12.116
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
पितामह महाप्राज्ञ संशयो मे महानयम्। स च्छेत्तव्यस्त्वया राजन्भवान्कुलकरो हि नः ॥१२-११६-१॥
Grandfather, O greatly wise one, I have a great doubt. That must be resolved by you, O king, for you are indeed the destroyer of our family.
पुरुषाणामयं तात दुर्वृत्तानां दुरात्मनाम्। कथितो वाक्यसञ्चारस्ततो विज्ञापयामि ते ॥१२-११६-२॥
O dear one, I have told you the discourse concerning the ill-behaved and wicked men; now I inform you further.
यद्धितं राज्यतन्त्रस्य कुलस्य च सुखोदयम्। आयत्यां च तदात्वे च क्षेमवृद्धिकरं च यत् ॥१२-११६-३॥
That which is beneficial to the administration and the family, brings happiness, and in both the present and the future, promotes welfare and growth.
पुत्रपौत्राभिरामं च राष्ट्रवृद्धिकरं च यत्। अन्नपाने शरीरे च हितं यत्तद्ब्रवीहि मे ॥१२-११६-४॥
Tell me what is pleasing to sons and grandsons, promotes the growth of the kingdom, and is beneficial in food, drink, and for the body.
अभिषिक्तो हि यो राजा राज्यस्थो मित्रसंवृतः। असुहृत्समुपेतो वा स कथं रञ्जयेत्प्रजाः ॥१२-११६-५॥
How could a king, though anointed and established in the kingdom, surrounded by friends or attended by enemies, ever please his subjects?
यो ह्यसत्प्रग्रहरतिः स्नेहरागबलात्कृतः। इन्द्रियाणामनीशत्वादसज्जनबुभूषकः ॥१२-११६-६॥
Whoever, being attached to the unreal, driven by affection and passion, and lacking mastery over the senses, seeks the company of the wicked.
तस्य भृत्या विगुणतां यान्ति सर्वे कुलोद्गताः। न च भृत्यफलैरर्थैः स राजा सम्प्रयुज्यते ॥१२-११६-७॥
All the servants of such a king, even those born in noble families, become devoid of virtues. And that king does not benefit from the results or means provided by his servants.
एतान्मे संशयस्थस्य राजधर्मान्सुदुर्लभान्। बृहस्पतिसमो बुद्ध्या भवाञ्शंसितुमर्हति ॥१२-११६-८॥
You, who are as wise as Bṛhaspati, are worthy to explain to me, who am in doubt, these royal duties that are very difficult to understand.
शंसिता पुरुषव्याघ्र त्वं नः कुलहिते रतः। क्षत्ता चैव पटुप्रज्ञो यो नः शंसति सर्वदा ॥१२-११६-९॥
O tiger among men, you are praised for your constant engagement in the welfare of our family; and the minister of sharp intellect, who always advises us, is also praised.
त्वत्तः कुलहितं वाक्यं श्रुत्वा राज्यहितोदयम्। अमृतस्याव्ययस्येव तृप्तः स्वप्स्याम्यहं सुखम् ॥१२-११६-१०॥
Hearing your words for the good of the family and the kingdom, I am as satisfied as if with immortal nectar, and I shall sleep happily.
कीदृषाः संनिकर्षस्था भृत्याः स्युर्वा गुणान्विताः। कीदृशैः किङ्कुलीनैर्वा सह यात्रा विधीयते ॥१२-११६-११॥
What should be the qualities of servants who are closely associated or virtuous? With what kind of kinsmen or companions should one undertake a journey?
न ह्येको भृत्यरहितो राजा भवति रक्षिता। राज्यं चेदं जनः सर्वस्तत्कुलीनोऽभिशंसति ॥१२-११६-१२॥
A king who is alone and without attendants cannot act as a protector. All the people of this kingdom praise one who belongs to that family.
न हि प्रशास्तुं राज्यं हि शक्यमेकेन भारत। असहायवता तात नैवार्थाः केचिदप्युत ॥ लब्धुं लब्ध्वा चापि सदा रक्षितुं भरतर्षभ ॥१२-११६-१३॥
O Bhārata, it is not possible for one person alone to govern a kingdom. Dear one, without helpers, no objects of desire can ever be obtained, nor, having obtained them, can they always be protected, O best of the Bharatas.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
यस्य भृत्यजनः सर्वो ज्ञानविज्ञानकोविदः। हितैषी कुलजः स्निग्धः स राज्यफलमश्नुते ॥१२-११६-१४॥
He whose every servant is skilled in knowledge and wisdom, is a well-wisher, born in a good family, and affectionate, he enjoys the fruits of the kingdom.
मन्त्रिणो यस्य कुलजा असंहार्याः सहोषिताः। नृपतेर्मतिदाः सन्ति सम्बन्धज्ञानकोविदाः ॥१२-११६-१५॥
The king whose ministers are born in noble families, are irresistible, live together, give wise counsel, and are skilled in the knowledge of relationships.
अनागतविधातारः कालज्ञानविशारदाः। अतिक्रान्तमशोचन्तः स राज्यफलमश्नुते ॥१२-११६-१६॥
He who plans for the future, is skilled in knowledge of time, and does not grieve for what is past, enjoys the rewards of sovereignty.
समदुःखसुखा यस्य सहायाः सत्यकारिणः। अर्थचिन्तापरा यस्य स राज्यफलमश्नुते ॥१२-११६-१७॥
He whose helpers are impartial in happiness and sorrow, truthful in action, and devoted to the king's welfare, enjoys the rewards of sovereignty.
यस्य नार्तो जनपदः संनिकर्षगतः सदा। अक्षुद्रः सत्पथालम्बी स राज्यफलभाग्भवेत् ॥१२-११६-१८॥
He whose people are never afflicted, who is always close to them, who is not petty and who follows the righteous path, he alone should enjoy the fruits of the kingdom.
कोशाक्षपटलं यस्य कोशवृद्धिकरैर्जनैः। आप्तैस्तुष्टैश्च सततं धार्यते स नृपोत्तमः ॥१२-११६-१९॥
He is the best among kings whose treasury account is always maintained by trusted, satisfied people who increase the treasury.
कोष्ठागारमसंहार्यैराप्तैः सञ्चयतत्परैः। पात्रभूतैरलुब्धैश्च पाल्यमानं गुणीभवेत् ॥१२-११६-२०॥
A treasury that is guarded by trustworthy, diligent, and worthy individuals who are not greedy becomes excellent.
व्यवहारश्च नगरे यस्य कर्मफलोदयः। दृश्यते शङ्खलिखितः स धर्मफलभाग्भवेत् ॥१२-११६-२१॥
He whose conduct in the city is such that the results of his actions are visibly recorded, as if written on a conch, may become the recipient of the fruits of righteousness.
सङ्गृहीतमनुष्यश्च यो राजा राजधर्मवित्। षड्वर्गं प्रतिगृह्णन्स धर्मात्फलमुपाश्नुते ॥१२-११६-२२॥
A king who gathers men, understands royal duties, and deals with the sixfold group of enemies, enjoys the rewards that come from righteousness.
