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Yudhiṣṭhira said:
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.
Bhīṣma said:
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.
Therefore, I will inform you especially about the fort-related tasks; after hearing, you should arrange and perform them diligently.
One should establish themselves in ancient fortresses of six types; whatever is the chief among all wealth, or even abundance, may be found there.
There are six types of forts: desert, earth, mountain, human, water, and forest.
That city, which was well-fortified, rich in grain and weapons, with strong ramparts and moats, and teeming with elephants, horses, and chariots.
Where learned people and artisans, and well-accumulated resources are found; where righteous people and excellent skill are established.
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.
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.
The king should himself reside in that city which is endowed with social festivals, always worshipped divinity, and has submissive ministers and strength.
There, one should strengthen the treasury, army, allies, and administration; and in both the city and the country, all faults should be eliminated.
He should diligently expand the treasury and armory, and similarly increase all stores, machines, maces, and other weapons.
And also the village, indeed: wood, iron, husk, charcoal, timber, horn, bone, flute, marrow, oil, fat, honey, and medicine.
Flax, sal tree resin, grain, weapons, arrows, as well as hide, sinew, cane, sacrificial grass, bulbous grass, and bows.
Reservoirs and wells with abundant water, which are excellent, should always be protected by the king, as well as the sap-producing trees.
Teachers, priests, family priests, great archers, chief architects, and annual physicians were all honored with effort.
Those who are wise, intelligent, self-restrained, skilful, valiant, well-learned, noble, endowed with excellence, and engaged in all actions.
The king should honor the righteous, restrain the unrighteous, and diligently engage all classes in their respective duties.
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.
The king should personally supervise spies, counsel, and the treasury, and especially the counsel, for everything depends on these.
One must know, through the eyes of spies, everything intended by neutrals, enemies, and friends, both in the city and in the country.
Therefore, everything should be done in this manner without any negligence: always honor the devotees and restrain the enemies.
One should always perform sacrifices, give gifts without causing harm, and protect the subjects; blameworthy actions should not be done.
One should always arrange for the acquisition, preservation, and livelihood of the miserable, the unprotected, the aged, the widows, and women.
The king should always respectfully provide cloth, vessels, and food to the āśramas at the appropriate times, never showing any disrespect.
One should dedicate oneself, all actions, and even the kingdom to the ascetic; with effort, one should always remain humble.
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.
A king should place trust in him only in some calamity. For even thieves place trust in ascetics.
One should entrust treasures and impart wisdom to such a person, but should neither associate with him too often nor show him excessive honor.
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.
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.
At some point, those ascetics of firm vows would give refuge to the king seeking shelter, as they wished.
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.
