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युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
कथं धर्मे स्थातुमिच्छन्राजा वर्तेत धार्मिकः। पृच्छामि त्वा कुरुश्रेष्ठ तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥१२-९३-१॥
O best of Kurus, grandfather, I ask you: How should a righteous king, desiring to stand in dharma, act? Please tell me that.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said:
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। गीतं दृष्टार्थतत्त्वेन वामदेवेन धीमता ॥१२-९३-२॥
Here too, they recount this ancient story, as recited with practical insight by the wise Vāmadeva.
राजा वसुमना नाम कौसल्यो बलवाञ्शुचिः। महर्षिं परिपप्रच्छ वामदेवं यशस्विनम् ॥१२-९३-३॥
The powerful and pure king Vasumanā of Kosala asked the illustrious sage Vāmadeva.
धर्मार्थसहितं वाक्यं भगवन्ननुशाधि माम्। येन वृत्तेन वै तिष्ठन्न च्यवेयं स्वधर्मतः ॥१२-९३-४॥
O revered one, please instruct me with words that are righteous and purposeful, so that by following such conduct, I may not deviate from my own duty.
तमब्रवीद्वामदेवस्तपस्वी जपतां वरः। हेमवर्णमुपासीनं ययातिमिव नाहुषम् ॥१२-९३-५॥
Vāmadeva, the ascetic and foremost among those who recite mantras, addressed him, who was golden-complexioned and seated nearby, resembling Yayāti, the son of Nahusha.
धर्ममेवानुवर्तस्व न धर्माद्विद्यते परम्। धर्मे स्थिता हि राजानो जयन्ति पृथिवीमिमाम् ॥१२-९३-६॥
Follow only righteousness; there is nothing superior to righteousness. Kings who are established in righteousness truly conquer this earth.
अर्थसिद्धेः परं धर्मं मन्यते यो महीपतिः। ऋतां च कुरुते बुद्धिं स धर्मेण विरोचते ॥१२-९३-७॥
A king who regards dharma as superior to the attainment of wealth, and aligns his intellect with truth, shines by virtue of dharma.
अधर्मदर्शी यो राजा बलादेव प्रवर्तते। क्षिप्रमेवापयातोऽस्मादुभौ प्रथममध्यमौ ॥१२-९३-८॥
If a king who observes unrighteousness acts by force, both the foremost and the middle persons quickly depart from here.
असत्पापिष्ठसचिवो वध्यो लोकस्य धर्महा। सहैव परिवारेण क्षिप्रमेवावसीदति ॥१२-९३-९॥
An unrighteous and extremely sinful minister who destroys the people's dharma deserves execution; he, along with his entire retinue, quickly perishes.
अर्थानामननुष्ठाता कामचारी विकत्थनः। अपि सर्वां महीं लब्ध्वा क्षिप्रमेव विनश्यति ॥१२-९३-१०॥
A person who neglects his duties, acts on his desires, and boasts—even if he gains the whole world—will quickly perish.
अथाददानः कल्याणमनसूयुर्जितेन्द्रियः। वर्धते मतिमान्राजा स्रोतोभिरिव सागरः ॥१२-९३-११॥
Now, a wise king who does not take what is not his, who is auspicious, free from envy, and has conquered his senses, grows in greatness like the ocean increases by streams.
न पूर्णोऽस्मीति मन्येत धर्मतः कामतोऽर्थतः। बुद्धितो मित्रतश्चापि सततं वसुधाधिपः ॥१२-९३-१२॥
The king should always reflect: 'I am not perfect'—whether in righteousness, desire, wealth, intellect, or friendship.
एतेष्वेव हि सर्वेषु लोकयात्रा प्रतिष्ठिता। एतानि शृण्वँल्लभते यशः कीर्तिं श्रियः प्रजाः ॥१२-९३-१३॥
It is indeed upon these that all worldly conduct is established. By listening to these, one attains fame, glory, prosperity, and offspring.
एवं यो धर्मसंरम्भी धर्मार्थपरिचिन्तकः। अर्थान्समीक्ष्यारभते स ध्रुवं महदश्नुते ॥१२-९३-१४॥
Thus, one who is devoted to dharma and contemplates its purpose, and who acts after carefully examining the objectives, certainly attains greatness.
अदाता ह्यनतिस्नेहो दण्डेनावर्तयन्प्रजाः। साहसप्रकृती राजा क्षिप्रमेव विनश्यति ॥१२-९३-१५॥
A king who neither gives nor shows much affection, who rules his people only through punishment, and who is rash by nature, is quickly destroyed.
अथ पापं कृतं बुद्ध्या न च पश्यत्यबुद्धिमान्। अकीर्त्यापि समायुक्तो मृतो नरकमश्नुते ॥१२-९३-१६॥
Now, when a sin is committed with intelligence, the unintelligent person does not perceive it; being associated with disgrace, even after death, he attains hell.
अथ मानयितुर्दातुः शुक्लस्य रसवेदिनः। व्यसनं स्वमिवोत्पन्नं विजिघांसन्ति मानवाः ॥१२-९३-१७॥
Then, people try to remove the misfortune that befalls an honorable, generous, pure, and wise person, as if it were their own.
यस्य नास्ति गुरुर्धर्मे न चान्याननुपृच्छति। सुखतन्त्रोऽर्थलाभेषु न चिरं महदश्नुते ॥१२-९३-१८॥
He who has no teacher in dharma, does not consult others, and acts according to his own will in matters of wealth, does not enjoy great prosperity for long.
गुरुप्रधानो धर्मेषु स्वयमर्थान्ववेक्षिता। धर्मप्रधानो लोकेषु सुचिरं महदश्नुते ॥१२-९३-१९॥
He who is foremost in dharma, who himself examines matters, is weighty; one whose chief concern is dharma attains great rewards among people for a long time.
