12.071
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said:
kena vṛttena vṛttajña vartamāno mahīpatiḥ। sukhena arthān sukhodarkān iha ca pretya ca āpnuyāt॥12-71-1॥
By what conduct, if a king abides as a knower of conduct, may he happily obtain objects of desire that yield happiness, both in this world and after death?
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said:
iyaṃ guṇānāṃ ṣaṭtriṃśat-ṣaṭtriṃśad-guṇa-saṃyutā। yān guṇāṃs tu guṇopetaḥ kurvan guṇam avāpnuyāt ॥12-71-2॥
This is endowed with thirty-six qualities. But whoever, being endowed with qualities, performs these, may attain the quality.
cared dharmān akaṭuko muñcet snehaṃ na nāstikaḥ। anṛśaṃsaś cared arthaṃ caret kāmam anuddhataḥ ॥12-71-3॥
One should practice virtues gently, give up attachment, not be an atheist; being compassionate, act for wealth and desire without arrogance.
priyaṃ brūyād akṛpaṇaḥ śūraḥ syād avikatthanaḥ। dātā nāpātravarṣī syāt pragalbhaḥ syād aniṣṭhuraḥ॥12-71-4॥
One should speak pleasantly, be generous and brave, avoid boasting, give only to the worthy, be bold, and never be harsh.
saṃdadhīta na cānāryair vigṛhṇīyān na bandhubhiḥ। nānāptaiḥ kārayec cāraṃ kuryāt kāryam apīḍayā ॥12-71-5॥
One should not form alliances with ignoble people, nor quarrel with relatives; one should not employ unreliable persons as spies, and should accomplish tasks without causing harm.
arthān brūyān na cāsatsu guṇān brūyān na cātmanaḥ | ādad yān na ca sādhu-bhyo na asat-puruṣam āśrayet ||12-71-6||
One should not discuss important matters among the unworthy, nor proclaim one's own virtues; one should not take from the virtuous, nor associate with unworthy people.
nāparīkṣya nayeddaṇḍaṃ na ca mantraṃ prakāśayet। visṛjenn ca lubdhebhyo viśvasennāpakāriṣu ॥12-71-7॥
One should not inflict punishment without examination, nor reveal counsel. One should not give to the greedy, nor trust those who do harm.
anīrṣur-gupta-dāraḥ syāc-cokṣaḥ syād-aghṛṇī nṛpaḥ | striyaṃ seveta nātyarthaṃ mṛṣṭaṃ bhuñjīta nāhitam ||12-71-8||
A king should be free from envy, guard his wife, be strong, and not be overly compassionate. He should not associate excessively with women, and should eat only well-cooked and wholesome food.
astabdhaḥ pūjayen mānyān gurūn seveda māyayā। arced devān na dambhena śriyam icchet akutsitām ॥12-71-9॥
One should steadfastly worship the venerable and serve the teachers sincerely; worship the gods without hypocrisy, and desire only prosperity that is not blameworthy.
seveta praṇayaṃ hitvā dakṣaḥ syān na tv akālavit। sāntvayen na ca bhogārtham anugṛhṇan na cākṣipet॥12-71-10॥
One should associate with others after abandoning personal affection, act with competence and not ignorance of proper timing; one should conciliate, not for the sake of enjoyment, and while favoring others, should not reproach them.
praharen na tv avijñāya hatvā śatrūn na śeṣayet। krodhaṃ kuryān na cākasmān mṛduḥ syān nāpakāriṣu ॥12-71-11॥
One should not attack without proper understanding, nor leave any enemies alive after defeating them. One should not act out of anger or impulsively, and should not show gentleness towards those who do harm.
evaṃ carasva rājyastho yadi śreya ihecchasi। ato'nyathā narapatirbhayamṛcchatyanuttamam ॥12-71-12॥
If you desire what is best here, conduct yourself in this way while established in the kingdom. Otherwise, the king will experience the greatest fear.
iti sarvānguṇānetānyathoktānyo'anuvartate। anubhūyeha bhadrāṇi pretya svarge mahīyate ॥12-71-13॥
Thus, whoever follows all these qualities as stated, after experiencing auspicious things here, is honored in heaven.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
idaṃ vacaḥ śāntanavasya śuśruvā; nyudhiṣṭhiraḥ pāṇḍavamukhyasaṃvṛtaḥ। tadā vavande ca pitāmahaṃ nṛpo; yathoktam etac ca cakāra buddhimān ॥12-71-14॥
King Yudhiṣṭhira, surrounded by the foremost of the Pāṇḍavas, heard this speech of Bhīṣma, the descendant of Śāntanu; then, having bowed to the grandsire, the wise king did exactly as instructed.
