12.089
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said:
yadā rājā samartho'pi kośārthī syān mahāmate। kathaṁ pravarteta tadā tan me brūhi pitāmaha॥12-89-1॥
O grandsire, tell me this: When a king, though capable, is in need of treasury, O great-minded one, how should he act at that time?
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said:
yathādeśaṃ yathākālam api caiva yathābalam। anuśiṣyāt prajā rājā dharmārthī taddhite rataḥ ॥12-89-2॥
The king who seeks righteousness, devoted to the welfare of his people, should instruct his subjects according to place, time, and their capacity.
yathā tāsāṃ ca manyeta śreya ātmana eva ca। tathā dharmyāṇi sarvāṇi rājā rāṣṭre pravartayet ॥12-89-3॥
Just as one should consider what is best for oneself and for those women, so too should the king establish all righteous acts in the kingdom.
madhudohaṃ duhedrāṣṭraṃ bhramarānna vipātayet| vatsāpekṣī duheccaiva stanāṃśca na vikuṭṭayet ॥12-89-4॥
One may collect honey and draw resources from the kingdom, but should not destroy the bees. Similarly, one should milk the cow with consideration for the calf and never cut the udders.
jalaukāvat pibed rāṣṭraṃ mṛdunā eva narādhipa। vyāghrī iva ca haret putram adaṣṭvā mā patet iti ॥12-89-5॥
O king, rule the kingdom gently, like a leech draws blood softly, and like a tigress carries her cub without biting—thus, do not bring harm.
alpenālpena deyena vardhamānaṃ pradāpayet। tato bhūyastato bhūyaḥ kāmaṃ vṛddhiṃ samācaret ॥12-89-6॥
One should cause the gift to be increased little by little. Thereafter, one should further increase it as desired.
damayanniva damyānāṃ śaśvadbhāraṃ pravardhayet। mṛdupūrvaṃ prayatnena pāśānabhyavahārayet ॥12-89-7॥
Just as one tames animals to be tamed, one should gradually increase their burden; at first, with gentle effort, one should accustom them to the use of ropes.
sakṛtpāśāvakīrṇāste na bhaviṣyanti durdamāḥ। ucitenaiva bhoktavyāste bhaviṣyanti yatnataḥ ॥12-89-8॥
Once they are scattered by the bond, they will not be difficult to subdue. If properly enjoyed, they will become manageable with effort.
tasmātsarvasamārambho durlabhaḥ puruṣavrajaḥ। yathāmukhyānsāntvayitvā bhoktavya itaro janaḥ ॥12-89-9॥
Therefore, it is difficult to gather a group of men for any undertaking; after conciliating the chiefs, the rest of the people should be won over.
tatastānbhedayitvātha parasparavivakṣitān। bhuñjīta sāntvayitvaiva yathāsukhamayatnataḥ ॥12-89-10॥
Then, after dividing them—those who are mutually intended—one should enjoy (the results), having conciliated them, as comfortably and effortlessly as possible.
na cāsthāne na cākāle karāṇebhyo'nupātayet। ānupūrvyeṇa sāntvena yathākālaṃ yathāvidhi ॥12-89-11॥
He should not punish servants in an improper place or at an improper time; rather, he should proceed in due order, with conciliation, at the proper time, and according to the prescribed rules.
upāyān prabravīmy etān na me māyā vivakṣitā। anupāyena damayan prakopayati vājinaḥ ॥12-89-12॥
I am stating these means; I do not intend any deceit. If one subdues by improper means, it provokes the horses.
pānāgārāṇi veśāś ca veśaprāpaṇikās tathā। kuśīlavāḥ sakitavā ye ca anye kecid īdṛśāḥ ॥12-89-13॥
Drinking-houses, brothels, brothel-keepers, actors, gamblers, and others of such kind.
niyamyāḥ sarva evaite ye rāṣṭrasyopaghātakāḥ। ete rāṣṭre hi tiṣṭhanto bādhante bhadrikāḥ prajāḥ ॥12-89-14॥
All those who are destroyers of the nation must be restrained; for, dwelling in the nation, they trouble the virtuous citizens.
na kenacid yācitavyaḥ kaścit kiñcid anāpadi। iti vyavasthā bhūtānāṃ purastān manunā kṛtā ॥12-89-15॥
Manu formerly established this rule for all beings: 'No one should beg anything from anyone except in times of calamity.'
sarve tathā na jīveyur na kuryuḥ karma ced iha। sarva eva trayo lokā na bhaveyur asaṁśayam ॥12-89-16॥
If all thus did not live and did not perform action here, then indeed all the three worlds would not exist, without doubt.
prabhurniyamane rājā ya etānna niyacchati। bhuṅkte sa tasya pāpasya caturbhāgamiti śrutiḥ ॥ tathā kṛtasya dharmasya caturbhāgamupāśnute ॥12-89-17॥
The king, as the lord, who does not regulate these, partakes in one-fourth of their sin, as stated in the scripture. Likewise, he partakes in one-fourth of the merit of what is done in righteousness.
sthānāny etāni saṅgamya prasaṅge bhūtināśanaḥ। kāmaprasaktaḥ puruṣaḥ kimakāryaṃ vivarjayet ॥12-89-18॥
When these places come together in association, they destroy prosperity. Therefore, a person attached to desire should avoid improper actions.
āpady eva tu yācer anyeṣāṃ nāsti parigrahaḥ। dātavyaṃ dharmatās tebhyaś cānukrośād dayārthinā ॥12-89-19॥
One should ask for help from others only in times of calamity; otherwise, acceptance is not permitted. What is given should be according to dharma, and should be given to them out of compassion by one who seeks to show mercy.
mā te rāṣṭre yācanakā mā te bhūyuśca dasyavaḥ। iṣṭādātāra evaite naite bhūtasya bhāvakāḥ॥12-89-20॥
Let there not be beggars or thieves in your kingdom. Only those who give what is desired are truly worthy; these are not the creators of beings. (Mahābhārata 12-89-20)
ye bhūtāny anugṛhṇanti vardhayanti ca ye prajāḥ। te te rāṣṭre pravartantāṃ mā bhūtānām abhāvakāḥ ॥12-89-21॥
Let those subjects who favor and nurture living beings act in the kingdom; let them not be destroyers of beings.
daṇḍyās te ca mahārāja dhanadānaprayojanāḥ। prayogaṃ kārayeyus tān yathā balikarāṃs tathā ॥12-89-22॥
O great king, those who are liable to punishment and whose purpose is to give wealth should be employed by them in the same way as tax-payers are employed.
kṛṣigorakṣyavāṇijyaṃ yaccānyatkiñcidīdṛśam। puruṣaiḥ kārayetkarma bahubhiḥ saha karmibhiḥ ॥12-89-23॥
Agriculture, cow protection, trade, and similar activities should be carried out by men, employing many workers together.
naraś cet kṛṣi-gorakṣyaṃ vāṇijyaṃ ca api anuṣṭhitaḥ | saṃśayaṃ labhate kiñcit tena rājā vigarhyate ॥12-89-24॥
If a man, even after performing agriculture, cow-protection, and trade, incurs some suspicion because of it, then the king is blamed.
dhaninaḥ pūjayennityaṃ yānācchādanabhojanaiḥ। vaktavyāścānugṛhṇīdhvaṃ pūjāḥ saha mayeti ha ॥12-89-25॥
The wealthy should always be honored with vehicles, coverings, and food. You should also address and favor the honors together with me, thus indeed.
aṅgam etan mahad rājñāṃ dhanino nāma bhārata। kakudaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ dhanastho nātra saṃśayaḥ ॥12-89-26॥
O Bhārata, this is indeed a great part of kings and the wealthy, called so. The possessor of wealth is the chief among all beings; there is no doubt about this.
prājñaḥ śūro dhanasthaśca svāmī dhārmika eva ca। tapasvī satyavādī ca buddhimāṃścābhirakṣati ॥12-89-27॥
The wise, brave, wealthy, master, righteous, ascetic, truthful, and intelligent person protects.
tasmād eteṣu sarveṣu prītimān bhava pārthiva। satyam ārjavam akrodham ānṛśaṁsyaṁ ca pālaya ॥12-89-28॥
Therefore, O king, be affectionate in all these matters. Uphold truth, straightforwardness, absence of anger, and non-cruelty.
evaṃ daṇḍaṃ ca kośaṃ ca mitraṃ bhūmiṃ ca lapsyase। satyārjavaparo rājanmitrakośasamanvitaḥ ॥12-89-29॥
Thus, O king, being devoted to truth and straightforwardness, you will obtain punishment, treasury, friends, and land, being endowed with friends and treasury.
