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भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
यानङ्गिराः क्षत्रधर्मानुतथ्यो ब्रह्मवित्तमः। मान्धात्रे यौवनाश्वाय प्रीतिमानभ्यभाषत ॥१२-९१-१॥
The sage Angiras, Anutathya, the foremost knower of Brahman and follower of the kṣatriya duty, affectionately spoke to Māndhātṛ and Yauvanāśva.
स यथानुशशासैनमुतथ्यो ब्रह्मवित्तमः। तत्ते सर्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि निखिलेन युधिष्ठिर ॥१२-९१-२॥
Utathya, the foremost knower of Brahman, instructed him as follows. Now, O Yudhiṣṭhira, I shall explain all of that to you in full.
उतथ्य उवाच॥
Utathya said.
धर्माय राजा भवति न कामकरणाय तु। मान्धातरेवं जानीहि राजा लोकस्य रक्षिता ॥१२-९१-३॥
A king exists for the sake of dharma, not for fulfilling personal desires. Know this, O Māndhātṛ: the king is the protector of the people.
राजा चरति वै धर्मं देवत्वायैव गच्छति। न चेद्धर्मं स चरति नरकायैव गच्छति ॥१२-९१-४॥
If a king acts according to righteousness, he attains divinity; but if he does not act righteously, he goes to hell.
धर्मे तिष्ठन्ति भूतानि धर्मो राजनि तिष्ठति। तं राजा साधु यः शास्ति स राजा पृथिवीपतिः ॥१२-९१-५॥
All beings are established in dharma; dharma is established in the king. The king who rules properly is truly the king, the lord of the earth.
राजा परमधर्मात्मा लक्ष्मीवान्पाप उच्यते। देवाश्च गर्हां गच्छन्ति धर्मो नास्तीति चोच्यते ॥१२-९१-६॥
Even a king of supreme righteousness and fortune is called sinful; the gods are reproached, and it is said that righteousness does not exist.
अधर्मे वर्तमानानामर्थसिद्धिः प्रदृश्यते। तदेव मङ्गलं सर्वं लोकः समनुवर्तते ॥१२-९१-७॥
When those who act unrighteously succeed, that alone is considered auspicious, and all people follow it.
उच्छिद्यते धर्मवृत्तमधर्मो वर्तते महान्। भयमाहुर्दिवारात्रं यदा पापो न वार्यते ॥१२-९१-८॥
When the course of righteousness is destroyed and great unrighteousness prevails, people say there is fear day and night, when sin is not restrained.
न वेदाननुवर्तन्ति व्रतवन्तो द्विजातयः। न यज्ञांस्तन्वते विप्रा यदा पापो न वार्यते ॥१२-९१-९॥
When sin is not restrained, the twice-born who possess vows do not follow the Vedas, nor do the Brāhmaṇas perform sacrifices.
वध्यानामिव सर्वेषां मनो भवति विह्वलम्। मनुष्याणां महाराज यदा पापो न वार्यते ॥१२-९१-१०॥
O great king, when sin is not restrained among men, the minds of all become agitated, just like those who are about to be slain.
उभौ लोकावभिप्रेक्ष्य राजानमृषयः स्वयम्। असृजन्सुमहद्भूतमयं धर्मो भविष्यति ॥१२-९१-११॥
The sages, after considering both worlds, themselves created the king. This great being, dharma, will exist.
यस्मिन्धर्मो विराजेत तं राजानं प्रचक्षते। यस्मिन्विलीयते धर्मस्तं देवा वृषलं विदुः ॥१२-९१-१२॥
He in whom dharma shines is called a king; he in whom dharma is destroyed, the gods know as an outcaste.
वृषो हि भगवान्धर्मो यस्तस्य कुरुते ह्यलम्। वृषलं तं विदुर्देवास्तस्माद्धर्मं न लोपयेत् ॥१२-९१-१३॥
The bull is indeed the revered dharma; whoever acts contrary to it is known by the gods as unrighteous. Therefore, one should not let dharma perish.
धर्मे वर्धति वर्धन्ति सर्वभूतानि सर्वदा। तस्मिन्ह्रसति हीयन्ते तस्माद्धर्मं प्रवर्धयेत् ॥१२-९१-१४॥
When dharma flourishes, all beings always prosper; when it diminishes, they decline. Therefore, one should promote dharma.
धनात्स्रवति धर्मो हि धारणाद्वेति निश्चयः। अकार्याणां मनुष्येन्द्र स सीमान्तकरः स्मृतः ॥१२-९१-१५॥
O king of men, it is certain that dharma flows from wealth and certainty arises from sustaining. One who engages in improper acts is remembered as a destroyer of boundaries.
प्रभवार्थं हि भूतानां धर्मः सृष्टः स्वयम्भुवा। तस्मात्प्रवर्धयेद्धर्मं प्रजानुग्रहकारणात् ॥१२-९१-१६॥
Dharma was established by the Self-born (Brahmā) for the creation of beings. Therefore, one should uphold dharma for the welfare of all creatures.
तस्माद्धि राजशार्दूल धर्मः श्रेष्ठ इति स्मृतः। स राजा यः प्रजाः शास्ति साधुकृत्पुरुषर्षभः ॥१२-९१-१७॥
Therefore, O best of kings, it is remembered that dharma is supreme. That king who rules his subjects righteously is the best among men.
कामक्रोधावनादृत्य धर्ममेवानुपालयेत्। धर्मः श्रेयस्करतमो राज्ञां भरतसत्तम ॥१२-९१-१८॥
O best of the Bharatas, disregarding desire and anger, a king should uphold only dharma, for dharma brings the greatest good to rulers.
धर्मस्य ब्राह्मणा योनिस्तस्मात्तान्पूजयेत्सदा। ब्राह्मणानां च मान्धातः कामान्कुर्यादमत्सरी ॥१२-९१-१९॥
The Brāhmaṇas are the source of righteousness; therefore, they should always be honored. O Māndhāta, one should fulfill the wishes of the Brāhmaṇas without jealousy.
तेषां ह्यकामकरणाद्राज्ञः सञ्जायते भयम्। मित्राणि च न वर्धन्ते तथामित्रीभवन्त्यपि ॥१२-९१-२०॥
Indeed, when people act against the king's wishes, fear arises among them; their friends do not grow, and thus, even friends may become enemies.
ब्राह्मणान्वै तदासूयाद्यदा वैरोचनो बलिः। अथास्माच्छ्रीरपाक्रामद्यास्मिन्नासीत्प्रतापिनी ॥१२-९१-२१॥
When Bali, the son of Virocana, envied the Brāhmaṇas, the glorious prosperity that was in him departed from him.
ततस्तस्मादपक्रम्य सागच्छत्पाकशासनम्। अथ सोऽन्वतपत्पश्चाच्छ्रियं दृष्ट्वा पुरंदरे ॥१२-९१-२२॥
Then, having departed from there, he went to Indra. Seeing Śrī in Indra, he followed after.
एतत्फलमसूयाया अभिमानस्य चाभिभो। तस्माद्बुध्यस्व मान्धातर्मा त्वा जह्यात्प्रतापिनी ॥१२-९१-२३॥
This is the result of envy and pride, O conqueror. Therefore, understand this, O Māndhātṛ; do not let your burning energy leave you.
दर्पो नाम श्रियः पुत्रो जज्ञेऽधर्मादिति श्रुतिः। तेन देवासुरा राजन्नीताः सुबहुशो वशम् ॥१२-९१-२४॥
The śruti says: 'Pride', the son of Śrī, was born from adharma. By him, O king, both gods and asuras were repeatedly brought under control.
राजर्षयश्च बहवस्तस्माद्बुध्यस्व पार्थिव। राजा भवति तं जित्वा दासस्तेन पराजितः ॥१२-९१-२५॥
O king, understand that many royal sages have existed. One who conquers becomes king; the one defeated by him becomes a servant.
स यथा दर्पसहितमधर्मं नानुसेवसे। तथा वर्तस्व मान्धातश्चिरं चेत्स्थातुमिच्छसि ॥१२-९१-२६॥
Just as you do not follow unrighteousness with arrogance, in the same way, O Māndhāta, conduct yourself if you wish to remain for a long time.
मत्तात्प्रमत्तात्पोगण्डादुन्मत्ताच्च विशेषतः। तदभ्यासादुपावर्तादहितानां च सेवनात् ॥१२-९१-२७॥
Especially, one should avoid actions learned from the intoxicated, the careless, the child, the insane, from repeated practice, from association with the harmful, and from indulgence.
निगृहीतादमात्याच्च स्त्रीभ्यश्चैव विशेषतः। पर्वताद्विषमाद्दुर्गाद्धस्तिनोऽश्वात्सरीसृपात् ॥१२-९१-२८॥
Especially beware of the restrained, ministers, and women; also from mountains, uneven ground, fortresses, elephants, horses, and reptiles.
एतेभ्यो नित्ययत्तः स्यान्नक्तञ्चर्यां च वर्जयेत्। अत्यायं चातिमानं च दम्भं क्रोधं च वर्जयेत् ॥१२-९१-२९॥
One should always be devoted to these; one should avoid night-wandering, excessive effort, arrogance, hypocrisy, and anger.
अविज्ञातासु च स्त्रीषु क्लीबासु स्वैरिणीषु च। परभार्यासु कन्यासु नाचरेन्मैथुनं नृपः ॥१२-९१-३०॥
A king should not engage in sexual union with unknown women, impotent women, unchaste women, other men's wives, or maidens.
कुलेषु पापरक्षांसि जायन्ते वर्णसङ्करात्। अपुमांसोऽङ्गहीनाश्च स्थूलजिह्वा विचेतसः ॥१२-९१-३१॥
When castes are mixed, evil spirits arise in families; there are also those who lack manliness, are limb-deficient, thick-tongued, and unintelligent.
एते चान्ये च जायन्ते यदा राजा प्रमाद्यति। तस्माद्राज्ञा विशेषेण वर्तितव्यं प्रजाहिते ॥१२-९१-३२॥
When the king is negligent, such people and others arise. Therefore, the king must especially conduct himself for the welfare of his subjects.
क्षत्रियस्य प्रमत्तस्य दोषः सञ्जायते महान्। अधर्माः सम्प्रवर्तन्ते प्रजासङ्करकारकाः ॥१२-९१-३३॥
When a kṣatriya becomes negligent, a great fault arises; unrighteous acts that cause confusion among the people are set in motion.
अशीते विद्यते शीतं शीते शीतं न विद्यते। अवृष्टिरतिवृष्टिश्च व्याधिश्चाविशति प्रजाः ॥१२-९१-३४॥
When there is no cold, cold is present; when it is cold, cold is absent. Drought, excessive rain, and disease afflict the people.
नक्षत्राण्युपतिष्ठन्ति ग्रहा घोरास्तथापरे। उत्पाताश्चात्र दृश्यन्ते बहवो राजनाशनाः ॥१२-९१-३५॥
Stars and planets, some of which are terrible, approach; likewise, many ominous portents destructive to kings are seen here.
अरक्षितात्मा यो राजा प्रजाश्चापि न रक्षति। प्रजाश्च तस्य क्षीयन्ते ताश्च सोऽनु विनश्यति ॥१२-९१-३६॥
A king who does not protect himself and his subjects, his subjects dwindle, and he himself perishes after them.
द्वावाददाते ह्येकस्य द्वयोश्च बहवोऽपरे। कुमार्यः सम्प्रलुप्यन्ते तदाहुर्नृपदूषणम् ॥१२-९१-३७॥
It is said to be a disgrace to kings when two take from one, and from two, many others; thus, maidens are completely lost.
ममैतदिति नैकस्य मनुष्येष्ववतिष्ठते। त्यक्त्वा धर्मं यदा राजा प्रमादमनुतिष्ठति ॥१२-९१-३८॥
The notion 'this is mine' does not remain with any one among men. When a king abandons righteousness, he acts negligently.
