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युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said:
यदप्यल्पतरं कर्म तदप्येकेन दुष्करम्। पुरुषेणासहायेन किमु राज्यं पितामह ॥१२-८१-१॥
Even a very small task is difficult for one person alone; how much more so is ruling a kingdom without assistance, O grandsire?
किंशीलः किंसमाचारो राज्ञोऽर्थसचिवो भवेत्। कीदृशे विश्वसेद्राजा कीदृशे नापि विश्वसेत् ॥१२-८१-२॥
What should be the character and conduct of the king's minister of wealth? Whom should the king trust, and whom should he not trust?
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said:
चतुर्विधानि मित्राणि राज्ञां राजन्भवन्त्युत। सहार्थो भजमानश्च सहजः कृत्रिमस्तथा ॥१२-८१-३॥
O king, friends of kings are of four kinds: those who are companions in wealth, those who share, natural friends, and artificial friends.
धर्मात्मा पञ्चमं मित्रं स तु नैकस्य न द्वयोः। यतो धर्मस्ततो वा स्यान्मध्यस्थो वा ततो भवेत् ॥१२-८१-४॥
The person whose nature is rooted in dharma is considered the fifth friend, but he does not belong to just one or two; wherever there is dharma, he is present, or he may remain neutral, or he may arise from there.
यस्तस्यार्थो न रोचेत न तं तस्य प्रकाशयेत्। धर्माधर्मेण राजानश्चरन्ति विजिगीषवः ॥१२-८१-५॥
One should not reveal to a person what does not please him. Kings who desire victory act using both righteousness and unrighteousness.
चतुर्णां मध्यमौ श्रेष्ठौ नित्यं शङ्क्यौ तथापरौ। सर्वे नित्यं शङ्कितव्याः प्रत्यक्षं कार्यमात्मनः ॥१२-८१-६॥
Among four, the two in the middle are considered the best and should always be doubted, as should the other two. All should always be regarded with suspicion; one should act directly for oneself.
न हि राज्ञा प्रमादो वै कर्तव्यो मित्ररक्षणे। प्रमादिनं हि राजानं लोकाः परिभवन्त्युत ॥१२-८१-७॥
A king must never be negligent in protecting his friends; for people indeed disregard a negligent king.
असाधुः साधुतामेति साधुर्भवति दारुणः। अरिश्च मित्रं भवति मित्रं चापि प्रदुष्यति ॥१२-८१-८॥
An evil person can become good, and a good person can turn cruel. An enemy may become a friend, and even a friend may become corrupted.
अनित्यचित्तः पुरुषस्तस्मिन्को जातु विश्वसेत्। तस्मात्प्रधानं यत्कार्यं प्रत्यक्षं तत्समाचरेत् ॥१२-८१-९॥
Who could ever trust a man whose mind is inconstant? Therefore, one should perform whatever principal duty is at hand.
एकान्तेन हि विश्वासः कृत्स्नो धर्मार्थनाशकः। अविश्वासश्च सर्वत्र मृत्युना न विशिष्यते ॥१२-८१-१०॥
Exclusive trust is entirely destructive of righteousness and wealth; and everywhere, distrust is no different from death.
अकालमृत्युर्विश्वासो विश्वसन्हि विपद्यते। यस्मिन्करोति विश्वासमिच्छतस्तस्य जीवति ॥१२-८१-११॥
Trust is like untimely death; for one who trusts is ruined. But the one in whom a person who desires places trust, that person lives.
तस्माद्विश्वसितव्यं च शङ्कितव्यं च केषुचित्। एषा नीतिगतिस्तात लक्ष्मीश्चैव सनातनी ॥१२-८१-१२॥
Therefore, one should both trust and be cautious with some people; this is the way of conduct, dear one, and fortune is indeed eternal.
यं मन्येत ममाभावादिममर्थागमः स्पृशेत्। नित्यं तस्माच्छङ्कितव्यममित्रं तं विदुर्बुधाः ॥१२-८१-१३॥
The wise know that one whom you suspect of gaining wealth in your absence should always be regarded as an enemy.
यस्य क्षेत्रादप्युदकं क्षेत्रमन्यस्य गच्छति। न तत्रानिच्छतस्तस्य भिद्येरन्सर्वसेतवः ॥१२-८१-१४॥
If from a person's field even water flows to another's field, then, even if the owner does not wish it, all the boundaries there would be broken.
तथैवात्युदकाद्भीतस्तस्य भेदनमिच्छति। यमेवंलक्षणं विद्यात्तममित्रं विनिर्दिशेत् ॥१२-८१-१५॥
Just as one who is frightened by excessive water seeks to divide it, so too, whoever displays such characteristics should be recognized and designated as an enemy.
यः समृद्ध्या न तुष्येत क्षये दीनतरो भवेत्। एतदुत्तममित्रस्य निमित्तमभिचक्षते ॥१२-८१-१६॥
He who is not satisfied by prosperity and becomes even more miserable in decline, this is declared to be the mark of a supreme enemy.
यं मन्येत ममाभावादस्याभावो भवेदिति। तस्मिन्कुर्वीत विश्वासं यथा पितरि वै तथा ॥१२-८१-१७॥
One should place trust in that person whom one believes would cease to exist if oneself were absent, just as one trusts a father.
तं शक्त्या वर्धमानश्च सर्वतः परिबृंहयेत्। नित्यं क्षताद्वारयति यो धर्मेष्वपि कर्मसु ॥१२-८१-१८॥
He should be strengthened from all sides with power as he grows. He who always protects from harm, even in righteous acts and actions.
क्षताद्भीतं विजानीयादुत्तमं मित्रलक्षणम्। ये तस्य क्षतमिच्छन्ति ते तस्य रिपवः स्मृताः ॥१२-८१-१९॥
Recognize that fear of harm is the greatest sign of friendship; those who wish for his harm are regarded as his enemies.
व्यसनान्नित्यभीतोऽसौ समृद्ध्यामेव तृप्यते। यत्स्यादेवंविधं मित्रं तदात्मसममुच्यते ॥१२-८१-२०॥
A person who is always fearful of adversity and is satisfied only in prosperity—such a friend is said to be like oneself.
रूपवर्णस्वरोपेतस्तितिक्षुरनसूयकः। कुलीनः शीलसम्पन्नः स ते स्यात्प्रत्यनन्तरः ॥१२-८१-२१॥
He who possesses beauty, good complexion, melodious voice, forbearance, is free from envy, is of noble birth, and endowed with good character, may be your immediate successor.
मेधावी स्मृतिमान्दक्षः प्रकृत्या चानृशंसवान्। यो मानितोऽमानितो वा न संदूष्येत्कदाचन ॥१२-८१-२२॥
A person who is intelligent, has a good memory, is skilful, naturally compassionate, and who is never corrupted whether honoured or dishonoured, is ideal.
ऋत्विग्वा यदि वाचार्यः सखा वात्यन्तसंस्तुतः। गृहे वसेदमात्यस्ते यः स्यात्परमपूजितः ॥१२-८१-२३॥
A priest, or if not, a teacher, or a friend who is highly praised, or a minister who resides in your house—whoever among these is supremely honored.
स ते विद्यात्परं मन्त्रं प्रकृतिं चार्थधर्मयोः। विश्वासस्ते भवेत्तत्र यथा पितरि वै तथा ॥१२-८१-२४॥
He should know your highest counsel and the essence of wealth and righteousness; your trust in him should be as it is in your own father.
नैव द्वौ न त्रयः कार्या न मृष्येरन्परस्परम्। एकार्थादेव भूतानां भेदो भवति सर्वदा ॥१२-८१-२५॥
There should not be two or three (groups), nor should they tolerate each other; it is from a single purpose that the division among beings always arises.
कीर्तिप्रधानो यश्च स्याद्यश्च स्यात्समये स्थितः। समर्थान्यश्च न द्वेष्टि समर्थान्कुरुते च यः ॥१२-८१-२६॥
He who is chiefly known for his fame, who is present at the right time, who does not hate the capable, and who employs the capable ones.
यो न कामाद्भयाल्लोभात्क्रोधाद्वा धर्ममुत्सृजेत्। दक्षः पर्याप्तवचनः स ते स्यात्प्रत्यनन्तरः ॥१२-८१-२७॥
He who does not abandon dharma out of desire, fear, greed, or anger, who is capable and speaks sufficiently, let him be your immediate successor.
शूरश्चार्यश्च विद्वांश्च प्रतिपत्तिविशारदः। कुलीनः शीलसम्पन्नस्तितिक्षुरनसूयकः ॥१२-८१-२८॥
He is brave, noble, learned, skilled in understanding, of good family, endowed with good conduct, patient, and free from envy.
एते ह्यमात्याः कर्तव्याः सर्वकर्मस्ववस्थिताः। पूजिताः संविभक्ताश्च सुसहायाः स्वनुष्ठिताः ॥१२-८१-२९॥
These ministers, indeed, should be appointed to all duties, established, honored, properly assigned, with good assistants, and well accomplished in their own tasks.
कृत्स्नमेते विनिक्षिप्ताः प्रतिरूपेषु कर्मसु। युक्ता महत्सु कार्येषु श्रेयांस्युत्पादयन्ति च ॥१२-८१-३०॥
All these, having been placed in various forms of actions, when engaged in great deeds, produce excellent results.
एते कर्माणि कुर्वन्ति स्पर्धमाना मिथः सदा। अनुतिष्ठन्ति चैवार्थानाचक्षाणाः परस्परम् ॥१२-८१-३१॥
They always perform these actions, constantly competing with each other; and they carry out their purposes, declaring them to one another.
ज्ञातिभ्यश्चैव बिभ्येथा मृत्योरिव यतः सदा। उपराजेव राजर्धिं ज्ञातिर्न सहते सदा ॥१२-८१-३२॥
You should always fear your kinsmen as you fear death; just as a viceroy cannot tolerate the king's wealth, a kinsman can never tolerate it either.
ऋजोर्मृदोर्वदान्यस्य ह्रीमतः सत्यवादिनः। नान्यो ज्ञातेर्महाबाहो विनाशमभिनन्दति ॥१२-८१-३३॥
O mighty-armed, no other kinsman rejoices in the destruction of the upright, the gentle, the generous, the modest, or the truth-speaker.
अज्ञातिता नातिसुखा नावज्ञेयास्त्वतः परम्। अज्ञातिमन्तं पुरुषं परे परिभवन्त्युत ॥१२-८१-३४॥
Being unknown is not very pleasant; others indeed disregard a man who is obscure.
निकृतस्य नरैरन्यैर्ज्ञातिरेव परायणम्। नान्यैर्निकारं सहते ज्ञातेर्ज्ञातिः कदाचन ॥१२-८१-३५॥
For one who has been deceived by others, only a relative is the refuge. A relative never endures insult to a relative from others at any time.
आत्मानमेव जानाति निकृतं बान्धवैरपि। तेषु सन्ति गुणाश्चैव नैर्गुण्यं तेषु लक्ष्यते ॥१२-८१-३६॥
A person recognizes only himself as deceived even by his relatives. Among them, though virtues exist, their lack of virtue is also apparent.
नाज्ञातिरनुगृह्णाति नाज्ञातिर्दिग्धमस्यति। उभयं ज्ञातिलोकेषु दृश्यते साध्वसाधु च ॥१२-८१-३७॥
A non-relative neither shows favor nor abandons one who is injured; among relatives, both good and bad behavior are seen.
तान्मानयेत्पूजयेच्च नित्यं वाचा च कर्मणा। कुर्याच्च प्रियमेतेभ्यो नाप्रियं किञ्चिदाचरेत् ॥१२-८१-३८॥
One should always honor and worship them, both by speech and by action; one should do what is pleasing to them and should not do anything unpleasing.
विश्वस्तवदविश्वस्तस्तेषु वर्तेत सर्वदा। न हि दोषो गुणो वेति निस्पृक्तस्तेषु दृश्यते ॥१२-८१-३९॥
One should always conduct oneself among such people as if trusted yet not trusting. For, in their case, a detached person perceives neither fault nor virtue.
तस्यैवं वर्तमानस्य पुरुषस्याप्रमादिनः। अमित्राः सम्प्रसीदन्ति तथा मित्रीभवन्त्यपि ॥१२-८१-४०॥
When a man thus lives vigilantly, even his enemies become well-disposed, and his friends become even more friendly.
य एवं वर्तते नित्यं ज्ञातिसम्बन्धिमण्डले। मित्रेष्वमित्रेष्वैश्वर्ये चिरं यशसि तिष्ठति ॥१२-८१-४१॥
He who always conducts himself in this manner among his circle of kinsmen and relations, among friends and enemies, and in positions of power, remains renowned for a long time.
