12.073
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac' - to speak);]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said:
य एव तु सतो रक्षेदसतश्च निबर्हयेत्। स एव राज्ञा कर्तव्यो राजन्राजपुरोहितः ॥१२-७३-१॥
ya eva tu sato rakṣed asataś ca nibarhayet। sa eva rājñā kartavyo rājan rājapurohitaḥ ॥12-73-1॥
[य (ya) - who; एव (eva) - indeed; तु (tu) - but; सतः (sataḥ) - of the good; रक्षेत् (rakṣet) - should protect; असतः (asataḥ) - of the wicked; च (ca) - and; निबर्हयेत् (nibarhayet) - should restrain; सः (saḥ) - he; एव (eva) - indeed; राज्ञा (rājñā) - by the king; कर्तव्यः (kartavyaḥ) - should be appointed; राजन् (rājan) - O king; राजपुरोहितः (rājapurohitaḥ) - royal priest;]
(He indeed who should protect the good and should restrain the wicked, he indeed should be appointed by the king, O king, as the royal priest.)
O king, the one who protects the good and restrains the wicked should alone be appointed by the king as the royal priest.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। पुरूरवस ऐलस्य संवादं मातरिश्वनः ॥१२-७३-२॥
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। purūravas ailasya saṃvādaṃ mātariśvanaḥ ॥12-73-2॥
[अत्र (atra) - here; अपि (api) - also; उदाहरन्ति (udāharanti) - they cite; इमम् (imam) - this; इतिहासम् (itihāsam) - history; पुरातनम् (purātanam) - ancient; पुरूरवस (purūravas) - Purūravas; ऐलस्य (ailasya) - of Ila's descendant; संवादम् (saṃvādam) - dialogue; मातरिश्वनः (mātariśvanaḥ) - of Mātariśvan;]
(Here also they cite this ancient history: the dialogue between Purūravas, the descendant of Ila, and Mātariśvan.)
Here too, an ancient story is told: the conversation between Purūravas, son of Ila, and Mātariśvan.
ऐल उवाच॥
aila uvāca॥
[ऐल (aila) - Aila; (proper noun, name of a king); उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke;]
(Aila said;)
Aila said:
कुतः स्विद्ब्राह्मणो जातो वर्णाश्चापि कुतस्त्रयः। कस्माच्च भवति श्रेयानेतद्वायो विचक्ष्व मे ॥१२-७३-३॥
kutaḥ svid brāhmaṇo jāto varṇāś cāpi kutas trayaḥ| kasmāc ca bhavati śreyān etad vāyo vicakṣva me ||12-73-3||
[कुतः (kutaḥ) - from where; स्वित् (svid) - indeed; ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - brāhmaṇa; जातः (jātaḥ) - born; वर्णाः (varṇāḥ) - classes; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; कुतः (kutaḥ) - from where; त्रयः (trayaḥ) - three; कस्मात् (kasmāt) - from what; च (ca) - and; भवति (bhavati) - becomes; श्रेयान् (śreyān) - superior; एतत् (etat) - this; वायो (vāyo) - O Vāyu; विचक्ष्व (vicakṣva) - explain; मे (me) - to me;]
(From where indeed is the brāhmaṇa born, and from where also are the three classes? From what does one become superior? O Vāyu, explain this to me.)
From where is the brāhmaṇa born, and from where are the three classes? From what does one become superior? O Vāyu, please explain this to me.
वायुरुवाच॥
vāyuruvāca॥
[वायुः (vāyuḥ) - Vāyu; (the Wind-god); उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Vāyu said;)
Vāyu said:
ब्रह्मणो मुखतः सृष्टो ब्राह्मणो राजसत्तम। बाहुभ्यां क्षत्रियः सृष्ट ऊरुभ्यां वैश्य उच्यते ॥१२-७३-४॥
brahmaṇo mukhataḥ sṛṣṭo brāhmaṇo rājasattama। bāhubhyāṃ kṣatriyaḥ sṛṣṭa ūrubhyāṃ vaiśya ucyate ॥12-73-4॥
[ब्रह्मणः (brahmaṇaḥ) - of Brahman; मुखतः (mukhataḥ) - from the mouth; सृष्टः (sṛṣṭaḥ) - created; ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - Brāhmaṇa; राजसत्तम (rājasattama) - O best of kings; बाहुभ्यां (bāhubhyām) - from the arms; क्षत्रियः (kṣatriyaḥ) - Kṣatriya; सृष्टः (sṛṣṭaḥ) - created; ऊरुभ्यां (ūrubhyām) - from the thighs; वैश्यः (vaiśyaḥ) - Vaiśya; उच्यते (ucyate) - is said;]
(O best of kings, the Brāhmaṇa was created from the mouth of Brahman; the Kṣatriya was created from the arms; the Vaiśya is said (to be created) from the thighs.)
O best of kings, it is said that the Brāhmaṇa was created from the mouth of Brahman, the Kṣatriya from the arms, and the Vaiśya from the thighs.
वर्णानां परिचर्यार्थं त्रयाणां पुरुषर्षभ। वर्णश्चतुर्थः पश्चात्तु पद्भ्यां शूद्रो विनिर्मितः ॥१२-७३-५॥
varṇānāṃ paricaryārthaṃ trayāṇāṃ puruṣarṣabha। varṇaścaturthaḥ paścāttu padbhyāṃ śūdro vinirmitaḥ ॥12-73-5॥
[वर्णानाम् (varṇānām) - of the classes; (of the) varṇas; परिचर्यार्थम् (paricaryārtham) - for the purpose of service; त्रयाणाम् (trayāṇām) - of the three; पुरुषर्षभ (puruṣarṣabha) - O best of men; वर्णः (varṇaḥ) - the class; (the) varṇa; चतुर्थः (caturthaḥ) - fourth; पश्चात् (paścāt) - after; तु (tu) - but; पद्भ्याम् (padbhyām) - from the feet; शूद्रः (śūdraḥ) - Śūdra; विनिर्मितः (vinirmitaḥ) - was created;]
(O best of men, for the purpose of serving the three classes, the fourth class, the Śūdra, was created afterwards from the feet.)
O best of men, the Śūdra, the fourth class, was created from the feet for the service of the other three classes.
ब्राह्मणो जातमात्रस्तु पृथिवीमन्वजायत। ईश्वरः सर्वभूतानां धर्मकोशस्य गुप्तये ॥१२-७३-६॥
brāhmaṇo jāta-mātras tu pṛthivīm anv ajāyata। īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṃ dharma-kośasya guptaye ॥12-73-6॥
[ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - brāhmaṇa; जातमात्रः (jāta-mātraḥ) - just-born; तु (tu) - but; पृथिवीम् (pṛthivīm) - earth (accusative); अन्वजायत (anv-ajāyata) - was born after; ईश्वरः (īśvaraḥ) - lord; सर्वभूतानाम् (sarva-bhūtānām) - of all beings; धर्मकोशस्य (dharma-kośasya) - of the treasury of dharma; गुप्तये (guptaye) - for the protection;]
(The brāhmaṇa, just-born, but was born after the earth. The lord, for the protection of the treasury of dharma of all beings.)
The brāhmaṇa, though just born, was born after the earth. The lord (brāhmaṇa) exists for the protection of the treasury of dharma for all beings.
ततः पृथिव्या गोप्तारं क्षत्रियं दण्डधारिणम्। द्वितीयं वर्णमकरोत्प्रजानामनुगुप्तये ॥१२-७३-७॥
tataḥ pṛthivyā goptāraṃ kṣatriyaṃ daṇḍadhāriṇam। dvitīyaṃ varṇamakarot prajānām anuguptaye ॥12-73-7॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; पृथिव्या (pṛthivyā) - of the earth; गोप्तारं (goptāram) - protector; क्षत्रियं (kṣatriyam) - Kṣatriya; दण्डधारिणम् (daṇḍadhāriṇam) - wielder of the staff (of authority); द्वितीयं (dvitīyam) - second; वर्णम् (varṇam) - class; अकरोत् (akarot) - he created; प्रजानाम् (prajānām) - of the beings; अनुगुप्तये (anuguptaye) - for the protection;]
(Then, for the protection of the beings, he created the second class, the Kṣatriya, the protector of the earth, wielder of the staff (of authority).)
Then he created the second class, the Kṣatriya, as the protector of the earth and wielder of authority, for the protection of the people.
वैश्यस्तु धनधान्येन त्रीन्वर्णान्बिभृयादिमान्। शूद्रो ह्येनान्परिचरेदिति ब्रह्मानुशासनम् ॥१२-७३-८॥
vaiśyastu dhanadhānyena trīnvarṇānbibhṛyādimān | śūdro hyenānparicarediti brahmānuśāsanam ॥12-73-8॥
[वैश्यः (vaiśyaḥ) - the Vaiśya; (third varṇa;) तु (tu) - but; धन-धान्येन (dhana-dhānyena) - with wealth and grain; त्रीन् (trīn) - three; वर्णान् (varṇān) - varṇas; (castes;) बिभृयात् (bibhṛyāt) - should support; इमान् (imān) - these; शूद्रः (śūdraḥ) - the Śūdra; (fourth varṇa;) हि (hi) - indeed; एतान् (etān) - these; परिचरेत् (paricaret) - should serve; इति (iti) - thus; ब्रह्म (brahma) - the Veda; (Brahman;) अनुशासनम् (anuśāsanam) - injunction; (command;);]
(But the Vaiśya, with wealth and grain, should support these three varṇas; the Śūdra indeed should serve these (varṇas); thus (is) the injunction of the Veda.)
But the Vaiśya, through wealth and grain, should support the three varṇas; the Śūdra should serve them—this is the command of the Veda.
ऐल उवाच॥
aila uvāca॥
[ऐल (aila) - Aila; (proper noun, name of a king); उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke;]
(Aila said;)
Aila said:
द्विजस्य क्षत्रबन्धोर्वा कस्येयं पृथिवी भवेत्। धर्मतः सह वित्तेन सम्यग्वायो प्रचक्ष्व मे ॥१२-७३-९॥
dvijasya kṣatrabandhorvā kasyeyaṃ pṛthivī bhavet। dharmataḥ saha vittena samyagvāyo pracakṣva me ॥12-73-9॥
[द्विजस्य (dvijasya) - of the twice-born; (i.e., a Brāhmaṇa;) क्षत्रबन्धोः (kṣatrabandhoḥ) - of a degraded Kṣatriya; वा (vā) - or; कस्य (kasya) - of whom; इयं (iyaṃ) - this; पृथिवी (pṛthivī) - earth; भवेत् (bhavet) - would be; धर्मतः (dharmataḥ) - by righteousness; सह (saha) - together with; वित्तेन (vittena) - with wealth; सम्यक् (samyak) - properly; वा (vā) - or; अयः (ayaḥ) - iron (metonym for force/arms); प्रचक्ष्व (pracakṣva) - declare; मे (me) - to me;]
(Of the twice-born, of a degraded Kṣatriya, or of whom would this earth be? By righteousness, together with wealth, or properly by force—declare to me.)
Tell me, does this earth belong to the twice-born, to a degraded Kṣatriya, or to whom? Is it by righteousness, with wealth, or truly by force? Declare this to me.
वायुरुवाच॥
vāyuruvāca॥
[वायुः (vāyuḥ) - Vāyu; (the Wind-god); उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Vāyu said;)
Vāyu said:
विप्रस्य सर्वमेवैतद्यत्किञ्चिज्जगतीगतम्। ज्येष्ठेनाभिजनेनेह तद्धर्मकुशला विदुः ॥१२-७३-१०॥
viprasya sarvam evaitad yat kiñcid jagatīgatam। jyeṣṭhenābhijaneneha tad dharmakuśalā viduḥ ॥12-73-10॥
[विप्रस्य (viprasya) - of the Brāhmaṇa; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all; एव (eva) - indeed; एतत् (etat) - this; यत् (yat) - whatever; किञ्चित् (kiñcit) - anything; जगतीगतम् (jagatīgatam) - existing in the world; ज्येष्ठेन (jyeṣṭhena) - by the eldest; अभिजननेन (abhijanena) - by noble birth; इह (iha) - here; तत् (tat) - that; धर्मकुशलाः (dharmakuśalāḥ) - those skilled in dharma; विदुः (viduḥ) - know;]
(Of the Brāhmaṇa, indeed all this, whatever anything exists in the world, by the eldest, by noble birth, here, that, those skilled in dharma know.)
Those skilled in dharma know that all this in the world belonging to the Brāhmaṇa, whatever it may be, is due to the eldest and noble birth.
स्वमेव ब्राह्मणो भुङ्क्ते स्वं वस्ते स्वं ददाति च। गुरुर्हि सर्ववर्णानां ज्येष्ठः श्रेष्ठश्च वै द्विजः ॥१२-७३-११॥
svam-eva brāhmaṇo bhuṅkte svaṃ vaste svaṃ dadāti ca। gurur-hi sarva-varṇānāṃ jyeṣṭhaḥ śreṣṭhaś-ca vai dvijaḥ ॥12-73-11॥
[स्वम् (svam) - own; self; एव (eva) - indeed; only; ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - brāhmaṇa; a member of the priestly class; भुङ्क्ते (bhuṅkte) - enjoys; eats; स्वम् (svam) - own; self; वस्ते (vaste) - wears; clothes oneself; स्वम् (svam) - own; self; ददाति (dadāti) - gives; च (ca) - and; गुरुः (guruḥ) - teacher; preceptor; हि (hi) - indeed; surely; सर्ववर्णानाम् (sarva-varṇānām) - of all castes; of all classes; ज्येष्ठः (jyeṣṭhaḥ) - eldest; most senior; श्रेष्ठः (śreṣṭhaḥ) - best; most excellent; च (ca) - and; वै (vai) - indeed; truly; द्विजः (dvijaḥ) - twice-born;]
(The brāhmaṇa indeed enjoys his own, wears his own, and gives his own. The teacher indeed is the eldest and best among all castes, and truly the twice-born.)
A brāhmaṇa enjoys, wears, and gives only what is his own. The teacher is indeed the eldest and best among all castes, and truly the foremost among the twice-born.
पत्यभावे यथा स्त्री हि देवरं कुरुते पतिम्। आनन्तर्यात्तथा क्षत्रं पृथिवी कुरुते पतिम् ॥१२-७३-१२॥
patyabhāve yathā strī hi devaraṃ kurute patim। ānantaryāttathā kṣatraṃ pṛthivī kurute patim ॥12-73-12॥
[पत्यभावे (patyabhāve) - in the absence of the husband; यथा (yathā) - just as; स्त्री (strī) - a woman; हि (hi) - indeed; देवरं (devaraṃ) - the husband's younger brother; कुरुते (kurute) - makes; पतिम् (patim) - as husband; आनन्तर्यात् (ānantaryāt) - due to succession; तथा (tathā) - so; क्षत्रं (kṣatram) - the Kṣatriya (class); पृथिवी (pṛthivī) - the earth; कुरुते (kurute) - makes; पतिम् (patim) - as lord;]
(In the absence of the husband, just as a woman indeed makes the husband's younger brother as husband, so due to succession, the earth makes the Kṣatriya (class) as lord.)
When her husband is absent, a woman indeed accepts the husband's younger brother as her husband; in the same way, due to succession, the earth accepts the Kṣatriya class as her lord.
एष ते प्रथमः कल्प आपद्यन्यो भवेदतः। यदि स्वर्गे परं स्थानं धर्मतः परिमार्गसि ॥१२-७३-१३॥
eṣa te prathamaḥ kalpa āpadyanyo bhavedataḥ। yadi svarge paraṃ sthānaṃ dharmataḥ parimārgasi ॥12-73-13॥
[एष (eṣa) - this; ते (te) - for you; प्रथमः (prathamaḥ) - first; कल्पः (kalpaḥ) - method; आपदि (āpadi) - in adversity; अन्यः (anyaḥ) - another; भवेत् (bhavet) - may be; अतः (ataḥ) - from this; यदि (yadi) - if; स्वर्गे (svarge) - in heaven; परम् (param) - supreme; स्थानम् (sthānam) - place; धर्मतः (dharmataḥ) - by righteousness; परिमार्गसि (parimārgasi) - you seek;]
(This is for you the first method; in adversity, another may be from this. If you seek the supreme place in heaven by righteousness.)
This is the first method for you; if you encounter adversity, there may be another. If you seek the highest place in heaven through righteousness.
यः कश्चिद्विजयेद्भूमिं ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत्। श्रुतवृत्तोपपन्नाय धर्मज्ञाय तपस्विने ॥१२-७३-१४॥
yaḥ kaścid vijayed bhūmiṃ brāhmaṇāya nivedayet। śrutavṛttopapannāya dharmajñāya tapasvine ॥12-73-14॥
[यः (yaḥ) - who; कश्चित् (kaścit) - anyone; विजयेत् (vijayet) - might conquer; भूमिं (bhūmiṃ) - land; ब्राह्मणाय (brāhmaṇāya) - to a Brāhmaṇa; निवेदयेत् (nivedayet) - should offer; श्रुतवृत्तोपपन्नाय (śrutavṛttopapannāya) - endowed with Vedic learning and good conduct; धर्मज्ञाय (dharmajñāya) - to one who knows dharma; तपस्विने (tapasvine) - to an ascetic;]
(Whoever might conquer land should offer it to a Brāhmaṇa endowed with Vedic learning and good conduct, to one who knows dharma, to an ascetic.)
Whoever conquers land should offer it to a Brāhmaṇa who is learned in the Vedas, of good conduct, knowledgeable in dharma, and an ascetic.
स्वधर्मपरितृप्ताय यो न वित्तपरो भवेत्। यो राजानं नयेद्बुद्ध्या सर्वतः परिपूर्णया ॥१२-७३-१५॥
svadharmaparitṛptāya yo na vittaparo bhavet। yo rājānaṃ nayedbuddhyā sarvataḥ paripūrṇayā ॥12-73-15॥
[स्वधर्म (svadharma) - one's own duty; परितृप्ताय (paritṛptāya) - to one who is fully satisfied; यः (yaḥ) - who; न (na) - not; वित्तपरः (vittaparaḥ) - wealth-oriented; भवेत् (bhavet) - should be; यः (yaḥ) - who; राजानम् (rājānam) - the king; नयेत् (nayet) - should guide; बुद्ध्या (buddhyā) - with intelligence; सर्वतः (sarvataḥ) - in every way; परिपूर्णया (paripūrṇayā) - completely fulfilled;]
(To one who is fully satisfied with his own duty, who should not be wealth-oriented; who should guide the king with intelligence, in every way completely fulfilled.)
He who is fully content with his own duty, not attached to wealth, and who guides the king with intelligence that is complete in every way.
ब्राह्मणो हि कुले जातः कृतप्रज्ञो विनीतवाक्। श्रेयो नयति राजानं ब्रुवंश्चित्रां सरस्वतीम् ॥१२-७३-१६॥
brāhmaṇo hi kule jātaḥ kṛtaprajño vinītavāk। śreyo nayati rājānaṃ bruvaṃścitrāṃ sarasvatīm ॥12-73-16॥
[ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - a Brāhmaṇa; हि (hi) - indeed; कुले (kule) - in a family; जातः (jātaḥ) - born; कृतप्रज्ञः (kṛtaprajñaḥ) - one who has acquired wisdom; विनीतवाक् (vinītavāk) - of restrained speech; श्रेयः (śreyaḥ) - prosperity; नयति (nayati) - leads; राजानम् (rājānam) - the king; ब्रुवन् (bruvan) - speaking; चित्राम् (citrām) - wonderful; सरस्वतीम् (sarasvatīm) - Sarasvatī (speech);]
(A Brāhmaṇa indeed, born in a family, who has acquired wisdom and has restrained speech, speaking wonderful Sarasvatī (speech), leads the king to prosperity.)
A Brāhmaṇa, who is born in a noble family, endowed with wisdom and gentle speech, and who speaks with eloquence, leads the king to prosperity.
राजा चरति यं धर्मं ब्राह्मणेन निदर्शितम्। शुश्रूषुरनहंवादी क्षत्रधर्मव्रते स्थितः ॥१२-७३-१७॥
rājā carati yaṃ dharmaṃ brāhmaṇena nidarśitam। śuśrūṣur anahaṃvādī kṣatradharmavrate sthitaḥ ॥12-73-17॥
[राजा (rājā) - king; चरति (carati) - practices; यं (yaṃ) - which; धर्मं (dharmaṃ) - dharma; ब्राह्मणेन (brāhmaṇena) - by the brāhmaṇa; निदर्शितम् (nidarśitam) - demonstrated; शुश्रूषुः (śuśrūṣuḥ) - eager to listen; अनहंवादी (anahaṃvādī) - not self-boasting; क्षत्रधर्मव्रते (kṣatradharmavrate) - in the vow of kṣatriya-dharma; स्थितः (sthitaḥ) - established;]
(The king practices that dharma which was demonstrated by the brāhmaṇa, being eager to listen, not self-boasting, established in the vow of kṣatriya-dharma.)
The king, eager to listen and free from self-boasting, follows the dharma demonstrated by the brāhmaṇa, firmly established in the vow of a kṣatriya.
तावता स कृतप्रज्ञश्चिरं यशसि तिष्ठति। तस्य धर्मस्य सर्वस्य भागी राजपुरोहितः ॥१२-७३-१८॥
tāvatā sa kṛtaprajñaś ciraṃ yaśasi tiṣṭhati। tasya dharmasya sarvasya bhāgī rājapurohitaḥ ॥12-73-18॥
[तावता (tāvatā) - by that much; by so much; सः (saḥ) - he; कृतप्रज्ञः (kṛtaprajñaḥ) - one who has accomplished wisdom; accomplished in discernment; चिरम् (ciram) - for a long time; यशसि (yaśasi) - in fame; in glory; तिष्ठति (tiṣṭhati) - remains; stands; तस्य (tasya) - of him; his; धर्मस्य (dharmasya) - of dharma; of righteousness; सर्वस्य (sarvasya) - of all; of the whole; भागी (bhāgī) - sharer; partaker; राजपुरोहितः (rājapurohitaḥ) - royal priest; chief priest;]
(By that much, he who has accomplished wisdom remains for a long time in fame. Of all his dharma, the royal priest is the sharer.)
By that much, the wise one remains long in glory; the royal priest partakes in all his righteousness.
एवमेव प्रजाः सर्वा राजानमभिसंश्रिताः। सम्यग्वृत्ताः स्वधर्मस्था न कुतश्चिद्भयान्विताः ॥१२-७३-१९॥
evameva prajāḥ sarvā rājānam abhisaṃśritāḥ। samyagvṛttāḥ svadharmasthā na kutaścidbhayānvitāḥ ॥12-73-19॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; एव (eva) - indeed; प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - subjects; सर्वाः (sarvāḥ) - all; राजानम् (rājānam) - king; अभिसंश्रिताः (abhisaṃśritāḥ) - having taken refuge in; सम्यक् (samyak) - properly; वृत्ताः (vṛttāḥ) - conducted; स्वधर्मस्था (svadharmasthā) - established in their own duty; न (na) - not; कुतश्चित् (kutaścit) - from anywhere; भयान्विताः (bhayānvitāḥ) - endowed with fear;]
(Thus indeed all subjects, having taken refuge in the king, properly conducted, established in their own duty, were not endowed with fear from anywhere.)
In this way, all the subjects, having sought refuge in the king, behaved properly, remained steadfast in their own duties, and were free from any kind of fear.
राष्ट्रे चरन्ति यं धर्मं राज्ञा साध्वभिरक्षिताः। चतुर्थं तस्य धर्मस्य राजा भागं स विन्दति ॥१२-७३-२०॥
rāṣṭre caranti yaṃ dharmaṃ rājñā sādhvabhirakṣitāḥ। caturthaṃ tasya dharmasya rājā bhāgaṃ sa vindati ॥12-73-20॥
[राष्ट्रे (rāṣṭre) - in the kingdom; चरन्ति (caranti) - practice; यं (yaṃ) - which; धर्मं (dharmaṃ) - dharma; राज्ञा (rājñā) - by the king; साध्वभिः (sādhvabhiḥ) - by the virtuous; रक्षिताः (rakṣitāḥ) - protected; चतुर्थं (caturthaṃ) - a fourth part; तस्य (tasya) - of that; धर्मस्य (dharmasya) - of dharma; राजा (rājā) - the king; भागं (bhāgaṃ) - share; सः (saḥ) - he; विन्दति (vindati) - obtains;]
(In the kingdom, the dharma which is practiced and protected by the king and the virtuous, of that dharma, the king obtains a fourth part as his share.)
In a kingdom, when dharma is practiced and protected by the king and the virtuous, the king receives a fourth share of that dharma as his own.
देवा मनुष्याः पितरो गन्धर्वोरगराक्षसाः। यज्ञमेवोपजीवन्ति नास्ति चेष्टमराजके ॥१२-७३-२१॥
devā manuṣyāḥ pitaro gandharvoragarākṣasāḥ। yajñamevopajīvanti nāsti ceṣṭamarājake ॥12-73-21॥
[देवा (devā) - gods; मनुष्याः (manuṣyāḥ) - humans; पितरः (pitaraḥ) - ancestors; गन्धर्वाः (gandharvāḥ) - gandharvas; उरग (uraga) - serpents; राक्षसाः (rākṣasāḥ) - rākṣasas; यज्ञम् (yajñam) - sacrifice; एव (eva) - only; उपजीवन्ति (upajīvanti) - subsist upon; नास्ति (nāsti) - there is not; चेष्टम् (ceṣṭam) - activity; अराजके (arājake) - where there is no ruler;]
(Gods, humans, ancestors, gandharvas, serpents, and rākṣasas subsist only upon sacrifice; there is no activity where there is no ruler.)
Gods, humans, ancestors, gandharvas, serpents, and rākṣasas all live only by sacrifice; where there is no ruler, there is no activity.
इतो दत्तेन जीवन्ति देवताः पितरस्तथा। राजन्येवास्य धर्मस्य योगक्षेमः प्रतिष्ठितः ॥१२-७३-२२॥
ito dattena jīvanti devatāḥ pitaras tathā। rājanye vā asya dharmasya yogakṣemaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ ॥12-73-22॥
[इतो (itaḥ) - from here; दत्तेन (dattena) - by what is given; जीवन्ति (jīvanti) - live; देवताः (devatāḥ) - the gods; पितरः (pitarāḥ) - the ancestors; तथा (tathā) - likewise; राजन्ये (rājanye) - in the kṣatriya (kingly) class; वा (vā) - or; अस्य (asya) - of this; धर्मस्य (dharmasya) - of dharma; योगक्षेमः (yogakṣemaḥ) - acquisition and preservation; प्रतिष्ठितः (pratiṣṭhitaḥ) - is established;]
(From here, by what is given, the gods live, and likewise the ancestors. In the kṣatriya (kingly) class, or of this dharma, acquisition and preservation is established.)
It is through giving here that the gods and ancestors are sustained. Among the kṣatriyas, the security and prosperity of this dharma is established.
छायायामप्सु वायौ च सुखमुष्णेऽधिगच्छति। अग्नौ वाससि सूर्ये च सुखं शीतेऽधिगच्छति ॥१२-७३-२३॥
chāyāyām apsu vāyau ca sukham uṣṇe ’dhigacchati। agnau vāsasi sūrye ca sukham śīte ’dhigacchati ॥12-73-23॥
[छायायाम् (chāyāyām) - in shade; अप्सु (apsu) - in water; वायौ (vāyau) - in wind; च (ca) - and; सुखम् (sukham) - comfort; उष्णे (uṣṇe) - in heat; अधिगच्छति (adhigacchati) - attains; अग्नौ (agnau) - in fire; वाससि (vāsasi) - in clothing; सूर्ये (sūrye) - in the sun; च (ca) - and; सुखम् (sukham) - comfort; शीते (śīte) - in cold; अधिगच्छति (adhigacchati) - attains;]
(In shade, in water, in wind, and in heat, (one) attains comfort. In fire, in clothing, in the sun, and in cold, (one) attains comfort.)
One finds comfort in shade, water, and wind during heat; and in fire, clothing, and the sun during cold.
शब्दे स्पर्शे रसे रूपे गन्धे च रमते मनः। तेषु भोगेषु सर्वेषु नभीतो लभते सुखम् ॥१२-७३-२४॥
śabde sparśe rase rūpe gandhe ca ramate manaḥ। teṣu bhogeṣu sarveṣu nabhīto labhate sukham ॥12-73-24॥
[शब्दे (śabde) - in sound; स्पर्शे (sparśe) - in touch; रसे (rase) - in taste; रूपे (rūpe) - in form; गन्धे (gandhe) - in smell; च (ca) - and; रमते (ramate) - delights; मनः (manaḥ) - the mind; तेषु (teṣu) - in those; भोगेषु (bhogeṣu) - in enjoyments; सर्वेषु (sarveṣu) - in all; नभीतः (nabhītaḥ) - one who is fearless; लभते (labhate) - obtains; सुखम् (sukham) - happiness;]
(In sound, in touch, in taste, in form, in smell, and the mind delights; in all those enjoyments, the fearless one obtains happiness.)
The mind delights in sound, touch, taste, form, and smell; among all these enjoyments, the fearless person attains happiness.
अभयस्यैव यो दाता तस्यैव सुमहत्फलम्। न हि प्राणसमं दानं त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते ॥१२-७३-२५॥
abhayasyaiva yo dātā tasyaiva sumahatphalam। na hi prāṇasamaṃ dānaṃ triṣu lokeṣu vidyate ॥12-73-25॥
[अभयस्यैव (abhayasyaiva) - of fearlessness only; यः (yaḥ) - who; दाता (dātā) - giver; तस्यैव (tasyaiva) - of him only; सुमहत् (sumahat) - very great; फलम् (phalam) - fruit; न (na) - not; हि (hi) - indeed; प्राणसमम् (prāṇasamam) - equal to life; दानम् (dānam) - gift; त्रिषु (triṣu) - in the three; लोकेषु (lokeṣu) - worlds; विद्यते (vidyate) - exists;]
(Of fearlessness only, who is the giver, of him only is the very great fruit. Not indeed equal to life gift in the three worlds exists.)
Only the one who gives fearlessness receives the greatest reward. Indeed, there is no gift equal to life in all the three worlds.
इन्द्रो राजा यमो राजा धर्मो राजा तथैव च। राजा बिभर्ति रूपाणि राज्ञा सर्वमिदं धृतम् ॥१२-७३-२६॥
indro rājā yamo rājā dharmo rājā tathaiva ca। rājā bibharti rūpāṇi rājñā sarvam idaṃ dhṛtam ॥12-73-26॥
[इन्द्रः (indraḥ) - Indra; (the Vedic deity) राजा (rājā) - king; यमः (yamaḥ) - Yama; (the god of death) राजा (rājā) - king; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - Dharma; (the principle of righteousness) राजा (rājā) - king; तथैव (tathaiva) - in the same way; च (ca) - and; राजा (rājā) - king; बिभर्ति (bibharti) - bears; रूपाणि (rūpāṇi) - forms; राज्ञा (rājñā) - by the king; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all; इदं (idaṃ) - this; धृतम् (dhṛtam) - is supported;]
(Indra is king, Yama is king, Dharma is king, and in the same way. The king bears forms; by the king all this is supported.)
Indra is the king, Yama is the king, Dharma is the king, and so too in the same way. The king assumes many forms; by the king, all this is upheld.
