12.118
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
स श्वा प्रकृतिमापन्नः परं दैन्यमुपागमत्। ऋषिणा हुङ्कृतः पापस्तपोवनबहिष्कृतः ॥१२-११८-१॥
He, as a dog, reverted to his original nature and fell into utter misery. The sinner, rebuked by the sage, was expelled from the penance-grove.
एवं राज्ञा मतिमता विदित्वा शीलशौचताम्। आर्जवं प्रकृतिं सत्त्वं कुलं वृत्तं श्रुतं दमम् ॥१२-११८-२॥
Thus, the wise king, having discerned character and purity, uprightness, nature, goodness, family, conduct, learning, and self-restraint.
अनुक्रोशं बलं वीर्यं भावं सम्प्रशमं क्षमाम्। भृत्या ये यत्र योग्याः स्युस्तत्र स्थाप्याः सुशिक्षिताः ॥१२-११८-३॥
Those servants who possess compassion, strength, energy, good disposition, tranquility, and forbearance, and who are qualified for their place, should be appointed there if they are well-trained.
नापरीक्ष्य महीपालः प्रकर्तुं भृत्यमर्हति। अकुलीननराकीर्णो न राजा सुखमेधते ॥१२-११८-४॥
A king should not appoint a servant without proper examination. A king surrounded by men of ignoble lineage does not attain happiness.
कुलजः प्रकृतो राज्ञा तत्कुलीनतया सदा। न पापे कुरुते बुद्धिं निन्द्यमानोऽप्यनागसि ॥१२-११८-५॥
A person of noble birth, by nature and recognized by the king for that nobility, never inclines his mind toward evil; even when blamed, he remains faultless.
अकुलीनस्तु पुरुषः प्रकृतः साधुसङ्क्षयात्। दुर्लभैश्वर्यतां प्राप्तो निन्दितः शत्रुतां व्रजेत् ॥१२-११८-६॥
But if an ordinary man not of noble family attains rare prosperity due to the destruction of good people, he, being blamed, may become the object of enmity.
कुलीनं शिक्षितं प्राज्ञं ज्ञानविज्ञानकोविदम्। सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञं सहिष्णुं देशजं तथा ॥१२-११८-७॥
He should be of noble lineage, educated, wise, skilled in knowledge and science, a knower of the essence of all śāstras, patient, and a native as well.
कृतज्ञं बलवन्तं च क्षान्तं दान्तं जितेन्द्रियम्। अलुब्धं लब्धसन्तुष्टं स्वामिमित्रबुभूषकम् ॥१२-११८-८॥
He is grateful, powerful, forbearing, self-controlled, has conquered his senses, is not greedy, is content with what he obtains, and wishes to please his master and friends.
सचिवं देशकालज्ञं सर्वसङ्ग्रहणे रतम्। सत्कृतं युक्तमनसं हितैषिणमतन्द्रितम् ॥१२-११८-९॥
A minister should be knowledgeable of place and time, diligent in gathering all resources, respected, attentive, a well-wisher, and tireless in his duties.
युक्ताचारं स्वविषये सन्धिविग्रहकोविदम्। राज्ञस्त्रिवर्गवेत्तारं पौरजानपदप्रियम् ॥१२-११८-१०॥
He is proper in conduct within his own domain, skilled in making and breaking alliances, knowledgeable in the three aims of life for a king, and beloved by both the citizens and the people of the country.
खातकव्यूहतत्त्वज्ञं बलहर्षणकोविदम्। इङ्गिताकारतत्त्वज्ञं यात्रायानविशारदम् ॥१२-११८-११॥
He knows the principles of assailants and battle formations, is skilled in inspiring strength; he understands the principles of gestures and forms, and is adept in the science of marches and vehicles.
हस्तिशिक्षासु तत्त्वज्ञमहङ्कारविवर्जितम्। प्रगल्भं दक्षिणं दान्तं बलिनं युक्तकारिणम् ॥१२-११८-१२॥
In the science of elephant-training, the ideal person is one who understands the principles, is free from arrogance, bold, skilful, self-restrained, strong, and acts with propriety.
चोक्षं चोक्षजनाकीर्णं सुवेषं सुखदर्शनम्। नायकं नीतिकुशलं गुणषष्ट्या समन्वितम् ॥१२-११८-१३॥
He was clear, surrounded by pure people, well-dressed, pleasant to look at, a leader skilled in policy, endowed with sixty virtues.
अस्तब्धं प्रश्रितं शक्तं मृदुवादिनमेव च। धीरं श्लक्ष्णं महर्द्धिं च देशकालोपपादकम् ॥१२-११८-१४॥
One should be unassuming, humble, capable, gentle in speech, steadfast, polite, greatly prosperous, and act appropriately according to place and time.
सचिवं यः प्रकुरुते न चैनमवमन्यते। तस्य विस्तीर्यते राज्यं ज्योत्स्ना ग्रहपतेरिव ॥१२-११८-१५॥
He who appoints a minister and does not disregard him, his kingdom expands like the moonlight of the moon.
एतैरेव गुणैर्युक्तो राजा शास्त्रविशारदः। एष्टव्यो धर्मपरमः प्रजापालनतत्परः ॥१२-११८-१६॥
A king who possesses these qualities, is an expert in śāstra, should be chosen—he who is supremely devoted to dharma and to the protection of his people.
धीरो मर्षी शुचिः शीघ्रः काले पुरुषकारवित्। शुश्रूषुः श्रुतवाञ्श्रोता ऊहापोहविशारदः ॥१२-११८-१७॥
He is steadfast, patient, pure, quick to act at the right time, knowledgeable about human effort, eager to listen, well-versed in what is heard, a good listener, and skilled in reasoning and refutation.
मेधावी धारणायुक्तो यथान्यायोपपादकः। दान्तः सदा प्रियाभाषी क्षमावांश्च विपर्यये ॥१२-११८-१८॥
He who is intelligent, endowed with retention, establishes what is proper, is self-restrained, always speaks pleasantly, and is forbearing even in adversity.
दानाच्छेदे स्वयङ्कारी सुद्वारः सुखदर्शनः। आर्तहस्तप्रदो नित्यमाप्तंमन्यो नये रतः ॥१२-११८-१९॥
He is self-reliant in distributing gifts, has well-guarded entrances, is pleasing to look at, always helps the distressed directly, values trusted people, and is devoted to good governance.
नाहंवादी न निर्द्वंद्वो न यत्किञ्चनकारकः। कृते कर्मण्यमोघानां कर्ता भृत्यजनप्रियः ॥१२-११८-२०॥
I am not one who argues, nor am I free from dualities, nor do I cause anything whatsoever. In what is done, I am the doer of those whose actions are not in vain, and I am dear to servants and people.
सङ्गृहीतजनोऽस्तब्धः प्रसन्नवदनः सदा। दाता भृत्यजनावेक्षी न क्रोधी सुमहामनाः ॥१२-११८-२१॥
He is always surrounded by people, unshaken, with a clear face, ever a giver, observant of his servants, not prone to anger, and of very great mind.
युक्तदण्डो न निर्दण्डो धर्मकार्यानुशासकः। चारनेत्रः परावेक्षी धर्मार्थकुशलः सदा ॥१२-११८-२२॥
He should always be one who metes out appropriate punishment, not one who is without punishment, who enforces righteous actions, who has spies as his eyes, who observes others, and who is skilled in righteousness and wealth.
राजा गुणशताकीर्ण एष्टव्यस्तादृशो भवेत्। योधाश्चैव मनुष्येन्द्र सर्वैर्गुणगुणैर्वृताः ॥१२-११८-२३॥
The king should possess hundreds of virtues and be worthy of desire; likewise, O king of men, the warriors should be endowed with every noble quality.
अन्वेष्टव्याः सुपुरुषाः सहाया राज्यधारणाः। न विमानयितव्याश्च राज्ञा वृद्धिमभीप्सता ॥१२-११८-२४॥
A king who desires the growth of his kingdom should seek out good men, helpers, and supporters of the kingdom, and should not disrespect them.
योधाः समरशौटीराः कृतज्ञाः शस्त्रकोविदाः। धर्मशास्त्रसमायुक्ताः पदातिजनसंयुताः ॥१२-११८-२५॥
They are warriors, skilled in battle, grateful, adept in weapons, versed in the law scriptures, and accompanied by foot soldiers.
अर्थमानविवृद्धाश्च रथचर्याविशारदाः। इष्वस्त्रकुशला यस्य तस्येयं नृपतेर्मही ॥१२-११८-२६॥
This earth belongs to that king in whom wealth and honor have increased, who is skilled in chariot-driving and adept in the use of arrows and weapons.
सर्वसङ्ग्रहणे युक्तो नृपो भवति यः सदा। उत्थानशीलो मित्राढ्यः स राजा राजसत्तमः ॥१२-११८-२७॥
A king who is always engaged in gathering all, diligent and rich in friends, is the best among kings.
शक्या अश्वसहस्रेण वीरारोहेण भारत। सङ्गृहीतमनुष्येण कृत्स्ना जेतुं वसुन्धरा ॥१२-११८-२८॥
O Bhārata, it is possible to conquer the entire earth with a thousand horses, a heroic rider, and a united man.
