12.097
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Bhīṣma said;)
Bhīṣma said.
नाधर्मेण महीं जेतुं लिप्सेत जगतीपतिः। अधर्मविजयं लब्ध्वा कोऽनुमन्येत भूमिपः ॥१२-९७-१॥
nādharmeṇa mahīṃ jetuṃ lipseta jagatīpatiḥ। adharmavijayaṃ labdhvā ko'numanyeta bhūmipaḥ॥12-97-1॥
[न (na) - not; अधर्मेण (adharmeṇa) - by unrighteousness; महीं (mahīṃ) - the earth; जेतुम् (jetum) - to conquer; लिप्सेत (lipseta) - should desire; जगतीपतिः (jagatīpatiḥ) - lord of the world; अधर्मविजयम् (adharmavijayam) - unrighteous victory; लब्ध्वा (labdhvā) - having obtained; कः (kaḥ) - who; अनुमन्येत (anumanyeta) - would approve; भूमिपः (bhūmipaḥ) - king;]
(Not by unrighteousness should the lord of the world desire to conquer the earth. Having obtained an unrighteous victory, which king would approve?)
A king should not wish to conquer the earth through unrighteous means. Who would approve of a king who gains victory by unrighteousness?
अधर्मयुक्तो विजयो ह्यध्रुवोऽस्वर्ग्य एव च। सादयत्येष राजानं महीं च भरतर्षभ ॥१२-९७-२॥
adharmayukto vijayo hyadhruvo'svargya eva ca। sādayatyeṣa rājānaṃ mahīṃ ca bharatarṣabha ॥12-97-2॥
[अधर्मयुक्तः (adharmayuktaḥ) - joined with unrighteousness; विजयः (vijayaḥ) - victory; हि (hi) - indeed; अध्रुवः (adhruvaḥ) - unstable; अस्वर्ग्यः (asvargyaḥ) - not leading to heaven; एव (eva) - indeed; च (ca) - and; सादयति (sādayati) - destroys; एषः (eṣaḥ) - this; राजानम् (rājānam) - king; महीम् (mahīm) - earth; च (ca) - and; भरतर्षभ (bharatarṣabha) - bull among the Bharatas;]
(Victory joined with unrighteousness is indeed unstable, not leading to heaven, and indeed destroys this king and the earth, O bull among the Bharatas.)
O best of the Bharatas, victory gained through unrighteousness is unstable, does not lead to heaven, and indeed destroys both the king and the kingdom.
विशीर्णकवचं चैव तवास्मीति च वादिनम्। कृताञ्जलिं न्यस्तशस्त्रं गृहीत्वा न विहिंसयेत् ॥१२-९७-३॥
viśīrṇakavacaṃ caiva tavāsmīti ca vādinam। kṛtāñjaliṃ nyastaśastraṃ gṛhītvā na vihiṃsayet ॥12-97-3॥
[विशीर्णकवचम् (viśīrṇakavacam) - with broken armor; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; तव (tava) - your; अस्मि (asmi) - I am; इति (iti) - thus; च (ca) - and; वादिनम् (vādinam) - one who says; कृताञ्जलिम् (kṛtāñjalim) - with joined palms; न्यस्तशस्त्रम् (nyastaśastram) - who has laid down weapons; गृहीत्वा (gṛhītvā) - having accepted; न (na) - not; विहिंसयेत् (vihiṃsayet) - should harm;]
(One with broken armor, and indeed one who says "I am yours", and one with joined palms, who has laid down weapons—having accepted (these), one should not harm.)
One should not harm a person whose armor is broken, who declares "I am yours", who stands with joined palms, or who has laid down his weapons.
बलेनावजितो यश्च न तं युध्येत भूमिपः। संवत्सरं विप्रणयेत्तस्माज्जातः पुनर्भवेत् ॥१२-९७-४॥
balenāvajito yaś ca na taṃ yudhyeta bhūmipaḥ। saṃvatsaraṃ vipraṇayettasmājjātaḥ punarbhavet ॥12-97-4॥
[बलेन (balena) - by strength; अवजितः (avajitaḥ) - overpowered; यः (yaḥ) - who; च (ca) - and; न (na) - not; तं (taṃ) - him; युध्येत (yudhyeta) - should fight; भूमिपः (bhūmipaḥ) - king; संवत्सरम् (saṃvatsaram) - one year; विप्रणयेत् (vipraṇayet) - should banish; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; जातः (jātaḥ) - born; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; भवेत् (bhavet) - should become;]
(By strength overpowered who and not him should fight king; one year should banish therefore born again should become.)
If a king is overpowered by strength and does not fight him, he should banish him for one year; after that, he may be reinstated.
नार्वाक्संवत्सरात्कन्या स्प्रष्टव्या विक्रमाहृता। एवमेव धनं सर्वं यच्चान्यत्सहसाहृतम् ॥१२-९७-५॥
nārvāksaṃvatsarāt kanyā spraṣṭavyā vikramāhṛtā। evameva dhanaṃ sarvaṃ yac cānyat sahasāhṛtam ॥12-97-5॥
[न (na) - not; अर्वाक् (arvāk) - within; संवत्सरात् (saṃvatsarāt) - from a year; कन्या (kanyā) - maiden; स्प्रष्टव्या (spraṣṭavyā) - should be touched; विक्रमाहृता (vikramāhṛtā) - taken by force; एवम् (evam) - thus; एव (eva) - indeed; धनम् (dhanam) - wealth; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all; यत् (yat) - which; च (ca) - and; अन्यत् (anyat) - other; सहसा (sahasā) - by force; आहृतम् (āhṛtam) - taken;]
(A maiden taken by force should not be touched within a year; thus, all wealth and anything else taken by force.)
A maiden seized by force should not be touched for a year; likewise, all wealth and anything else seized by force must be treated in the same way.
न तु वन्ध्यं धनं तिष्ठेत्पिबेयुर्ब्राह्मणाः पयः। युञ्जीरन्वाप्यनडुहः क्षन्तव्यं वा तदा भवेत् ॥१२-९७-६॥
na tu vandhyaṃ dhanaṃ tiṣṭhet pibeyur brāhmaṇāḥ payaḥ। yuñjīran vā api anaḍuhaḥ kṣantavyaṃ vā tadā bhavet ॥12-97-6॥
[न (na) - not; तु (tu) - but; वन्ध्यं (vandhyam) - barren; (not giving offspring or yield); धनं (dhanam) - cow; (wealth, but here: cow); तिष्ठेत् (tiṣṭhet) - should remain; पिबेयुः (pibeyuḥ) - should drink; ब्राह्मणाः (brāhmaṇāḥ) - Brāhmaṇas; पयः (payaḥ) - milk; युञ्जीरन् (yuñjīran) - should yoke (make use of, employ); वा (vā) - or; अपि (api) - also; अनडुहः (anaḍuhaḥ) - non-milking (cow); क्षन्तव्यं (kṣantavyam) - should be forgiven; वा (vā) - or; तदा (tadā) - then; भवेत् (bhavet) - should be;]
(But a barren cow should not remain; Brāhmaṇas should not drink the milk; or should not yoke (use) a non-milking cow; or then it should be forgiven.)
A barren cow should not be kept; Brāhmaṇas should not drink its milk; nor should a non-milking cow be yoked; otherwise, it should be forgiven at that time.
राज्ञा राजैव योद्धव्यस्तथा धर्मो विधीयते। नान्यो राजानमभ्यसेदराजन्यः कथञ्चन ॥१२-९७-७॥
rājñā rājaiva yoddhavyas tathā dharmo vidhīyate। nānyo rājānam abhyased rājanyaḥ kathañcana ॥12-97-7॥
[राज्ञा (rājñā) - by the king; राजा (rājā) - the king; एव (eva) - indeed; योद्धव्यः (yoddhavyaḥ) - should be fought (against); तथा (tathā) - thus; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - duty; विधीयते (vidhīyate) - is prescribed; न (na) - not; अन्यः (anyaḥ) - another; राजानम् (rājānam) - the king; अभ्यसेत् (abhyaset) - should attack; राजन्यः (rājanyaḥ) - a kṣatriya; कथञ्चन (kathañcana) - in any way;]
(By the king, the king indeed should be fought against; thus duty is prescribed. Not another should attack the king, a kṣatriya, in any way.)
It is prescribed that only a king may fight another king; this is the duty. No other kṣatriya should ever attack a king in any way.
अनीकयोः संहतयोर्यदीयाद्ब्राह्मणोऽन्तरा। शान्तिमिच्छन्नुभयतो न योद्धव्यं तदा भवेत् ॥ मर्यादां शाश्वतीं भिन्द्याद्ब्राह्मणं योऽभिलङ्घयेत् ॥१२-९७-८॥
anīkayoḥ saṃhatayor yadīyād brāhmaṇo'ntarā। śāntim icchan ubhayato na yoddhavyaṃ tadā bhavet॥ maryādāṃ śāśvatīṃ bhindyād brāhmaṇaṃ yo'bhilaṅghayet॥12-97-8॥
[अनीकयोः (anīkayoḥ) - of the two armies; संहतयोः (saṃhatayoḥ) - when joined together; यदीयात् (yadīyāt) - if comes; ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - a Brāhmaṇa; अन्तरा (antarā) - in between; शान्तिम् (śāntim) - peace; इच्छन् (icchan) - desiring; उभयतः (ubhayataḥ) - from both sides; न (na) - not; योद्धव्यम् (yoddhavyam) - should be fought; तदा (tadā) - then; भवेत् (bhavet) - it should be; मर्यादाम् (maryādām) - boundary; शाश्वतीम् (śāśvatīm) - eternal; भिन्द्यात् (bhindyāt) - should break; ब्राह्मणम् (brāhmaṇam) - a Brāhmaṇa; यः (yaḥ) - who; अभिलङ्घयेत् (abhilaṅghayet) - would transgress; १२-९७-८ (12-97-8) - 12-97-8;]
(If a Brāhmaṇa comes in between the two armies when joined together, desiring peace from both sides, then fighting should not take place. He who would break the eternal boundary, who would transgress a Brāhmaṇa,)
If a Brāhmaṇa comes between the two armies joined together, seeking peace from both sides, then fighting should not occur. Whoever breaks the eternal boundary, whoever transgresses a Brāhmaṇa,
अथ चेल्लङ्घयेदेनां मर्यादां क्षत्रियब्रुवः। अप्रशस्यस्तदूर्ध्वं स्यादनादेयश्च संसदि ॥१२-९७-९॥
atha cellaṅghayed enāṃ maryādāṃ kṣatriyabruvaḥ। apraśasyas tad ūrdhvaṃ syād anādeyaś ca saṃsadi ॥12-97-9॥
[अथ (atha) - now; then; चेत् (cet) - if; लङ्घयेत् (laṅghayet) - should transgress; एनाम् (enām) - this (feminine); मर्यादाम् (maryādām) - boundary; limit; क्षत्रियब्रुवः (kṣatriyabruvaḥ) - one who claims to be a Kṣatriya; अप्रशस्यः (apraśasyaḥ) - not praised; censured; तत् (tat) - then; that; ऊर्ध्वम् (ūrdhvam) - afterwards; beyond; स्यात् (syāt) - should be; would be; अनादेयः (anādeyaḥ) - not to be accepted; च (ca) - and; संसदि (saṃsadi) - in the assembly;]
(Now, if one who claims to be a Kṣatriya should transgress this boundary, then afterwards he should be censured and not to be accepted in the assembly.)
If a person claiming to be a Kṣatriya crosses this boundary, then from that point onward he is censured and not to be accepted in the assembly.
या तु धर्मविलोपेन मर्यादाभेदनेन च। तां वृत्तिं नानुवर्तेत विजिगीषुर्महीपतिः ॥ धर्मलब्धाद्धि विजयात्को लाभोऽभ्यधिको भवेत् ॥१२-९७-१०॥
yā tu dharmavilopena maryādābhedena ca। tāṃ vṛttiṃ nānuvarteta vijigīṣurmahīpatiḥ ॥ dharmalabdhāddhi vijayātko lābho'bhyadhiko bhavet ॥12-97-10॥
[या (yā) - which; (feminine singular nominative); तु (tu) - but; धर्मविलोपेन (dharmavilopena) - by destruction of dharma; (instrumental singular); मर्यादाभेदनेन (maryādābhedena) - by transgression of boundaries; (instrumental singular); च (ca) - and; तां (tāṃ) - that; (feminine singular accusative); वृत्तिं (vṛttiṃ) - conduct; न (na) - not; अनुवर्तेत (anuvarteta) - should follow; (optative, 3rd person singular); विजिगीषुः (vijigīṣuḥ) - one desiring victory; (nominative singular); महीपतिः (mahīpatiḥ) - king; (nominative singular); धर्मलब्धात् (dharmalabdhāt) - from that obtained by dharma; (ablative singular); हि (hi) - indeed; विजयात् (vijayāt) - from victory; (ablative singular); कः (kaḥ) - what; (nominative singular); लाभः (lābhaḥ) - gain; (nominative singular); अभ्यधिकः (abhyadhikaḥ) - greater; (nominative singular); भवेत् (bhavet) - can be; (optative, 3rd person singular);]
(But that conduct which is by destruction of dharma and by transgression of boundaries, that a king desiring victory should not follow. Indeed, what gain from victory is greater than that obtained by dharma?)
But a king who desires victory should not follow that conduct which involves the destruction of dharma and the transgression of boundaries. For what gain from victory can be greater than that which is obtained through righteousness?
सहसा नाम्य भूतानि क्षिप्रमेव प्रसादयेत्। सान्त्वेन भोगदानेन स राज्ञां परमो नयः ॥१२-९७-११॥
sahasā nāmya bhūtāni kṣiprameva prasādayet। sāntvena bhogadānena sa rājñāṃ paramo nayaḥ ॥12-97-11॥
[सहसा (sahasā) - suddenly; नाम्य (nāmya) - to be bowed; भूतानि (bhūtāni) - beings; क्षिप्रम् (kṣipram) - quickly; एव (eva) - indeed; प्रसादयेत् (prasādayet) - should conciliate; सान्त्वेन (sāntvena) - by conciliation; भोगदानेन (bhogadānena) - by giving enjoyments; सः (saḥ) - he; राज्ञां (rājñām) - of kings; परमः (paramaḥ) - supreme; नयः (nayaḥ) - policy;]
(Suddenly, beings to be bowed should indeed be quickly conciliated; by conciliation and by giving enjoyments, he is the supreme policy of kings.)
One should quickly conciliate those who must be subdued, using gentle words and gifts; this is the highest policy among kings.
भुज्यमाना ह्ययोगेन स्वराष्ट्रादभितापिताः। अमित्रान्पर्युपासीरन्व्यसनौघप्रतीक्षिणः ॥१२-९७-१२॥
bhujyamānā hyayogena svarāṣṭrādabhitāpitāḥ। amitrān paryupāsīran vyasanaugha-pratīkṣiṇaḥ ॥12-97-12॥
[भुज्यमाना (bhujyamānā) - being consumed; (from bhuj, to eat or enjoy; passive participle, feminine plural nominative); हि (hi) - indeed; (emphatic particle); अयोगेन (ayogena) - by mismanagement; (a-yoga, lack of union or proper means; instrumental singular); स्वराष्ट्रात् (svarāṣṭrāt) - from their own kingdom; (sva, own + rāṣṭra, kingdom; ablative singular); अभितापिताः (abhitāpitāḥ) - afflicted; (abhi-tāpita, tormented; masculine plural nominative); अमित्रान् (amitrān) - enemies; (a-mitra, non-friend, enemy; accusative plural); पर्युपासीरन् (paryupāsīran) - they approached; (pari-upa-ās, to approach or serve; 3rd person plural imperfect); व्यसनौघ (vyasanaugha) - multitude of calamities; (vyasana, calamity + ogha, flood/multitude; compound); प्रतीक्षिणः (pratīkṣiṇaḥ) - awaiting; (pratīkṣi, to wait for; masculine plural nominative);]
(Being consumed indeed by mismanagement, afflicted from their own kingdom, they approached enemies, awaiting a multitude of calamities.)
Afflicted by mismanagement and driven from their own kingdom, they sought out their enemies, expecting a flood of calamities.
अमित्रोपग्रहं चास्य ते कुर्युः क्षिप्रमापदि। संदुष्टाः सर्वतो राजन्राजव्यसनकाङ्क्षिणः ॥१२-९७-१३॥
amitropagrahaṃ cāsya te kuryuḥ kṣipramāpadi. saṃduṣṭāḥ sarvato rājan rājavyasanakāṅkṣiṇaḥ ॥12-97-13॥
[अमित्र-उपग्रहं (amitra-upagrahaṃ) - hostile-approach; च (ca) - and; अस्य (asya) - to him; ते (te) - they; कुर्युः (kuryuḥ) - would do; क्षिप्रम् (kṣipram) - quickly; आपदि (āpadi) - in calamity; संदुष्टाः (saṃduṣṭāḥ) - corrupted; सर्वतः (sarvataḥ) - from all sides; राजन् (rājan) - O king; राज-व्यसन-काङ्क्षिणः (rāja-vyasana-kāṅkṣiṇaḥ) - desiring-royal-misfortune;]
(Hostile approach and to him they would do quickly in calamity; corrupted from all sides, O king, desiring royal misfortune.)
O king, when calamity strikes, those corrupted from all sides and desiring royal misfortune would quickly act with hostility towards him.
नामित्रो विनिकर्तव्यो नातिच्छेद्यः कथञ्चन। जीवितं ह्यप्यतिच्छिन्नः सन्त्यजत्येकदा नरः ॥१२-९७-१४॥
nāmitro vinikartavyo nāticchedyaḥ kathañcana। jīvitaṃ hyapyaticchinnaḥ santyajatyekadā naraḥ ॥12-97-14॥
[नामित्रः (nāmitraḥ) - not-an-enemy; विनिकर्तव्यः (vinikartavyaḥ) - to be completely severed; न (na) - not; अतिच्छेद्यः (aticchedyaḥ) - to be excessively cut; कथञ्चन (kathañcana) - in any way; जीवितं (jīvitam) - life; हि (hi) - indeed; अपि (api) - even; अतिच्छिन्नः (aticchinnaḥ) - excessively cut; सन्त्यजति (santyajati) - abandons; एकदा (ekadā) - at one time; नरः (naraḥ) - man;]
(Not-an-enemy is to be completely severed, not to be excessively cut in any way. Life indeed, even if excessively cut, a man abandons at one time.)
One should not completely sever ties even with a non-enemy, nor should one ever go to extremes. For even if life is excessively troubled, a man may abandon it at once.
अल्पेनापि हि संयुक्तस्तुष्यत्येवापराधिकः। शुद्धं जीवितमेवापि तादृशो बहु मन्यते ॥१२-९७-१५॥
alpenāpi hi saṁyuktastuṣyaty evāparādhikaḥ। śuddhaṁ jīvitam evāpi tādṛśo bahu manyate ॥12-97-15॥
[अल्पेन (alpena) - by little; by a small amount; अपि (api) - even; also; हि (hi) - indeed; surely; संयुक्तः (saṁyuktaḥ) - associated; endowed; तुष्यति (tuṣyati) - is satisfied; becomes content; एव (eva) - only; just; अपराधिकः (aparādhikaḥ) - the offender; the wrongdoer; शुद्धं (śuddham) - pure; clean; जीवितम् (jīvitam) - life; एव (eva) - only; just; अपि (api) - even; also; तादृशः (tādṛśaḥ) - such a one; of that kind; बहु (bahu) - much; a lot; मन्यते (manyate) - considers; thinks;]
(Even with a little, indeed, the offender who is endowed (with it) is satisfied only; such a one even considers pure life as much.)
Even a wrongdoer is satisfied with little; such a person even considers a pure life to be of great value.
यस्य स्फीतो जनपदः सम्पन्नः प्रियराजकः। सन्तुष्टभृत्यसचिवो दृढमूलः स पार्थिवः ॥१२-९७-१६॥
yasya sphīto janapadaḥ sampannaḥ priyarājakaḥ। santuṣṭabhṛtyasacivo dṛḍhamūlaḥ sa pārthivaḥ ॥12-97-16॥
[यस्य (yasya) - of whom; स्फीतः (sphītaḥ) - prosperous; जनपदः (janapadaḥ) - country; सम्पन्नः (sampannaḥ) - endowed; प्रिय (priya) - dear; राजकः (rājakaḥ) - king; सन्तुष्ट (santuṣṭa) - contented; भृत्य (bhṛtya) - servant; सचिवः (sacivaḥ) - minister; दृढ (dṛḍha) - firm; मूलः (mūlaḥ) - rooted; सः (saḥ) - he; पार्थिवः (pārthivaḥ) - king;]
(Of whom the country is prosperous, endowed, the king is dear, the servant and minister are contented, firmly rooted, he is the king.)
He is the king whose country is prosperous and endowed, who is dear to his people, whose servants and ministers are content, and whose rule is firmly established.
ऋत्विक्पुरोहिताचार्या ये चान्ये श्रुतसंमताः। पूजार्हाः पूजिता यस्य स वै लोकजिदुच्यते ॥१२-९७-१७॥
ṛtvikpurohitācāryā ye cānye śrutasaṃmatāḥ। pūjārhāḥ pūjitā yasya sa vai lokajiducyate ॥12-97-17॥
[ऋत्विक् (ṛtvik) - priest; पुरोहित (purohita) - family priest; आचार्या (ācāryā) - teachers; ये (ye) - who; च (ca) - and; अन्ये (anye) - others; श्रुतसंमताः (śrutasaṃmatāḥ) - approved by the Vedas; पूजार्हाः (pūjārhāḥ) - worthy of worship; पूजिता (pūjitā) - worshipped; यस्स्य (yasya) - whose; स (sa) - he; वै (vai) - indeed; लोकजित् (lokajit) - conqueror of the world; उच्यते (ucyate) - is called;]
(Priests, family priests, teachers, and others who are approved by the Vedas, those who are worthy of worship and have been worshipped by whom, he indeed is called the conqueror of the world.)
He who has worshipped priests, family priests, teachers, and others approved by the Vedas and worthy of worship is truly called a conqueror of the world.
एतेनैव च वृत्तेन महीं प्राप सुरोत्तमः। अन्वेव चैन्द्रं विजयं व्यजिगीषन्त पार्थिवाः ॥१२-९७-१८॥
etenaiva ca vṛttena mahīṃ prāpa surottamaḥ। anveva ca indraṃ vijayaṃ vyajigīṣanta pārthivāḥ ॥12-97-18॥
[एतेनैव (etenaiva) - by this very (means); च (ca) - and; वृत्तेन (vṛttena) - by conduct; महीं (mahīṃ) - the earth; प्राप (prāpa) - obtained; सुरोत्तमः (surottamaḥ) - the best among the gods; अनु (anu) - after; एव (eva) - indeed; च (ca) - and; इन्द्रं (indraṃ) - Indra; विजयम् (vijayam) - victory; व्यजिगीषन्त (vyajigīṣanta) - desired to conquer; पार्थिवाः (pārthivāḥ) - kings;]
(By this very conduct, the best among the gods obtained the earth; and after Indra, the kings indeed desired to conquer victory.)
By this very conduct, the best of the gods obtained the earth; and after Indra, the kings too sought victory.
भूमिवर्जं पुरं राजा जित्वा राजानमाहवे। अमृताश्चौषधीः शश्वदाजहार प्रतर्दनः ॥१२-९७-१९॥
bhūmivarjaṃ puraṃ rājā jitvā rājānamāhave। amṛtāś cauṣadhīḥ śaśvad ājahāra pratardanaḥ ॥12-97-19॥
[भूमिवर्जम् (bhūmivarjam) - except the earth; पुरम् (puram) - city; राजा (rājā) - the king; जित्वा (jitvā) - having conquered; राजानम् (rājānam) - the king; आहवे (āhave) - in battle; अमृताः (amṛtāḥ) - immortal (plants); च (ca) - and; औषधीः (auṣadhīḥ) - herbs; शश्वत् (śaśvat) - always; आजहाः (ājahāra) - brought; प्रतर्दनः (pratardanaḥ) - Pratardana (name of the king);]
(Except the earth, the king, having conquered the king in battle, Pratardana always brought the immortal herbs.)
King Pratardana, having conquered the king in battle, brought the immortal herbs always, except for the earth itself.
अग्निहोत्राण्यग्निशेषं हविर्भाजनमेव च। आजहार दिवोदासस्ततो विप्रकृतोऽभवत् ॥१२-९७-२०॥
agnihotrāṇy agniśeṣaṃ havirbhājanam eva ca। ājahāra divodāsas tato viprakṛto'bhavat ॥12-97-20॥
[अग्निहोत्राणि (agnihotrāṇi) - fire-sacrifices; अग्निशेषम् (agniśeṣam) - what remained of the fire; हविर्भाजनम् (havirbhājanam) - vessel for oblation; एव (eva) - indeed; च (ca) - and; आजहार (ājahāra) - he took away; दिवोदासः (divodāsaḥ) - Divodāsa; ततः (tataḥ) - then; विप्रकृतः (viprakṛtaḥ) - wronged; अभवत् (abhavat) - became; ऽ (') - (elision mark);]
(Fire-sacrifices, what remained of the fire, the vessel for oblation indeed and he took away; Divodāsa then became wronged.)
Divodāsa took away the fire-sacrifices, the remnants of the fire, and the vessel for oblation; then he was wronged.
सराजकानि राष्ट्राणि नाभागो दक्षिणां ददौ। अन्यत्र श्रोत्रियस्वाच्च तापसस्वाच्च भारत ॥१२-९७-२१॥
sarājakāni rāṣṭrāṇi nābhāgo dakṣiṇāṃ dadau। anyatra śrotriyasvācca tāpasasvācca bhārata ॥12-97-21॥
[सराजकानि (sarājakāni) - with kings; (sa + rājaka + āni); राष्ट्राणि (rāṣṭrāṇi) - kingdoms; (rāṣṭra + āni); नाभागः (nābhāgaḥ) - Nābhāga; (proper noun); दक्षिणाम् (dakṣiṇām) - gift; (dakṣiṇā + ām); ददौ (dadau) - gave; (da + au); अन्यत्र (anyatra) - elsewhere; (anya + tra); श्रोत्रियस्वात् (śrotriyasvāt) - from the Brāhmaṇa; (śrotriya + svāt); च (ca) - and; (ca); तापसस्वात् (tāpasasvāt) - from the ascetic; (tāpasa + svāt); च (ca) - and; (ca); भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata; (bhārata);]
(Nābhāga gave the kingdoms with kings as a gift. Elsewhere, O Bhārata, from the Brāhmaṇa and from the ascetic.)
Nābhāga gave the kingdoms along with their kings as a gift. Elsewhere, O Bhārata, from the Brāhmaṇa and from the ascetic.
उच्चावचानि वृत्तानि धर्मज्ञानां युधिष्ठिर। आसन्राज्ञां पुराणानां सर्वं तन्मम रोचते ॥१२-९७-२२॥
uccāvacāni vṛttāni dharmajñānāṃ yudhiṣṭhira। āsan rājñāṃ purāṇānāṃ sarvaṃ tan mama rocate ॥12-97-22॥
[उच्चावचानि (uccāvacāni) - high-and-low; (of various kinds;) वृत्तानि (vṛttāni) - deeds; (acts;) धर्मज्ञानां (dharmajñānām) - of those who know dharma; (of the wise in righteousness;) युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhishthira; (O Yudhishthira;) आसन् (āsan) - were; (existed;) राज्ञां (rājñām) - of kings; (of the rulers;) पुराणानां (purāṇānām) - of ancient; (of old;) सर्वं (sarvaṃ) - all; (everything;) तत् (tat) - that; (those;) मम (mama) - to me; (for me;) रोचते (rocate) - pleases; (is pleasing;]
(High-and-low deeds of those who know dharma, O Yudhishthira, were of kings of ancient times; all that pleases me.)
O Yudhishthira, the various deeds of the ancient righteous kings, all of these are pleasing to me.
सर्वविद्यातिरेकाद्वा जयमिच्छेन्महीपतिः। न मायया न दम्भेन य इच्छेद्भूतिमात्मनः ॥१२-९७-२३॥
sarvavidyātirekād vā jayamicchen mahīpatiḥ। na māyayā na dambhena ya icched bhūtim ātmanaḥ॥12-97-23॥
[सर्वविद्या (sarvavidyā) - all-knowledge; अतिरेकात् (atirekāt) - from superiority; वा (vā) - or; जयम् (jayam) - victory; इच्छेत् (icchet) - should desire; महीपतिः (mahīpatiḥ) - king; न (na) - not; मायया (māyayā) - by deceit; न (na) - not; दम्भेन (dambhena) - by hypocrisy; यः (yaḥ) - who; इच्छेत् (icchet) - should desire; भूतिम् (bhūtim) - prosperity; आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - for oneself;]
(Or, if a king should desire victory from the superiority of all-knowledge, he should not desire prosperity for himself by deceit or by hypocrisy.)
If a king wishes to achieve victory through the superiority of all knowledge, he should not seek prosperity for himself by means of deceit or hypocrisy.
