12.083
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said:
eṣā prathamato vṛttir dvitīyāṃ śṛṇu bhārata। yaḥ kaścid janayed arthaṃ rājñā rakṣyaḥ sa mānavaḥ ॥12-83-1॥
This is the first conduct; now hear the second, O Bhārata. Any man who produces wealth must be protected by the king.
hriyamāṇam amātyena bhṛto vā yadi vābhṛtaḥ। yo rājakośaṃ naśyantam ācakṣīta yudhiṣṭhira ॥12-83-2॥
If the royal treasury is being stolen by the minister, whether he is hired or not, whoever informs Yudhiṣṭhira about the loss of the royal treasury.
śrotavyaṃ tasya ca raho rakṣyaścāmātyato bhavet। amātyā hyupahantāraṃ bhūyiṣṭhaṃ ghnanti bhārata ॥12-83-3॥
One should keep what is to be heard and one's secrets protected from ministers, for, O Bhārata, it is mostly the ministers who destroy the one they intend to harm.
rājakośasya goptāraṃ rājakośavilopakāḥ। sametya sarve bādhante sa vinaśyatyarakṣitaḥ ॥12-83-4॥
The protector of the royal treasury, when unprotected, is afflicted by all the destroyers of the treasury who assemble together, and he perishes.
atrāpy udāharantīm am itihāsaṃ purātanam। muniḥ kālakavṛkṣīyaḥ kausalyaṃ yad uvāca ha ॥12-83-5॥
Here too, the sage descended from Kālakavṛkṣa recited this ancient story to Kausalya.
kosalānām ādhipatyaṃ samprāpte kṣemadarśini। muniḥ kālakavṛkṣīya ājagāmeti naḥ śrutam ॥12-83-6॥
We have heard that when Kṣemadarśin attained the sovereignty of the Kosalas, the sage of the Kālakavṛkṣīya lineage arrived.
sa kākaṃ pañjare baddhvā viṣayaṃ kṣemadarśinaḥ। pūrvaṃ paryacaradyuktaḥ pravṛttyarthī punaḥ punaḥ ॥12-83-7॥
He previously tied the crow in the cage and, seeking activity, repeatedly moved around the object of the one who sought safety.
adhīye vāyasīṃ vidyāṃ śaṃsanti mama vāyasāḥ। anāgatamatītaṃ ca yacca samprati vartate ॥12-83-8॥
I study the knowledge of the crows; my crows declare what is yet to come, what is past, and what exists at present.
iti rāṣṭre paripatann bahuśaḥ puruṣaiḥ saha। sarveṣāṃ rājayuktānāṃ duṣkṛtaṃ paripṛṣṭavān ॥12-83-9॥
Thus, he went around the kingdom repeatedly with men and inquired into the misdeeds of all the royal officers.
sa buddʰvā tasya rāṣṭrasya vyavāsāyaṃ hi sarvaśaḥ। rājayuktāpacārāṃś ca sarvān buddʰvā tataḥ tataḥ ॥12-83-10॥
He, having thoroughly understood the affairs of that kingdom and all the misdeeds of the royal officers in every respect, acted accordingly.
tameva kākam ādāya rājānaṃ draṣṭum āgamat। sarvajño'smīti vacanaṃ bruvāṇaḥ saṃśitavrataḥ ॥12-83-11॥
He took the crow and went to see the king. Proclaiming, 'I am omniscient,' he was steadfast in his vow.
sa sma kausalyam āgamya rājāmātyam alaṅkṛtam। prāha kākasya vacanād amutredaṃ tvayā kṛtam ॥12-83-12॥
He then approached Kausalya, who was with the king and minister, and said: 'According to the crow's words, this was done by you there.'
asau cāsau ca jānīte rājakoṣastvayā hṛtaḥ। evamākhyāti kāko'yaṃ tacchīghramanugamyatām ॥12-83-13॥
That person and that person know that the royal treasury was taken by you. Thus the crow says this; let that person be quickly pursued.
tathānyān api sa prāha rājakośaharān sadā। na cāsya vacanaṃ kiñcid akṛtaṃ śrūyate kvacit ॥12-83-14॥
In the same way, he always addressed others who stole the royal treasury; and it is never heard anywhere that any of his words were left unfulfilled.
tena viprakṛtāḥ sarve rājayuktāḥ kurūdvaha। tamatikramya suptasya niśi kākamapothayan ॥12-83-15॥
O best of Kurus, all the royal officers, having been mistreated by him, passed over him and struck the sleeping crow at night.
vāyasaṃ tu vinirbhinnaṃ dṛṣṭvā bāṇena pañjare। pūrvāhṇe brāhmaṇo vākyaṃ kṣemadarśinam abravīt ॥12-83-16॥
In the forenoon, seeing the crow completely pierced by the arrow in the cage, the brāhmaṇa spoke auspicious words.
rājamstvāmabhayaṃ yāce prabhuṃ prāṇadhaneśvaram। anujñātastvayā brūyāṃ vacanaṃ tvatpuro hitam ॥12-83-17॥
O king, I seek your assurance of safety, O lord, master of life and wealth. If you permit, I will speak words that are for your benefit in your presence.
mitrārtham abhisantapto bhaktyā sarvātmana gatāḥ। ayaṃ tavārthaṃ harate yo brūyād akṣamānvitaḥ॥12-83-18॥
He, who has gone for the sake of a friend, deeply afflicted, with devotion and with all his soul, and who, for your sake, takes away (your suffering), and who might speak thus, is endowed with patience.
sambubodhayiṣur mitraṃ sadaśvam iva sārathiḥ। atimanyuprasakto hi prasajya hitakāraṇam ॥12-83-19॥
Just as a charioteer awakens a good horse, he, wishing to fully awaken his friend who was overcome by excessive anger, subdued him for his own good.
tathā-vidhasya suhṛdaḥ kṣantavyaṃ saṃvijānatā। aiśvaryam icchatā nityaṃ puruṣeṇa bubhūṣatā ॥12-83-20॥
A person who always desires sovereignty and wishes to enjoy it, understanding the nature of such a friend, should forgive him.
taṃ rājā pratyuvācedaṃ yanmā kiñcidbhavān vadet। kasmādahaṃ na kṣameyam ākāṅkṣann ātmano hitam ॥12-83-21॥
The king replied: "Why would I not tolerate anything you say to me, since I desire my own welfare?"
brāhmaṇa pratijānīhi prabrūhi yadi cecchasi। kariṣyāmi hi te vākyaṃ yadyanmāṃ vipra vakṣyasi ॥12-83-22॥
O brāhmaṇa, promise and speak if you truly wish. I will indeed do whatever you, O brāhmaṇa, will say to me.
muniruvāca॥
The sage said:
jñātvā nayānapāyāṃś ca bhṛtyatas te bhayāni ca| bhaktyā vṛttiṃ samākhyātuṃ bhavato'ntikam āgamam ॥12-83-23॥
Having understood the means, dangers, and your fears from the servant, I have come to your presence with devotion to fully explain the conduct.
prāgevoktaś ca doṣo'yam ācāryair nṛpasevinām। agatīka-gatir hy eṣā yā rājñā saha jīvikā॥12-83-24॥
This fault, previously mentioned by the teachers of royal servants, is that the livelihood dependent on the king is indeed a misguided path.
āśīviṣaiś ca tasyāhuḥ saṅgataṃ yasya rājabhiḥ। bahumittrāś ca rājāno bahvamitrās tathaiva ca ॥12-83-25॥
They say that one who is associated with kings is like one surrounded by venomous snakes; kings have many friends and likewise many enemies.
tebhyaḥ sarvebhya evāhur bhayaṃ rājopasevinām। athaiṣām ekato rājan muhūrtād eva bhīr bhavet ॥12-83-26॥
They say that among all fears, the greatest is for those who serve the king. O king, even in a single moment, fear may arise for them.
naikāntenāpramādo hi kartuṃ śakyo mahīpatau। na tu pramādaḥ kartavyaḥ kathaṃcid bhūtim icchatā ॥12-83-27॥
It is not possible for a king to be absolutely free from negligence, but one who desires prosperity should never be negligent in any way.
pramādāddhi skhaled rājā skhalite nāsti jīvitam। agniṃ dīptam ivāsīded rājānam upaśikṣitaḥ ॥12-83-28॥
If a king errs due to negligence, his life is lost; just as one should sit near blazing fire, so should one approach a well-instructed king.
āśīviṣam iva kruddhaṃ prabhuṃ prāṇadhanaiśvaram। yatnenopacaren nityaṃ nāham asmīti mānavaḥ ॥12-83-29॥
A person should always serve an angry master, who is the lord of life and wealth, just as one would cautiously approach a venomous serpent, never thinking 'I am independent.'
durvyāhṛtāc chaṅkamāno duṣkṛtād duradhiṣṭhitāt। durāsitād durvrajitād iṅgitād aṅgaceṣṭitāt ॥12-83-30॥
He suspects from ill-spoken words, evil deeds, improper establishment, improper seating, improper movement, gestures, and bodily actions.
devateva hi sarvārthān kuryād rājā prasāditaḥ। vaiśvānara iva kruddhaḥ samūlam api nirdahēt ॥ iti rājan mayaḥ prāha vartate ca tathaiva tat ॥12-83-31॥
When pleased, a king should accomplish all purposes like a deity; but when angry, like Agni, he should destroy everything from the root. Thus spoke Maya, O king, and so it is.
atha bhūyāṁsamevārthaṁ kariṣyāmi punaḥ punaḥ। dadātyasmadvidho'mātyo buddhisāhāyyamāpadi ॥12-83-32॥
Now, I will repeatedly undertake an even greater purpose. A minister of my kind provides counsel and support in times of difficulty.
vāyasaś caiva me rājan nantakāyābhisaṁhitaḥ। na ca me'tra bhavān garhyo na ca yeṣāṁ bhavān priyaḥ॥ hitāhitāṁs tu budhyethā mā parokṣamatir bhava॥12-83-33॥
O king, for me the crow is associated with beings of Yama (death). Here, you are not blameworthy to me, nor are you dear to those for whom you are dear. But you should discern what is good and bad; do not be one whose mind is indirect or obscure.
ye tvādānaparā eva vasanti bhavato gṛhe। abhūtikāmā bhūtānāṃ tādṛśairme'bhisaṃhitam ॥12-83-34॥
Those who dwell in your house, except those who give to you, are desirous of the misfortune of beings; my association is with such as these.
ye vā bhavadvināśena rājyam icchanti anantaram। antaraiḥ abhisandhāya rājan sidhyanti na anyathā ॥12-83-35॥
O king, those who desire the kingdom immediately after your destruction, having plotted by means, succeed not otherwise.
teṣāmahaṃ bhayādrājan gamiṣyāmyanyamāśramam। tair hi me sandhito bāṇaḥ kāke nipatitaḥ prabho ॥12-83-36॥
O king, out of fear of them, I will go to another hermitage. Indeed, my arrow shot by them has fallen upon the crow, O lord.
chadmanā mama kākaś ca gamito yamasādanam। dṛṣṭaṃ hy etan mayā rājaṃs tapodīrghena cakṣuṣā ॥12-83-37॥
By disguise, my crow too was sent to Yama's abode. O king, I have seen this with the vision gained through long austerity.
bahunakra-jhaṣa-grāhāṃ timiṅgila-gaṇāyutām। kākena baḍiśenemāmatārṣaṃ tvāmahaṃ nadīm ॥12-83-38॥
I, who am like a crow with a hook, have not crossed you, the river endowed with many crocodiles, fishes, alligators, and groups of whale-fish.
sthāṇvaśmakaṇṭakavatīṃ vyāghrasiṃhagajākulām। durāsadāṃ duṣpraveśāṃ guhāṃ haimavatīmiva ॥12-83-39॥
A cave, like those in the Himalayas, filled with trees, stones, and thorns, and teeming with tigers, lions, and elephants, was hard to approach and difficult to enter.
agninā tāmasaṃ durgaṃ naubhir āpyaṃ ca gamyate। rājadurga-avataraṇe nopāyaṃ paṇḍitā viduḥ॥12-83-40॥
A dark fortress can be reached by fire or by boats, but when it comes to attacking a royal fortress, the wise know of no means.
gahanaṃ bhavato rājyam andhakāratamovṛtam। neha viśvasituṃ śakyaṃ bhavatāpi kuto mayā ॥12-83-41॥
Your kingdom is dense and shrouded in the deepest darkness. Here, trust is not possible, not even for you—so how could it be for me?
ato nāyaṃ śubho vāsastulye sadasatī iha। vadho hyevātra sukṛte duṣkṛte na ca saṃśayaḥ ॥12-83-42॥
Therefore, this is not an auspicious place, for here good and bad are treated equally. Indeed, killing occurs here for both the virtuous and the wicked, and there is no doubt about it.
nyāyato duṣkṛte ghātaḥ sukṛte syātkathaṃ vadhaḥ। neha yuktaṃ ciraṃ sthātuṃ javenāto vrajedbudhaḥ ॥12-83-43॥
Destruction should be meted out to the evil-doer according to justice; how can killing be for the virtuous? It is not proper to remain here for long; therefore, the wise should depart quickly.
sītā nāma nadī rājan plavo yasyāṃ nimajjati। tathopamām imāṃ manye vāgurāṃ sarvaghātinīm ॥12-83-44॥
O king, there is a river called Sita in which even a raft sinks. Likewise, I consider this analogy to be a net that destroys everything.
madhuprapāto hi bhavānbhojanaṃ viṣasaṃyutam। asatāmiva te bhāvo vartate na satāmiva ॥ āśīviṣaiḥ parivṛtaḥ kūpastvamiva pārthiva ॥12-83-45॥
You are like a honey-fall, but your food is mixed with poison; your nature is like that of the wicked, not the good. O king, you are like a well surrounded by venomous snakes.
durgatīrthā bṛhatkūlā karīrīvetrasaṃyutā। nadī madhurapānīyā yathā rājaṃstathā bhavān ॥ śvagṛdhragomāyuyuto rājahaṃsasamo hyasi ॥12-83-46॥
Just as a river with difficult fords, large banks, and full of karīra and vetra plants, yet with sweet water, so are you, O king. Though surrounded by dogs, vultures, and jackals, you are indeed like a royal swan. "12-83-46"
yathāśritya mahāvṛkṣaṃ kakṣaḥ saṃvardhate mahān। tatastaṃ saṃvṛṇotyeva tamatītya ca vardhate ॥12-83-47॥
Just as, when the underwood grows by relying on a great tree, it eventually covers that tree and, surpassing it, continues to grow.
tenaiva upendhano nūnaṃ dāvo dahati dāruṇaḥ। tathopamā hy amātyās te rājaṃs tān pariśodhay ॥12-83-48॥
Just as a forest fire burns fiercely when fed with fuel, so too, O king, is the case with those ministers; therefore, examine them carefully.
bhavataiva kṛtā rājanbhavatā paripālitāḥ। bhavantaṃ paryavajñāya jighāṃsanti bhavatpriyam ॥12-83-49॥
O king, it is you who made them and protected them; yet, disregarding you, they now seek to harm what you hold dear.
uṣitaṃ śaṅkamānena pramādaṃ parirakṣatā। antaḥsarpa iva āgāre vīrapatnyā iva ālaye ॥ śīlaṃ jijñāsamānena rājñaś ca sahajīvinā ॥12-83-50॥
Negligence, when dwelt upon by one who is suspicious, is guarded like a snake inside the house or like a hero's wife in her home. Character, when examined by a co-dweller of the king, is similarly protected.
kaccijjitendriyo rājā kaccidabhyantarā jitāḥ। kaccideṣāṃ priyo rājā kaccidrājñaḥ priyāḥ prajāḥ ॥12-83-51॥
Is the king self-controlled? Are his close associates under control? Is the king dear to his people? Are the subjects dear to the king?
jijñāsur iha samprāptas tavāhaṃ rājasattama। tasya me rocase rājan kṣudhitasyeva bhojanam ॥12-83-52॥
O best of kings, I, who have come here seeking knowledge, find you as pleasing to me as food is to a hungry man.
amātyā me na rocante vitṛṣṇasya yathodakam। bhavato'rthakṛdityeva mayi doṣo hi taiḥ kṛtaḥ ॥12-83-53॥
My ministers are not pleasing to me, just as water is not pleasing to one who is free from desire. Your ministers act only for gain; thus, the fault has indeed been made in me by them.
vidyate kāraṇaṃ nānyaditi me nātra saṃśayaḥ ॥12-83-53॥
There is no other cause; of this I have no doubt here.
na hi teṣāmahaṃ drugdhastatteṣāṃ doṣavadgatam। arerhi durhatādbheyaṃ bhagnapṛṣṭhādivoragāt ॥12-83-54॥
I am not truly angry with them; what has gone to them is like a fault. Indeed, fear from an enemy who is hard to destroy is like fear from a serpent with a broken back.
rājovāca॥
The king said:
bhūyasā paribarheṇa satkāreṇa ca bhūyasā। pūjito brāhmaṇaśreṣṭha bhūyo vasa gṛhe mama ॥12-83-55॥
O best of Brāhmaṇas, having been honored with even greater hospitality and respect, please dwell again in my house.
ye tvāṃ brāhmaṇa necchanti na te vatsyanti me gṛhe। bhavataiva hi tajjñeyaṃ yadidānīmanantaram ॥12-83-56॥
O Brāhmaṇa, those who do not wish for you will not remain in my house. Know this from yourself alone: what is to happen next, now.
yathā syād duṣkṛto daṇḍo yathā ca sukṛtaṃ kṛtam। tathā samīkṣya bhagavañ chreyase viniyuṅkṣva mām ॥12-83-57॥
O Lord, just as punishment is given for evil and reward for good, in the same way, after due consideration, assign me to what is for the best.
muniruvāca॥
The sage said:
adarśayannimaṃ doṣamekaikaṃ durbalaṃ kuru। tataḥ kāraṇamājñāya puruṣaṃ puruṣaṃ jahi ॥12-83-58॥
Do not reveal this fault; address each and every weakness. Then, having understood the cause, destroy the person responsible.
ekadoṣā hi bahavo mṛdnīyurapi kaṇṭakān। mantrabhedabhayādrājaṃstasmādetadbravīmi te ॥12-83-59॥
O king, even many thorns with a single fault may be crushed; therefore, out of fear of breach of secret counsel, I say this to you.
vayaṃ tu brāhmaṇā nāma mṛdudaṇḍāḥ kṛpālavaḥ। svasti cecchāmi bhavataḥ pareṣāṃ ca yathātmanaḥ॥12-83-60॥
But we Brāhmaṇas are said to be gentle in punishment and compassionate; I wish well-being for you, for others, just as for myself.
rājan nātmānam ācakṣe sambandhī bhavato hy aham | muniḥ kālakavṛkṣīya ityevam abhisañjñitaḥ ||12-83-61||
O king, I declare myself to be your relative. I am known as the sage of the Kālaka tree lineage.
pituḥ sakhā ca bhavataḥ saṃmataḥ satyasaṅgaraḥ। vyāpanne bhavato rājye rājanpitari saṃsthite ॥12-83-62॥
O king, he was the friend of your father and yours, approved and steadfast in truth; when your kingdom was afflicted and your father had passed away.
sarvakāmān parityajya tapas taptaṃ tadā mayā। snehāt tvāṃ prabravīmy etan mā bhūyo vibhramed iti ॥12-83-63॥
Having renounced all desires, I then practiced austerity; out of affection for you, I declare this: do not be confused again.
ubhe dṛṣṭvā duḥkhasukhe rājyaṃ prāpya yadṛcchayā। rājyenāmātyasaṃsthena kathaṃ rājanpramādyasi ॥12-83-64॥
O king, having experienced both pain and pleasure and having attained the kingdom by chance, and with the support of the ministers, how is it that you are negligent?
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said:
tato rājakule nāndī sañjajñe bhūyasī punaḥ। purohitakule caiva samprāpte brāhmaṇarṣabhe ॥12-83-65॥
Then, once again, a great auspicious ceremony arose in the royal family. And when the foremost among Brāhmaṇas arrived in the priestly family.
ekacchatrāṃ mahīṃ kṛtvā kausalyāya yaśasvine। muniḥ kālakavṛkṣīya ije kratubhiruttamaiḥ ॥12-83-66॥
Having established one sovereignty over the earth, the illustrious sage, descendant of the Kalaka tree, performed excellent sacrifices for Kausalya.
hitaṃ tadvacanaṃ śrutvā kausalyo'nvaśiṣanmahīm। tathā ca kṛtavānrājā yathoktaṃ tena bhārata ॥12-83-67॥
O Bhārata, having listened to those beneficial words, Kausalya ruled the earth, and the king acted exactly as was instructed by him.
