12.078
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said:
keṣāṃ rājā prabhavati vittasya bharatarṣabha। kayā ca vṛttyā varteta tan me brūhi pitāmaha ॥12-78-1॥
O grandsire, tell me: Over whose wealth does the king have authority, O best of the Bharatas? And by what conduct should one live?
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said:
abrāhmaṇānāṃ vittasya svāmī rājeti vaidikam। brāhmaṇānāṃ ca ye kecid vikarmasthā bhavanty uta ॥12-78-2॥
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).
vikarmasthāś ca nopekṣyā viprā rājñā kathañcana। iti rājñāṃ purāvṛttam abhijalpanti sādhavaḥ ॥12-78-3॥
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.
yasya sma viṣaye rājñaḥ steno bhavati vai dvijaḥ। rājña evāparādhaṃ taṃ manyante kilbiṣaṃ nṛpa ॥12-78-4॥
O king, if a twice-born person becomes a thief in the domain of a king, that offense is considered the king's sin.
abhiśastam ivātmānaṃ manyante tena karmaṇā। tasmād rājarṣayaḥ sarve brāhmaṇān anvapālayan ॥12-78-5॥
Because of that action, they regarded themselves as if accursed; therefore, all the royal sages protected the Brāhmaṇas.
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। gītaṃ kekayarājena hriyamāṇena rakṣasā ॥12-78-6॥
Here too, an ancient story is told: it was recited by the king of Kekaya as he was being carried away by the demon.
kekayānām-adhipatiṃ rakṣo jagrāha dāruṇam। svādhyāyenānvitaṃ rājannaraṇye saṃśitavratam ॥12-78-7॥
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.
rājovāca॥
The king said:
na me steno janapade na kadaryo na madyapaḥ। nānāhitāgnirnāyajvā māmakāntaramāviśaḥ ॥12-78-8॥
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.
na ca me brāhmaṇo'vidvān nāvratī nāpyasomapah। nānāhitāgnirviṣaye māmaka antarama āviśaḥ ॥12-78-9॥
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.
nānāptadakṣiṇairyajñairyajante viṣaye mama। adhīte nāvratī kaścinmāmakāntaramāviśaḥ ॥12-78-10॥
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.
adhīyate'dhyāpayanti yajante yājayanti ca। dadati pratigṛhṇanti ṣaṭsu karmasvavasthitāḥ ॥12-78-11॥
They are established in six actions: studying, teaching, performing sacrifice, causing sacrifice to be performed, giving, and receiving.
pūjitāḥ saṃvibhaktāś ca mṛdavaḥ satyavādinaḥ। brāhmaṇā me svakarmasthā mām akāntaram āviśaḥ॥12-78-12॥
My Brāhmaṇas, who are honored, well-cared for, gentle, and truthful, always engaged in their own duties, enter into me without any separation.
na yācante prayacchanti satyadharmaviśāradāḥ। nādhyāpayantyadhīyante yajante na ca yājakāḥ ॥12-78-13॥
Those skilled in truth and dharma do not beg, but give; they do not teach, but study; they perform sacrifices, but are not priests.
brāhmaṇān parirakṣanti saṅgrāmeṣv apalāyinaḥ। kṣatriyā me svakarmasthā mām akāntaram āviśaḥ ॥12-78-14॥
The Kṣatriyas who do not flee from battle protect the Brāhmaṇas; my own Kṣatriyas, steadfast in their duties, come to me without deviation.
kṛṣigorakṣavāṇijyamupajīvantyamāyayā। apramattāḥ kriyāvantaḥ suvratāḥ satyavādinaḥ ॥12-78-15॥
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.
saṃvibhāgaṃ damaṃ śaucaṃ sauhṛdaṃ ca vyapāśritāḥ। mama vaiśyāḥ svakarmasthā māmakāntaram āviśaḥ ॥12-78-16॥
My Vaiśyas, who are engaged in their own duties, resort to distribution, self-restraint, purity, and friendliness, and thus enter my domain.
trīn varṇān anutiṣṭhanti yathāvat anasūyakāḥ। mama śūdrāḥ svakarmasthā mām akāntaram āviśaḥ ॥12-78-17॥
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.
kṛpaṇānātha-vṛddhānāṃ durbalātura-yoṣitām। saṃvibhaktāsmi sarveṣāṃ māmaka-antaram āviśaḥ ॥12-78-18॥
I distribute myself among all the miserable, helpless, aged, weak, and afflicted women; enter into my own people.
kuladeśādidharmāṇāṃ prathitānāṃ yathāvidhi। avyucchettāsmi sarveṣāṃ māmakāntaramāviśaḥ ॥12-78-19॥
I do not destroy the established dharmas of family, region, and others, as per the rules; you should enter into my distinct path.
tapasvino me viṣaye pūjitāḥ paripālitāḥ। saṃvibhaktāś ca satkṛtya mām akāntaram āviśaḥ ॥12-78-20॥
The ascetics in my domain have been honored, protected, and provided for; after duly honoring me, you may enter without delay.
nāsaṃvibhajya bhoktāsmi na viśāmi parastriyam। svatantrō jātu na krīḍe māmakāntaram āviśaḥ ॥12-78-21॥
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.
nābrahmacārī bhikṣāvānbhikṣurvābrahmacārikaḥ। anṛtvijaṃ hutaṃ nāsti māmakāntaramāviśaḥ ॥12-78-22॥
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.
nāvajānāmyahaṃ vṛddhānna vaidyānna tapasvinaḥ। rāṣṭre svapati jāgarmi māmakāntaramāviśaḥ ॥12-78-23॥
I do not disregard the elders, nor the physicians, nor the ascetics. In the kingdom, the lord keeps awake; enter within me.
vedādhyayanasampannastapasvī sarvadharmavit। svāmī sarvasya rājyasya śrīmān mama purohitaḥ ॥12-78-24॥
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.
dānena divyān abhivāñchāmi lokān; satyenātho brāhmaṇānāṃ ca guptyā. śuśrūṣayā cāpi gurūn upaimi; na me bhayaṃ vidyate rākṣasebhyaḥ ॥12-78-25॥
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.
na me rāṣṭre vidhavā brahmabandhuḥ na brāhmaṇaḥ kṛpaṇo nota cōraḥ। na pārajāyī na ca pāpakarmā na me bhayaṃ vidyate rākṣasebhyaḥ॥12-78-26॥
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).
na me śastrair anirbhinnam aṅge dvyaṅgulam antaram। dharmārthaṃ yudhyamānasya mām akāntaram āviśaḥ ॥12-78-27॥
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.
gobrāhmaṇe ca yajñe ca nityaṃ svastyayanaṃ mama। āśāsate janā rāṣṭre māmakāntaram āviśaḥ ॥12-78-28॥
Cows, brāhmaṇas, and sacrifices always receive my blessings; the people in the kingdom wish for my absence.
rākṣasa uvāca॥
The demon said:
yasmātsarvāsvavasthāsu dharmamevānvavekṣase। tasmātprāpnuhi kaikeyi gṛhānsvasti vrajāmyaham ॥12-78-29॥
Because you always adhere to dharma in every situation, therefore, Kaikeyi, may you attain your home; I depart, wishing you well.
yeṣāṃ gobrāhmaṇā rakṣyāḥ prajā rakṣyāś ca kekaya| na rakṣobhyo bhayaṃ teṣāṃ kuta eva tu mānuṣāt ॥12-78-30॥
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?
yeṣāṃ purogamā viprā yeṣāṃ brahmabalaṃ balam। priyātithyāstathā dārāste vai svargajito narāḥ ॥12-78-31॥
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.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said:
tasmāddvijātīnrakṣeta te hi rakṣanti rakṣitāḥ। āśīreṣāṃ bhavedrājñāṃ rāṣṭraṃ samyakpravardhate ॥12-78-32॥
Therefore, the twice-born should be protected, for when protected, they indeed protect. The blessings of these bring prosperity to the kingdom of kings.
tasmādrājñā viśeṣeṇa vikarmasthā dvijātayaḥ। niyamyāḥ saṃvibhajyāśca prajānugrahakāraṇāt ॥12-78-33॥
Therefore, the king should especially restrain and allocate the twice-born who are engaged in improper acts, for the benefit of the people.
ya evaṃ vartate rājā paurajanapadeṣv iha। anubhūyēha bhadrāṇi prāpnōtīndrasalōkatām ॥12-78-34॥
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.
