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utathya uvāca॥
Utathya said.
kālavarṣī ca parjanyo dharmacārī ca pārthivaḥ। sampadyadaiṣā bhavati sā bibharti sukhaṃ prajāḥ ॥12-92-1॥
When there is timely rain and the king follows righteousness, prosperity arises, and she brings happiness to the people.
yo na jānāti nirhantuṃ vastrāṇāṃ rajako malam। raktāni vā śodhayituṃ yathā nāsti tathaiva saḥ ॥12-92-2॥
A washerman who does not know how to remove dirt from clothes or to cleanse red garments is as good as non-existent.
evameva dvijendrāṇāṃ kṣatriyāṇāṃ viśāmapi। śūdrāś caturṇāṃ varṇānāṃ nānākarmasvavasthitāḥ ॥12-92-3॥
In the same way, among the foremost of the twice-born, the kṣatriyas, the vaiśyas, and also the śūdras, all four classes are established in their respective various duties.
karma śūdre kṛṣirvaiśye daṇḍanītiśca rājani। brahmacaryaṃ tapo mantrāḥ satyaṃ cāpi dvijātiṣu ॥12-92-4॥
For the Śūdra, action is prescribed; for the Vaiśya, agriculture; for the king, governance and the policy of punishment; among the twice-born, celibacy, austerity, mantras, and truth are also prescribed.
teṣāṃ yaḥ kṣatriyo veda vastrāṇāmiva śodhanam। śīladoṣānvinirhantuṃ sa pitā sa prajāpatiḥ ॥12-92-5॥
Among them, the kṣatriya who knows how to purify faults of character just as one knows the purification of garments, he is the father, he is the lord of the people.
kṛtaṃ tretā dvāparaś ca kaliś ca bharatarṣabha। rājavṛttāni sarvāṇi rājaiva yugam ucyate ॥12-92-6॥
O best of the Bharatas, the Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara, and Kali ages—all these royal conducts—are in fact called by the name of the king; the king alone is regarded as the embodiment of the age.
cāturvarṇyaṃ tathā vedāścāturāśramyameva ca। sarvaṃ pramuhyate hyetadyadā rājā pramādyati॥12-92-7॥
When the king is negligent, the fourfold order of society, the Vedas, and the fourfold order of life—all of this becomes confounded.
rājaiva kartā bhūtānāṃ rājaiva ca vināśakaḥ। dharmātmā yaḥ sa kartā syādadharmātmā vināśakaḥ ॥12-92-8॥
The king alone is the creator and destroyer of beings. A righteous king is a creator, while an unrighteous king is a destroyer.
rājño bhāryāś ca putrāś ca bāndhavāḥ suhṛdas tathā। sametya sarve śocanti yadā rājā pramādyati॥12-92-9॥
When the king is negligent, all his wives, sons, relatives, and friends gather together and grieve.
hastino'śvāś ca gāvaś cāpy uṣṭrāśvataragardabhāḥ। adharmavṛtte nṛpatau sarve sīdanti pārthiva ॥12-92-10॥
O king, when the ruler acts unrighteously, all—elephants, horses, cows, camels, mules, and donkeys—suffer decline.
durbalārthaṃ balaṃ sṛṣṭaṃ dhātrā māndhātarucyate. abalaṃ tanmahadbhūtaṃ yasminsarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam ॥12-92-11॥
Māndhātā says: Strength was created by the Creator for the sake of the weak. That great being, the powerless, is the foundation in which everything is established.
yacca bhūtaṃ sa bhajate bhūtā ye ca tadanvayāḥ। adharmasthe hi nṛpatau sarve sīdanti pārthiva ॥12-92-12॥
Whatever has become, he associates with; the beings who are his followers, when the king is established in unrighteousness, all sink, O king.
durbalasya hi yac cakṣur muner āśīviṣasya ca। aviṣahyatamaṃ manye mā sma durbalam āsadaḥ ॥12-92-13॥
I believe that the gaze of the weak, the sage, and the venomous serpent is most unbearable; therefore, never approach the weak.
durbalāṃs tāta budhyethā nityam eva avimānitān। mā tvāṃ durbalacakṣūṃṣi pradahēyuḥ sabāndhavam ॥12-92-14॥
O dear one, always recognize the weak who have not been insulted. Do not let the gaze of the weak bring harm to you and your family.
na hi durbaladaghdhasya kule kiñcitprarohati। āmūlaṃ nirdahatyeva mā sma durbalamāsadaḥ ॥12-92-15॥
Nothing ever flourishes in a family consumed by weakness; it is completely destroyed from the root. Therefore, never associate with the weak.
abalaṃ vai balāc chreyo yac cātibalavad balam। balasyābaladagdhasya na kiñcid avaśiṣyate ॥12-92-16॥
It is indeed better to have no strength than to have strength like that of one who is excessively strong; for when strength is consumed by weakness, nothing remains.
vimānito hatotkruṣṭastrātāraṃ cen na vindati। amānuṣakṛtastatra daṇḍo hanti narādhipam ॥12-92-17॥
If a dishonored or slain and exalted person does not find a protector, then the punishment inflicted by non-humans in that situation destroys the king.
mā sma tāta bale stheyā bādhiṣṭhā māpi durbalam। mā tvā durbalacakṣūṃṣi dhakṣyantyagnirivāśrayam ॥12-92-18॥
O dear one, do not rely on your strength alone, nor oppress the weak. Beware, lest the weak and watchful harm you as fire consumes its own support.
yāni mithyābhiśastānāṃ patantyaśrūṇi rodatām। tāni putrānpaśūnghnanti teṣāṃ mithyābhiśāsatām ॥12-92-19॥
The tears shed by the falsely accused, while they are weeping, destroy the sons and cattle of those who have falsely accused them.
yadi nātmani putreṣu na cetpautreṣu naptriṣu। na hi pāpaṃ kṛtaṃ karma sadyaḥ phalati gauriva ॥12-92-20॥
If not in oneself, then in one's sons, or if not in them, then in grandsons or great-grandsons, sinful actions do not immediately bear fruit, just as with a cow.
yatrābalo vadhyamānas trātāraṃ nādhigacchati। mahān daivakṛtas tatra daṇḍaḥ patati dāruṇaḥ ॥12-92-21॥
Where the weak are slain and find no protector, there a great and terrible punishment, ordained by fate, befalls.
yuktā yadā jānapadā bhikṣante brāhmaṇā iva। abhīkṣṇaṃ bhikṣudoṣeṇa rājānaṃ ghnanti tādṛśāḥ ॥12-92-22॥
When the people of the country, united, beg like Brāhmaṇas, such people, by the constant fault of begging, destroy the king.
rājño yadā janapade bahavo rājapūruṣāḥ। anayenopavartante tadrājñaḥ kilbiṣaṃ mahat ॥12-92-23॥
When many royal officers in the country act unjustly, the great sin falls upon the king.
yadā yuktā nayantyarthānkāmādarthavaśena vā। kṛpaṇaṃ yācamānānāṃ tadrājño vaiśasaṃ mahat ॥12-92-24॥
When those in power direct resources either out of desire or due to the influence of wealth, the suffering of the beggars is the king's great cruelty.
mahāvṛkṣo jāyate vardhate ca; taṃ caiva bhūtāni samāśrayanti. yadā vṛkṣaś chidyate dahyate vā; tadāśrayā aniketā bhavanti ॥12-92-25॥
A great tree is born and grows, and all creatures take shelter in it; but when the tree is cut down or burned, those who depended on it become homeless.
yadā rāṣṭre dharmamagryaṃ caranti; saṃskāraṃ vā rājaguṇaṃ bruvāṇāḥ। tairevādharmascarito dharmamohā; t-tūrṇaṃ jahyātsukṛtaṃ duṣkṛtaṃ ca ॥12-92-26॥
When, in a kingdom, people practice what is considered the highest dharma, or speak of refinement or royal virtues, it is by these very people, deluded by dharma, that unrighteousness is practiced; therefore, one should quickly abandon both good and bad deeds.
yatra pāpā jñāyamānāś caranti; satāṃ kalir vindati tatra rājñaḥ। yadā rājā śāsti narān na śiṣyān; na tad rājyaṃ vardhate bhūmipāla ॥12-92-27॥
Where evildoers are recognized and yet move about freely, there discord among the virtuous reaches the king. When the king punishes men who are not his disciples, O protector of the earth, such a kingdom does not prosper.
yaś cāmātyaṃ mānayitvā yathārhaṃ; mantre ca yuddhe ca nṛpo niyuñjyāt। pravardhate tasya rāṣṭraṃ nṛpasya; bhuṅkte mahīṃ cāpyakhilāṃ cirāya ॥12-92-28॥
A king who honors his minister as he deserves and employs him in counsel and battle, his kingdom prospers; he enjoys the earth, even the whole earth, for a long time.
atrāpi sukṛtaṃ karma vācaṃ caiva subhāṣitām। samīkṣya pūjayan rājā dharmaṃ prāpnoty anuttamam ॥12-92-29॥
Here too, when the king examines and honours good deeds and well-spoken words, he attains the highest righteousness.
saṃvibhajya yadā bhuṅkte na cānyānavamanyate। nihanti balinaṃ dṛptaṃ sa rājño dharma ucyate ॥12-92-30॥
When one enjoys after distributing and does not despise others, and destroys the powerful and arrogant, that is called the duty of a king.
trāyate hi yadā sarvaṃ vācā kāyena karmaṇā। putrasyāpi na mṛṣyecca sa rājño dharma ucyate ॥12-92-31॥
When one protects everyone by speech, body, and action, and does not tolerate even the faults of his own son, that is called the king's dharma.
yadā śāraṇikān rājā putravat parirakṣati। bhinatti na ca maryādāṃ sa rājño dharma ucyate ॥12-92-32॥
When a king protects his dependents as if they were his own children and does not transgress boundaries, that is called the king's duty.
yad-āpta-dakṣiṇaiḥ yajñaiḥ yajate śraddhayā-anvitaḥ। kāma-dveṣau anādṛtya sa rājñaḥ dharmaḥ ucyate॥12-92-33॥
That which is performed with proper fees and sacrifices, with faith, disregarding desire and hatred, is called the king's duty.
kṛpaṇānātha-vṛddhānāṃ yad āśru vyapamārṣṭi vai। harṣaṃ sañjanayan nṝṇāṃ sa rājño dharma ucyate ॥12-92-34॥
The king's duty is said to be that which truly wipes away the tears of the miserable, the helpless, and the aged, and brings joy to people.
vivardhayati mitrāṇi tathārīṃścāpakarṣati. sampūjayati sādhūṃśca sa rājño dharma ucyate ॥12-92-35॥
The king's duty is said to be this: to foster friends, to remove enemies in the same way, and to honor the virtuous.
satyaṃ pālayati prāptyā nityaṃ bhūmiṃ prayacchati। pūjayaty-atithīn-bhṛtyān-sa rājño dharma ucyate ॥12-92-36॥
To protect truth, to always grant land, to honor guests and servants—this is said to be the king's dharma.
nigrahānugrahau cobhau yatra syātāṃ pratiṣṭhitau। asmiṃlloke pare caiva rājā tatprāpnute phalam ॥12-92-37॥
Wherever both restraint and favour are established, the king attains the corresponding results in this world and the next.
yamo rājā dhārmikāṇāṃ māndhātaḥ parameśvaraḥ। saṃyacchanbhavati prāṇānna saṃyacchaṃstu pāpakaḥ॥12-92-38॥
Yama is the king of the righteous, Mandhata is the supreme lord. He who restrains (his senses) lives; but he who does not restrain is wicked.
ṛtvikpurohitācāryānsatkṛtyānavamanya ca। yadā samyakpragṛhṇāti sa rājño dharma ucyate ॥12-92-39॥
It is said to be the king's duty when he honors and does not disrespect priests, family priests, and teachers, and properly receives them.
yamo yacchati bhūtāni sarvāṇyevāviśeṣataḥ। tasya rājñānukartavyaṃ yantavyā vidhivatprajāḥ ॥12-92-40॥
Yama restrains all beings equally without distinction. The king should follow his example; the subjects must be governed according to the law.
sahasrākṣeṇa rājā hi sarva evopamīyate। sa paśyati hi yaṃ dharmaṃ sa dharmaḥ puruṣarṣabha ॥12-92-41॥
O bull among men, the king is always compared to Indra. Whatever dharma he sees, that is dharma itself.
apramādena śikṣethāḥ kṣamāṃ buddhiṃ dhṛtiṃ matim। bhūtānāṃ sattvajijñāsāṃ sādhvasādhu ca sarvadā ॥12-92-42॥
With vigilance, you should cultivate forbearance, intellect, steadfastness, wisdom, inquiry into the nature of beings, and always discern between good and not good.
saṅgrahaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ dānaṃ ca madhurā ca vāk। paurajānapadāścaiva goptavyāḥ svā yathā prajāḥ ॥12-92-43॥
One should gather all beings, give gifts, speak sweetly, and protect both citizens and country people just as one would protect one's own subjects.
na jātvadakṣo nṛpatiḥ prajāḥ śaknoti rakṣitum। bhāro hi sumahāṃstāta rājyaṃ nāma suduṣkaram ॥12-92-44॥
An unskilful king is never able to protect his subjects. The burden of the kingdom, dear one, is indeed very great and extremely difficult to bear.
tad-daṇḍa-vit-nṛpaḥ prājñaḥ śūraḥ śaknoti rakṣitum। na hi śakyam adaṇḍena klībena abuddhinā api vā ॥12-92-45॥
A king who knows how to wield punishment, who is wise and valiant, is able to protect; but protection is not possible by one who does not use punishment, or by one who is impotent or foolish.
abhirūpaiḥ kule jātairdakṣairbhaktairbahuśrutaiḥ। sarvā buddhīḥ parīkṣethāstāpasāśramiṇāmapi ॥12-92-46॥
You should examine the intellects of all, whether they are handsome, born in noble families, competent, devoted, or well-learned, even those of ascetics living in hermitages.
tatastvaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ dharmaṃ vetsyasi vai param। svadeśe paradeśe vā na te dharmo vinaśyati ॥12-92-47॥
Then you will truly know the highest dharma of all beings. Whether in your own land or in another, your dharma will never be lost.
dharmaś cārthaś ca kāmaś ca dharma evottaro bhavet। asmiñl loke pare caiva dharmavit sukham edhate ॥12-92-48॥
Righteousness, wealth, and desire—of these, righteousness alone should be regarded as superior. In this world and in the next, the knower of righteousness attains happiness.
tyajanti dārān prāṇāṁś ca manuṣyāḥ pratipūjitāḥ। saṅgrahaś caiva bhūtānāṁ dānaṁ ca madhurā ca vāk ॥12-92-49॥
Honored men abandon even wives and their own lives; for beings, accumulation, charity, and sweet speech are valued.
apramādaś ca śaucaṃ ca tāta bhūtikaraṃ mahat। etebhyaś caiva māndhātaḥ satataṃ mā pramādithāḥ ॥12-92-50॥
O Māndhāta, non-negligence and purity are great sources of welfare; always, do not be negligent regarding these.
apramatto bhaved rājā chidradaṛśī parātmanoḥ। nāsya chidraṃ paraḥ paśyec chidreṣu param anviyāt ॥12-92-51॥
A king should always be vigilant and perceptive of faults in himself and others. He should not allow others to discover his weaknesses, nor should he seek out faults in others.
etadvṛttaṃ vāsavasya yamasya varuṇasya ca। rājarṣīṇāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ tattvam apy anupālaya ॥12-92-52॥
You should also observe this conduct of Vāsava, Yama, Varuṇa, and the essential principles of all royal sages.
tat kuruṣva mahārāja vṛttaṃ rājarṣisevitam। ātiṣṭha divyaṃ panthānam ahnāya bharatarṣabha ॥12-92-53॥
O great king, perform that conduct which has been followed by royal sages. Set forth on the divine path for the day, O foremost of the Bharatas.
dharmavṛttaṃ hi rājānaṃ pretya ceha ca bhārata। devarṣipitṛgandharvāḥ kīrtayantyamitaujasaḥ ॥12-92-54॥
O Bhārata, the gods, sages, ancestors, and gandharvas of immeasurable energy praise a king who follows righteous conduct, both in this world and after death.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
sa evam-ukto māndhātā tenotathyena bhārata। kṛtavān-aviśaṅkas-tad-ekaḥ prāpa ca medinīm ॥12-92-55॥
O Bhārata, thus addressed by Utathya, Māndhātā, without doubt, did that alone and attained the earth.
bhavān api tathā samyaṅ māndhāteva mahīpatiḥ। dharmaṃ kṛtvā mahīṃ rakṣan svarge sthānam avāpsyasi॥12-92-56॥
You too, O king, if you act righteously and protect the earth as Māndhātṛ did, will attain a place in heaven.
