12.090
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke;]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said:
वनस्पतीन्भक्ष्यफलान्न छिन्द्युर्विषये तव। ब्राह्मणानां मूलफलं धर्म्यमाहुर्मनीषिणः ॥१२-९०-१॥
vanaspatīn bhakṣyaphalān na chindyur viṣaye tava। brāhmaṇānāṃ mūlaphalaṃ dharmyam āhur manīṣiṇaḥ॥12-90-1॥
[वनस्पतीन् (vanaspatīn) - trees; (lit. lords of the forest; vana=forest, pati=lord;) भक्ष्यफलान् (bhakṣyaphalān) - edible fruits; (bhakṣya=to be eaten, phala=fruit;) न (na) - not; छिन्द्युः (chindyuḥ) - should cut; (from root chid=to cut;) विषये (viṣaye) - in the territory; (viṣaya=domain, territory;) तव (tava) - your; ब्राह्मणानाम् (brāhmaṇānām) - of the Brāhmaṇas; मूलफलं (mūlaphalam) - root-fruit; (mūla=root, phala=fruit;) धर्म्यम् (dharmyam) - righteous; (dharmya=according to dharma;) आहुः (āhuḥ) - they say; मनीषिणः (manīṣiṇaḥ) - the wise; (manīṣin=wise, learned;]
(They should not cut trees or edible fruits in your territory. The wise say that root-fruit is righteous for Brāhmaṇas.)
In your territory, trees and edible fruits should not be cut. The wise declare that for Brāhmaṇas, root-fruits are considered righteous.
ब्राह्मणेभ्योऽतिरिक्तं च भुञ्जीरन्नितरे जनाः। न ब्राह्मणोपरोधेन हरेदन्यः कथञ्चन ॥१२-९०-२॥
brāhmaṇebhyo'tiriktaṃ ca bhuñjīrannitare janāḥ। na brāhmaṇoparodhena haredanyaḥ kathaṃcana॥12-90-2॥
[ब्राह्मणेभ्यः (brāhmaṇebhyaḥ) - from the Brāhmaṇas; अतिरिक्तं (atiriktaṃ) - what is left over; च (ca) - and; भुञ्जीरन् (bhuñjīran) - should eat; इतर (itara) - other; जनाः (janāḥ) - people; न (na) - not; ब्राह्मण (brāhmaṇa) - Brāhmaṇa; उपरोधेन (uparodhena) - by obstructing; हरेत् (haret) - should take; अन्यः (anyaḥ) - another; कथञ्चन (kathaṃcana) - in any way;]
(From the Brāhmaṇas, what is left over and should be eaten by other people. Not by obstructing a Brāhmaṇa should another take in any way.)
Other people should eat only what is left over by the Brāhmaṇas. No one should ever take anything by obstructing a Brāhmaṇa in any way.
विप्रश्चेत्त्यागमातिष्ठेदाख्यायावृत्तिकर्शितः। परिकल्प्यास्य वृत्तिः स्यात्सदारस्य नराधिप ॥१२-९०-३॥
vipraś cet tyāgam ātiṣṭhet ākhyāyā vṛtti-karśitaḥ। parikalpyāsya vṛttiḥ syāt sadārasya narādhipa ॥12-90-3॥
[विप्रः (vipraḥ) - brāhmaṇa; चेत् (cet) - if; त्यागम् (tyāgam) - renunciation; आतिष्ठेत् (ātiṣṭhet) - should undertake; आख्यायाः (ākhyāyāḥ) - of the narrative; वृत्तिकर्शितः (vṛtti-karśitaḥ) - afflicted by livelihood; परिकल्प्य (parikalpya) - having considered; अस्य (asya) - his; वृत्तिः (vṛttiḥ) - livelihood; स्यात् (syāt) - should be; सदारस्य (sadārasya) - with wife; नराधिप (narādhipa) - O king;]
(If a brāhmaṇa, afflicted by livelihood, should undertake renunciation of the narrative, having considered, his livelihood should be with wife, O king.)
O king, if a brāhmaṇa, troubled by means of livelihood, wishes to renounce the narrative, then, having considered, his livelihood should be maintained along with his wife.
स चेन्नोपनिवर्तेत वाच्यो ब्राह्मणसंसदि। कस्मिन्निदानीं मर्यादामयं लोकः करिष्यति ॥१२-९०-४॥
sa cennopanivarteta vācyo brāhmaṇasaṃsadi। kasminnidānīṃ maryādāmayaṃ lokaḥ kariṣyati ॥12-90-4॥
[स (sa) - he; चेत् (cet) - if; न (na) - not; उपनिवर्तेत (upanivarteta) - should return; वाच्यः (vācyaḥ) - should be told; ब्राह्मणसंसदि (brāhmaṇasaṃsadi) - in the assembly of Brāhmaṇas; कस्मिन् (kasmin) - in whom; इदानीं (idānīṃ) - now; मर्यादाम् (maryādām) - boundary; अयम् (ayam) - this; लोकः (lokaḥ) - world; करिष्यति (kariṣyati) - will establish;]
(He, if does not return, should be told in the assembly of Brāhmaṇas. In whom now will this world establish boundary?)
If he does not return, he should be addressed in the assembly of Brāhmaṇas. Now, in whom will this world establish its boundaries?
असंशयं निवर्तेत न चेद्वक्ष्यत्यतः परम्। पूर्वं परोक्षं कर्तव्यमेतत्कौन्तेय शासनम् ॥१२-९०-५॥
asaṃśayaṃ nivarteta na ced vakṣyaty ataḥ param। pūrvaṃ parokṣaṃ kartavyam etat kaunteya śāsanam ॥12-90-5॥
[असंशयं (asaṃśayaṃ) - without doubt; निवर्तेत (nivarteta) - should desist; न (na) - not; चेत् (ced) - if; वक्ष्यति (vakṣyati) - will speak; अतः (ataḥ) - from this; परम् (param) - further; पूर्वं (pūrvam) - before; परोक्षं (parokṣaṃ) - secretly; कर्तव्यम् (kartavyam) - should be done; एतत् (etat) - this; कौन्तेय (kaunteya) - O son of Kunti; शासनम् (śāsanam) - command;]
(Without doubt, he should desist; if not, he will speak further from this. Before, secretly, this command should be done, O son of Kunti.)
O son of Kunti, without doubt, one should desist; if not, he will speak further. This command should be carried out secretly beforehand.
आहुरेतज्जना ब्रह्मन्न चैतच्छ्रद्दधाम्यहम्। निमन्त्र्यश्च भवेद्भोगैरवृत्त्या चेत्तदाचरेत् ॥१२-९०-६॥
āhuretajjanā brahmann caitacchraddadhāmyaham। nimantryaśca bhavedbhogairavṛttyā cettadācaret ॥12-90-6॥
[आहु: (āhuḥ) - they say; एतत् (etat) - this; जनाः (janāḥ) - people; ब्रह्मन् (brahman) - O Brāhmaṇa; च (ca) - and; एतत् (etat) - this; श्रद्दधामि (śraddadhāmi) - I believe; अहम् (aham) - I; न (na) - not; निमन्त्र्य (nimantrya) - having invited; च (ca) - and; भवेत् (bhavet) - should be; भोगैः (bhogaiḥ) - with enjoyments; अवृत्त्या (avṛttyā) - without livelihood; चेत् (cet) - if; तत् (tat) - that; आचरेत् (ācaret) - should practice;]
(They say this, O Brāhmaṇa, and I do not believe this. If, having invited, one should subsist on enjoyments without livelihood, then that should be practiced.)
People say this, O Brāhmaṇa, but I do not believe it. If, after inviting, one should live on enjoyments without earning a livelihood, then that should be practiced.
कृषिगोरक्ष्यवाणिज्यं लोकानामिह जीवनम्। ऊर्ध्वं चैव त्रयी विद्या सा भूतान्भावयत्युत ॥१२-९०-७॥
kṛṣigorakṣyavāṇijyaṃ lokānāmiha jīvanam। ūrdhvaṃ caiva trayī vidyā sā bhūtānbhāvayatyuta ॥12-90-7॥
[कृषि (kṛṣi) - agriculture; गोरक्ष्य (gorakṣya) - cow protection; वाणिज्यं (vāṇijyaṃ) - trade; लोकानाम् (lokānām) - of the people; इह (iha) - here; जीवनम् (jīvanam) - livelihood; ऊर्ध्वं (ūrdhvaṃ) - higher; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; त्रयी (trayī) - the threefold Veda; विद्या (vidyā) - knowledge; सा (sā) - that; भूतान् (bhūtān) - beings; भावयति (bhāvayati) - nourishes; उत (uta) - also;]
(Agriculture, cow protection, and trade are the livelihood of the people here. Higher indeed, the threefold Vedic knowledge, that nourishes beings also.)
Agriculture, cow protection, and trade are the means of livelihood for people here; but higher than these is the threefold Vedic knowledge, which also nourishes all beings.
तस्यां प्रयतमानायां ये स्युस्तत्परिपन्थिनः। दस्यवस्तद्वधायेह ब्रह्मा क्षत्रमथासृजत् ॥१२-९०-८॥
tasyāṃ prayatamānāyāṃ ye syus tat-paripanthinaḥ। dasyavas tad-vadhāya iha brahmā kṣatram athāsṛjat॥12-90-8॥
[तस्याम् (tasyām) - in her; प्रयतमानायाम् (prayatamānāyām) - while striving; ये (ye) - who; स्युः (syuḥ) - may be; तत् (tat) - that; परिपन्थिनः (paripanthinaḥ) - opponents; दस्यवः (dasyavaḥ) - enemies; तत् (tat) - that; वधाय (vadhāya) - for the destruction; इह (iha) - here; ब्रह्मा (brahmā) - Brahmā; क्षत्रम् (kṣatram) - the kṣatriya order; अथ (atha) - then; असृजत् (asṛjat) - created;]
(In her, while striving, whoever may be those opponents, enemies, for the destruction of that, here, Brahmā then created the kṣatriya order.)
While she was striving, those who became her opponents—enemies—Brahmā then created the kṣatriya order here for their destruction.
शत्रूञ्जहि प्रजा रक्ष यजस्व क्रतुभिर्नृप। युध्यस्व समरे वीरो भूत्वा कौरवनन्दन ॥१२-९०-९॥
śatrūñjahi prajā rakṣa yajasva kratubhirnṛpa। yudhyasva samare vīro bhūtvā kauravanandana ॥12-90-9॥
[शत्रून् (śatrūn) - enemies; जहि (jahi) - destroy; प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - subjects; रक्ष (rakṣa) - protect; यजस्व (yajasva) - perform sacrifice; क्रतुभिः (kratubhiḥ) - with rituals; नृप (nṛpa) - O king; युध्यस्व (yudhyasva) - fight; समरे (samare) - in battle; वीरः (vīraḥ) - hero; भूत्वा (bhūtvā) - having become; कौरव-नन्दन (kaurava-nandana) - O joy of the Kauravas;]
(Destroy enemies, protect the subjects, perform sacrifice with rituals, O king. Fight in battle, having become a hero, O joy of the Kauravas.)
O Kauravanandana, destroy your enemies, protect your people, perform sacrifices with proper rituals, and as a hero, fight bravely in battle.
संरक्ष्यान्पालयेद्राजा यः स राजार्यकृत्तमः। ये केचित्तान्न रक्षन्ति तैरर्थो नास्ति कश्चन ॥१२-९०-१०॥
saṁrakṣyān pālayed rājā yaḥ sa rājā aryakṛttamaḥ। ye kecit tān na rakṣanti tair artho nāsti kaścana॥12-90-10॥
[संरक्ष्यान् (saṁrakṣyān) - those to be protected; पालयेत् (pālayet) - should protect; राजा (rājā) - the king; यः (yaḥ) - who; सः (saḥ) - he; राजा (rājā) - king; आर्यकृत् (aryakṛt) - noble-doer; तमः (tamaḥ) - the best; ये (ye) - who; केचित् (kecit) - some; तान् (tān) - them; न (na) - not; रक्षन्ति (rakṣanti) - protect; तैः (taiḥ) - by them; अर्थः (arthaḥ) - purpose; नास्ति (nāsti) - does not exist; कश्चन (kaścana) - any; ॥१२-९०-१०॥ (॥12-90-10॥) -;]
(The king who should protect those to be protected, he is the best among noble kings. Those who do not protect them, by them no purpose whatsoever exists.)
A king who protects those who ought to be protected is the best among noble kings. Those who do not protect them have no true purpose at all.
सदैव राज्ञा बोद्धव्यं सर्वलोकाद्युधिष्ठिर। तस्माद्धेतोर्हि भुञ्जीत मनुष्यानेव मानवः ॥१२-९०-११॥
sadāiva rājñā boddhavyaṃ sarvalokād yudhiṣṭhira। tasmād hetor hi bhuñjīta manuṣyān eva mānavaḥ ॥12-90-11॥
[सदैव (sadāiva) - always; राज्ञा (rājñā) - by the king; बोद्धव्यम् (boddhavyam) - to be understood; सर्वलोकात् (sarvalokāt) - from all people; युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - O Yudhishthira; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; हेतोः (hetoḥ) - for the reason; हि (hi) - indeed; भुञ्जीत (bhuñjīta) - should enjoy; मनुष्यानेव (manuṣyān eva) - only humans; मानवः (mānavaḥ) - a man;]
(Always by the king to be understood from all people, O Yudhishthira. Therefore, for that reason indeed, a man should enjoy only from humans.)
O Yudhishthira, a king must always understand from all people. Therefore, for that reason, a man should only enjoy what comes from humans.
अन्तरेभ्यः परान्रक्षन्परेभ्यः पुनरन्तरान्। परान्परेभ्यः स्वान्स्वेभ्यः सर्वान्पालय नित्यदा ॥१२-९०-१२॥
antarebhyaḥ parān rakṣan parebhyaḥ punar antarān। parān parebhyaḥ svān svebhyaḥ sarvān pālaya nityadā ॥12-90-12॥
[अन्तरेभ्यः (antarebhyaḥ) - from the insiders; परान् (parān) - outsiders; रक्षन् (rakṣan) - protecting; परेभ्यः (parebhyaḥ) - from the outsiders; पुनः (punar) - again; अन्तरान् (antarān) - insiders; परान् (parān) - outsiders; परेभ्यः (parebhyaḥ) - from the outsiders; स्वान् (svān) - one's own; स्वेभ्यः (svebhyaḥ) - from one's own; सर्वान् (sarvān) - all; पालय (pālaya) - protect; नित्यदा (nityadā) - always;]
(From the insiders, protecting the outsiders; from the outsiders, again (protect) the insiders. The outsiders from the outsiders, one's own from one's own, all protect always.)
Always protect everyone: protect outsiders from insiders, insiders from outsiders, and always safeguard your own from your own.
आत्मानं सर्वतो रक्षन्राजा रक्षेत मेदिनीम्। आत्ममूलमिदं सर्वमाहुर्हि विदुषो जनाः ॥१२-९०-१३॥
ātmānaṃ sarvato rakṣan rājā rakṣet medinīm। ātma-mūlam idaṃ sarvam āhuḥ hi viduṣaḥ janāḥ ॥12-90-13॥
[आत्मानम् (ātmānam) - oneself; सर्वतः (sarvataḥ) - from all sides; रक्षन् (rakṣan) - protecting; राजा (rājā) - the king; रक्षेत् (rakṣet) - should protect; मेदिनीम् (medinīm) - the earth; आत्म-मूलम् (ātma-mūlam) - rooted in oneself; इदं (idaṃ) - this; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all; आहुः (āhuḥ) - they say; हि (hi) - indeed; विदुषः (viduṣaḥ) - the wise; जनाः (janāḥ) - people;]
(The king, protecting himself from all sides, should protect the earth. The wise people indeed say that all this is rooted in oneself.)
A king who safeguards himself in every way should also protect the earth, for wise people declare that everything is ultimately rooted in oneself.
किं छिद्रं कोऽनुषङ्गो मे किं वास्त्यविनिपातितम्। कुतो मामास्रवेद्दोष इति नित्यं विचिन्तयेत् ॥१२-९०-१४॥
kiṃ chidraṃ ko'nuṣaṅgo me kiṃ vāstyavinipātitam। kuto māmāsraveddoṣa iti nityaṃ vicintayet ॥12-90-14॥
[किं (kiṃ) - what; छिद्रं (chidraṃ) - flaw; कः (kaḥ) - which; अनुषङ्गः (anuṣaṅgaḥ) - attachment; मे (me) - my; किं (kiṃ) - what; वा (vā) - or; अस्ति (asti) - is; अविनिपातितम् (avinipātitam) - not properly subdued; कुतः (kutaḥ) - from where; माम् (mām) - me; आस्रवेत् (āsravet) - may flow; दोषः (doṣaḥ) - fault; इति (iti) - thus; नित्यं (nityaṃ) - always; विचिन्तयेत् (vicintayet) - should reflect;]
(What flaw? Which attachment of mine? What or is there anything not properly subdued? From where may a fault flow to me? Thus, always should reflect.)
One should always reflect: "What is my flaw? Which attachment do I have? Is there anything in me that is not properly subdued? From where could a fault arise in me?"
गुप्तैश्चारैरनुमतैः पृथिवीमनुचारयेत्। सुनीतं यदि मे वृत्तं प्रशंसन्ति न वा पुनः ॥ कच्चिद्रोचेज्जनपदे कच्चिद्राष्ट्रे च मे यशः ॥१२-९०-१५॥
guptaiś cārair anumataiḥ pṛthivīm anucārayet। sunītaṃ yadi me vṛttaṃ praśaṃsanti na vā punaḥ॥ kaccid rocej janapade kaccid rāṣṭre ca me yaśaḥ॥12-90-15॥
[गुप्तैः (guptaiḥ) - by the secret; by the hidden; by the protected; by the concealed; by the secret agents; चारैः (cāraiḥ) - by the spies; by the informers; अनुमतैः (anumataiḥ) - by the approved; by the permitted; by the sanctioned; पृथिवीम् (pṛthivīm) - the earth; the land; अनुचारयेत् (anucārayet) - should cause to be observed; should have followed; should have patrolled; सुनीतं (sunītam) - well-conducted; good policy; good conduct; यदि (yadi) - if; मे (me) - my; वृत्तं (vṛttam) - conduct; behavior; प्रशंसन्ति (praśaṃsanti) - they praise; न (na) - not; वा (vā) - or; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; कच्चित् (kaccit) - whether; is it so; रोचेत् (rocet) - is pleasing; is agreeable; जनपदे (janapade) - in the country; in the region; कच्चित् (kaccit) - whether; is it so; राष्ट्रे (rāṣṭre) - in the kingdom; in the state; च (ca) - and; मे (me) - my; यशः (yaśaḥ) - fame; reputation;]
(By the secret agents and spies who are approved, the earth should be caused to be observed. If my conduct is well-governed, whether they praise it or not again, whether my fame is pleasing in the country, whether in the kingdom also.)
The earth should be patrolled by approved secret agents and spies. If my conduct is proper, whether people praise it or not, I wonder if my reputation is pleasing in the country and in the kingdom as well.
धर्मज्ञानां धृतिमतां सङ्ग्रामेष्वपलायिनाम्। राष्ट्रं च येऽनुजीवन्ति ये च राज्ञोऽनुजीविनः ॥१२-९०-१६॥
dharmajñānāṃ dhṛtimatāṃ saṅgrāmeṣvapalāyinām। rāṣṭraṃ ca ye'nujīvanti ye ca rājño'nujīvinaḥ ॥12-90-16॥
[धर्मज्ञानाम् (dharmajñānām) - of those who know dharma; धृतिमताम् (dhṛtimatām) - of the steadfast; सङ्ग्रामेषु (saṅgrāmeṣu) - in battles; अपलायिनाम् (apalāyinām) - of those who do not flee; राष्ट्रम् (rāṣṭram) - the kingdom; च (ca) - and; ये (ye) - who; अनुजीवन्ति (anujīvanti) - live by (depend on); ये (ye) - who; च (ca) - and; राज्ञः (rājñaḥ) - of the king; अनुजीविनः (anujīvinaḥ) - dependents;]
(Of those who know dharma, of the steadfast, of those who do not flee in battles, and the kingdom, and those who live by (depend on) it, and those who are dependents of the king.)
Of those who know dharma, the steadfast, those who do not flee in battle, the kingdom, those who depend on it, and those who are dependents of the king.
अमात्यानां च सर्वेषां मध्यस्थानां च सर्वशः। ये च त्वाभिप्रशंसेयुर्निन्देयुरथ वा पुनः ॥ सर्वान्सुपरिणीतांस्तान्कारयेत युधिष्ठिर ॥१२-९०-१७॥
amātyānāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ madhyasthānāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ। ye ca tvābhipraśaṃseyur nindeyur atha vā punaḥ॥ sarvān supariṇītāṃs tān kārayeta yudhiṣṭhira॥12-90-17॥
[अमात्यानाम् (amātyānām) - of ministers; च (ca) - and; सर्वेषाम् (sarveṣām) - of all; मध्यस्थानाम् (madhyasthānām) - of mediators; च (ca) - and; सर्वशः (sarvaśaḥ) - entirely; ये (ye) - who; च (ca) - and; त्वाम् (tvām) - you; अभिप्रशंसेयुः (abhipraśaṃseyuḥ) - might praise; निन्देयुः (nindeyuḥ) - might blame; अथ (atha) - or; वा (vā) - or; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; सर्वान् (sarvān) - all; सुपरिणीतान् (supariṇītān) - well-trained; तान् (tān) - them; कारयेत् (kārayet) - should employ; युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - O Yudhishthira;]
(Of ministers and of all mediators entirely; who might praise or blame you again; all those well-trained, them should employ, O Yudhishthira.)
O Yudhishthira, you should employ all those ministers and mediators, whether they praise or blame you, provided they are all well-trained.
एकान्तेन हि सर्वेषां न शक्यं तात रोचितुम्। मित्रामित्रमथो मध्यं सर्वभूतेषु भारत ॥१२-९०-१८॥
ekāntena hi sarveṣāṃ na śakyaṃ tāta rocitum। mitrāmitramatho madhyaṃ sarvabhūteṣu bhārata ॥12-90-18॥
[एकान्तेन (ekāntena) - by exclusiveness; by one-sidedness; हि (hi) - indeed; surely; सर्वेषां (sarveṣāṃ) - of all; of everyone; न (na) - not; शक्यं (śakyaṃ) - possible; तात (tāta) - O dear one; O father; रोचितुम् (rocitum) - to please; to satisfy; मित्र (mitra) - friend; अमित्रम् (amitraṃ) - enemy; अथ (atha) - and; also; उ (u) - indeed; (emphatic particle); मध्यम् (madhyam) - the neutral; the middle one; सर्वभूतेषु (sarvabhūteṣu) - among all beings; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata; descendant of Bharata;]
(By exclusiveness indeed of all not possible O dear one to please; friend enemy and also the neutral among all beings O Bhārata;)
O Bhārata, it is not possible, O dear one, to please everyone exclusively; friend, enemy, and also the neutral among all beings.
तुल्यबाहुबलानां च गुणैरपि निषेविनाम्। कथं स्यादधिकः कश्चित्स तु भुञ्जीत मानवान् ॥१२-९०-१९॥
tulyabāhubalānāṃ ca guṇairapi niṣevinām। kathaṃ syādadhikaḥ kaścitsa tu bhuñjīta mānavān ॥12-90-19॥
[तुल्य (tulya) - equal; बाहु (bāhu) - arm; बलानां (balānāṃ) - of strengths; च (ca) - and; गुणैः (guṇaiḥ) - by virtues; अपि (api) - also; निषेविनाम् (niṣevinām) - of those who practice; कथं (kathaṃ) - how; स्यात् (syāt) - could be; अधिकः (adhikaḥ) - superior; कश्चित् (kaścit) - anyone; स (sa) - he; तु (tu) - but; भुञ्जीत (bhuñjīta) - should enjoy; मानवान् (mānavān) - humans;]
(Of those with equal arm strength and also virtues, how could anyone be superior? But he should enjoy (the fruits) among men.)
Among those who are equal in strength and virtues, how can anyone be superior? Yet, he alone should enjoy (the fruits) among men.
ये चरा ह्यचरानद्युरदंष्ट्रान्दंष्ट्रिणस्तथा। आशीविषा इव क्रुद्धा भुजगा भुजगानिव ॥१२-९०-२०॥
ye carā hy acarān adyur adaṃṣṭrān daṃṣṭriṇas tathā। āśīviṣā iva kruddhā bhujagā bhujagān iva ॥12-90-20॥
[ये (ye) - who; (they who;) चरा (carāḥ) - moving beings; हि (hi) - indeed; अचरान् (acarān) - non-moving beings; अद्युः (adyuḥ) - ate; अदंष्ट्रान् (adaṃṣṭrān) - those without fangs; दंष्ट्रिणः (daṃṣṭriṇaḥ) - those with fangs; तथा (tathā) - likewise; आशीविषाः (āśīviṣāḥ) - venomous serpents; इव (iva) - like; क्रुद्धाः (kruddhāḥ) - angry; भुजगाः (bhujagāḥ) - serpents; भुजगान् (bhujagān) - other serpents; इव (iva) - like;]
(They who are moving beings indeed ate the non-moving beings, those without fangs and those with fangs likewise; like angry venomous serpents, serpents (ate) other serpents like (that).)
Those moving creatures indeed devoured the immobile ones, both the fangless and the fanged, just as angry venomous serpents devour other serpents.
एतेभ्यश्चाप्रमत्तः स्यात्सदा यत्तो युधिष्ठिर। भारुण्डसदृशा ह्येते निपतन्ति प्रमाद्यतः ॥१२-९०-२१॥
etebhyaścāpramattaḥ syātsadā yatto yudhiṣṭhira। bhāruṇḍasadṛśā hyete nipatanti pramādyataḥ ॥12-90-21॥
[एतेभ्यः (etebhyaḥ) - from these; च (ca) - and; अप्रमत्तः (apramattaḥ) - not careless; स्यात् (syāt) - should be; सदा (sadā) - always; यत्तः (yattaḥ) - attentive; युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - O Yudhiṣṭhira; भारुण्डसदृशाः (bhāruṇḍasadṛśāḥ) - like Bhāruṇḍa birds; हि (hi) - indeed; एते (ete) - these; निपतन्ति (nipatanti) - fall down; प्रमाद्यतः (pramādyataḥ) - from the careless one;]
(From these, and not careless, one should be always attentive, O Yudhiṣṭhira. Like Bhāruṇḍa birds indeed, these fall down from the careless one.)
O Yudhiṣṭhira, you should always be vigilant and not careless regarding these matters. For, like Bhāruṇḍa birds, these indeed fall down due to carelessness.
कच्चित्ते वणिजो राष्ट्रे नोद्विजन्ते करार्दिताः। क्रीणन्तो बहु वाल्पेन कान्तारकृतनिश्रमाः ॥१२-९०-२२॥
kaccitte vaṇijo rāṣṭre nodvijante karārditāḥ। krīṇanto bahu vālpena kāntārakṛtaniśramāḥ ॥12-90-22॥
[कच्चित् (kaccit) - whether; surely; ते (te) - your; वणिजः (vaṇijaḥ) - merchants; राष्ट्रे (rāṣṭre) - in the kingdom; न (na) - not; उद्विजन्ते (udvijante) - are distressed; कर (kara) - by taxes; आर्दिताः (ārditāḥ) - afflicted; क्रीणन्तः (krīṇantaḥ) - buying; बहु (bahu) - much; वा (vā) - or; अल्पेन (alpena) - with little; कान्तार (kāntāra) - by traversing forests; कृत (kṛta) - having done; निश्रमाः (niśramāḥ) - efforts;]
(Whether your merchants in the kingdom are not distressed, afflicted by taxes, buying much or with little, having made efforts by traversing forests.)
Are your merchants in the kingdom free from distress, not afflicted by taxes, able to buy much with little, and do they make their profits through their efforts in traversing forests?
कच्चित्कृषिकरा राष्ट्रं न जहत्यतिपीडिताः। ये वहन्ति धुरं राज्ञां सम्भरन्तीतरानपि ॥१२-९०-२३॥
kaccitkṛṣikarā rāṣṭraṃ na jahatyatipīḍitāḥ। ye vahanti dhuraṃ rājñāṃ sambharantītarānapi ॥12-90-23॥
[कच्चित् (kaccit) - whether; कृषिकराः (kṛṣikarāḥ) - farmers; राष्ट्रम् (rāṣṭram) - the kingdom; न (na) - not; जहति (jahati) - abandon; अतिपीडिताः (atipīḍitāḥ) - excessively oppressed; ये (ye) - who; वहन्ति (vahanti) - bear; धुरम् (dhuram) - the burden; राज्ञाम् (rājñām) - of kings; सम्भरन्ति (sambharanti) - support; इतरे (itare) - others; अपि (api) - also;]
(Whether the farmers, excessively oppressed, do not abandon the kingdom; who bear the burden of kings, and also support others.)
Are the farmers, who are excessively oppressed, not abandoning the kingdom? They bear the burden of the kings and also support others.
इतो दत्तेन जीवन्ति देवाः पितृगणास्तथा। मनुष्योरगरक्षांसि वयांसि पशवस्तथा ॥१२-९०-२४॥
ito dattena jīvanti devāḥ pitṛgaṇās tathā। manuṣyoragarakṣāṃsi vayāṃsi paśavas tathā ॥12-90-24॥
[इतो (itaḥ) - from this; दत्तेन (dattena) - by what is given; जीवन्ति (jīvanti) - live; देवाः (devāḥ) - the gods; पितृगणाः (pitṛgaṇāḥ) - the groups of ancestors; तथा (tathā) - likewise; मनुष्याः (manuṣyāḥ) - humans; उरगरक्षांसि (uragarakṣāṃsi) - serpents and rākṣasas; वयांसि (vayāṃsi) - birds; पशवः (paśavaḥ) - animals; तथा (tathā) - likewise;]
(From this (gift), the gods, the groups of ancestors, likewise humans, serpents and rākṣasas, birds, and likewise animals live.)
By what is given here, the gods, the groups of ancestors, humans, serpents and rākṣasas, birds, and animals all live.
एषा ते राष्ट्रवृत्तिश्च राष्ट्रगुप्तिश्च भारत। एतमेवार्थमाश्रित्य भूयो वक्ष्यामि पाण्डव ॥१२-९०-२५॥
eṣā te rāṣṭravṛttiś ca rāṣṭraguptiś ca bhārata। etam evārtham āśritya bhūyo vakṣyāmi pāṇḍava ॥12-90-25॥
[एषा (eṣā) - this (feminine); ते (te) - your; राष्ट्रवृत्तिः (rāṣṭravṛttiḥ) - state-conduct; च (ca) - and; राष्ट्रगुप्तिः (rāṣṭraguptiḥ) - protection of the kingdom; च (ca) - and; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata; एतम् (etam) - this; एव (eva) - indeed; अर्थम् (artham) - purpose; आश्रित्य (āśritya) - having resorted to; भूयः (bhūyaḥ) - again; वक्ष्यामि (vakṣyāmi) - I shall speak; पाण्डव (pāṇḍava) - O Pāṇḍava;]
(This is your state-conduct and protection of the kingdom, O Bhārata. Resorting to this very purpose, again I shall speak, O Pāṇḍava.)
O Bhārata, this is the conduct and protection of the kingdom for you. Based on this very purpose, I shall further explain, O Pāṇḍava.
