12.119
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
evaṃ śunāsamānbhṛtyānsvasthāne yo narādhipaḥ। niyojayati kṛtyeṣu sa rājyaphalamaśnute ॥12-119-1॥
Thus, a king who assigns his servants, like Śunāsīra, to their proper positions and duties, enjoys the rewards of his kingdom.
na śvā svasthānam-utkramya pramāṇam-abhi satkṛtaḥ। āropyaḥ śvā svakāt-sthānād-utkramya anyat-prapadyate ॥12-119-2॥
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.
svajāti-kula-sampannāḥ sveṣu karmasu avasthitāḥ। prakartavyā budhā bhṛtyā nāsthāne prakriyā kṣamā ॥12-119-3॥
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.
anurūpāṇi karmāṇi bhṛtyebhyo yaḥ prayacchati। sa bhṛtyaguṇasampannaṃ rājā phalam upāśnute ॥12-119-4॥
A king who assigns appropriate tasks to his servants, and possesses the qualities of a good servant himself, enjoys the rewards.
śarabhaḥ śarabhasthāne siṃhaḥ siṃha ivo rjitaḥ। vyāghro vyāghra iva sthāpyo dvīpī dvīpī yathā tathā ॥12-119-5॥
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.
karmasv ihānurūpeṣu nyasyā bhṛtyā yathāvidhi। pratilomaṃ na bhṛtyās te sthāpyāḥ karmaphalaiṣiṇā ॥12-119-6॥
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.
yaḥ pramāṇamatikramya pratilomaṃ narādhipaḥ। bhṛtyānsthāpayate'budhirna sa rañjayate prajāḥ ॥12-119-7॥
A king who, acting contrary to the standard, appoints unwise servants does not please his subjects.
na bāliśā na ca kṣudrā na cāpratimitendriyāḥ। nākulīnā narāḥ pārśve sthāpyā rājñā hitaiṣiṇā ॥12-119-8॥
A king who desires the welfare of his kingdom should not keep by his side foolish, mean, unrestrained, or low-born men.
sādhavaḥ kuśalāḥ śūrā jñānavanto'nasūyakāḥ। akṣudrāḥ śucayo dakṣā narāḥ syuḥ pāripārśvakāḥ ॥12-119-9॥
Attendants should be virtuous, skilful, valiant, knowledgeable, free from envy, not petty, pure, and capable men.
nyagbhūtās tat-parāḥ kṣāntāś caukṣāḥ prakṛti-jāḥ śubhāḥ। sve sve sthāne'parikṛṣṭās te syur rājño bahiś-carāḥ॥12-119-10॥
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.
siṃhasya satataṃ pārśve siṃha eva jano bhavet। asiṃhaḥ siṃhasahitaḥ siṃhavallabhate phalam ॥12-119-11॥
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.
yastu siṃhaḥ śvabhiḥ kīrṇaḥ siṃhakarmaphale rataḥ। na sa siṃhaphalaṃ bhoktuṃ śaktaḥ śvabhirupāsitaḥ॥12-119-12॥
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.
evametair manuṣyendra śūraiḥ prājñair bahuśrutaiḥ। kulīnaiḥ saha śakyeta kṛtsnāṃ jetuṃ vasundharām ॥12-119-13॥
O king of men, thus, with these valiant, wise, well-learned, and noble-born men together, it is possible to conquer the entire earth.
nāvaidyo nānṛjuḥ pārśve nāvidyo nāmahādhanaḥ। saṅgrāhyo vasudhāpālairbhṛtyo bhṛtyavatāṃ vara ॥12-119-14॥
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.
bāṇavad-visṛtā yānti svāmi-kārya-parā janāḥ। ye bhṛtyāḥ pārthiva-hitās-teṣāṃ sāntvaṃ prayojayet ॥12-119-15॥
People devoted to their master's work proceed like arrows. Among the servants, those who are well-wishers of the king should be conciliated.
kośaś ca satataṃ rakṣyo yatnam āsthāya rājabhiḥ। kośamūlā hi rājānaḥ kośamūlakarō bhava ॥12-119-16॥
Kings must always protect the treasury with effort, for their power is rooted in it; therefore, make the treasury your foundation.
koṣṭhāgāraṃ ca te nityaṃ sphītaṃ dhānyaiḥ susañcitam। sadāstu satsu saṃnyastaṃ dhanadhānyaparo bhava ॥12-119-17॥
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.
nityayuktāś ca te bhṛtyā bhavantu raṇakovidāḥ। vājināṃ ca prayogeṣu vaiśāradyam iheṣyate ॥12-119-18॥
May your servants always be engaged and skilled in battle. Expertise in the handling of horses is desired here.
jñātibandhujanāvekṣī mitrasambandhisaṃvṛtaḥ। paurakāryahitānveṣī bhava kauravanandana ॥12-119-19॥
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.
eṣā te naiṣṭhikī buddhiḥ prajñā cābhihitā mayā। śvā te nidarśanaṃ tāta kiṃ bhūyaḥ śrotum icchasi॥12-119-20॥
This is the ultimate wisdom I have explained to you. Tomorrow, dear one, do you wish to hear any further illustration?
