12.072
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira said:
कथं राजा प्रजा रक्षन्नाधिबन्धेन युज्यते। धर्मे च नापराध्नोति तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥१२-७२-१॥
O grandsire, tell me how the king, while protecting his subjects, becomes bound by obligation and how he does not transgress dharma.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said:
समासेनैव ते तात धर्मान्वक्ष्यामि निश्चितान्। विस्तरेण हि धर्माणां न जात्वन्तमवाप्नुयात् ॥१२-७२-२॥
O dear one, I will explain to you the established dharmas in summary only; for, in detail, the end of dharmas could never be reached.
धर्मनिष्ठाञ्श्रुतवतो वेदव्रतसमाहितान्। अर्चितान्वासयेथास्त्वं गृहे गुणवतो द्विजान् ॥१२-७२-३॥
You should welcome into your home virtuous Brahmins who are steadfast in dharma, learned in the Vedas, devoted to Vedic vows, and honored.
प्रत्युत्थायोपसङ्गृह्य चरणावभिवाद्य च। अथ सर्वाणि कुर्वीथाः कार्याणि सपुरोहितः ॥१२-७२-४॥
After rising, approaching and respectfully saluting the feet, you should then perform all your duties together with the priest.
धर्मकार्याणि निर्वर्त्य मङ्गलानि प्रयुज्य च। ब्राह्मणान्वाचयेथास्त्वमर्थसिद्धिजयाशिषः ॥१२-७२-५॥
After performing acts of dharma and auspicious rites, you should have the Brāhmaṇas recite blessings for your success and victory.
आर्जवेन च सम्पन्नो धृत्या बुद्ध्या च भारत। अर्थार्थं परिगृह्णीयात्कामक्रोधौ च वर्जयेत् ॥१२-७२-६॥
O Bhārata, one should pursue wealth with honesty, fortitude, and intellect, and should avoid desire and anger.
कामक्रोधौ पुरस्कृत्य योऽर्थं राजानुतिष्ठति। न स धर्मं न चाप्यर्थं परिगृह्णाति बालिशः ॥१२-७२-७॥
A foolish king who acts with desire and anger at the forefront attains neither righteousness nor even his purpose.
मा स्म लुब्धांश्च मूर्खांश्च कामे चार्थेषु यूयुजः। अलुब्धान्बुद्धिसम्पन्नान्सर्वकर्मसु योजयेत् ॥१२-७२-८॥
Do not assign the greedy and the foolish to tasks involving desires and wealth; instead, employ those who are not greedy and who possess intelligence in all kinds of work.
मूर्खो ह्यधिकृतोऽर्थेषु कार्याणामविशारदः। प्रजाः क्लिश्नात्ययोगेन कामद्वेषसमन्वितः ॥१२-७२-९॥
A foolish person, when appointed to responsibilities and lacking skill in actions, afflicts the people through incompetence, being driven by desire and hatred.
बलिषष्ठेन शुल्केन दण्डेनाथापराधिनाम्। शास्त्रनीतेन लिप्सेथा वेतनेन धनागमम् ॥१२-७२-१०॥
You should seek to obtain income through the sixth part of produce, taxes, penalties, or from offenders, and by scriptural policy and wages.
दापयित्वा करं धर्म्यं राष्ट्रं नित्यं यथाविधि। अशेषान्कल्पयेद्राजा योगक्षेमानतन्द्रितः ॥१२-७२-११॥
The king, having always caused the righteous tax to be paid in the kingdom according to rule, should diligently provide for all prosperity and security without negligence.
गोपायितारं दातारं धर्मनित्यमतन्द्रितम्। अकामद्वेषसंयुक्तमनुरज्यन्ति मानवाः ॥१२-७२-१२॥
Humans become devoted to one who is a protector, a giver, always righteous, untiring, and free from desire and hatred.
मा स्माधर्मेण लाभेन लिप्सेथास्त्वं धनागमम्। धर्मार्थावध्रुवौ तस्य योऽपशास्त्रपरो भवेत् ॥१२-७२-१३॥
Do not ever seek to acquire wealth through unrighteous means; for one who follows ways contrary to the scriptures, both righteousness and wealth are unstable.
अपशास्त्रपरो राजा सञ्चयान्नाधिगच्छति। अस्थाने चास्य तद्वित्तं सर्वमेव विनश्यति ॥१२-७२-१४॥
A king who follows unorthodox teachings gains nothing from accumulation; and all his wealth, if placed improperly, is entirely lost.
अर्थमूलोऽपहिंसां च कुरुते स्वयमात्मनः। करैरशास्त्रदृष्टैर्हि मोहात्सम्पीडयन्प्रजाः ॥१२-७२-१५॥
He, whose foundation is wealth and who professes non-injury, himself, out of delusion, imposes taxes not sanctioned by śāstra, thereby oppressing his subjects.
ऊधश्छिन्द्याद्धि यो धेन्वाः क्षीरार्थी न लभेत्पयः। एवं राष्ट्रमयोगेन पीडितं न विवर्धते ॥१२-७२-१६॥
If someone were to cut the udder of cows, a person seeking milk would not get any. In the same way, a kingdom afflicted by mismanagement does not prosper.
यो हि दोग्ध्रीमुपास्ते तु स नित्यं लभते पयः। एवं राष्ट्रमुपायेन भुञ्जानो लभते फलम् ॥१२-७२-१७॥
He who tends the milch cow always obtains milk; likewise, one who enjoys the kingdom by proper means obtains its rewards.
अथ राष्ट्रमुपायेन भुज्यमानं सुरक्षितम्। जनयत्यतुलां नित्यं कोशवृद्धिं युधिष्ठिर ॥१२-७२-१८॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, when a kingdom is governed with strategy and kept secure, it always produces an unsurpassed growth of wealth.
दोग्धि धान्यं हिरण्यं च प्रजा राज्ञि सुरक्षिता। नित्यं स्वेभ्यः परेभ्यश्च तृप्ता माता यथा पयः ॥१२-७२-१९॥
O queen, when the subjects are well-protected, the land yields grain and gold; just as a mother, always satisfied, gives milk to her own and to others.
मालाकारोपमो राजन्भव माङ्गारिकोपमः। तथा युक्तश्चिरं राष्ट्रं भोक्तुं शक्यसि पालयन् ॥१२-७२-२०॥
O king, be like a garland-maker and a gardener. In this way, by being diligent, you will be able to rule and enjoy your kingdom for a long time while protecting it.
परचक्राभियानेन यदि ते स्याद्धनक्षयः। अथ साम्नैव लिप्सेथा धनमब्राह्मणेषु यत् ॥१२-७२-२१॥
If, by campaigning against the enemy, you suffer loss of wealth, then you should seek to recover wealth from non-Brahmins by conciliation alone.
मा स्म ते ब्राह्मणं दृष्ट्वा धनस्थं प्रचलेन्मनः। अन्त्यायामप्यवस्थायां किमु स्फीतस्य भारत ॥१२-७२-२२॥
O Bhārata, do not let your mind be disturbed upon seeing a wealthy brāhmaṇa. If this is so even in a lowly state, how much more so in a prosperous one.
धनानि तेभ्यो दद्यास्त्वं यथाशक्ति यथार्हतः। सान्त्वयन्परिरक्षंश्च स्वर्गमाप्स्यसि दुर्जयम् ॥१२-७२-२३॥
You should give wealth to them according to your ability and their worthiness; by soothing and protecting them, you will attain the heaven that is difficult to conquer.
एवं धर्मेण वृत्तेन प्रजास्त्वं परिपालयन्। स्वन्तं पुण्यं यशोवन्तं प्राप्स्यसे कुरुनन्दन ॥१२-७२-२४॥
O joy of the Kurus, by protecting your subjects in this way, with righteous conduct, you will attain your own merit and enduring fame.
धर्मेण व्यवहारेण प्रजाः पालय पाण्डव। युधिष्ठिर तथा युक्तो नाधिबन्धेन योक्ष्यसे ॥१२-७२-२५॥
O Pāṇḍava, govern your subjects with righteousness and proper conduct. Yudhiṣṭhira, if you act in this way, you will rule without being bound by attachment.
एष एव परो धर्मो यद्राजा रक्षते प्रजाः। भूतानां हि यथा धर्मे रक्षणं च परा दया ॥१२-७२-२६॥
This is truly the highest duty: when the king protects his subjects. For all beings, protection in accordance with righteousness and supreme compassion are paramount.
तस्मादेवं परं धर्मं मन्यन्ते धर्मकोविदाः। यद्राजा रक्षणे युक्तो भूतेषु कुरुते दयाम् ॥१२-७२-२७॥
Therefore, the knowers of dharma consider that to be the highest dharma when the king, engaged in protection, shows compassion towards all beings.
यदह्ना कुरुते पापमरक्षन्भयतः प्रजाः। राजा वर्षसहस्रेण तस्यान्तमधिगच्छति ॥१२-७२-२८॥
Whatever evil a king commits in a day by not protecting his subjects out of fear, he attains the consequences of that even after a thousand years.
यदह्ना कुरुते पुण्यं प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन्। दश वर्षसहस्राणि तस्य भुङ्क्ते फलं दिवि ॥१२-७२-२९॥
For every day a king protects his subjects with righteousness and performs meritorious acts, he enjoys the fruit of that action in heaven for ten thousand years.
स्विष्टिः स्वधीतिः सुतपा लोकाञ्जयति यावतः। क्षणेन तानवाप्नोति प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन् ॥१२-७२-३०॥
One who has performed proper sacrifices, is well-studied, and has practiced good austerities conquers as many worlds as there are; by protecting his subjects with righteousness, he attains those worlds in a moment.
एवं धर्मं प्रयत्नेन कौन्तेय परिपालयन्। इह पुण्यफलं लब्ध्वा नाधिबन्धेन योक्ष्यसे ॥१२-७२-३१॥
O son of Kunti, thus protecting duty with effort, you will enjoy the fruit of merit here, having obtained it without bondage.
स्वर्गलोके च महतीं श्रियं प्राप्स्यसि पाण्डव। असम्भवश्च धर्माणामीदृशानामराजसु ॥ तस्माद्राजैव नान्योऽस्ति यो महत्फलमाप्नुयात् ॥१२-७२-३२॥
O Pāṇḍava, you will attain great prosperity in the heavenly world. Such dharmas are impossible among kings. Therefore, only a king, and no one else, can obtain such great rewards.
स राज्यमृद्धिमत्प्राप्य धर्मेण परिपालयन्। इन्द्रं तर्पय सोमेन कामैश्च सुहृदो जनान् ॥१२-७२-३३॥
Having attained a prosperous kingdom, he protected it with righteousness, satisfied Indra with Soma, and fulfilled the desires of his friends and people.
