12.070
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
[युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhiṣṭhira; (proper noun, name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac', to speak);]
(Yudhiṣṭhira said;)
Yudhiṣṭhira said:
दण्डनीतिश्च राजा च समस्तौ तावुभावपि। कस्य किं कुर्वतः सिद्ध्यै तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥१२-७०-१॥
daṇḍanītiś ca rājā ca samastau tāv ubhāv api। kasya kiṃ kurvataḥ siddhyai tan me brūhi pitāmaha ॥12-70-1॥
[दण्डनीतिः (daṇḍanītiḥ) - science of punishment; च (ca) - and; राजा (rājā) - king; च (ca) - and; समस्तौ (samastau) - both together; तौ (tau) - those two; उभौ (ubhau) - both; अपि (api) - also; कस्य (kasya) - of whom; किम् (kim) - what; कुर्वतः (kurvataḥ) - doing; सिद्ध्यै (siddhyai) - for success; तत् (tat) - that; मे (me) - to me; ब्रूहि (brūhi) - tell; पितामह (pitāmaha) - O grandsire;]
(Science of punishment and king, both together, those two, both also; of whom, what, doing, for success; that to me, tell, O grandsire.)
O grandsire, tell me, for whose success and by doing what, do both the science of punishment and the king together achieve success?
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac' - to speak);]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said:
महाभाग्यं दण्डनीत्याः सिद्धैः शब्दैः सहेतुकैः। शृणु मे शंसतो राजन्यथावदिह भारत ॥१२-७०-२॥
mahābhāgyaṃ daṇḍanītyāḥ siddhaiḥ śabdaiḥ sahetukaiḥ। śṛṇu me śaṃsato rājanyathāvad iha bhārata ॥12-70-2॥
[महाभाग्यं (mahābhāgyaṃ) - great fortune; दण्डनीत्याः (daṇḍanītyāḥ) - of the science of punishment; सिद्धैः (siddhaiḥ) - by accomplished (ones); शब्दैः (śabdaiḥ) - by words; सहेतुकैः (sahetukaiḥ) - with reasons; शृणु (śṛṇu) - hear; मे (me) - from me; शंसतः (śaṃsataḥ) - speaking; राजन् (rājan) - O king; यथावत् (yathāvat) - properly; इह (iha) - here; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata;]
(Great fortune of the science of punishment by accomplished words with reasons, hear from me speaking, O king, properly here, O Bhārata.)
O Bhārata, O king, listen to me as I properly speak here about the great fortune of the science of punishment, explained by accomplished words with reasons.
दण्डनीतिः स्वधर्मेभ्यश्चातुर्वर्ण्यं नियच्छति। प्रयुक्ता स्वामिना सम्यगधर्मेभ्यश्च यच्छति ॥१२-७०-३॥
daṇḍanītiḥ svadharmebhyaś cāturvarṇyaṃ niyacchati। prayuktā svāminā samyag adharmebhyaś ca yacchati ॥12-70-3॥
[दण्डनीतिः (daṇḍanītiḥ) - policy of punishment; स्वधर्मेभ्यः (svadharmebhyaḥ) - from own duties; च (ca) - and; चातुर्वर्ण्यम् (cāturvarṇyam) - the fourfold order; नियच्छति (niyacchati) - restrains; प्रयुक्ता (prayuktā) - applied; स्वामिना (svāminā) - by the ruler; सम्यक् (samyak) - properly; अधर्मेभ्यः (adharmebhyaḥ) - from unrighteous acts; च (ca) - and; यच्छति (yacchati) - removes;]
(The policy of punishment restrains the fourfold order from their own duties; when properly applied by the ruler, it removes them from unrighteous acts as well.)
The policy of punishment keeps the four social classes to their own duties; when properly enforced by the ruler, it also prevents them from engaging in unrighteous acts.
चातुर्वर्ण्ये स्वधर्मस्थे मर्यादानामसङ्करे। दण्डनीतिकृते क्षेमे प्रजानामकुतोभये ॥१२-७०-४॥
cāturvarṇye svadharmasthe maryādānāmasaṅkare. daṇḍanītikṛte kṣeme prajānāmakutobhaye ॥12-70-4॥
[चातुर्वर्ण्ये (cāturvarṇye) - in the fourfold division of classes; स्वधर्मस्थे (svadharmasthe) - established in one's own duty; मर्यादानाम् (maryādānām) - of boundaries; असङ्करे (asaṅkare) - without confusion; दण्डनीतिकृते (daṇḍanītikṛte) - for the sake of the policy of punishment; क्षेमे (kṣeme) - in security; प्रजानाम् (prajānām) - of the subjects; अकुतोभये (akutobhaye) - without fear from anywhere;]
(When the fourfold division of classes is established in their own duties, and there is no confusion of boundaries, for the sake of the policy of punishment, in the security of the subjects, there is no fear from anywhere.)
When the fourfold social order is established in its own duties and the boundaries are not confused, and when the policy of punishment is properly maintained, the subjects live in security and are free from all fear.
सोमे प्रयत्नं कुर्वन्ति त्रयो वर्णा यथाविधि। तस्माद्देवमनुष्याणां सुखं विद्धि समाहितम् ॥१२-७०-५॥
some prayatnaṃ kurvanti trayo varṇā yathāvidhi। tasmāddevamanuṣyāṇāṃ sukhaṃ viddhi samāhitam ॥12-70-5॥
[सोमे (some) - in Soma; (the ritual or the moon; प्रयत्नं (prayatnaṃ) - effort; (endeavor; कुर्वन्ति (kurvanti) - they make; (perform; त्रयः (trayaḥ) - three; (the; वर्णाः (varṇāḥ) - classes; (castes; यथाविधि (yathāvidhi) - according to rule; (properly; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; (hence; देवमनुष्याणाम् (devamanuṣyāṇām) - of gods and men; (of the gods and humans; सुखम् (sukham) - happiness; (pleasure; विद्धि (viddhi) - know; (understand; समाहितम् (samāhitam) - concentrated; (well-established;]
(In Soma, effort is made by the three classes according to rule. Therefore, know that the happiness of gods and men is well-established.)
The three classes make effort in Soma according to proper rule; therefore, know that the happiness of gods and humans is firmly established.
कालो वा कारणं राज्ञो राजा वा कालकारणम्। इति ते संशयो मा भूद्राजा कालस्य कारणम् ॥१२-७०-६॥
kālo vā kāraṇaṃ rājño rājā vā kālakāraṇam। iti te saṃśayo mā bhūdrājā kālasya kāraṇam ॥12-70-6॥
[कालः (kālaḥ) - time; वा (vā) - or; कारणम् (kāraṇam) - cause; राज्ञः (rājñaḥ) - of the king; राजा (rājā) - the king; वा (vā) - or; कालकारणम् (kālakāraṇam) - cause of time; इति (iti) - thus; ते (te) - your; संशयः (saṃśayaḥ) - doubt; मा (mā) - not; भूत् (bhūt) - let there be; राजा (rājā) - the king; कालस्य (kālasya) - of time; कारणम् (kāraṇam) - cause;]
(Time or the cause of the king, or the king is the cause of time. Thus, let there not be your doubt; the king is the cause of time.)
Whether time is the cause of the king, or the king is the cause of time—let there be no doubt about this: the king is the cause of time.
दण्डनीत्या यदा राजा सम्यक्कार्त्स्न्येन वर्तते। तदा कृतयुगं नाम कालः श्रेष्ठः प्रवर्तते ॥१२-७०-७॥
daṇḍanītyā yadā rājā samyakkārtsnyena vartate। tadā kṛtayugaṃ nāma kālaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ pravartate ॥12-70-7॥
[दण्डनीत्या (daṇḍanītyā) - by the policy of punishment; by the science of governance; यदा (yadā) - when; राजा (rājā) - the king; सम्यक् (samyak) - properly; rightly; कार्त्स्न्येन (kārtsnyena) - in entirety; completely; वर्तते (vartate) - acts; conducts himself; तदा (tadā) - then; कृतयुगं (kṛtayugaṃ) - Kṛta Yuga; the age of righteousness; नाम (nāma) - called; named; कालः (kālaḥ) - time; period; श्रेष्ठः (śreṣṭhaḥ) - excellent; best; प्रवर्तते (pravartate) - arises; comes into being;]
(When the king acts properly and completely according to the policy of punishment, then the time called Kṛta Yuga, the best period, arises.)
When the king governs entirely in accordance with the science of punishment, then the excellent age known as Kṛta Yuga prevails.
भवेत्कृतयुगे धर्मो नाधर्मो विद्यते क्वचित्। सर्वेषामेव वर्णानां नाधर्मे रमते मनः ॥१२-७०-८॥
bhavet kṛtayuge dharmo nādharmo vidyate kvacit। sarveṣām eva varṇānāṃ nādharme ramate manaḥ ॥12-70-8॥
[भवेत् (bhavet) - may exist; कृतयुगे (kṛtayuge) - in the Kṛta Yuga; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - righteousness; न (na) - not; अधर्मः (adharmaḥ) - unrighteousness; विद्यते (vidyate) - is found; क्वचित् (kvacit) - anywhere; सर्वेषाम् (sarveṣām) - of all; एव (eva) - indeed; वर्णानाम् (varṇānām) - of castes; न (na) - not; अधर्मे (adharme) - in unrighteousness; रमते (ramate) - delights; मनः (manaḥ) - mind;]
(May righteousness exist in the Kṛta Yuga; unrighteousness is not found anywhere. Indeed, of all castes, the mind does not delight in unrighteousness.)
In the Kṛta Yuga, only righteousness prevails; unrighteousness is found nowhere. The minds of all castes do not take pleasure in unrighteousness.
योगक्षेमाः प्रवर्तन्ते प्रजानां नात्र संशयः। वैदिकानि च कर्माणि भवन्त्यविगुणान्युत ॥१२-७०-९॥
yogakṣemāḥ pravartante prajānāṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ। vaidikāni ca karmāṇi bhavantyaviguṇānyuta ॥12-70-9॥
[योग (yoga) - union; क्षेमाः (kṣemāḥ) - welfare; प्रवर्तन्ते (pravartante) - are set in motion; प्रजानाम् (prajānām) - of beings; न (na) - not; अत्र (atra) - here; संशयः (saṃśayaḥ) - doubt; वैदिकानि (vaidikāni) - Vedic; च (ca) - and; कर्माणि (karmāṇi) - actions; भवन्ति (bhavanti) - become; अविगुणानि (aviguṇāni) - without defect; उत (uta) - indeed;]
(Union and welfare are set in motion for beings; here there is no doubt. Vedic actions too indeed become without defect.)
Union and welfare are established for beings; there is no doubt about this. Vedic actions too indeed become flawless.
ऋतवश्च सुखाः सर्वे भवन्त्युत निरामयाः। प्रसीदन्ति नराणां च स्वरवर्णमनांसि च ॥१२-७०-१०॥
ṛtavaś ca sukhāḥ sarve bhavanty uta nirāmayāḥ। prasīdanti narāṇāṃ ca svaravarṇamanāṃsi ca ॥12-70-10॥
[ऋतवः (ṛtavaḥ) - seasons; च (ca) - and; सुखाः (sukhāḥ) - pleasant; सर्वे (sarve) - all; भवन्ति (bhavanti) - become; उत (uta) - indeed; निरामयाः (nirāmayāḥ) - free from disease; प्रसीदन्ति (prasīdanti) - become pleased; नराणाम् (narāṇām) - of men; च (ca) - and; स्वरवर्णमनांसि (svaravarṇamanāṃsi) - voices, complexions, and minds; च (ca) - and;]
(Seasons and all become pleasant indeed, free from disease; voices, complexions, and minds of men also become pleased.)
All the seasons become pleasant and free from disease; the voices, complexions, and minds of men are also gladdened.
व्याधयो न भवन्त्यत्र नाल्पायुर्दृश्यते नरः। विधवा न भवन्त्यत्र नृशंसो नाभिजायते ॥१२-७०-११॥
vyādhayo na bhavanty atra nālpayur dṛśyate naraḥ। vidhavā na bhavanty atra nṛśaṃso nābhijāyate ॥12-70-11॥
[व्याधयः (vyādhayaḥ) - diseases; न (na) - not; भवन्ति (bhavanti) - occur; अत्र (atra) - here; न (na) - not; अल्पायुः (alpa-āyuḥ) - short-lived; दृश्यते (dṛśyate) - is seen; नरः (naraḥ) - man; विधवा (vidhavā) - widow; न (na) - not; भवन्ति (bhavanti) - occur; अत्र (atra) - here; नृशंसः (nṛśaṃsaḥ) - cruel person; न (na) - not; अभिजायते (abhijāyate) - is born;]
(Diseases do not occur here, nor is a short-lived man seen. A widow does not occur here, nor is a cruel person born.)
Here, there are no diseases, no one is seen with a short life, there are no widows, and no cruel person is born.
अकृष्टपच्या पृथिवी भवन्त्योषधयस्तथा। त्वक्पत्रफलमूलानि वीर्यवन्ति भवन्ति च ॥१२-७०-१२॥
akṛṣṭapacyā pṛthivī bhavantyoṣadhayastathā। tvakpatraphalamūlāni vīryavanti bhavanti ca ॥12-70-12॥
[अकृष्टपच्या (akṛṣṭapacyā) - grown without ploughing; पृथिवी (pṛthivī) - earth; भवन्ति (bhavanti) - become; ओषधयः (oṣadhayaḥ) - herbs; तथा (tathā) - likewise; त्वक् (tvak) - bark; पत्र (patra) - leaf; फल (phala) - fruit; मूलानि (mūlāni) - roots; वीर्यवन्ति (vīryavanti) - potent; भवन्ति (bhavanti) - become; च (ca) - and;]
(The earth that is not ploughed becomes (produces) herbs likewise; bark, leaves, fruits, and roots become potent also.)
The earth that is not ploughed produces herbs; likewise, bark, leaves, fruits, and roots also become potent.
नाधर्मो विद्यते तत्र धर्म एव तु केवलः। इति कार्तयुगानेतान्गुणान्विद्धि युधिष्ठिर ॥१२-७०-१३॥
nādharmo vidyate tatra dharma eva tu kevalaḥ। iti kārtayugānetānguṇānviddhi yudhiṣṭhira ॥12-70-13॥
[न (na) - not; अधर्मः (adharmaḥ) - unrighteousness; विद्यते (vidyate) - exists; तत्र (tatra) - there; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - righteousness; एव (eva) - indeed; तु (tu) - but; केवलः (kevalaḥ) - only; इति (iti) - thus; कार्तयुगे (kārtayuge) - in the Kṛta Yuga; एतान् (etān) - these; गुणान् (guṇān) - qualities; विद्धि (viddhi) - know; युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - O Yudhiṣṭhira;]
(Not unrighteousness exists there, righteousness indeed but only. Thus, in the Kṛta Yuga, these qualities know, O Yudhiṣṭhira.)
O Yudhiṣṭhira, know that in the Kṛta Yuga, there is no unrighteousness; only righteousness exists. These are the qualities.
दण्डनीत्या यदा राजा त्रीनंशाननुवर्तते। चतुर्थमंशमुत्सृज्य तदा त्रेता प्रवर्तते ॥१२-७०-१४॥
daṇḍanītyā yadā rājā trīnaṃśān anuvartate। caturtham aṃśam utsṛjya tadā tretā pravartate ॥12-70-14॥
[दण्डनीत्या (daṇḍanītyā) - by the policy of punishment; यदा (yadā) - when; राजा (rājā) - the king; त्रीनंशान् (trīnaṃśān) - three parts; अनुवर्तते (anuvartate) - follows; चतुर्थम् (caturtham) - the fourth; अंशम् (aṃśam) - part; उत्सृज्य (utsṛjya) - abandoning; तदा (tadā) - then; त्रेता (tretā) - the Tretā (age); प्रवर्तते (pravartate) - arises;]
(By the policy of punishment, when the king follows three parts, abandoning the fourth part, then the Tretā (age) arises.)
When, by the policy of punishment, the king follows three parts and abandons the fourth, then the Tretā age begins.
अशुभस्य चतुर्थांशस्त्रीनंशाननुवर्तते। कृष्टपच्यैव पृथिवी भवन्त्योषधयस्तथा ॥१२-७०-१५॥
aśubhasya caturthāṃśas trīnaṃśān anuvartate। kṛṣṭapacyaiva pṛthivī bhavantyoṣadhayas tathā ॥12-70-15॥
[अशुभस्य (aśubhasya) - of the inauspicious; चतुर्थांशः (caturthāṃśaḥ) - one fourth part; त्रीनंशान् (trīnaṃśān) - three parts; अनुवर्तते (anuvartate) - follows; कृष्टपच्यै (kṛṣṭapacyaiva) - for cultivated and uncultivated (land); एव (eva) - indeed; पृथिवी (pṛthivī) - earth; भवन्ति (bhavanti) - become; ओषधयः (oṣadhayaḥ) - plants; तथा (tathā) - likewise;]
(Of the inauspicious, one fourth part follows the three parts; indeed, for cultivated and uncultivated earth, likewise, the plants become so.)
One fourth of the inauspicious follows the three parts; thus, for both cultivated and uncultivated earth, the plants also become so.
अर्धं त्यक्त्वा यदा राजा नीत्यर्धमनुवर्तते। ततस्तु द्वापरं नाम स कालः सम्प्रवर्तते ॥१२-७०-१६॥
ardhaṃ tyaktvā yadā rājā nītyardhamanuvartate। tatastu dvāparaṃ nāma sa kālaḥ sampravartate ॥12-70-16॥
[अर्धं (ardham) - half; त्यक्त्वा (tyaktvā) - having abandoned; यदा (yadā) - when; राजा (rājā) - king; नीत्यर्धम् (nītyardham) - half of righteousness; अनुवर्तते (anuvartate) - follows; ततः (tataḥ) - then; तु (tu) - but; द्वापरम् (dvāparam) - Dvāpara (the third age); नाम (nāma) - named; सः (saḥ) - that; कालः (kālaḥ) - period; सम्प्रवर्तते (sampravartate) - commences;]
(When the king, having abandoned half, follows only half of righteousness, then that period named Dvāpara commences.)
When the king abandons half and follows only half of righteousness, then the period called Dvāpara begins.
अशुभस्य तदा अर्धं द्वावंशावनुवर्तते। कृष्टपच्यैव पृथिवी भवत्यल्पफला तथा ॥१२-७०-१७॥
aśubhasya tadā ardhaṃ dvāvaṃśāvanuvartate। kṛṣṭapacyaiva pṛthivī bhavatyalpaphalā tathā ॥12-70-17॥
[अशुभस्य (aśubhasya) - of the inauspicious; तदा (tadā) - then; अर्धं (ardhaṃ) - half; द्वावंशाव् (dvāvaṃśau) - two parts; अनुवर्तते (anuvartate) - follows; कृष्टपच्य (kṛṣṭapacya) - cultivated and uncultivated; एव (eva) - indeed; पृथिवी (pṛthivī) - earth; भवति (bhavati) - becomes; अल्पफला (alpaphalā) - of little fruit; तथा (tathā) - thus;]
(Of the inauspicious, then half, two parts follow. The earth, both cultivated and uncultivated, indeed becomes of little fruit thus.)
At that time, half and then two parts of inauspiciousness prevail. The earth, whether cultivated or uncultivated, thus yields little fruit.
दण्डनीतिं परित्यज्य यदा कार्त्स्न्येन भूमिपः। प्रजाः क्लिश्नात्ययोगेन प्रविश्यति तदा कलिः ॥१२-७०-१८॥
daṇḍanītiṃ parityajya yadā kārtsnyena bhūmipaḥ। prajāḥ kliśnātyayogena praviśyati tadā kaliḥ ॥12-70-18॥
[दण्डनीतिं (daṇḍanītiṃ) - policy of punishment; परित्यज्य (parityajya) - having abandoned; यदा (yadā) - when; कार्त्स्न्येन (kārtsnyena) - entirely; भूमिपः (bhūmipaḥ) - king; प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - subjects; क्लिश्नाति (kliśnāti) - afflicts; अयोगेन (ayogena) - improperly; प्रविश्यति (praviśyati) - enters; तदा (tadā) - then; कलिः (kaliḥ) - Kali (the age of strife);]
(Having abandoned the policy of punishment, when the king entirely afflicts the subjects improperly, then Kali enters.)
When the king completely abandons the policy of punishment and afflicts his subjects improperly, then the age of Kali begins.
कलावधर्मो भूयिष्ठं धर्मो भवति तु क्वचित्। सर्वेषामेव वर्णानां स्वधर्माच्च्यवते मनः ॥१२-७०-१९॥
kalāvadhamo bhūyiṣṭhaṃ dharmo bhavati tu kvacit। sarveṣāmeva varṇānāṃ svadharmāccyavate manaḥ ॥12-70-19॥
[कलौ (kalau) - in the Kali age; अधर्मः (adharmaḥ) - unrighteousness; भूयिष्ठम् (bhūyiṣṭham) - predominant; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - righteousness; भवति (bhavati) - becomes; तु (tu) - but; क्वचित् (kvacit) - sometimes; सर्वेषाम् (sarveṣām) - of all; एव (eva) - indeed; वर्णानाम् (varṇānām) - of castes; स्वधर्मात् (svadharmāt) - from one's own duty; च्यवते (cyavate) - deviates; मनः (manaḥ) - the mind;]
(In the Kali age, unrighteousness is predominant; righteousness becomes only sometimes. Indeed, the mind of all castes deviates from their own duty.)
In the Kali age, unrighteousness prevails and righteousness is only occasionally found. The minds of people of all castes stray from their own duties.
शूद्रा भैक्षेण जीवन्ति ब्राह्मणाः परिचर्यया। योगक्षेमस्य नाशश्च वर्तते वर्णसङ्करः ॥१२-७०-२०॥
śūdrā bhaikṣeṇa jīvanti brāhmaṇāḥ paricaryayā। yogakṣemasya nāśaś ca vartate varṇasaṅkaraḥ ॥12-70-20॥
[शूद्राः (śūdrāḥ) - Śūdras; भैक्षेण (bhaikṣeṇa) - by alms; जीवन्ति (jīvanti) - live; ब्राह्मणाः (brāhmaṇāḥ) - Brāhmaṇas; परिचर्यया (paricaryayā) - by service; योगक्षेमस्य (yogakṣemasya) - of sustenance and security; नाशः (nāśaḥ) - destruction; च (ca) - and; वर्तते (vartate) - occurs; वर्णसङ्करः (varṇasaṅkaraḥ) - intermixture of castes;]
(Śūdras live by alms, Brāhmaṇas by service. The destruction of sustenance and security and the intermixture of castes occurs.)
Śūdras live by alms, Brāhmaṇas by service. The destruction of sustenance and security, and the intermixture of castes, occurs.
वैदिकानि च कर्माणि भवन्ति विगुणान्युत। ऋतवो नसुखाः सर्वे भवन्त्यामयिनस्तथा ॥१२-७०-२१॥
vaidikāni ca karmāṇi bhavanti viguṇānyuta। ṛtavo nasukhāḥ sarve bhavantyāmayinastathā ॥12-70-21॥
[वैदिकानि (vaidikāni) - Vedic; derived from the Vedas; च (ca) - and; कर्माणि (karmāṇi) - actions; deeds; भवन्ति (bhavanti) - become; are; विगुणानि (viguṇāni) - devoid of qualities; lacking virtues; उत (uta) - also; moreover; ऋतवः (ṛtavaḥ) - seasons; न (na) - not; सुखाः (sukhāḥ) - pleasant; happy; सर्वे (sarve) - all; भवन्ति (bhavanti) - become; are; आमयिनः (āmayinaḥ) - diseased; afflicted; तथा (tathā) - thus; in the same way;]
(Vedic actions and become devoid of qualities also. Seasons not pleasant all become diseased thus.)
Even Vedic actions become devoid of merit; likewise, all the seasons become unpleasant and afflicted with disease.
ह्रसन्ति च मनुष्याणां स्वरवर्णमनांस्युत। व्याधयश्च भवन्त्यत्र म्रियन्ते चागतायुषः ॥१२-७०-२२॥
hrasanti ca manuṣyāṇāṃ svaravarṇamanāṃsyuta। vyādhayaś ca bhavanty atra mriyante cāgatāyuṣaḥ ॥12-70-22॥
[ह्रसन्ति (hrasanti) - diminish; decrease; च (ca) - and; मनुष्याणां (manuṣyāṇām) - of men; of human beings; स्वरवर्ण (svaravarṇa) - voice and complexion; मनांसि (manāṃsi) - minds; उत (uta) - also; moreover; व्याधयः (vyādhayaḥ) - diseases; च (ca) - and; भवन्ति (bhavanti) - arise; occur; अत्र (atra) - here; म्रियन्ते (mriyante) - die; perish; च (ca) - and; आगतायुषः (āgatāyuṣaḥ) - those whose life-span has ended;]
(Diminish and of men voice, complexion, minds also; diseases and arise here, die and those whose life-span has ended.)
The voices, complexions, and minds of men diminish; diseases arise here, and those whose life-span has ended die.
विधवाश्च भवन्त्यत्र नृशंसा जायते प्रजा। क्वचिद्वर्षति पर्जन्यः क्वचित्सस्यं प्ररोहति ॥१२-७०-२३॥
vidhavāś ca bhavanty atra nṛśaṁsā jāyate prajā। kvacid varṣati parjanyaḥ kvacit sasyaṁ prarohati ॥12-70-23॥
[विधवाः (vidhavāḥ) - widows; च (ca) - and; भवन्ति (bhavanti) - become; अत्र (atra) - here; नृशंसा (nṛśaṁsā) - cruelty; जायते (jāyate) - arises; प्रजा (prajā) - people; क्वचित् (kvacit) - sometimes; वर्षति (varṣati) - rains; पर्जन्यः (parjanyaḥ) - cloud; क्वचित् (kvacit) - sometimes; सस्यं (sasyaṁ) - crop; प्ररोहति (prarohati) - sprouts;]
(Widows and become here, cruelty arises, people. Sometimes rains the cloud, sometimes the crop sprouts.)
Here, widows are found, cruelty arises among people. Sometimes the cloud rains, sometimes the crop sprouts.
रसाः सर्वे क्षयं यान्ति यदा नेच्छति भूमिपः। प्रजाः संरक्षितुं सम्यग्दण्डनीतिसमाहितः ॥१२-७०-२४॥
rasāḥ sarve kṣayaṃ yānti yadā neccchati bhūmipaḥ। prajāḥ saṃrakṣituṃ samyagdaṇḍanītisamāhitaḥ ॥12-70-24॥
[रसाः (rasāḥ) - essences; सर्वे (sarve) - all; क्षयम् (kṣayam) - destruction; यान्ति (yānti) - go; यदा (yadā) - when; न (na) - not; इच्छति (icchati) - desires; भूमिपः (bhūmipaḥ) - king; प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - subjects; संरक्षितुम् (saṃrakṣitum) - to protect; सम्यक् (samyak) - properly; दण्डनीतिसमाहितः (daṇḍanītisamāhitaḥ) - engaged in the policy of punishment;]
(All essences go to destruction when the king does not desire (is not intent) to properly protect the subjects, being engaged in the policy of punishment.)
When the king, engaged in the policy of punishment, does not wish to properly protect his subjects, all essences are destroyed.
राजा कृतयुगस्रष्टा त्रेताया द्वापरस्य च। युगस्य च चतुर्थस्य राजा भवति कारणम् ॥१२-७०-२५॥
rājā kṛtayugasraṣṭā tretāyā dvāparasya ca। yugasya ca caturthasya rājā bhavati kāraṇam ॥12-70-25॥
[राजा (rājā) - king; कृतयुग (kṛtayuga) - Kṛta Yuga; स्रष्टा (sraṣṭā) - creator; त्रेताया (tretāyāḥ) - of Tretā Yuga; द्वापरस्य (dvāparasya) - of Dvāpara Yuga; च (ca) - and; युगस्य (yugasya) - of the Yuga; च (ca) - and; चतुर्थस्य (caturthasya) - of the fourth; राजा (rājā) - king; भवति (bhavati) - becomes; कारणम् (kāraṇam) - the cause;]
(The king is the creator of Kṛta Yuga, of Tretā Yuga, and of Dvāpara Yuga; and of the Yuga, of the fourth, the king becomes the cause.)
The king is the creator of the Kṛta, Tretā, and Dvāpara Yugas; and in the fourth Yuga, the king is the cause of its nature.
कृतस्य करणाद्राजा स्वर्गमत्यन्तमश्नुते। त्रेतायाः करणाद्राजा स्वर्गं नात्यन्तमश्नुते ॥१२-७०-२६॥
kṛtasya karaṇādrājā svargamatyantamaśnute। tretāyāḥ karaṇādrājā svargaṃ nātyantamaśnute ॥12-70-26॥
[कृतस्य (kṛtasya) - of Kṛta (the first age); करणात् (karaṇāt) - from the performance (of duty); राजा (rājā) - the king; स्वर्गम् (svargam) - heaven; अत्यन्तम् (atyantam) - completely; अश्नुते (aśnute) - attains; त्रेतायाः (tretāyāḥ) - of Tretā (the second age); करणात् (karaṇāt) - from the performance (of duty); राजा (rājā) - the king; स्वर्गम् (svargam) - heaven; न (na) - not; अत्यन्तम् (atyantam) - completely; अश्नुते (aśnute) - attains;]
(From the performance of duty in the Kṛta age, the king attains heaven completely. From the performance of duty in the Tretā age, the king does not attain heaven completely.)
In the Kṛta age, by performing his duties, the king attains complete access to heaven; in the Tretā age, by performing his duties, the king does not attain complete access to heaven.
प्रवर्तनाद्द्वापरस्य यथाभागमुपाश्नुते। कलेः प्रवर्तनाद्राजा पापमत्यन्तमश्नुते ॥१२-७०-२७॥
pravartanāddvāparasya yathābhāgamupāśnute। kaleḥ pravartanādrājā pāpam atyantam aśnute ॥12-70-27॥
[प्रवर्तनात् (pravartanāt) - from the commencement; द्वापरस्य (dvāparasya) - of Dvāpara (the third age); यथा (yathā) - according to; भागम् (bhāgam) - share; उपाश्नुते (upāśnute) - obtains; कलेः (kaleḥ) - of Kali (the fourth age); प्रवर्तनात् (pravartanāt) - from the commencement; राजा (rājā) - the king; पापम् (pāpam) - sin; अत्यन्तम् (atyantam) - extreme; अश्नुते (aśnute) - obtains;]
(From the commencement of Dvāpara, he obtains his share accordingly. From the commencement of Kali, the king obtains extreme sin.)
As Dvāpara begins, one receives his due share; but with the onset of Kali, the king accrues the greatest sin.
ततो वसति दुष्कर्मा नरके शाश्वतीः समाः। प्रजानां कल्मषे मग्नोऽकीर्तिं पापं च विन्दति ॥१२-७०-२८॥
tato vasati duṣkarmā narake śāśvatīḥ samāḥ। prajānāṃ kalmaṣe magno'kīrtiṃ pāpaṃ ca vindati ॥12-70-28॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; वसति (vasati) - dwells; दुष्कर्मा (duṣkarmā) - evil-doer; नरके (narake) - in hell; शाश्वतीः (śāśvatīḥ) - eternal; समाः (samāḥ) - years; प्रजानाम् (prajānām) - of beings; कल्मषे (kalmaṣe) - in sin; मग्नः (magnaḥ) - immersed; अकीर्तिम् (akīrtim) - disrepute; पापम् (pāpam) - sin; च (ca) - and; विन्दति (vindati) - obtains;]
(Then the evil-doer dwells in hell for eternal years, immersed in the sin of beings, he obtains disrepute and sin.)
Then the evil-doer resides in hell for countless years, submerged in the sins of beings, and attains both infamy and sin.
दण्डनीतिं पुरस्कृत्य विजानन्क्षत्रियः सदा। अनवाप्तं च लिप्सेत लब्धं च परिपालयेत् ॥१२-७०-२९॥
daṇḍanītiṃ puraskṛtya vijānan kṣatriyaḥ sadā| anavāptaṃ ca lipseta labdhaṃ ca paripālayet ||12-70-29||
[दण्डनीतिं (daṇḍanītiṃ) - science of punishment; पुरस्कृत्य (puraskṛtya) - having placed at the forefront; विजानन् (vijānan) - knowing; क्षत्रियः (kṣatriyaḥ) - the kṣatriya; सदा (sadā) - always; अनवाप्तं (anavāptam) - not yet obtained; च (ca) - and; लिप्सेत् (lipsēt) - should desire; लब्धं (labdham) - what is obtained; च (ca) - and; परिपालयेत् (paripālayet) - should protect;]
(Having placed the science of punishment at the forefront, knowing, the kṣatriya always should desire what is not yet obtained and should protect what is obtained.)
A kṣatriya, always aware and guided by the science of punishment, should seek what has not yet been attained and protect what has already been acquired.
लोकस्य सीमन्तकरी मर्यादा लोकभावनी। सम्यङ्नीता दण्डनीतिर्यथा माता यथा पिता ॥१२-७०-३०॥
lokasya sīmantakarī maryādā lokabhāvanī। samyaṅnītā daṇḍanītiryathā mātā yathā pitā ॥12-70-30॥
[लोकस्य (lokasya) - of the world; सीमन्तकरी (sīmantakarī) - one who sets boundaries; मर्यादा (maryādā) - limit; लोकभावनी (lokabhāvanī) - one who fosters people; सम्यक्-नीता (samyak-nītā) - properly conducted; दण्डनीति (daṇḍanīti) - science of punishment; यथा (yathā) - just as; माता (mātā) - mother; यथा (yathā) - just as; पिता (pitā) - father;]
(The limit that sets the boundary of the world, fostering people, is the properly conducted science of punishment, just as a mother, just as a father.)
The law that establishes the boundaries of society and nurtures its people is like a well-guided science of punishment, just as a mother and a father care for their children.
यस्यां भवन्ति भूतानि तद्विद्धि भरतर्षभ। एष एव परो धर्मो यद्राजा दण्डनीतिमान् ॥१२-७०-३१॥
yasyāṃ bhavanti bhūtāni tadviddhi bharatarṣabha। eṣa eva paro dharmo yadrājā daṇḍanītimān ॥12-70-31॥
[यस्याम् (yasyām) - in which; (locative singular of yā, which) भवन्ति (bhavanti) - come into being; (they become) भूतानि (bhūtāni) - beings; (living entities) तत् (tat) - that; विद्धि (viddhi) - know; (imperative of √vid, to know) भरतर्षभ (bharatarṣabha) - O best of the Bharatas; एषः (eṣaḥ) - this; एव (eva) - indeed; परः (paraḥ) - supreme; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - duty; (righteousness) यत् (yat) - that which; राजा (rājā) - the king; दण्डनीतिमान् (daṇḍanītimān) - possessed of the science of punishment; (one who upholds law and order);]
(In which beings come into being, know that, O best of the Bharatas. This indeed is the supreme dharma, that in which the king is possessed of the science of punishment.)
O best of the Bharatas, know that wherever beings exist, that is the supreme dharma, where the king upholds the science of punishment (law and order).
तस्मात्कौरव्य धर्मेण प्रजाः पालय नीतिमान्। एवंवृत्तः प्रजा रक्षन्स्वर्गं जेतासि दुर्जयम् ॥१२-७०-३२॥
tasmāt kauravya dharmeṇa prajāḥ pālaya nītimān। evaṃvṛttaḥ prajā rakṣan svargaṃ jetāsi durjayam ॥12-70-32॥
[तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; कौरव्य (kauravya) - O descendant of Kuru; धर्मेण (dharmeṇa) - by righteousness; प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - subjects; पालय (pālaya) - protect; नीतिमान् (nītimān) - one who is wise in conduct; एवंवृत्तः (evaṃvṛttaḥ) - thus conducting oneself; प्रजा (prajā) - subjects; रक्षन् (rakṣan) - protecting; स्वर्गम् (svargam) - heaven; जेतासि (jetāsi) - you will conquer; दुर्जयम् (durjayam) - the unconquerable;]
(Therefore, O descendant of Kuru, by righteousness protect the subjects, being wise in conduct. Thus conducting yourself, protecting the subjects, you will conquer the unconquerable heaven.)
Therefore, O Kauravya, protect your subjects with righteousness and wisdom in conduct. By acting in this way and safeguarding your people, you will attain even the unconquerable heaven.
