12.076
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said:
yayā vṛttyā mahīpālo vivardhayati mānavān। puṇyāṃś ca lokāñ jayati tan me brūhi pitāmaha ॥12-76-1॥
O grandsire, tell me by what conduct a king causes his people to prosper and attains the meritorious worlds.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said:
dānaśīlo bhavedrājā yajñaśīlaśca bhārata। upavāsatapaḥśīlaḥ prajānāṃ pālane rataḥ ॥12-76-2॥
O Bhārata, a king should be endowed with the nature of giving, sacrifice, fasting, and austerity, and be devoted to the protection of his subjects.
sarvāś caiva prajā nityaṃ rājā dharmeṇa pālayet। utthānenāpramādena pūjayec caiva dhārmikān ॥12-76-3॥
The king should always protect all his subjects through righteousness, and with effort and vigilance, he should honor the righteous.
rājñā hi pūjito dharmas tataḥ sarvatra pūjyate। yadyad ācarate rājā tat prajānāṃ hi rocate ॥12-76-4॥
When dharma is honored by the king, it is honored everywhere. Whatever the king does, that indeed pleases the subjects.
nityamudyatadaṇḍaś ca bhaven mṛtyur ivāriṣu। nihanyāt sarvato dasyūn na kāmāt kasyacit kṣamet ॥12-76-5॥
He should always be ready to punish, like death to his enemies; he should destroy robbers everywhere, and should not forgive anyone out of personal desire.
yaṃ hi dharmaṃ carantīha prajā rājñā surakṣitāḥ। caturthaṃ tasya dharmasya rājā bhārata vindati ॥12-76-6॥
O Bhārata, the king obtains a fourth part of the merit of that duty which is practiced here by the subjects protected by the king.
yad-adhīte yad-yajate yad-dadāti yad-arcati। rājā caturthabhāktasya prajā dharmeṇa pālayan ॥12-76-7॥
Whatever a person studies, sacrifices, gives, or worships, the king, by protecting his subjects with righteousness, is entitled to a fourth part of that merit.
yad-rāṣṭre'kuśalaṃ kiñcid-rājño'rakṣayataḥ prajāḥ। caturthaṃ tasya pāpasya rājā bhārata vindati ॥12-76-8॥
O Bhārata, whatever evil occurs in the kingdom due to the king not protecting his subjects, the king acquires a fourth part of that sin.
apyāhuḥ sarvameveti bhūyo'rdhamiti niścayaḥ। karmaṇaḥ pṛthivīpāla nṛśaṃso'nṛtavāgapi ॥ tādṛśātkilbiṣādrājā śṛṇu yena pramucyate ॥12-76-9॥
They also say, O protector of the earth, that some consider the whole act, others again half, as the decision. If a king is cruel or speaks untruth, hear by what means he is released from such sin.
pratyāhartumaśakyaṃ syāddhanaṃ corairhṛtaṃ yadi। svakoshāttatpradeyaṃ syādaśaktenopajīvatā ॥12-76-10॥
If wealth stolen by thieves cannot be recovered, then one who is unable to recover it and subsists should provide that amount from his own treasury.
sarvavarṇaiḥ sadā rakṣyaṃ brahmasvaṃ brāhmaṇās tathā। na stheyaṃ viṣaye teṣu yo'pakuryād dvijātiṣu ॥12-76-11॥
The property of a Brāhmaṇa should always be protected by all castes; Brāhmaṇas as well. No one should remain in the domain of those who would harm the twice-born.
brahmasve rakṣyamāṇe hi sarvaṃ bhavati rakṣitam। teṣāṃ prasāde nirvṛtte kṛtakṛtyo bhaven nṛpaḥ॥12-76-12॥
When the Brahmins are protected, everything is protected. When their favor is obtained, the king has fulfilled his duty.
parjanyam iva bhūtāni mahādrumam iva dvijāḥ। narās tam upajīvanti nṛpaṃ sarvārthasādhakam ॥12-76-13॥
Just as all creatures depend on the rain-cloud and birds on a great tree, so do people depend on the king who accomplishes all purposes.
na hi kāmātmanā rājñā satataṃ śaṭhabuddhinā। nṛśaṃsenātilubdhena śakyāḥ pālayituṃ prajāḥ ॥12-76-14॥
It is never possible for a king who is driven by desire, always deceitful in mind, cruel, and excessively greedy to protect his subjects.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said:
nāhaṃ rājyasukhānveṣī rājyamicchāmyapi kṣaṇam। dharmārthaṃ rocaye rājyaṃ dharmaścātra na vidyate ॥12-76-15॥
I am not a seeker of the pleasures of kingship; I do not desire the kingdom even for a moment. I approve of the kingdom only for the sake of dharma, but here, dharma does not exist.
tad alaṃ mama rājyena yatra dharmo na vidyate। vanam eva gamiṣyāmi tasmād dharmacikīrṣayā ॥12-76-16॥
"That is enough of my kingdom where dharma does not exist. Therefore, I shall go only to the forest with the desire to practice dharma."
tatra medhyeṣvaraṇyeṣu nyastadaṇḍo jitendriyaḥ। dharmam ārādhayiṣyāmi munir mūlaphalāśanaḥ ॥12-76-17॥
There, in those pure forests, having renounced the staff and conquered the senses, I, the sage subsisting on roots and fruits, shall devote myself to dharma.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said:
vedāhaṃ tava yā buddhir ānṛśaṃsyaguṇaiva sā। na ca śuddhānṛśaṃsyena śakyaṃ mahad upāsitum ॥12-76-18॥
I know that your intellect is endowed with the quality of compassion; however, the great cannot be worshipped by pure compassion alone.
api tu tvā mṛduṃ dāntam atyāryam atidhārmikam। klībaṃ dharmaghṛṇāyuktaṃ na loko bahu manyate ॥12-76-19॥
But even though you are gentle, self-restrained, exceedingly noble, very righteous, unmanly, and endowed with aversion to unrighteousness, people do not think highly of you.
rājadharmān avekṣasva pitṛpaitāmahocitān। naitad rājñām atho vṛttaṃ yathā tvaṃ sthātum icchasi॥12-76-20॥
Consider the royal duties that are appropriate to your forefathers; this is not the conduct of kings, and it is not proper for you to wish to remain in this way.
na hi vaiklavyasaṃsṛṣṭamānṛśaṃsyamihāsthitaḥ। prajāpālanasambhūtaṃ prāptā dharmaphalaṃ hyasi ॥12-76-21॥
You are not one who is joined with weakness and cruelty here; by protecting your subjects, you have indeed obtained the fruit of dharma.
na hy etām āśiṣaṃ pāṇḍur na ca kunti anvayācata। na ca etāṃ prājñatāṃ tāta yayā carasi medhayā ॥12-76-22॥
Neither Pāṇḍu nor Kuntī ever asked for this blessing; nor, dear one, for this wisdom by which you act with such intelligence.
śauryaṃ balaṃ ca sattvaṃ ca pitā tava sadābravīt। māhātmyaṃ balam audāryaṃ tava kunti anvayācat ॥12-76-23॥
Your father always spoke of your heroism, strength, and fortitude. Kunti requested greatness, strength, and generosity for you.
nityaṃ svāhā svadhā nityam ubhe mānuṣadaivate। putreṣv āśāsate nityaṃ pitaro daivatāni ca ॥12-76-24॥
Oblations of 'svāhā' and 'svadhā' are always offered to both human and divine entities. Ancestors and divine beings always have expectations regarding sons.
dānam adhyayanaṃ yajñaḥ prajānāṃ paripālanam। dharmam etam adharmaṃ vā janmanaiva abhyajāyithāḥ ॥12-76-25॥
You were born by nature for gift, study, sacrifice, and protection of beings; this righteousness or unrighteousness is inherent to you from birth.
kāle dhuri niyuktānāṃ vahatāṃ bhāra āhite। sīdatām api kaunteya na kīrtir avasīdati॥12-76-26॥
O Kaunteya, even when those appointed to the yoke and bearing the burden placed upon them are sinking, their fame does not sink.
samantato viniyato vahaty askhalito hi yaḥ। nirdoṣakarma-vacanāt siddhiḥ karmaṇa eva sā ॥12-76-27॥
He who is restrained on all sides and acts unfalteringly, indeed, success comes only from faultless action; that is the true accomplishment of action.
naikāntavinipātena vicacāreha kaścana। dharmī gṛhī vā rājā vā brahmacāryatha vā punaḥ ॥12-76-28॥
No one here, whether a righteous person, a householder, a king, or a student of sacred knowledge, ever wandered due to absolute downfall.
alpaṃ tu sādhubhūyiṣṭhaṃ yat karmodārameva tat। kṛtamevākṛtāc chreyo na pāpīyo'styakarmaṇaḥ ॥12-76-29॥
Even a small act, if it is mostly virtuous and noble, is better than not acting at all; there is nothing worse than inaction.
yadā kulīno dharmajñaḥ prāpnotyaiśvaryamuttamam। yogakṣemastadā rājan kuśalāyaiva kalpate ॥12-76-30॥
O king, when a noble and righteous person attains the highest prosperity, then acquisition and preservation are truly directed towards welfare.
dānenānyaṃ balenānyamanyaṃ sūnṛtayā girā। sarvataḥ parigṛhṇīyādrājyaṃ prāpyeha dhārmikaḥ ॥12-76-31॥
A righteous person, having obtained the kingdom here, should acquire (subjects) from all sides—some by gifts, some by strength, and others by truthful speech.
yaṃ hi vaidyāḥ kule jātā avṛttibhayapīḍitāḥ। prāpya tṛptāḥ pratiṣṭhanti dharmaḥ ko'bhyadhikastataḥ ॥12-76-32॥
When physicians born in a family, afflicted by fear of lack of livelihood, obtain satisfaction and remain content, what righteousness is greater than that?
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said:
kiṁ nvataḥ paramaṁ svargyaṁ kā nvataḥ prītiruttamā। kiṁ nvataḥ paramaīśvaryaṁ brūhi me yadi manyase ॥12-76-33॥
What, then, is the highest heavenly state from this? Which is the greatest delight from this? What is the supreme sovereignty from this? Tell me, if you think so.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said:
yasmin pratiṣṭhitāḥ samyak kṣemaṃ vindanti tat-kṣaṇam। sa svarga-jit tamaḥ asmākaṃ satyam etad bravīmi te ॥12-76-34॥
He in whom those who are properly established instantly find well-being is the best among us, a conqueror of heaven; this is the truth, I tell you.
tvam eva prītimāṁs tasmāt kurūṇāṁ kurusattama। bhava rājā jaya svargaṁ sato rakṣāsato jahi ॥12-76-35॥
Therefore, O best of the Kurus, you alone, full of affection for the Kurus, become king; win heaven; protect the good and destroy the wicked.
anu tvā tāta jīvantu suhṛdaḥ sādhubhiḥ saha। parjanyamiva bhūtāni svādu-drumamivāṇḍajāḥ ॥12-76-36॥
Dear one, may your friends live with you and the virtuous, just as creatures thrive with the rain and birds with a sweet tree.
dhṛṣṭaṃ śūraṃ prahartāram anṛśaṃsaṃ jitendriyam। vatsalaṃ saṃvibhaktāram anu jīvantu tvāṃ janāḥ ॥12-76-37॥
May the people live after you, who are bold, heroic, a striker, not cruel, self-controlled, affectionate, and a distributor (of wealth or gifts).
