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युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said:
राष्ट्रगुप्तिं च मे राजन्राष्ट्रस्यैव च सङ्ग्रहम्। सम्यग्जिज्ञासमानाय प्रब्रूहि भरतर्षभ ॥१२-८८-१॥
O king, please explain to me the protection of the kingdom and also the summary of the kingdom, properly, O best of the Bharatas, to one who is inquiring.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said:
राष्ट्रगुप्तिं च ते सम्यग्राष्ट्रस्यैव च सङ्ग्रहम्। हन्त सर्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि तत्त्वमेकमनाः शृणु ॥१२-८८-२॥
I shall now explain to you the complete protection and summary of the kingdom; listen with a focused mind to the truth.
ग्रामस्याधिपतिः कार्यो दशग्राम्यस्तथापरः। द्विगुणायाः शतस्यैवं सहस्रस्य च कारयेत् ॥१२-८८-३॥
The lord of a village should be appointed; similarly, another (officer) over ten villages; in this way, for double that number, over a hundred and a thousand, officers should be appointed accordingly.
ग्रामे यान्ग्रामदोषांश्च ग्रामिकः परिपालयेत्। तान्ब्रूयाद्दशपायासौ स तु विंशतिपाय वै ॥१२-८८-४॥
In the village, the village head should protect and report any faults to the officer over ten villages, who in turn should report them to the officer over twenty villages.
सोऽपि विंशत्यधिपतिर्वृत्तं जानपदे जने। ग्रामाणां शतपालाय सर्वमेव निवेदयेत् ॥१२-८८-५॥
The overseer of twenty villages should report all matters concerning the conduct of the people in the district to the superintendent of a hundred villages.
यानि ग्रामीणभोज्यानि ग्रामिकस्तान्युपाश्नुयात्। दशपस्तेन भर्तव्यस्तेनापि द्विगुणाधिपः ॥१२-८८-६॥
The village headman should partake of the foods suitable for villagers. He should also maintain the tax collector and, in addition, the superior of double rank.
ग्रामं ग्रामशताध्यक्षो भोक्तुमर्हति सत्कृतः। महान्तं भरतश्रेष्ठ सुस्फीतजनसङ्कुलम् ॥ तत्र ह्यनेकमायत्तं राज्ञो भवति भारत ॥१२-८८-७॥
When the superintendent of a hundred villages is honored, he deserves to enjoy the village. O best of the Bharatas, in a great village crowded with prosperous people, many matters indeed become dependent on the king, O Bhārata.
शाखानगरमर्हस्तु सहस्रपतिरुत्तमम्। धान्यहैरण्यभोगेन भोक्तुं राष्ट्रिय उद्यतः ॥१२-८८-८॥
Let the branch city be worthy, with an excellent lord of a thousand, ready to enjoy the wealth of grain and gold of the kingdom.
तथा यद्ग्रामकृत्यं स्याद्ग्रामिकृत्यं च ते स्वयम्। धर्मज्ञः सचिवः कश्चित्तत्प्रपश्येदतन्द्रितः ॥१२-८८-९॥
In this way, whatever duties of the village or the headman there may be, you yourself, or a minister who knows dharma, should carefully observe them without negligence.
नगरे नगरे च स्यादेकः सर्वार्थचिन्तकः। उच्चैःस्थाने घोररूपो नक्षत्राणामिव ग्रहः ॥ भवेत्स तान्परिक्रामेत्सर्वानेव सदा स्वयम् ॥१२-८८-१०॥
In every city, there may be one who contemplates all matters; he, of terrible form and occupying a high place, like a planet among the stars, may always himself move among them all.
विक्रयं क्रयमध्वानं भक्तं च सपरिव्ययम्। योगक्षेमं च सम्प्रेक्ष्य वणिजः कारयेत्करान् ॥१२-८८-११॥
The merchant, having considered the sale, the route of purchase, food, all expenses, and the acquisition and preservation, should pay the taxes.
उत्पत्तिं दानवृत्तिं च शिल्पं सम्प्रेक्ष्य चासकृत्। शिल्पप्रतिकरानेव शिल्पिनः प्रति कारयेत् ॥१२-८८-१२॥
Having repeatedly considered the origin, the practice of giving, and the craft, one should ensure that the artisans are given appropriate rewards for their work.
उच्चावचकरा न्याय्याः पूर्वराज्ञां युधिष्ठिर। यथा यथा न हीयेरंस्तथा कुर्यान्महीपतिः ॥१२-८८-१३॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, the king should act in such a way, following the just and varied precedents of former kings, so that his rule does not decline.
फलं कर्म च सम्प्रेक्ष्य ततः सर्वं प्रकल्पयेत्। फलं कर्म च निर्हेतु न कश्चित्सम्प्रवर्तयेत् ॥१२-८८-१४॥
One should plan everything after considering the result and the action. No one should engage in action without a cause or purpose.
यथा राजा च कर्ता च स्यातां कर्मणि भागिनौ। समवेक्ष्य तथा राज्ञा प्रणेयाः सततं कराः ॥१२-८८-१५॥
Just as both the king and the agent are considered participants in an action, so too, taxes should always be imposed by the king after due consideration.
नोच्छिन्द्यादात्मनो मूलं परेषां वापि तृष्णया। ईहाद्वाराणि संरुध्य राजा सम्प्रीतिदर्शनः ॥१२-८८-१६॥
One should not destroy the foundation of oneself or others out of desire; having restrained all avenues of effort, the king appears content.
प्रद्विषन्ति परिख्यातं राजानमतिखादिनम्। प्रद्विष्टस्य कुतः श्रेयः सम्प्रियो लभते प्रियम् ॥१२-८८-१७॥
People hate a well-known king who is excessively greedy. How can one who is hated attain welfare? Only one who is truly dear obtains affection.
वत्सौपम्येन दोग्धव्यं राष्ट्रमक्षीणबुद्धिना। भृतो वत्सो जातबलः पीडां सहति भारत ॥१२-८८-१८॥
O Bhārata, just as a calf, when nourished and grown strong, endures pain, so too should the kingdom be managed wisely by one of undiminished intellect.
न कर्म कुरुते वत्सो भृशं दुग्धो युधिष्ठिर। राष्ट्रमप्यतिदुग्धं हि न कर्म कुरुते महत् ॥१२-८८-१९॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, a calf that has been excessively milked does not yield (any more) milk; likewise, a kingdom that is over-exploited does not produce great results.
यो राष्ट्रमनुगृह्णाति परिगृह्य स्वयं नृपः। सञ्जातमुपजीवन्स लभते सुमहत्फलम् ॥१२-८८-२०॥
The king who, having protected and favored his kingdom himself, sustains what has arisen, obtains very great rewards.
आपदर्थं हि निचयान्राजान इह चिन्वते। राष्ट्रं च कोशभूतं स्यात्कोशो वेश्मगतस्तथा ॥१२-८८-२१॥
Indeed, the king gathers wealth here for times of calamity; the kingdom should serve as a treasury, and the treasury is likewise kept within the house.
पौरजानपदान्सर्वान्संश्रितोपाश्रितांस्तथा। यथाशक्त्यनुकम्पेत सर्वानभ्यन्तरानपि ॥१२-८८-२२॥
He should show compassion, according to his ability, to all citizens, countrymen, those who have taken refuge, those who are dependent, and likewise to all those who are internal as well.
बाह्यं जनं भेदयित्वा भोक्तव्यो मध्यमः सुखम्। एवं न सम्प्रकुप्यन्ते जनाः सुखितदुःखिताः ॥१२-८८-२३॥
By keeping external people apart, one should enjoy moderate happiness; in this way, both happy and unhappy people do not become greatly disturbed.
प्रागेव तु करादानमनुभाष्य पुनः पुनः। संनिपत्य स्वविषये भयं राष्ट्रे प्रदर्शयेत् ॥१२-८८-२४॥
Even before, one should repeatedly discuss the giving of tribute; after assembling in one's own territory, one should display fear in the kingdom.
इयमापत्समुत्पन्ना परचक्रभयं महत्। अपि नान्ताय कल्पेत वेणोरिव फलागमः ॥१२-८८-२५॥
This calamity, the great fear caused by the enemy's army, may not end at all, just as the bamboo does not bear fruit (or, its fruiting marks its end).
अरयो मे समुत्थाय बहुभिर्दस्युभिः सह। इदमात्मवधायैव राष्ट्रमिच्छन्ति बाधितुम् ॥१२-८८-२६॥
My enemies, having risen together with many robbers, now wish to harm this kingdom solely for its destruction.
अस्यामापदि घोरायां सम्प्राप्ते दारुणे भये। परित्राणाय भवतां प्रार्थयिष्ये धनानि वः ॥१२-८८-२७॥
In this dreadful calamity, when cruel fear has come, I shall request your wealth for deliverance.
प्रतिदास्ये च भवतां सर्वं चाहं भयक्षये। नारयः प्रतिदास्यन्ति यद्धरेयुर्बलादितः ॥१२-८८-२८॥
I will return all your possessions when the danger has passed, and men will restore whatever they may have taken from here by force.
कलत्रमादितः कृत्वा नश्येत्स्वं स्वयमेव हि। अपि चेत्पुत्रदारार्थमर्थसञ्चय इष्यते ॥१२-८८-२९॥
If one makes the wife the foremost, one's own wealth will surely perish by one's own doing. Even if the accumulation of wealth is desired for the sake of son and wife.
नन्दामि वः प्रभावेन पुत्राणामिव चोदये। यथाशक्त्यनुगृह्णामि राष्ट्रस्यापीडया च वः ॥१२-८८-३०॥
I am delighted by your strength and encourage you as one would his own sons; I support you to the best of my ability for the good of the kingdom, and do so without causing you hardship.
आपत्स्वेव च वोढव्यं भवद्भिः सद्गवैरिव। न वः प्रियतरं कार्यं धनं कस्याञ्चिदापदि ॥१२-८८-३१॥
In times of calamity, you must bear (the burden) just as good cows do; for you, there is no duty dearer than protecting the wealth of anyone in distress.
इति वाचा मधुरया श्लक्ष्णया सोपचारया। स्वरश्मीनभ्यवसृजेद्युगमादाय कालवित् ॥१२-८८-३२॥
Thus, with sweet, gentle, and courteous words, the Sun, knowing the proper time, did not set the chariot in motion.
प्रचारं भृत्यभरणं व्ययं गोग्रामतो भयम्। योगक्षेमं च सम्प्रेक्ष्य गोमिनः कारयेत्करान् ॥१२-८८-३३॥
The king, after considering expansion, maintenance of servants, expenses, dangers from cow-villages, and the security and welfare of the realm, should levy taxes from the cow-owners.
उपेक्षिता हि नश्येयुर्गोमिनोऽरण्यवासिनः। तस्मात्तेषु विशेषेण मृदुपूर्वं समाचरेत् ॥१२-८८-३४॥
If neglected, cowherds and forest-dwellers would indeed perish; therefore, one should especially act towards them with gentleness.
सान्त्वनं रक्षणं दानमवस्था चाप्यभीक्ष्णशः। गोमिनां पार्थ कर्तव्यं संविभागाः प्रियाणि च ॥१२-८८-३५॥
O Pārtha, it is the duty of cow-owners to constantly offer consolation, protection, gifts, attendance, sharing, and pleasant things.
अजस्रमुपयोक्तव्यं फलं गोमिषु सर्वतः। प्रभावयति राष्ट्रं च व्यवहारं कृषिं तथा ॥१२-८८-३६॥
The products of the cow should always be used in every possible way; they promote the prosperity of the nation, commerce, and agriculture alike.
तस्माद्गोमिषु यत्नेन प्रीतिं कुर्याद्विचक्षणः। दयावानप्रमत्तश्च करान्सम्प्रणयन्मृदून् ॥१२-८८-३७॥
Therefore, the wise person should diligently show affection towards cows, being compassionate and attentive, and perform gentle actions.
सर्वत्र क्षेमचरणं सुलभं तात गोमिभिः। न ह्यतः सदृशं किञ्चिद्धनमस्ति युधिष्ठिर ॥१२-८८-३८॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, everywhere, those who possess cows can easily attain safe movement; indeed, there is no wealth equal to this.
