12.119
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
एवं शुनासमान्भृत्यान्स्वस्थाने यो नराधिपः। नियोजयति कृत्येषु स राज्यफलमश्नुते ॥१२-११९-१॥
Thus, a king who assigns his servants, like Śunāsīra, to their proper positions and duties, enjoys the rewards of his kingdom.
न श्वा स्वस्थानमुत्क्रम्य प्रमाणमभि सत्कृतः। आरोप्यः श्वा स्वकात्स्थानादुत्क्रम्यान्यत्प्रपद्यते ॥१२-११९-२॥
A dog, even if honored and placed at a higher position, will leave its own place and seek another; it does not remain at its own place.
स्वजातिकुलसम्पन्नाः स्वेषु कर्मस्ववस्थिताः। प्रकर्तव्या बुधा भृत्या नास्थाने प्रक्रिया क्षमा ॥१२-११९-३॥
Those endowed with their own caste and family, established in their own duties, the wise should have their servants perform their tasks; procedure and forgiveness should not be exercised in improper situations.
अनुरूपाणि कर्माणि भृत्येभ्यो यः प्रयच्छति। स भृत्यगुणसम्पन्नं राजा फलमुपाश्नुते ॥१२-११९-४॥
A king who assigns appropriate tasks to his servants, and possesses the qualities of a good servant himself, enjoys the rewards.
शरभः शरभस्थाने सिंहः सिंह इवोर्जितः। व्याघ्रो व्याघ्र इव स्थाप्यो द्वीपी द्वीपी यथा तथा ॥१२-११९-५॥
The śarabha should be in the place of the śarabha, the lion should be empowered like a lion. The tiger should be established like a tiger, and the panther just as a panther, accordingly.
कर्मस्विहानुरूपेषु न्यस्या भृत्या यथाविधि। प्रतिलोमं न भृत्यास्ते स्थाप्याः कर्मफलैषिणा ॥१२-११९-६॥
Here, servants should be assigned to appropriate tasks according to the rules; those who desire the fruits of actions should not appoint servants in roles contrary to their suitability.
यः प्रमाणमतिक्रम्य प्रतिलोमं नराधिपः। भृत्यान्स्थापयतेऽबुद्धिर्न स रञ्जयते प्रजाः ॥१२-११९-७॥
A king who, acting contrary to the standard, appoints unwise servants does not please his subjects.
न बालिशा न च क्षुद्रा न चाप्रतिमितेन्द्रियाः। नाकुलीना नराः पार्श्वे स्थाप्या राज्ञा हितैषिणा ॥१२-११९-८॥
A king who desires the welfare of his kingdom should not keep by his side foolish, mean, unrestrained, or low-born men.
साधवः कुशलाः शूरा ज्ञानवन्तोऽनसूयकाः। अक्षुद्राः शुचयो दक्षा नराः स्युः पारिपार्श्वकाः ॥१२-११९-९॥
Attendants should be virtuous, skilful, valiant, knowledgeable, free from envy, not petty, pure, and capable men.
न्यग्भूतास्तत्पराः क्षान्ताश्चौक्षाः प्रकृतिजाः शुभाः। स्वे स्वे स्थानेऽपरिक्रुष्टास्ते स्यू राज्ञो बहिश्चराः ॥१२-११९-१०॥
Those who are subdued, devoted, forbearing, pure, born of nature, and auspicious, remaining in their own places and not far away, may be the king's external agents.
सिंहस्य सततं पार्श्वे सिंह एव जनो भवेत्। असिंहः सिंहसहितः सिंहवल्लभते फलम् ॥१२-११९-११॥
One should always have a lion-like person at the side of a lion; a non-lion, even if with the lion, enjoys the fruit as a lion does.
यस्तु सिंहः श्वभिः कीर्णः सिंहकर्मफले रतः। न स सिंहफलं भोक्तुं शक्तः श्वभिरुपासितः ॥१२-११९-१२॥
But a lion who is surrounded by dogs and is engaged in the actions of a lion, is not able to enjoy the fruits of a lion, being attended by dogs.
एवमेतैर्मनुष्येन्द्र शूरैः प्राज्ञैर्बहुश्रुतैः। कुलीनैः सह शक्येत कृत्स्नां जेतुं वसुन्धराम् ॥१२-११९-१३॥
O king of men, thus, with these valiant, wise, well-learned, and noble-born men together, it is possible to conquer the entire earth.
नावैद्यो नानृजुः पार्श्वे नाविद्यो नामहाधनः। सङ्ग्राह्यो वसुधापालैर्भृत्यो भृत्यवतां वर ॥१२-११९-१४॥
A servant who is neither unlearned, nor crooked, nor ignorant, nor excessively wealthy should be accepted by kings; among those who have servants, he is the best.
बाणवद्विसृता यान्ति स्वामिकार्यपरा जनाः। ये भृत्याः पार्थिवहितास्तेषां सान्त्वं प्रयोजयेत् ॥१२-११९-१५॥
People devoted to their master's work proceed like arrows. Among the servants, those who are well-wishers of the king should be conciliated.
कोशश्च सततं रक्ष्यो यत्नमास्थाय राजभिः। कोशमूला हि राजानः कोशमूलकरो भव ॥१२-११९-१६॥
Kings must always protect the treasury with effort, for their power is rooted in it; therefore, make the treasury your foundation.
कोष्ठागारं च ते नित्यं स्फीतं धान्यैः सुसञ्चितम्। सदास्तु सत्सु संन्यस्तं धनधान्यपरो भव ॥१२-११९-१७॥
May your granary always be full and well-stocked with grains. Let it always be entrusted to the worthy; be devoted to wealth and grain.
नित्ययुक्ताश्च ते भृत्या भवन्तु रणकोविदाः। वाजिनां च प्रयोगेषु वैशारद्यमिहेष्यते ॥१२-११९-१८॥
May your servants always be engaged and skilled in battle. Expertise in the handling of horses is desired here.
ज्ञातिबन्धुजनावेक्षी मित्रसम्बन्धिसंवृतः। पौरकार्यहितान्वेषी भव कौरवनन्दन ॥१२-११९-१९॥
O delight of the Kauravas, be one who observes relatives, kinsmen, and people, is surrounded by friends and relations, and seeks the welfare of the citizens' affairs.
एषा ते नैष्ठिकी बुद्धिः प्रज्ञा चाभिहिता मया। श्वा ते निदर्शनं तात किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि ॥१२-११९-२०॥
This is the ultimate wisdom I have explained to you. Tomorrow, dear one, do you wish to hear any further illustration?
