruts, went to the abode of Viṣṇu, the imperishable and supreme state.
एवं प्रवर्तिते धर्मे पुरा सुचरितेऽनघ। कः क्षत्रमवमन्येत चेतनावान्बहुश्रुतः ॥१२-६५-३३॥
O sinless one, in former times when dharma was thus established and well-practiced, who that is conscious and learned would look down upon the kṣatriya order?
अन्यायेन प्रवृत्तानि निवृत्तानि तथैव च। अन्तरा विलयं यान्ति यथा पथि विचक्षुषः ॥१२-६५-३४॥
Whatever is begun or ended by unjust means perishes in the interim, just as things on the path of the wise disappear along the way.
आदौ प्रवर्तिते चक्रे तथैवादिपरायणे। वर्तस्व पुरुषव्याघ्र संविजानामि तेऽनघ ॥१२-६५-३५॥
O tiger among men, in the beginning the wheel was set in motion in the original path; in the same way, you should proceed. O sinless one, I understand your intention.
