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युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said:
केषां राजा प्रभवति वित्तस्य भरतर्षभ। कया च वृत्त्या वर्तेत तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥१२-७८-१॥
O grandsire, tell me: Over whose wealth does the king have authority, O best of the Bharatas? And by what conduct should one live?
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said:
अब्राह्मणानां वित्तस्य स्वामी राजेति वैदिकम्। ब्राह्मणानां च ये केचिद्विकर्मस्था भवन्त्युत ॥१२-७८-२॥
The king is the rightful owner of the wealth of non-Brāhmaṇas, according to the Veda. And among Brāhmaṇas, those who engage in improper acts are also (subject to this rule).
विकर्मस्थाश्च नोपेक्ष्या विप्रा राज्ञा कथञ्चन। इति राज्ञां पुरावृत्तमभिजल्पन्ति साधवः ॥१२-७८-३॥
The virtuous say that even Brāhmaṇas engaged in improper acts should never be neglected by the king; thus is recounted an ancient event concerning kings.
यस्य स्म विषये राज्ञः स्तेनो भवति वै द्विजः। राज्ञ एवापराधं तं मन्यन्ते किल्बिषं नृप ॥१२-७८-४॥
O king, if a twice-born person becomes a thief in the domain of a king, that offense is considered the king's sin.
अभिशस्तमिवात्मानं मन्यन्ते तेन कर्मणा। तस्माद्राजर्षयः सर्वे ब्राह्मणानन्वपालयन् ॥१२-७८-५॥
Because of that action, they regarded themselves as if accursed; therefore, all the royal sages protected the Brāhmaṇas.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। गीतं केकयराजेन ह्रियमाणेन रक्षसा ॥१२-७८-६॥
Here too, an ancient story is told: it was recited by the king of Kekaya as he was being carried away by the demon.
केकयानामधिपतिं रक्षो जग्राह दारुणम्। स्वाध्यायेनान्वितं राजन्नरण्ये संशितव्रतम् ॥१२-७८-७॥
O king, in the forest, the rākṣasa seized the lord of the Kekayas, who was terrible, devoted to self-study, and firm in his vows.
राजोवाच॥
The king said:
न मे स्तेनो जनपदे न कदर्यो न मद्यपः। नानाहिताग्निर्नायज्वा मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥१२-७८-८॥
In my country, let there be no thief, no miser, no drunkard; let no one who has not kindled the sacred fire or who does not perform sacrifices enter among my people.
न च मे ब्राह्मणोऽविद्वान्नाव्रती नाप्यसोमपः। नानाहिताग्निर्विषये मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥१२-७८-९॥
No brāhmaṇa who is ignorant, who does not observe vows, who has not drunk soma, or who has not kindled the sacred fire, should enter within my territory.
नानाप्तदक्षिणैर्यज्ञैर्यजन्ते विषये मम। अधीते नाव्रती कश्चिन्मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥१२-७८-१०॥
They worship me in my domain with various gifts and sacrifices. But one who does not observe vows does not study, nor does anyone enter my inner sanctum.
अधीयतेऽध्यापयन्ति यजन्ते याजयन्ति च। ददति प्रतिगृह्णन्ति षट्सु कर्मस्ववस्थिताः ॥१२-७८-११॥
They are established in six actions: studying, teaching, performing sacrifice, causing sacrifice to be performed, giving, and receiving.
पूजिताः संविभक्ताश्च मृदवः सत्यवादिनः। ब्राह्मणा मे स्वकर्मस्था मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥१२-७८-१२॥
My Brāhmaṇas, who are honored, well-cared for, gentle, and truthful, always engaged in their own duties, enter into me without any separation.
न याचन्ते प्रयच्छन्ति सत्यधर्मविशारदाः। नाध्यापयन्त्यधीयन्ते यजन्ते न च याजकाः ॥१२-७८-१३॥
Those skilled in truth and dharma do not beg, but give; they do not teach, but study; they perform sacrifices, but are not priests.
ब्राह्मणान्परिरक्षन्ति सङ्ग्रामेष्वपलायिनः। क्षत्रिया मे स्वकर्मस्था मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥१२-७८-१४॥
The Kṣatriyas who do not flee from battle protect the Brāhmaṇas; my own Kṣatriyas, steadfast in their duties, come to me without deviation.
कृषिगोरक्षवाणिज्यमुपजीवन्त्यमायया। अप्रमत्ताः क्रियावन्तः सुव्रताः सत्यवादिनः ॥१२-७८-१५॥
They make their living through agriculture, cow protection, and trade, without deceit. They are vigilant, diligent in their duties, steadfast in good vows, and speak the truth.
संविभागं दमं शौचं सौहृदं च व्यपाश्रिताः। मम वैश्याः स्वकर्मस्था मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥१२-७८-१६॥
My Vaiśyas, who are engaged in their own duties, resort to distribution, self-restraint, purity, and friendliness, and thus enter my domain.
त्रीन्वर्णाननुतिष्ठन्ति यथावदनसूयकाः। मम शूद्राः स्वकर्मस्था मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥१२-७८-१७॥
Those who are free from envy properly observe the duties of the three classes; my śūdras, engaged in their own duties, enter into me without distinction.
कृपणानाथवृद्धानां दुर्बलातुरयोषिताम्। संविभक्तास्मि सर्वेषां मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥१२-७८-१८॥
I distribute myself among all the miserable, helpless, aged, weak, and afflicted women; enter into my own people.
कुलदेशादिधर्माणां प्रथितानां यथाविधि। अव्युच्छेत्तास्मि सर्वेषां मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥१२-७८-१९॥
I do not destroy the established dharmas of family, region, and others, as per the rules; you should enter into my distinct path.
तपस्विनो मे विषये पूजिताः परिपालिताः। संविभक्ताश्च सत्कृत्य मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥१२-७८-२०॥
The ascetics in my domain have been honored, protected, and provided for; after duly honoring me, you may enter without delay.
नासंविभज्य भोक्तास्मि न विशामि परस्त्रियम्। स्वतन्त्रो जातु न क्रीडे मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥१२-७८-२१॥
I do not enjoy without proper division; I do not approach another's wife. I never act independently, nor do I enter what is not my own.
नाब्रह्मचारी भिक्षावान्भिक्षुर्वाब्रह्मचारिकः। अनृत्विजं हुतं नास्ति मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥१२-७८-२२॥
Neither a non-celibate who possesses alms nor a mendicant or a non-celibate woman; an offering without a priest does not exist; enter into my distinction.
नावजानाम्यहं वृद्धान्न वैद्यान्न तपस्विनः। राष्ट्रे स्वपति जागर्मि मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥१२-७८-२३॥
I do not disregard the elders, nor the physicians, nor the ascetics. In the kingdom, the lord keeps awake; enter within me.
वेदाध्ययनसम्पन्नस्तपस्वी सर्वधर्मवित्। स्वामी सर्वस्य राज्यस्य श्रीमान्मम पुरोहितः ॥१२-७८-२४॥
He is endowed with the study of the Vedas, is ascetic, knows all dharmas, is the lord of the entire kingdom, is prosperous, and is my priest.
दानेन दिव्यानभिवाञ्छामि लोका; न्सत्येनाथो ब्राह्मणानां च गुप्त्या। शुश्रूषया चापि गुरूनुपैमि; न मे भयं विद्यते राक्षसेभ्यः ॥१२-७८-२५॥
Through charity I seek the heavenly worlds; through truth and the protection of Brāhmaṇas; through service I attend to my teachers; thus, I have no fear from the Rākṣasas.
न मे राष्ट्रे विधवा ब्रह्मबन्धु; र्न ब्राह्मणः कृपणो नोत चोरः। न पारजायी न च पापकर्मा; न मे भयं विद्यते राक्षसेभ्यः ॥१२-७८-२६॥
In my kingdom, there is no widow, no brāhmaṇa by birth who does not follow dharma, no brāhmaṇa who is miserable, nor any thief; there is no one who is defeated, nor anyone who does evil deeds; I have no fear from rākṣasas (demons).
न मे शस्त्रैरनिर्भिन्नमङ्गे द्व्यङ्गुलमन्तरम्। धर्मार्थं युध्यमानस्य मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥१२-७८-२७॥
There is not even a space of two fingers on my body that has not been pierced by weapons. For the sake of dharma, O warrior, enter this space in me.
गोब्राह्मणे च यज्ञे च नित्यं स्वस्त्ययनं मम। आशासते जना राष्ट्रे मामकान्तरमाविशः ॥१२-७८-२८॥
Cows, brāhmaṇas, and sacrifices always receive my blessings; the people in the kingdom wish for my absence.
राक्षस उवाच॥
The demon said:
यस्मात्सर्वास्ववस्थासु धर्ममेवान्ववेक्षसे। तस्मात्प्राप्नुहि कैकेय गृहान्स्वस्ति व्रजाम्यहम् ॥१२-७८-२९॥
Because you always adhere to dharma in every situation, therefore, Kaikeyi, may you attain your home; I depart, wishing you well.
येषां गोब्राह्मणा रक्ष्याः प्रजा रक्ष्याश्च केकय। न रक्षोभ्यो भयं तेषां कुत एव तु मानुषात् ॥१२-७८-३०॥
O Kekaya, for those who protect cows and Brāhmaṇas, and also protect their subjects, there is no fear from Rākṣasas; how then could there be any fear from men?
येषां पुरोगमा विप्रा येषां ब्रह्मबलं बलम्। प्रियातिथ्यास्तथा दारास्ते वै स्वर्गजितो नराः ॥१२-७८-३१॥
Those whose leaders are Brāhmaṇas, whose strength is spiritual strength, who are fond of guests, and whose wives are likewise—such men are truly conquerors of heaven.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said:
तस्माद्द्विजातीन्रक्षेत ते हि रक्षन्ति रक्षिताः। आशीरेषां भवेद्राज्ञां राष्ट्रं सम्यक्प्रवर्धते ॥१२-७८-३२॥
Therefore, the twice-born should be protected, for when protected, they indeed protect. The blessings of these bring prosperity to the kingdom of kings.
तस्माद्राज्ञा विशेषेण विकर्मस्था द्विजातयः। नियम्याः संविभज्याश्च प्रजानुग्रहकारणात् ॥१२-७८-३३॥
Therefore, the king should especially restrain and allocate the twice-born who are engaged in improper acts, for the benefit of the people.
य एवं वर्तते राजा पौरजानपदेष्विह। अनुभूयेह भद्राणि प्राप्नोतीन्द्रसलोकताम् ॥१२-७८-३४॥
A king who acts in this way among his citizens and countrymen here, after experiencing auspicious things in this world, attains the realm of Indra.
