12.090
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said:
vanaspatīn bhakṣyaphalān na chindyur viṣaye tava। brāhmaṇānāṃ mūlaphalaṃ dharmyam āhur manīṣiṇaḥ॥12-90-1॥
In your territory, trees and edible fruits should not be cut. The wise declare that for Brāhmaṇas, root-fruits are considered righteous.
brāhmaṇebhyo'tiriktaṃ ca bhuñjīrannitare janāḥ। na brāhmaṇoparodhena haredanyaḥ kathaṃcana॥12-90-2॥
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.
vipraś cet tyāgam ātiṣṭhet ākhyāyā vṛtti-karśitaḥ। parikalpyāsya vṛttiḥ syāt sadārasya narādhipa ॥12-90-3॥
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.
sa cennopanivarteta vācyo brāhmaṇasaṃsadi। kasminnidānīṃ maryādāmayaṃ lokaḥ kariṣyati ॥12-90-4॥
If he does not return, he should be addressed in the assembly of Brāhmaṇas. Now, in whom will this world establish its boundaries?
asaṃśayaṃ nivarteta na ced vakṣyaty ataḥ param। pūrvaṃ parokṣaṃ kartavyam etat kaunteya śāsanam ॥12-90-5॥
O son of Kunti, without doubt, one should desist; if not, he will speak further. This command should be carried out secretly beforehand.
āhuretajjanā brahmann caitacchraddadhāmyaham। nimantryaśca bhavedbhogairavṛttyā cettadācaret ॥12-90-6॥
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.
kṛṣigorakṣyavāṇijyaṃ lokānāmiha jīvanam। ūrdhvaṃ caiva trayī vidyā sā bhūtānbhāvayatyuta ॥12-90-7॥
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.
tasyāṃ prayatamānāyāṃ ye syus tat-paripanthinaḥ। dasyavas tad-vadhāya iha brahmā kṣatram athāsṛjat॥12-90-8॥
While she was striving, those who became her opponents—enemies—Brahmā then created the kṣatriya order here for their destruction.
śatrūñjahi prajā rakṣa yajasva kratubhirnṛpa। yudhyasva samare vīro bhūtvā kauravanandana ॥12-90-9॥
O Kauravanandana, destroy your enemies, protect your people, perform sacrifices with proper rituals, and as a hero, fight bravely in battle.
saṁrakṣyān pālayed rājā yaḥ sa rājā aryakṛttamaḥ। ye kecit tān na rakṣanti tair artho nāsti kaścana॥12-90-10॥
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.
sadāiva rājñā boddhavyaṃ sarvalokād yudhiṣṭhira। tasmād hetor hi bhuñjīta manuṣyān eva mānavaḥ ॥12-90-11॥
O Yudhishthira, a king must always understand from all people. Therefore, for that reason, a man should only enjoy what comes from humans.
antarebhyaḥ parān rakṣan parebhyaḥ punar antarān। parān parebhyaḥ svān svebhyaḥ sarvān pālaya nityadā ॥12-90-12॥
Always protect everyone: protect outsiders from insiders, insiders from outsiders, and always safeguard your own from your own.
ātmānaṃ sarvato rakṣan rājā rakṣet medinīm। ātma-mūlam idaṃ sarvam āhuḥ hi viduṣaḥ janāḥ ॥12-90-13॥
A king who safeguards himself in every way should also protect the earth, for wise people declare that everything is ultimately rooted in oneself.
kiṃ chidraṃ ko'nuṣaṅgo me kiṃ vāstyavinipātitam। kuto māmāsraveddoṣa iti nityaṃ vicintayet ॥12-90-14॥
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?"
guptaiś cārair anumataiḥ pṛthivīm anucārayet। sunītaṃ yadi me vṛttaṃ praśaṃsanti na vā punaḥ॥ kaccid rocej janapade kaccid rāṣṭre ca me yaśaḥ॥12-90-15॥
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.
dharmajñānāṃ dhṛtimatāṃ saṅgrāmeṣvapalāyinām। rāṣṭraṃ ca ye'nujīvanti ye ca rājño'nujīvinaḥ ॥12-90-16॥
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.
amātyānāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ madhyasthānāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ। ye ca tvābhipraśaṃseyur nindeyur atha vā punaḥ॥ sarvān supariṇītāṃs tān kārayeta yudhiṣṭhira॥12-90-17॥
O Yudhishthira, you should employ all those ministers and mediators, whether they praise or blame you, provided they are all well-trained.
ekāntena hi sarveṣāṃ na śakyaṃ tāta rocitum। mitrāmitramatho madhyaṃ sarvabhūteṣu bhārata ॥12-90-18॥
O Bhārata, it is not possible, O dear one, to please everyone exclusively; friend, enemy, and also the neutral among all beings.
tulyabāhubalānāṃ ca guṇairapi niṣevinām। kathaṃ syādadhikaḥ kaścitsa tu bhuñjīta mānavān ॥12-90-19॥
Among those who are equal in strength and virtues, how can anyone be superior? Yet, he alone should enjoy (the fruits) among men.
ye carā hy acarān adyur adaṃṣṭrān daṃṣṭriṇas tathā। āśīviṣā iva kruddhā bhujagā bhujagān iva ॥12-90-20॥
Those moving creatures indeed devoured the immobile ones, both the fangless and the fanged, just as angry venomous serpents devour other serpents.
etebhyaścāpramattaḥ syātsadā yatto yudhiṣṭhira। bhāruṇḍasadṛśā hyete nipatanti pramādyataḥ ॥12-90-21॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, you should always be vigilant and not careless regarding these matters. For, like Bhāruṇḍa birds, these indeed fall down due to carelessness.
kaccitte vaṇijo rāṣṭre nodvijante karārditāḥ। krīṇanto bahu vālpena kāntārakṛtaniśramāḥ ॥12-90-22॥
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?
kaccitkṛṣikarā rāṣṭraṃ na jahatyatipīḍitāḥ। ye vahanti dhuraṃ rājñāṃ sambharantītarānapi ॥12-90-23॥
Are the farmers, who are excessively oppressed, not abandoning the kingdom? They bear the burden of the kings and also support others.
ito dattena jīvanti devāḥ pitṛgaṇās tathā। manuṣyoragarakṣāṃsi vayāṃsi paśavas tathā ॥12-90-24॥
By what is given here, the gods, the groups of ancestors, humans, serpents and rākṣasas, birds, and animals all live.
eṣā te rāṣṭravṛttiś ca rāṣṭraguptiś ca bhārata। etam evārtham āśritya bhūyo vakṣyāmi pāṇḍava ॥12-90-25॥
O Bhārata, this is the conduct and protection of the kingdom for you. Based on this very purpose, I shall further explain, O Pāṇḍava.
