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yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
kathaṃ dharme sthātum icchan rājā varteta dhārmikaḥ। pṛcchāmi tvā kuruśreṣṭha tan me brūhi pitāmaha ॥12-93-1॥
O best of Kurus, grandfather, I ask you: How should a righteous king, desiring to stand in dharma, act? Please tell me that.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said:
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। gītaṃ dṛṣṭārthatattvena vāmadevena dhīmatā ॥12-93-2॥
Here too, they recount this ancient story, as recited with practical insight by the wise Vāmadeva.
rājā vasumanā nāma kausalyo balavāñśuciḥ। maharṣiṃ paripapraccha vāmadevaṃ yaśasvinam ॥12-93-3॥
The powerful and pure king Vasumanā of Kosala asked the illustrious sage Vāmadeva.
dharmārthasahitaṃ vākyaṃ bhagavann anuśādhi mām। yena vṛttena vai tiṣṭhan na cyaveyaṃ svadharmataḥ ॥12-93-4॥
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.
tam abravīd vāmadevaḥ tapasvī japatāṃ varaḥ। hemavarṇam upāsīnaṃ yayātim iva nāhuṣam॥12-93-5॥
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.
dharmamevānuvartasva na dharmād vidyate param। dharme sthitā hi rājāno jayanti pṛthivīm imām ॥12-93-6॥
Follow only righteousness; there is nothing superior to righteousness. Kings who are established in righteousness truly conquer this earth.
arthasiddheḥ paraṃ dharmaṃ manyate yo mahīpatiḥ। ṛtāṃ ca kurute buddhiṃ sa dharmeṇa virocate ॥12-93-7॥
A king who regards dharma as superior to the attainment of wealth, and aligns his intellect with truth, shines by virtue of dharma.
adharmadarśī yo rājā balādeva pravartate। kṣipramevāpayāto'smādubhau prathamamadhyamau ॥12-93-8॥
If a king who observes unrighteousness acts by force, both the foremost and the middle persons quickly depart from here.
asat-pāpiṣṭha-sacivo vadhyo lokasya dharma-hā। sahaiva parivāreṇa kṣipram-evāvasīdati ॥12-93-9॥
An unrighteous and extremely sinful minister who destroys the people's dharma deserves execution; he, along with his entire retinue, quickly perishes.
arthānāmananuṣṭhātā kāmacārī vikaththanaḥ। api sarvāṃ mahīṃ labdhvā kṣiprameva vinaśyati ॥12-93-10॥
A person who neglects his duties, acts on his desires, and boasts—even if he gains the whole world—will quickly perish.
athādadānaḥ kalyāṇamanasūyurjitendriyaḥ। vardhate matimānrājā srotobhiriva sāgaraḥ ॥12-93-11॥
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.
na pūrṇo'smīti manyeta dharmataḥ kāmato'rthataḥ| buddhito mitrataścāpi satataṃ vasudhādhipaḥ ॥12-93-12॥
The king should always reflect: 'I am not perfect'—whether in righteousness, desire, wealth, intellect, or friendship.
eteṣveva hi sarveṣu lokayātrā pratiṣṭhitā। etāni śṛṇvanlabhate yaśaḥ kīrtiṃ śriyaḥ prajāḥ ॥12-93-13॥
It is indeed upon these that all worldly conduct is established. By listening to these, one attains fame, glory, prosperity, and offspring.
evaṃ yo dharmasaṃrambhī dharmārthaparicintakaḥ। arthānsamīkṣyārabhate sa dhruvaṃ mahadaśnute ॥12-93-14॥
Thus, one who is devoted to dharma and contemplates its purpose, and who acts after carefully examining the objectives, certainly attains greatness.
adātā hy anatisneho daṇḍenāvartayanprajāḥ। sāhasaprakṛtī rājā kṣiprameva vinaśyati ॥12-93-15॥
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.
atha pāpaṃ kṛtaṃ buddhyā na ca paśyatyabuddhimān। akīrtyāpi samāyukto mṛto narakamaśnute ॥12-93-16॥
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.
atha mānayitur dātuḥ śuklasya rasavedinaḥ। vyasanaṃ svamivotpannaṃ vijighāṃsanti mānavāḥ ॥12-93-17॥
Then, people try to remove the misfortune that befalls an honorable, generous, pure, and wise person, as if it were their own.
yasya nāsti gurur dharme na ca anyān anupṛcchati। sukhatantro'rthalābheṣu na ciraṃ mahadaśnute ॥12-93-18॥
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.
gurupradhāno dharmeṣu svayamarthānvavekṣitā। dharmapradhāno lokeṣu suciraṃ mahadaśnute ॥12-93-19॥
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.
