12.116
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
pitāmaha mahāprājña saṃśayo me mahānayam। sa cchettavyastvayā rājanbhavānkulakaro hi naḥ ॥12-116-1॥
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.
puruṣāṇām ayaṃ tāta durvṛttānāṃ durātmanām। kathito vākyasañcāras tato vijñāpayāmi te ॥12-116-2॥
O dear one, I have told you the discourse concerning the ill-behaved and wicked men; now I inform you further.
yaddhitaṃ rājyatantrasya kulasya ca sukhodayam। āyatyāṃ ca tadātve ca kṣemavṛddhikaraṃ ca yat ॥12-116-3॥
That which is beneficial to the administration and the family, brings happiness, and in both the present and the future, promotes welfare and growth.
putrapautrābhirāmaṃ ca rāṣṭravṛddhikaraṃ ca yat। annapāne śarīre ca hitaṃ yattadbravīhi me ॥12-116-4॥
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.
abhiṣikto hi yo rājā rājyastho mitrasaṃvṛtaḥ। asuhṛtsamupeto vā sa kathaṃ rañjayetprajāḥ ॥12-116-5॥
How could a king, though anointed and established in the kingdom, surrounded by friends or attended by enemies, ever please his subjects?
yo hy asat-pragraha-ratiḥ sneha-rāga-balāt-kṛtaḥ। indriyāṇām anīśatvād asajjana-bubhūṣakaḥ ॥12-116-6॥
Whoever, being attached to the unreal, driven by affection and passion, and lacking mastery over the senses, seeks the company of the wicked.
tasya bhṛtyā viguṇatāṃ yānti sarve kulodgatāḥ। na ca bhṛtyaphalairarthaiḥ sa rājā samprayujyate ॥12-116-7॥
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.
etān me saṃśayasthasya rājadarmān sudurlabhān। bṛhaspatisamo buddhyā bhavāñ śaṃsitum arhati ॥12-116-8॥
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.
śaṁsitā puruṣavyāghra tvaṁ naḥ kulahite rataḥ। kṣattā caiva paṭuprājño yo naḥ śaṁsati sarvadā ॥12-116-9॥
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.
tvattaḥ kulahitaṃ vākyaṃ śrutvā rājyahitodayam। amṛtasyāvyayasyeva tṛptaḥ svapsyāmyahaṃ sukham ॥12-116-10॥
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.
kīdṛṣāḥ saṃnikarṣasthā bhṛtyāḥ syurvā guṇānvitāḥ। kīdṛśaiḥ kiṅkulīnairvā saha yātrā vidhīyate ॥12-116-11॥
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?
na hy-eko bhṛtyarahito rājā bhavati rakṣitā। rājyaṃ cedaṃ janaḥ sarvas-tatkūlīno'bhisaṃsati ॥12-116-12॥
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.
na hi praśāstuṃ rājyaṃ hi śakyam ekena bhārata। asahāyavatā tāta naiva arthāḥ kecid api uta॥ labdhuṃ labdhvā ca api sadā rakṣituṃ bharatarṣabha॥12-116-13॥
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.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
yasya bhṛtyajanaḥ sarvo jñānavijñānakovidaḥ। hitaiṣī kulajaḥ snigdhaḥ sa rājyaphalamaśnute ॥12-116-14॥
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.
mantriṇo yasya kulajā asaṃhāryāḥ sahoṣitāḥ। nṛpater matidāḥ santi sambandhajñānakovidāḥ ॥12-116-15॥
The king whose ministers are born in noble families, are irresistible, live together, give wise counsel, and are skilled in the knowledge of relationships.
anāgatavidhātāraḥ kālajñānaviśāradāḥ। atikrāntamaśocantaḥ sa rājyaphalamaśnute ॥12-116-16॥
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.
samaduḥkhasukhā yasya sahāyāḥ satyakāriṇaḥ। arthacintāparā yasya sa rājyaphalamaśnute ॥12-116-17॥
He whose helpers are impartial in happiness and sorrow, truthful in action, and devoted to the king's welfare, enjoys the rewards of sovereignty.
yasya nārto janapadaḥ saṃnikarṣagataḥ sadā। akṣudraḥ satpathālambī sa rājyaphalabhāgbhavet ॥12-116-18॥
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.
kośākṣapaṭalaṃ yasya kośavṛddhikarairjanaiḥ। āptaistuṣṭaiśca satataṃ dhāryate sa nṛpottamaḥ ॥12-116-19॥
He is the best among kings whose treasury account is always maintained by trusted, satisfied people who increase the treasury.
koṣṭhāgāram asaṃhāryair āptaiḥ sañcaya-tatparaiḥ। pātra-bhūtair alubdhaiś ca pālyamānaṃ guṇī bhavet ॥12-116-20॥
A treasury that is guarded by trustworthy, diligent, and worthy individuals who are not greedy becomes excellent.
vyavahāraś ca nagare yasya karmaphalodayaḥ। dṛśyate śaṅkha-likhitaḥ sa dharmaphalabhāgbhavet ॥12-116-21॥
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.
saṅgṛhītamanuṣyaś ca yo rājā rājadarmavit। ṣaḍvargaṃ pratigṛhṇans dharmāt phalam upāśnute ॥12-116-22॥
A king who gathers men, understands royal duties, and deals with the sixfold group of enemies, enjoys the rewards that come from righteousness.
