12.108
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
brāhmaṇakṣatriyaviśāṃ śūdrāṇāṃ ca parantapa। dharmo vṛttaṃ ca vṛttiśca vṛttyupāyaphalāni ca ॥12-108-1॥
O Parantapa, the dharma, conduct, livelihood, and the results of the means of livelihood for brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, and śūdras are described here.
rājñāṃ vṛttaṃ ca kośaś ca kośasañjananaṃ mahat | amātyaguṇavṛddhiś ca prakṛtīnāṃ ca vardhanam ||12-108-2||
The conduct of kings, the treasury, the great creation of wealth, the enhancement of ministers' qualities, and the growth of the subjects.
ṣāḍguṇyaguṇakalpaś ca senānītis tathaiva ca। duṣṭasya ca parijñānam aduṣṭasya ca lakṣaṇam ॥12-108-3॥
The regulation of the sixfold policy, virtue, and military strategy, as well as the complete understanding of the wicked and the characteristics of the non-wicked, are to be known.
samahīnādhikānāṃ ca yathāvallakṣaṇoccayaḥ। madhyamasya ca tuṣṭyarthaṃ yathā stheyaṃ vivardhatā ॥12-108-4॥
The characteristics of equals, inferiors, and superiors should be accumulated as appropriate; and for the satisfaction of the middle person, one should maintain and increase (these qualities) accordingly.
kṣīṇasaṅgrahavṛttiś ca yathāvatsamprakīrtitā। laghunādeśarūpeṇa granthayogena bhārata ॥12-108-5॥
O Bhārata, the explanation of the diminished compendium has been properly described as it is, in a concise instructional form, by the combination of the text.
vijigīṣostathāvṛttamuktaṃ caiva tathaiva te। gaṇānāṃ vṛttimicchāmi śrotuṃ matimatāṃ vara ॥12-108-6॥
Just as you have described the conduct of the one desiring victory, in the same way, O best of the wise, I wish to hear about the conduct of the groups.
yathā gaṇāḥ pravardhante na bhidyante ca bhārata। arīn hi vijigīṣante suhṛdaḥ prāpnuvanti ca ॥12-108-7॥
O Bhārata, just as groups flourish and remain united, enemies seek to conquer, while friends achieve success.
bhedamūlo vināśo hi gaṇānāmupalabhyate। mantrasaṃvaraṇaṃ duḥkhaṃ bahūnāmiti me matiḥ ॥12-108-8॥
Destruction that arises from division is indeed seen among groups. Concealing counsel brings pain to many—this is my view.
etadicchāmyahaṃ śrotuṃ nikhilena parantapa। yathā ca te na bhidyeraṃstacca me brūhi pārthiva ॥12-108-9॥
O king, I wish to hear this in full, O scorcher of foes; tell me how they would not be divided.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
gaṇānāṃ ca kulānāṃ ca rājñāṃ ca bharatarṣabha। vairasandīpanāvetau lobhāmarṣau janādhipa ॥12-108-10॥
O Bharata chief, greed and anger are the two that kindle enmity among groups, families, and kings, O lord of people.
lobhameko hi vṛṇute tato'marṣamanantaram। tau kṣayavyayasaṃyuktāvanyonya janitāśrayau ॥12-108-11॥
It is only greed that one chooses, and immediately after comes anger. These two, being associated with destruction and loss, are mutually produced and dependent on each other.
cāra-mantra-bala-ādānaiḥ sāma-dāna-vibhedanaiḥ | kṣaya-vyaya-bhaya-upāyaiḥ karśayanti itara-itaraṃ ॥12-108-12॥
By means of spies, counsel, strength, acquisition, conciliation, gifts, division, destruction, expenditure, fear, and other strategies, they harass each other.
tatra dānena bhidyante gaṇāḥ saṅghātavṛttayaḥ। bhinnā vimanasaḥ sarve gacchantyarivaśaṃ bhayāt ॥12-108-13॥
There, by means of gifts, groups with collective conduct are divided; all, being split and dispirited, go under the enemy's control out of fear.
bhedād gaṇā vinaśyanti bhinnāḥ sūpajapāḥ paraiḥ। tasmāt saṅghātayogeṣu prayateran gaṇāḥ sadā ॥12-108-14॥
Groups are destroyed by division; those divided in purpose are overcome by others. Therefore, groups should always strive for unity in associations.
arthā hyevādhigamyante saṅghāta-bala-pauruṣāt। bāhyāś ca maitrīṃ kurvanti teṣu saṅghāta-vṛttiṣu ॥12-108-15॥
Objects are attained only through combination, strength, and effort; even outsiders form friendships among those engaged in collective activities.
jñānavṛddhān praśaṁsantaḥ śuśrūṣantaḥ parasparam। vinivṛttābhisandhānāḥ sukhamedhanti sarvaśaḥ ॥12-108-16॥
Those who are advanced in knowledge, who praise and serve each other, and who have abandoned ulterior motives, increase happiness in every way.
dharmiṣṭhān vyavahārāṃś ca sthāpayantaś ca śāstrataḥ। yathāvat sampravartanto vivardhante gaṇottamāḥ ॥12-108-17॥
Assemblies of excellence, who establish the most righteous practices as prescribed by the śāstra and conduct themselves properly, flourish.
putrānbhrātṝnnigṛhṇanto vinaye ca sadā ratāḥ। vinītāṃśca pragṛhṇanto vivardhante gaṇottamāḥ ॥12-108-18॥
Those who restrain their sons and brothers, are always devoted to discipline, and accept the disciplined, such excellent groups prosper.
cāramantravidhāneṣu kośasaṃnicayeṣu ca। nityayuktā mahābāho vardhante sarvato gaṇāḥ ॥12-108-19॥
O mighty-armed one, groups that are always engaged in the arrangements of spies and counsel, and in the accumulations of the treasury, increase everywhere.
prājñāñ śūrān maheṣvāsān karmasu sthira-pauruṣān। mānayantaḥ sadā yuktā vivardhante gaṇā nṛpa॥12-108-20॥
O king, groups that always honor wise, valiant, and steadfast great archers in their actions, prosper.
dravyavantaś ca śūrāś ca śastrajñāḥ śāstrapāragāḥ। kṛcchrāsv āpatsu saṃmūḍhān gaṇān uttārayanti te ॥12-108-21॥
Those who possess wealth, are valiant, are skilled in weapons, and have mastered the scriptures, in times of difficulty and calamity, rescue groups of people who are completely bewildered.
krodho bhedo bhayo daṇḍaḥ karśanaṃ nigraho vadhaḥ। nayantyarivaśaṃ sadyo gaṇānbharatasattama ॥12-108-22॥
O best of the Bharatas, anger, division, fear, punishment, torment, restraint, and killing quickly bring groups under the control of the enemy.
tasmān mānayitavyās te gaṇamukhyāḥ pradhānataḥ। lokayātrā samāyattā bhūyasī teṣu pārthiva॥12-108-23॥
Therefore, O king, those chiefs of the assemblies should be especially respected, for the conduct of the world depends mostly on them.
mantraguptiḥ pradhāneṣu cāraścāmitrakarśana. na gaṇāḥ kṛtsnaśo mantraṃ śrotumarhanti bhārata ॥12-108-24॥
O Bhārata, secrecy of counsel should be maintained among chiefs, and a spy should be employed for harassing the enemy. Assemblies are not entirely fit to hear counsel.
gaṇamukhyais tu sambhūya kāryaṃ gaṇahitaṃ mithaḥ। pṛthag-gaṇasya bhinnasya vimatasya tato'nyathā॥ arthāḥ pratyavasīdanti tathānarthā bhavanti ca॥12-108-25॥
But the chiefs of the group should unite and act together for the welfare of the group. If the group is divided and of differing opinions, then purposes fail and misfortunes arise.
teṣām anyonya-bhinnānāṃ sva-śakti-m anutiṣṭhatām। nigrahaḥ paṇḍitaiḥ kāryaḥ kṣipram eva pradhānataḥ ॥12-108-26॥
When there are those among them who are mutually divided and exercising their own power, the wise should primarily and swiftly impose restraint.
kuleṣu kalahā jātāḥ kulavṛddhairupekṣitāḥ। gotrasya rājan kurvanti gaṇasambhedakārikām ॥12-108-27॥
O king, when quarrels arise in families and are neglected by the elders, they cause division within the lineage or group.
ābhyantaraṃ bhayaṃ rakṣyaṃ surakṣyaṃ bāhyato bhayam। abhyantarādbhayaṃ jātaṃ sadyo mūlaṃ nikṛntati ॥12-108-28॥
Internal fear should be protected; fear from outside should be well protected. Fear that arises from within immediately severs the root.
akasmātkrodhalobhādvā mohādvāpi svabhāvajāt| anyonyaṃ nābhibhāṣante tatparābhavalakṣaṇam ॥12-108-29॥
Sudden anger, greed, delusion, or inherent nature may cause people to stop speaking to each other; this is a sign of defeat.
jātyā ca sadṛśāḥ sarve kulena sadṛśās tathā। na tu śauryeṇa buddhyā vā rūpadravyeṇa vā punaḥ ॥12-108-30॥
All are similar by birth and by family, but they differ in valor, intelligence, and in beauty and wealth.
bhedāccaiva pramādācca nāmyante ripubhirgaṇāḥ। tasmātsaṅghātamevāhurgaṇānāṃ śaraṇaṃ mahat ॥12-108-31॥
Groups are subdued by enemies due to division and negligence; therefore, union alone is said to be the great refuge of groups.
