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युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said:
कथंविधं पुरं राजा स्वयमावस्तुमर्हति। कृतं वा कारयित्वा वा तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥१२-८७-१॥
O grandsire, tell me what kind of city a king himself deserves to reside in, whether it is built by himself or caused to be built.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said:
यत्र कौन्तेय वस्तव्यं सपुत्रभ्रातृबन्धुना। न्याय्यं तत्र परिप्रष्टुं गुप्तिं वृत्तिं च भारत ॥१२-८७-२॥
O Bhārata, wherever, O son of Kunti, one should live with sons, brothers, and relatives, it is proper there to enquire about justice, protection, and means of living.
तस्मात्ते वर्तयिष्यामि दुर्गकर्म विशेषतः। श्रुत्वा तथा विधातव्यमनुष्ठेयं च यत्नतः ॥१२-८७-३॥
Therefore, I will inform you especially about the fort-related tasks; after hearing, you should arrange and perform them diligently.
षड्विधं दुर्गमास्थाय पुराण्यथ निवेशयेत्। सर्वसम्पत्प्रधानं यद्बाहुल्यं वापि सम्भवेत् ॥१२-८७-४॥
One should establish themselves in ancient fortresses of six types; whatever is the chief among all wealth, or even abundance, may be found there.
धन्वदुर्गं महीदुर्गं गिरिदुर्गं तथैव च। मनुष्यदुर्गमब्दुर्गं वनदुर्गं च तानि षट् ॥१२-८७-५॥
There are six types of forts: desert, earth, mountain, human, water, and forest.
यत्पुरं दुर्गसम्पन्नं धान्यायुधसमन्वितम्। दृढप्राकारपरिखं हस्त्यश्वरथसङ्कुलम् ॥१२-८७-६॥
That city, which was well-fortified, rich in grain and weapons, with strong ramparts and moats, and teeming with elephants, horses, and chariots.
विद्वांसः शिल्पिनो यत्र निचयाश्च सुसञ्चिताः। धार्मिकश्च जनो यत्र दाक्ष्यमुत्तममास्थितः ॥१२-८७-७॥
Where learned people and artisans, and well-accumulated resources are found; where righteous people and excellent skill are established.
ऊर्जस्विनरनागाश्वं चत्वरापणशोभितम्। प्रसिद्धव्यवहारं च प्रशान्तमकुतोभयम् ॥१२-८७-८॥
It was a city full of strength, bustling with men, elephants, and horses, adorned with crossroads and markets, famous for its commerce, peaceful and free from all fear.
सुप्रभं सानुनादं च सुप्रशस्तनिवेशनम्। शूराढ्यजनसम्पन्नं ब्रह्मघोषानुनादितम् ॥१२-८७-९॥
It was a very bright place, echoing with sounds, with excellent dwellings, filled with valorous and wealthy people, and resounding with the chants of Brahmins.
समाजोत्सवसम्पन्नं सदापूजितदैवतम्। वश्यामात्यबलो राजा तत्पुरं स्वयमावसेत् ॥१२-८७-१०॥
The king should himself reside in that city which is endowed with social festivals, always worshipped divinity, and has submissive ministers and strength.
तत्र कोशं बलं मित्रं व्यवहारं च वर्धयेत्। पुरे जनपदे चैव सर्वदोषान्निवर्तयेत् ॥१२-८७-११॥
There, one should strengthen the treasury, army, allies, and administration; and in both the city and the country, all faults should be eliminated.
भाण्डागारायुधागारं प्रयत्नेनाभिवर्धयेत्। निचयान्वर्धयेत्सर्वांस्तथा यन्त्रगदागदान् ॥१२-८७-१२॥
He should diligently expand the treasury and armory, and similarly increase all stores, machines, maces, and other weapons.
काष्ठलोहतुषाङ्गारदारुशृङ्गास्थिवैणवान्। मज्जास्नेहवसाक्षौद्रमौषधग्राममेव च ॥१२-८७-१३॥
And also the village, indeed: wood, iron, husk, charcoal, timber, horn, bone, flute, marrow, oil, fat, honey, and medicine.
शणं सर्जरसं धान्यमायुधानि शरांस्तथा। चर्म स्नायु तथा वेत्रं मुञ्जबल्बजधन्वनान् ॥१२-८७-१४॥
Flax, sal tree resin, grain, weapons, arrows, as well as hide, sinew, cane, sacrificial grass, bulbous grass, and bows.
आशयाश्चोदपानाश्च प्रभूतसलिला वराः। निरोद्धव्याः सदा राज्ञा क्षीरिणश्च महीरुहाः ॥१२-८७-१५॥
Reservoirs and wells with abundant water, which are excellent, should always be protected by the king, as well as the sap-producing trees.
सत्कृताश्च प्रयत्नेन आचार्यर्त्विक्पुरोहिताः। महेष्वासाः स्थपतयः सांवत्सरचिकित्सकाः ॥१२-८७-१६॥
Teachers, priests, family priests, great archers, chief architects, and annual physicians were all honored with effort.
प्राज्ञा मेधाविनो दान्ता दक्षाः शूरा बहुश्रुताः। कुलीनाः सत्त्वसम्पन्ना युक्ताः सर्वेषु कर्मसु ॥१२-८७-१७॥
Those who are wise, intelligent, self-restrained, skilful, valiant, well-learned, noble, endowed with excellence, and engaged in all actions.
पूजयेद्धार्मिकान्राजा निगृह्णीयादधार्मिकान्। नियुञ्ज्याच्च प्रयत्नेन सर्ववर्णान्स्वकर्मसु ॥१२-८७-१८॥
The king should honor the righteous, restrain the unrighteous, and diligently engage all classes in their respective duties.
बाह्यमाभ्यन्तरं चैव पौरजानपदं जनम्। चारैः सुविदितं कृत्वा ततः कर्म प्रयोजयेत् ॥१२-८७-१९॥
After ensuring that both the internal and external people, including townspeople and country people, are well-known through spies, then the action should be carried out.
चारान्मन्त्रं च कोशं च मन्त्रं चैव विशेषतः। अनुतिष्ठेत्स्वयं राजा सर्वं ह्यत्र प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥१२-८७-२०॥
The king should personally supervise spies, counsel, and the treasury, and especially the counsel, for everything depends on these.
उदासीनारिमित्राणां सर्वमेव चिकीर्षितम्। पुरे जनपदे चैव ज्ञातव्यं चारचक्षुषा ॥१२-८७-२१॥
One must know, through the eyes of spies, everything intended by neutrals, enemies, and friends, both in the city and in the country.
ततस्तथा विधातव्यं सर्वमेवाप्रमादतः। भक्तान्पुजयता नित्यं द्विषतश्च निगृह्णता ॥१२-८७-२२॥
Therefore, everything should be done in this manner without any negligence: always honor the devotees and restrain the enemies.
यष्टव्यं क्रतुभिर्नित्यं दातव्यं चाप्यपीडया। प्रजानां रक्षणं कार्यं न कार्यं कर्म गर्हितम् ॥१२-८७-२३॥
One should always perform sacrifices, give gifts without causing harm, and protect the subjects; blameworthy actions should not be done.
कृपणानाथवृद्धानां विधवानां च योषिताम्। योगक्षेमं च वृत्तिं च नित्यमेव प्रकल्पयेत् ॥१२-८७-२४॥
One should always arrange for the acquisition, preservation, and livelihood of the miserable, the unprotected, the aged, the widows, and women.
आश्रमेषु यथाकालं चेलभाजनभोजनम्। सदैवोपहरेद्राजा सत्कृत्यानवमन्य च ॥१२-८७-२५॥
The king should always respectfully provide cloth, vessels, and food to the āśramas at the appropriate times, never showing any disrespect.
आत्मानं सर्वकार्याणि तापसे राज्यमेव च। निवेदयेत्प्रयत्नेन तिष्ठेत्प्रह्वश्च सर्वदा ॥१२-८७-२६॥
One should dedicate oneself, all actions, and even the kingdom to the ascetic; with effort, one should always remain humble.
सर्वार्थत्यागिनं राजा कुले जातं बहुश्रुतम्। पूजयेत्तादृशं दृष्ट्वा शयनासनभोजनैः ॥१२-८७-२७॥
When a king sees a person who has renounced all worldly objects, is born in a noble family, and is well-learned, he should honor such a person with proper arrangements for bed, seat, and food.
तस्मिन्कुर्वीत विश्वासं राजा कस्याञ्चिदापदि। तापसेषु हि विश्वासमपि कुर्वन्ति दस्यवः ॥१२-८७-२८॥
A king should place trust in him only in some calamity. For even thieves place trust in ascetics.
तस्मिन्निधीनादधीत प्रज्ञां पर्याददीत च। न चाप्यभीक्ष्णं सेवेत भृशं वा प्रतिपूजयेत् ॥१२-८७-२९॥
One should entrust treasures and impart wisdom to such a person, but should neither associate with him too often nor show him excessive honor.
अन्यः कार्यः स्वराष्ट्रेषु परराष्ट्रेषु चापरः। अटवीष्वपरः कार्यः सामन्तनगरेषु च ॥१२-८७-३०॥
There is a different task for one's own kingdoms, another for foreign kingdoms, yet another for forests, and a separate task for vassal cities.
तेषु सत्कारसंस्कारान्संविभागांश्च कारयेत्। परराष्ट्राटवीस्थेषु यथा स्वविषये तथा ॥१२-८७-३१॥
He should ensure that honors, refinements, and distributions are carried out among them; in foreign kingdoms and forest regions, just as in his own territory, so too should it be done.
ते कस्याञ्चिदवस्थायां शरणं शरणार्थिने। राज्ञे दद्युर्यथाकामं तापसाः संशितव्रताः ॥१२-८७-३२॥
At some point, those ascetics of firm vows would give refuge to the king seeking shelter, as they wished.
एष ते लक्षणोद्देशः सङ्क्षेपेण प्रकीर्तितः। यादृशं नगरं राजा स्वयमावस्तुमर्हति ॥१२-८७-३३॥
This is the brief description of the characteristics that I have declared to you. The kind of city in which a king himself deserves to dwell.
