12.086
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
[युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhishthira; (proper noun, name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac', to speak);]
(Yudhishthira said;)
Yudhishthira said:
कथं स्विदिह राजेन्द्र पालयन्पार्थिवः प्रजाः। प्रति धर्मं विशेषेण कीर्तिमाप्नोति शाश्वतीम् ॥१२-८६-१॥
kathaṁ svidiha rājendra pālayan pārthivaḥ prajāḥ। prati dharmaṁ viśeṣeṇa kīrtim āpnoti śāśvatīm ॥12-86-1॥
[कथं (katham) - how; स्वित् (svit) - indeed; इह (iha) - here; राजेन्द्र (rājendra) - O king; पालयन् (pālayan) - protecting; पार्थिवः (pārthivaḥ) - the ruler; प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - subjects; प्रति (prati) - according to; धर्मं (dharmaṁ) - dharma; विशेषेण (viśeṣeṇa) - especially; कीर्तिम् (kīrtim) - fame; आप्नोति (āpnoti) - attains; शाश्वतीम् (śāśvatīm) - eternal;]
(How indeed here, O king, does the ruler, protecting the subjects, according to dharma especially, attain eternal fame?)
O King, how does a ruler, by especially protecting his subjects according to dharma, attain everlasting fame?
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said:
व्यवहारेण शुद्धेन प्रजापालनतत्परः। प्राप्य धर्मं च कीर्तिं च लोकावाप्नोत्युभौ शुचिः ॥१२-८६-२॥
vyavahāreṇa śuddhena prajāpālanatatparaḥ। prāpya dharmaṃ ca kīrtiṃ ca lokāvāpnotyubhau śuciḥ ॥12-86-2॥
[व्यवहारेण (vyavahāreṇa) - by conduct; शुद्धेन (śuddhena) - by purity; प्रजापालनतत्परः (prajāpālanatatparaḥ) - devoted to the protection of subjects; प्राप्य (prāpya) - having obtained; धर्मं (dharmaṃ) - righteousness; च (ca) - and; कीर्तिं (kīrtiṃ) - fame; च (ca) - and; लोकः (lokaḥ) - the world; अवाप्नोति (avāpnoti) - attains; उभौ (ubhau) - both; शुचिः (śuciḥ) - the pure one;]
(By pure conduct, devoted to the protection of subjects, having obtained righteousness and fame, the pure one attains both in the world.)
One who is pure in conduct and devoted to protecting his people attains both righteousness and fame in the world.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
[युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhiṣṭhira; (proper noun, name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac', to speak);]
(Yudhiṣṭhira said;)
Yudhiṣṭhira said:
कीदृशं व्यवहारं तु कैश्च व्यवहरेन्नृपः। एतत्पृष्टो महाप्राज्ञ यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि ॥१२-८६-३॥
kīdṛśaṃ vyavahāraṃ tu kaiśca vyavaharen nṛpaḥ। etat pṛṣṭo mahāprājña yathāvad vaktum arhasi ॥12-86-3॥
[कीदृशम् (kīdṛśam) - of what kind; व्यवहारम् (vyavahāram) - conduct; तु (tu) - but; कैश्च (kaiśca) - with whom; व्यवहरेत् (vyavaharet) - should interact; नृपः (nṛpaḥ) - king; एतत् (etat) - this; पृष्टः (pṛṣṭaḥ) - asked; महाप्राज्ञ (mahāprājña) - O greatly wise one; यथावत् (yathāvat) - properly; वक्तुम् (vaktum) - to speak; अर्हसि (arhasi) - you ought;]
(Of what kind of conduct, but with whom should the king interact? This being asked, O greatly wise one, you ought to speak properly.)
O greatly wise one, you have been asked: 'Of what kind of conduct and with whom should a king interact?' Please explain this properly.
ये चैते पूर्वकथिता गुणास्ते पुरुषं प्रति। नैकस्मिन्पुरुषे ह्येते विद्यन्त इति मे मतिः ॥१२-८६-४॥
ye caite pūrvakathitā guṇās te puruṣaṃ prati। naik asmin puruṣe hy ete vidyanta iti me matiḥ ॥12-86-4॥
[ये (ye) - who; (plural masculine nominative); च (ca) - and; एते (ete) - these; पूर्वकथिता (pūrvakathitāḥ) - previously-mentioned; गुणाः (guṇāḥ) - qualities; ते (te) - those; पुरुषं (puruṣam) - person; (accusative singular); प्रति (prati) - towards; न (na) - not; एकस्मिन् (ekasmin) - in one; पुरुषे (puruṣe) - person; (locative singular); हि (hi) - indeed; एते (ete) - these; विद्यन्ते (vidyante) - are found; इति (iti) - thus; मे (me) - my; मतिः (matiḥ) - opinion;]
(Who and these previously-mentioned qualities, those towards a person; not in one person indeed these are found; thus my opinion.)
It is my opinion that these previously-mentioned qualities are not found together in any one person.
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac' - to speak);]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said:
एवमेतन्महाप्राज्ञ यथा वदसि बुद्धिमान्। दुर्लभः पुरुषः कश्चिदेभिर्गुणगुणैर्युतः ॥१२-८६-५॥
evam etan mahāprājña yathā vadasi buddhimān। durlabhaḥ puruṣaḥ kaścid ebhir guṇaguṇair yutaḥ ॥12-86-5॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; एतत् (etat) - this; महाप्राज्ञ (mahāprājña) - greatly wise; यथा (yathā) - as; वदसि (vadasi) - you say; बुद्धिमान् (buddhimān) - intelligent; दुर्लभः (durlabhaḥ) - rare; पुरुषः (puruṣaḥ) - man; कश्चित् (kaścit) - someone; एभिः (ebhiḥ) - with these; गुणगुणैः (guṇaguṇaiḥ) - qualities and virtues; युतः (yutaḥ) - endowed;]
(Thus this, O greatly wise, as you say, intelligent one. Rare is a man who is endowed with these qualities and virtues.)
O greatly wise one, it is just as you say, O intelligent one. A man endowed with these qualities and virtues is indeed rare.
किं तु सङ्क्षेपतः शीलं प्रयत्ने नेह दुर्लभम्। वक्ष्यामि तु यथामात्यान्यादृशांश्च करिष्यसि ॥१२-८६-६॥
kiṁ tu saṅkṣepataḥ śīlaṁ prayatne neha durlabham। vakṣyāmi tu yathāmātyānyādṛśāṁś ca kariṣyasi॥12-86-6॥
[किं (kiṁ) - what; तु (tu) - but; सङ्क्षेपतः (saṅkṣepataḥ) - in brief; शीलं (śīlam) - conduct; प्रयत्ने (prayatne) - in effort; न (na) - not; इह (iha) - here; दुर्लभम् (durlabham) - difficult to obtain; वक्ष्यामि (vakṣyāmi) - I shall speak; तु (tu) - but; यथा (yathā) - as; अमात्यान् (amātyān) - ministers; यादृशान् (yādṛśān) - of such kind; च (ca) - and; करिष्यसि (kariṣyasi) - you will appoint;]
(What but in brief conduct in effort not here difficult to obtain. I shall speak but as ministers of such kind and you will appoint.)
But, in brief, good conduct is not difficult to obtain here with effort. I shall tell you, however, how you should appoint ministers of such kind.
चतुरो ब्राह्मणान्वैद्यान्प्रगल्भान्सात्त्विकाञ्शुचीन्। त्रींश्च शूद्रान्विनीतांश्च शुचीन्कर्मणि पूर्वके ॥१२-८६-७॥
caturo brāhmaṇān vaidyān pragalbhān sāttvikāñ śucīn। trīṃś ca śūdrān vinītāṃś ca śucīn karmaṇi pūrvake ॥12-86-7॥
[चतुरः (caturo) - four; ब्राह्मणान् (brāhmaṇān) - Brāhmaṇas; वैद्यान् (vaidyān) - physicians; प्रगल्भान् (pragalbhān) - eloquent; सात्त्विकान् (sāttvikān) - possessing sattva; शुचीन् (śucīn) - pure; त्रीन् (trīn) - three; च (ca) - and; शूद्रान् (śūdrān) - Śūdras; विनीतान् (vinītān) - humble; च (ca) - and; शुचीन् (śucīn) - pure; कर्मणि (karmaṇi) - in action; पूर्वके (pūrvake) - former;]
(Four Brāhmaṇas, physicians, eloquent, possessing sattva, pure; and three Śūdras, humble and pure, in action, former.)
Four Brāhmaṇas who are physicians, eloquent, endowed with sattva, and pure; and three Śūdras who are humble and pure in their actions, were the former ones.
अष्टाभिश्च गुणैर्युक्तं सूतं पौराणिकं चरेत्। पञ्चाशद्वर्षवयसं प्रगल्भमनसूयकम् ॥१२-८६-८॥
aṣṭābhiś ca guṇair yuktaṃ sūtaṃ paurāṇikaṃ caret। pañcāśad-varṣa-vayasaṃ pragalbham anasūyakam ॥12-86-8॥
[अष्टाभिः (aṣṭābhiḥ) - with eight; च (ca) - and; गुणैः (guṇaiḥ) - qualities; युक्तं (yuktam) - endowed; सूतं (sūtam) - charioteer; पौराणिकं (paurāṇikam) - reciter of Purāṇas; चरेत् (caret) - should act; पञ्चाशद् (pañcāśad) - fifty; वर्ष (varṣa) - years; वयसं (vayasaṃ) - of age; प्रगल्भम् (pragalbham) - confident; अनसूयकम् (anasūyakam) - without envy;]
(Endowed with eight qualities, a charioteer, a reciter of Purāṇas, should act; of fifty years of age, confident, without envy.)
A charioteer and reciter of the Purāṇas should possess eight qualities, be fifty years old, confident, and free from envy.
मतिस्मृतिसमायुक्तं विनीतं समदर्शनम्। कार्ये विवदमानानां शक्तमर्थेष्वलोलुपम् ॥१२-८६-९॥
matismṛtisaṃyuktaṃ vinītaṃ samadarśanam। kārye vivadamānānāṃ śaktam artheṣv alolupam ॥12-86-9॥
[मति (mati) - intellect; स्मृति (smṛti) - memory; समायुक्तं (samāyuktaṃ) - endowed with; विनीतं (vinītaṃ) - humble; समदर्शनम् (samadarśanam) - equanimous in vision; कार्ये (kārye) - in action; विवदमानानां (vivadamānānāṃ) - of those disputing; शक्तम् (śaktam) - capable; अर्थेषु (artheṣu) - in matters; अलोलुपम् (alolupam) - not greedy;]
(Endowed with intellect and memory, humble, equanimous in vision; capable in action among those disputing, not greedy in matters.)
One who is endowed with intellect and memory, is humble, sees all with equanimity; is capable in action among those who dispute, and is not greedy in matters.
विवर्जितानां व्यसनैः सुघोरैः सप्तभिर्भृशम्। अष्टानां मन्त्रिणां मध्ये मन्त्रं राजोपधारयेत् ॥१२-८६-१०॥
vivarjitānāṃ vyasanaiḥ sughoraiḥ saptabhirbhṛśam। aṣṭānāṃ mantriṇāṃ madhye mantraṃ rājopadhārayet ॥12-86-10॥
[विवर्जितानां (vivarjitānāṃ) - of those who are excluded; व्यसनैः (vyasanaiḥ) - by calamities; सुघोरैः (sughoraiḥ) - by very terrible; सप्तभिः (saptabhiḥ) - by seven; भृशम् (bhṛśam) - excessively; अष्टानां (aṣṭānāṃ) - of eight; मन्त्रिणां (mantriṇāṃ) - of ministers; मध्ये (madhye) - in the midst; मन्त्रम् (mantram) - counsel; राजा (rājā) - the king; उपधारयेत् (upadhārayet) - should consider;]
(Of those who are excluded by the seven very terrible calamities excessively, among the eight ministers, the king should consider the counsel.)
The king should deliberate on counsel among the eight ministers who are completely free from the seven most severe calamities.
ततः सम्प्रेषयेद्राष्ट्रे राष्ट्रायाथ च दर्शयेत्। अनेन व्यवहारेण द्रष्टव्यास्ते प्रजाः सदा ॥१२-८६-११॥
tataḥ sampreṣayed rāṣṭre rāṣṭrāyātha ca darśayet। anena vyavahāreṇa draṣṭavyās te prajāḥ sadā ॥12-86-11॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; सम्प्रेषयेत् (sampreṣayet) - should send; राष्ट्रे (rāṣṭre) - in the kingdom; राष्ट्राय (rāṣṭrāya) - for the kingdom; अथ (atha) - then; च (ca) - and; दर्शयेत् (darśayet) - should show; अनेन (anena) - by this; व्यवहारेण (vyavahāreṇa) - by conduct; द्रष्टव्याः (draṣṭavyāḥ) - should be regarded; ते (te) - those; प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - subjects; सदा (sadā) - always;]
(Then he should send (the message) in the kingdom, and for the kingdom, and then should show (it). By this conduct, those subjects should always be regarded.)
Then, the message should be sent throughout the kingdom and shown for the benefit of the kingdom. By this conduct, the subjects should always be regarded.
न चापि गूढं कार्यं ते ग्राह्यं कार्योपघातकम्। कार्ये खलु विपन्ने त्वां सोऽधर्मस्तांश्च पीडयेत् ॥१२-८६-१२॥
na cāpi gūḍhaṃ kāryaṃ te grāhyaṃ kāryopaghātakam। kārye khalu vipanne tvāṃ so'dharmastāṃśca pīḍayet ॥12-86-12॥
[न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; गूढं (gūḍham) - hidden; कार्यं (kāryam) - action; ते (te) - your; ग्राह्यं (grāhyam) - to be accepted; कार्योपघातकम् (kāryopaghātakam) - destructive to action; कार्ये (kārye) - in action; खलु (khalu) - indeed; विपन्ने (vipanne) - being ruined; त्वां (tvām) - you; सः (saḥ) - he; अधर्मः (adharmaḥ) - unrighteousness; तान् (tān) - them; च (ca) - and; पीडयेत् (pīḍayet) - would afflict;]
(Not and also hidden action your to be accepted, destructive to action. In action indeed being ruined you he unrighteousness them and would afflict.)
You should not accept any hidden action of yours that is destructive to the task. Indeed, if the task fails, unrighteousness would afflict you and them.
विद्रवेच्चैव राष्ट्रं ते श्येनात्पक्षिगणा इव। परिस्रवेच्च सततं नौर्विशीर्णेव सागरे ॥१२-८६-१३॥
vidraveccaiva rāṣṭraṃ te śyenātpakṣigaṇā iva| parisravecca satataṃ naurviśīrṇeva sāgare ||12-86-13||
[विद्रवेत् (vidravet) - would disperse; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; राष्ट्रम् (rāṣṭram) - kingdom; ते (te) - your; श्येनात् (śyenāt) - from a hawk; पक्षिगणाः (pakṣigaṇāḥ) - flock of birds; इव (iva) - like; परिस्रवेत् (parisravet) - would flow away; च (ca) - and; सततम् (satatam) - constantly; नौः (nauḥ) - boat; विशीर्णा (viśīrṇā) - broken; इव (iva) - like; सागरे (sāgare) - in the ocean;]
(And indeed, your kingdom would disperse like a flock of birds from a hawk, and would constantly flow away like a broken boat in the ocean.)
Your kingdom would scatter like birds fleeing from a hawk, and would be lost continuously like a broken boat drifting in the ocean.
प्रजाः पालयतोऽसम्यगधर्मेणेह भूपतेः। हार्दं भयं सम्भवति स्वर्गश्चास्य विरुध्यते ॥१२-८६-१४॥
prajāḥ pālayato'samyagadharmeṇeha bhūpateḥ। hārdaṃ bhayaṃ sambhavati svargaścāsya virudhyate ॥12-86-14॥
[प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - subjects; पालयतः (pālayataḥ) - of one protecting; असम्यक् (asamyak) - not properly; अधर्मेण (adharmeṇa) - by unrighteousness; इह (iha) - here; भूपतेः (bhūpateḥ) - of the king; हार्दं (hārdaṃ) - in the heart; भयम् (bhayam) - fear; सम्भवति (sambhavati) - arises; स्वर्गः (svargaḥ) - heaven; च (ca) - and; अस्य (asya) - for him; विरुध्यते (virudhyate) - is opposed;]
(For the king here who protects the subjects not properly, by unrighteousness, fear arises in the heart, and heaven is opposed for him.)
If a king here protects his subjects improperly, with unrighteousness, fear arises in his heart and he is deprived of heaven.
अथ योऽधर्मतः पाति राजामात्योऽथ वात्मजः। धर्मासने नियुक्तः सन्धर्ममूलं नरर्षभ ॥१२-८६-१५॥
atha yo'dharmataḥ pāti rājāmātyo'tha vātmajaḥ। dharmāsane niyuktaḥ sandharmamūlaṃ nararṣabha ॥12-86-15॥
[अथ (atha) - now; then; यः (yaḥ) - who; अधर्मतः (adharmataḥ) - by unrighteousness; पाति (pāti) - protects; राजामात्यः (rājāmātyaḥ) - king or minister; अथ (atha) - or; वा (vā) - or; आत्मजः (ātmajaḥ) - son; धर्मासने (dharmāsane) - on the seat of dharma; नियुक्तः (niyuktaḥ) - appointed; सन् (san) - being; धर्ममूलम् (dharmamūlam) - rooted in dharma; नरर्षभ (nararṣabha) - O best of men;]
(Now, who by unrighteousness protects, whether king, minister, or son, being appointed on the seat of dharma, O best of men, is rooted in dharma.)
O best of men, whoever, whether king, minister, or son, is appointed to the seat of justice but protects by unrighteous means, is (still) rooted in dharma.
कार्येष्वधिकृताः सम्यगकुर्वन्तो नृपानुगाः। आत्मानं पुरतः कृत्वा यान्त्यधः सहपार्थिवाः ॥१२-८६-१६॥
kāryeṣvadhikṛtāḥ samyagakurvanto nṛpānugāḥ। ātmānaṃ purataḥ kṛtvā yāntyadhaḥ sahapārthivāḥ ॥12-86-16॥
[कार्येषु (kāryeṣu) - in actions; अधिकृताः (adhikṛtāḥ) - appointed; सम्यक् (samyak) - properly; अकुर्वन्तः (akurvantaḥ) - not doing; नृप (nṛpa) - king; अनुगाः (anugāḥ) - followers; आत्मानम् (ātmānam) - themselves; पुरतः (purataḥ) - before; कृत्वा (kṛtvā) - having placed; यान्ति (yānti) - go; अधः (adhaḥ) - down; सह (saha) - with; पार्थिवाः (pārthivāḥ) - other kings;]
(Appointed in actions, not doing properly, followers of the king, having placed themselves before, go down with other kings.)
Those appointed to duties who do not perform them properly, being followers of the king, put themselves first and fall along with the other kings.
बलात्कृतानां बलिभिः कृपणं बहु जल्पताम्। नाथो वै भूमिपो नित्यमनाथानां नृणां भवेत् ॥१२-८६-१७॥
balātkṛtānāṃ balibhiḥ kṛpaṇaṃ bahu jalpatām। nātho vai bhūmipo nityamanāthānāṃ nṛṇāṃ bhavet॥12-86-17॥
[बलात्कृतानाम् (balātkṛtānām) - of those who are oppressed by force; बलिभिः (balibhiḥ) - by the powerful; कृपणम् (kṛpaṇam) - the miserable; बहु (bahu) - much; जल्पताम् (jalpatām) - of those who talk; नाथः (nāthaḥ) - protector; वै (vai) - indeed; भूमिपः (bhūmipaḥ) - the king; नित्यम् (nityam) - always; अनाथानाम् (anāthānām) - of the helpless; नृणाम् (nṛṇām) - of men; भवेत् (bhavet) - should be; १२-८६-१७ (12-86-17) - 12-86-17;]
(Of those who are oppressed by force by the powerful, the miserable, of those who talk much—the protector, indeed, the king, should always be of the helpless men.)
The king should always be the protector of helpless people, especially those who are oppressed by the powerful and those who are miserable and talk much.
ततः साक्षिबलं साधु द्वैधे वादकृतं भवेत्। असाक्षिकमनाथं वा परीक्ष्यं तद्विशेषतः ॥१२-८६-१८॥
tataḥ sākṣibalaṃ sādhu dvaidhe vādakṛtaṃ bhavet। asākṣikam anāthaṃ vā parīkṣyaṃ tad viśeṣataḥ ॥12-86-18॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; साक्षिबलम् (sākṣibalam) - the strength of witnesses; साधु (sādhu) - properly; द्वैधे (dvaidhe) - in a double (case); वादकृतम् (vādakṛtam) - caused by dispute; भवेत् (bhavet) - should be; असाक्षिकम् (asākṣikam) - without witnesses; अनाथम् (anātham) - without support; वा (vā) - or; परीक्ष्यम् (parīkṣyam) - to be examined; तत् (tat) - that; विशेषतः (viśeṣataḥ) - especially;]
(Then the strength of witnesses should be properly (considered) in a double (case) caused by dispute; that which is without witnesses or without support should be especially examined.)
Therefore, in cases of dispute involving two sides, the strength of witnesses should be properly considered; but if there are no witnesses or no support, that case should be especially examined.
अपराधानुरूपं च दण्डं पापेषु पातयेत्। उद्वेजयेद्धनैरृद्धान्दरिद्रान्वधबन्धनैः ॥१२-८६-१९॥
aparādhānurūpaṃ ca daṇḍaṃ pāpeṣu pātayet। udvejayed dhanair ṛddhān daridrān vadha-bandhanaiḥ ॥12-86-19॥
[अपराध (aparādha) - offense; अनुरूपं (anurūpaṃ) - according to; च (ca) - and; दण्डं (daṇḍaṃ) - punishment; पापेषु (pāpeṣu) - upon the sinful; पातयेत् (pātayet) - should inflict; उद्वेजयेत् (udvejayet) - should disturb; धनैः (dhanair) - with wealth; ऋद्धान् (ṛddhān) - the wealthy; दरिद्रान् (daridrān) - the poor; वधबन्धनैः (vadha-bandhanaiḥ) - with execution and imprisonment;]
(And he should inflict punishment according to the offense upon the sinful. He should disturb the wealthy with wealth, and the poor with execution and imprisonment.)
Punishment should be inflicted in proportion to the offense upon the sinful. The wealthy should be penalized with fines, and the poor with execution or imprisonment.
विनयैरपि दुर्वृत्तान्प्रहारैरपि पार्थिवः। सान्त्वेनोपप्रदानेन शिष्टांश्च परिपालयेत् ॥१२-८६-२०॥
vinayair api durvṛttān prahārair api pārthivaḥ। sāntvena upapradānena śiṣṭān ca paripālayet ॥12-86-20॥
[विनयैः (vinayaiḥ) - by humility; अपि (api) - even; दुर्वृत्तान् (durvṛttān) - wicked ones; प्रहारैः (prahāraiḥ) - by punishments; अपि (api) - even; पार्थिवः (pārthivaḥ) - the king; सान्त्वेन (sāntvena) - by conciliation; उपप्रदानेन (upapradānena) - by giving gifts; शिष्टान् (śiṣṭān) - the virtuous; च (ca) - and; परिपालयेत् (paripālayet) - should protect;]
(By humility even (towards) the wicked, by punishments even, the king; by conciliation, by giving gifts, the virtuous and should protect.)
The king should protect the wicked even by humility or by punishments, and the virtuous by conciliation and by giving gifts.
राज्ञो वधं चिकीर्षेद्यस्तस्य चित्रो वधो भवेत्। आजीवकस्य स्तेनस्य वर्णसङ्करकस्य च ॥१२-८६-२१॥
rājño vadhaṃ cikīrṣedyas tasya citro vadho bhavet। ājīvakasya stenasya varṇasaṅkarakasya ca ॥12-86-21॥
[राज्ञः (rājñaḥ) - of the king; वधम् (vadham) - killing; चिकीर्षेत् (cikīrṣet) - would intend; यः (yaḥ) - who; तस्य (tasya) - for him; चित्रः (citraḥ) - strange; वधः (vadhaḥ) - death; भवेत् (bhavet) - would be; आजीवकस्य (ājīvakasya) - of an ājīvika (heretic); स्तेनस्य (stenasya) - of a thief; वर्णसङ्करकस्य (varṇasaṅkarakasya) - of a violator of caste-mixing; च (ca) - and;]
(Whoever would intend the killing of the king, for him a strange death would be; (the same applies) for an ājīvika, a thief, and a violator of caste-mixing, and.)
Whoever intends to kill the king will meet with a peculiar death; the same fate applies to an ājīvika, a thief, or one who causes caste-mixing.
सम्यक्प्रणयतो दण्डं भूमिपस्य विशां पते। युक्तस्य वा नास्त्यधर्मो धर्म एवेह शाश्वतः ॥१२-८६-२२॥
samyak-praṇayato daṇḍaṃ bhūmipasya viśāṃ pate। yuktasya vā nāstyadharmo dharma eveha śāśvataḥ ॥12-86-22॥
[सम्यक् (samyak) - properly; thoroughly; प्रणयतः (praṇayataḥ) - of one who administers; of one who applies; दण्डम् (daṇḍam) - punishment; rod; भूमिपस्य (bhūmipasya) - of the king; of the lord of the earth; विशां (viśām) - of the people; of the subjects; पते (pate) - O lord; O ruler; युक्तस्य (yuktasya) - of one who is just; of one who is disciplined; वा (vā) - or; न (na) - not; अस्ति (asti) - is; अधर्मः (adharmaḥ) - unrighteousness; injustice; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - righteousness; justice; एव (eva) - indeed; only; इह (iha) - here; in this world; शाश्वतः (śāśvataḥ) - eternal; perpetual;]
(Properly of one who administers punishment, of the king, of the people, O lord; of one who is just or not is unrighteousness; righteousness indeed here is eternal.)
O lord of the people, when the king properly administers punishment, for one who is just there is no unrighteousness; here, righteousness alone is eternal.
कामकारेण दण्डं तु यः कुर्यादविचक्षणः। स इहाकीर्तिसंयुक्तो मृतो नरकमाप्नुयात् ॥१२-८६-२३॥
kāmakāreṇa daṇḍaṃ tu yaḥ kuryād avicakṣaṇaḥ। sa ihākīrtisaṃyukto mṛto narakam āpnuyāt ॥12-86-23॥
[कामकारेण (kāmakāreṇa) - by desire-motivation; दण्डं (daṇḍam) - punishment; तु (tu) - but; यः (yaḥ) - who; कुर्यात् (kuryāt) - would do; अविचक्षणः (avicakṣaṇaḥ) - unwise person; सः (saḥ) - he; इह (iha) - here; अकीर्तिसंयुक्तः (akīrtisaṃyuktaḥ) - joined with disgrace; मृतः (mṛtaḥ) - dead; नरकम् (narakam) - hell; आप्नुयात् (āpnuyāt) - would attain;]
(But the unwise person who would inflict punishment out of desire-motivation, he here joined with disgrace, dead, would attain hell.)
But if an unwise person inflicts punishment out of personal desire, he will be disgraced here and, after death, will attain hell.
न परस्य श्रवादेव परेषां दण्डमर्पयेत्। आगमानुगमं कृत्वा बध्नीयान्मोक्षयेत वा ॥१२-८६-२४॥
na parasya śravādeva pareṣāṃ daṇḍamarpayet। āgamānugamaṃ kṛtvā badhnīyānmokṣayeta vā ॥12-86-24॥
[न (na) - not; परस्य (parasya) - of another; श्रवात् (śravāt) - from hearing; एव (eva) - indeed; परेषाम् (pareṣām) - of others; दण्डम् (daṇḍam) - punishment; अर्पयेत् (arpayet) - should impose; आगम (āgama) - scriptural authority; अनुगमम् (anugamam) - following; कृत्वा (kṛtvā) - having done; बध्नीयात् (badhnīyāt) - should bind; मोक्षयेत् (mokṣayet) - should release; वा (vā) - or;]
(Not from another's hearing alone should one impose punishment on others. Having followed scriptural authority, one should bind or release.)
One should not impose punishment on others merely based on hearsay. After following scriptural authority, one should either bind or release.
न तु हन्यान्नृपो जातु दूतं कस्याञ्चिदापदि। दूतस्य हन्ता निरयमाविशेत्सचिवैः सह ॥१२-८६-२५॥
na tu hanyān nṛpo jātu dūtaṃ kasyāñcid āpadi। dūtasya hantā nirayam āviśet sacivaiḥ saha ॥12-86-25॥
[न (na) - not; तु (tu) - but; हन्यात् (hanyāt) - should kill; नृपः (nṛpaḥ) - king; जातु (jātu) - ever; दूतं (dūtam) - messenger; कस्याञ्चित् (kasyāñcit) - of anyone; आपदि (āpadi) - in calamity; दूतस्य (dūtasya) - of the messenger; हन्ता (hantā) - killer; निरयम् (nirayam) - hell; आविशेत् (āviśet) - should enter; सचिवैः (sacivaiḥ) - with ministers; सह (saha) - together;]
(But a king should never kill a messenger, even in anyone's calamity. The killer of a messenger should enter hell together with his ministers.)
A king must never kill a messenger, even in the gravest adversity. Whoever kills a messenger will enter hell along with his ministers.
यथोक्तवादिनं दूतं क्षत्रधर्मरतो नृपः। यो हन्यात्पितरस्तस्य भ्रूणहत्यामवाप्नुयुः ॥१२-८६-२६॥
yathoktavādinaṃ dūtaṃ kṣatradharmarato nṛpaḥ। yo hanyātpitarastasya bhrūṇahatyāmavāpnuyuḥ ॥12-86-26॥
[यथोक्तवादिनम् (yathoktavādinam) - one who speaks as instructed; दूतम् (dūtam) - messenger; क्षत्रधर्मरतः (kṣatradharmarataḥ) - devoted to the duty of a kṣatriya; नृपः (nṛpaḥ) - king; यः (yaḥ) - who; हन्यात् (hanyāt) - would kill; पितरः (pitaraḥ) - the fathers; तस्य (tasya) - of him; भ्रूणहत्याम् (bhrūṇahatyām) - the sin of killing an embryo; अवाप्नुयुः (avāpnuyuḥ) - would incur;]
(The king devoted to the duty of a kṣatriya, who would kill a messenger who speaks as instructed, his fathers would incur the sin of killing an embryo.)
If a king devoted to kṣatriya duty kills a messenger who speaks as instructed, his ancestors would incur the sin of killing an embryo.
कुलीनः शीलसम्पन्नो वाग्मी दक्षः प्रियंवदः। यथोक्तवादी स्मृतिमान्दूतः स्यात्सप्तभिर्गुणैः ॥१२-८६-२७॥
kulīnaḥ śīlasampanno vāgmī dakṣaḥ priyaṃvadaḥ। yathoktavādī smṛtimāndūtaḥ syātsaptabhirguṇaiḥ ॥12-86-27॥
[कुलीनः (kulīnaḥ) - of noble lineage; शीलसम्पन्नः (śīlasampannaḥ) - endowed with good conduct; वाग्मी (vāgmī) - eloquent; दक्षः (dakṣaḥ) - skilful; प्रियंवदः (priyaṃvadaḥ) - speaking pleasantly; यथोक्तवादी (yathoktavādī) - one who speaks as instructed; स्मृतिमान् (smṛtimān) - possessing good memory; दूतः (dūtaḥ) - messenger; स्यात् (syāt) - should be; सप्तभिः (saptabhiḥ) - with seven; गुणैः (guṇaiḥ) - qualities;]
(A messenger should be of noble lineage, endowed with good conduct, eloquent, skilful, speaking pleasantly, one who speaks as instructed, possessing good memory, with these seven qualities.)
A messenger should possess seven qualities: noble lineage, good conduct, eloquence, skill, pleasant speech, fidelity to instructions, and a good memory.
एतैरेव गुणैर्युक्तः प्रतीहारोऽस्य रक्षिता। शिरोरक्षश्च भवति गुणैरेतैः समन्वितः ॥१२-८६-२८॥
etaireva guṇairyuktaḥ pratīhāro'sya rakṣitā। śirorakṣaśca bhavati guṇairetaiḥ samanvitaḥ ॥12-86-28॥
[एतैः (etaiḥ) - by these; एव (eva) - indeed; गुणैः (guṇaiḥ) - by virtues; युक्तः (yuktaḥ) - endowed; प्रतीहारः (pratīhāraḥ) - doorkeeper; अस्य (asya) - of him; रक्षिता (rakṣitā) - protector; शिरोरक्षः (śirorakṣaḥ) - head-guard; च (ca) - and; भवति (bhavati) - becomes; गुणैः (guṇaiḥ) - by virtues; एतैः (etaiḥ) - by these; समन्वितः (samanvitaḥ) - endowed;]
(By these indeed endowed with virtues, the doorkeeper is his protector. The head-guard also becomes endowed with these virtues.)
Endowed with these very virtues, the doorkeeper becomes his protector. The head-guard too, when endowed with these virtues, fulfills his role.
धर्मार्थशास्त्रतत्त्वज्ञः सन्धिविग्रहको भवेत्। मतिमान्धृतिमान्धीमान्रहस्यविनिगूहिता ॥१२-८६-२९॥
dharmārthaśāstratattvajñaḥ sandhivigrahako bhavet। matimāndhṛtimāndhīmānrahasyavinigūhitā ॥12-86-29॥
[धर्म (dharma) - righteousness; अर्थ (artha) - wealth; शास्त्र (śāstra) - treatise; तत्त्व (tattva) - principle; ज्ञः (jñaḥ) - knower; सन्धि (sandhi) - alliance; विग्रह (vigraha) - conflict; कः (kaḥ) - maker; भवेत् (bhavet) - should be; मतिमान् (matimān) - intelligent; धृतिमान् (dhṛtimān) - steadfast; धीमान् (dhīmān) - wise; रहस्य (rahasya) - secret; विनिगूहिता (vinigūhitā) - concealer;]
(Knower of the principles of the treatises on righteousness and wealth, maker of alliance and conflict should be; intelligent, steadfast, wise, concealer of secrets.)
One who knows the principles of the treatises on righteousness and wealth, who is capable of making alliances and resolving conflicts, should be intelligent, steadfast, wise, and able to keep secrets.
कुलीनः सत्यसम्पन्नः शक्तोऽमात्यः प्रशंसितः। एतैरेव गुणैर्युक्तस्तथा सेनापतिर्भवेत् ॥१२-८६-३०॥
kulīnaḥ satyasampannaḥ śakto'mātyaḥ praśaṃsitaḥ। etaireva guṇairyuktastathā senāpatirbhavet ॥12-86-30॥
[कुलीनः (kulīnaḥ) - of noble birth; सत्यसम्पन्नः (satyasampannaḥ) - endowed with truth; शक्तः (śaktaḥ) - capable; अमात्यः (amātyaḥ) - minister; प्रशंसितः (praśaṃsitaḥ) - praised; एतैः (etaiḥ) - by these; एव (eva) - only; गुणैः (guṇaiḥ) - qualities; युक्तः (yuktaḥ) - endowed; तथा (tathā) - likewise; सेनापतिः (senāpatiḥ) - commander; भवेत् (bhavet) - should be;]
(Of noble birth, endowed with truth, capable, a minister, praised; endowed with only these qualities likewise should the commander be.)
A minister should be of noble birth, truthful, capable, and praised; likewise, the commander should possess only these qualities.
व्यूहयन्त्रायुधीयानां तत्त्वज्ञो विक्रमान्वितः। वर्षशीतोष्णवातानां सहिष्णुः पररन्ध्रवित् ॥१२-८६-३१॥
vyūhayantrāyudhīyānāṃ tattvajño vikramānvitaḥ। varṣaśītoṣṇavātānāṃ sahiṣṇuḥ pararandhravit ॥12-86-31॥
[व्यूह (vyūha) - array; formation; यन्त्र (yantra) - machine; device; आयुधीयानां (āyudhīyānāṃ) - of weapons; of those skilled in weapons; तत्त्वज्ञः (tattvajñaḥ) - knower of principles; one who knows the truth; विक्रम (vikrama) - valor; prowess; अन्वितः (anvitaḥ) - endowed with; possessed of; वर्ष (varṣa) - rain; शीत (śīta) - cold; उष्ण (uṣṇa) - heat; वातानां (vātānāṃ) - of winds; सहिष्णुः (sahiṣṇuḥ) - enduring; patient; पर (para) - of others; others'; रन्ध्र (randhra) - weakness; flaw; वित् (vit) - knower; finder;]
(Knower of the principles of array, machines, and weapons, endowed with valor; enduring rain, cold, heat, and winds; knower of others' weaknesses.)
He is one who knows the principles of formations, machines, and weapons, is endowed with valor, endures rain, cold, heat, and winds, and knows the weaknesses of others.
विश्वासयेत्परांश्चैव विश्वसेन्न तु कस्यचित्। पुत्रेष्वपि हि राजेन्द्र विश्वासो न प्रशस्यते ॥१२-८६-३२॥
viśvāsayet parāṃś caiva viśvasen na tu kasyacit। putreṣv api hi rājendra viśvāso na praśasyate ॥12-86-32॥
[विश्वासयेत् (viśvāsayet) - should cause to trust; परान् (parān) - others; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; विश्वसेत् (viśvaset) - should trust; न (na) - not; तु (tu) - but; कस्यचित् (kasyacit) - anyone; पुत्रेषु (putreṣu) - in sons; अपि (api) - even; हि (hi) - indeed; राजेन्द्र (rājendra) - O king; विश्वासः (viśvāsaḥ) - trust; न (na) - not; प्रशस्यते (praśasyate) - is praised;]
(One should cause others to trust indeed, but should not trust anyone. Even in sons, O king, trust is not praised.)
You may inspire trust in others, but do not place your trust in anyone. O king, even trust in one's own sons is not considered wise.
एतच्छास्त्रार्थतत्त्वं तु तवाख्यातं मयानघ। अविश्वासो नरेन्द्राणां गुह्यं परममुच्यते ॥१२-८६-३३॥
etacchāstrārthatattvaṃ tu tavākhyātaṃ mayānagha। aviśvāso narendrāṇāṃ guhyaṃ paramamucyate ॥12-86-33॥
[एतत् (etat) - this; शास्त्रार्थतत्त्वम् (śāstrārthatattvam) - the true essence of the meaning of the śāstra; तु (tu) - but; तव (tava) - to you; आख्यातम् (ākhyātam) - has been declared; मया (mayā) - by me; अनघ (anagha) - O sinless one; अविश्वासः (aviśvāsaḥ) - distrust; नरेन्द्राणाम् (narendrāṇām) - of kings; गुह्यम् (guhyam) - secret; परमम् (paramam) - supreme; उच्यते (ucyate) - is said;]
(This true essence of the meaning of the śāstra, however, has been declared to you by me, O sinless one. The supreme secret is said to be the distrust of kings.)
O sinless one, I have revealed to you the true essence of the meaning of the śāstra. The supreme secret is said to be the distrust of kings.
