12.129
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
क्षीणस्य दीर्घसूत्रस्य सानुक्रोशस्य बन्धुषु। विरक्तपौरराष्ट्रस्य निर्द्रव्यनिचयस्य च ॥१२-१२९-१॥
Of the diminished, the procrastinator, the compassionate, among relatives, of one whose citizens and kingdom are disaffected, and of one whose wealth is exhausted.
परिशङ्कितमुख्यस्य स्रुतमन्त्रस्य भारत। असम्भावितमित्रस्य भिन्नामात्यस्य सर्वशः ॥१२-१२९-२॥
O Bhārata, in every way, the chief who is doubted, the counsel that is merely heard, the friend who is not trusted, and the minister who is divided are all unreliable.
परचक्राभियातस्य दुर्बलस्य बलीयसा। आपन्नचेतसो ब्रूहि किं कार्यमवशिष्यते ॥१२-१२९-३॥
Tell me, when a weak person is attacked by a stronger enemy force and is mentally afflicted, what should be done?
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
बाह्यश्चेद्विजिगीषुः स्याद्धर्मार्थकुशलः शुचिः। जवेन सन्धिं कुर्वीत पूर्वान्पूर्वान्विमोक्षयन् ॥१२-१२९-४॥
If an external enemy wishes to conquer, one should be skilled in dharma and artha, pure, and quickly make alliances, releasing the previous ones.
अधर्मविजिगीषुश्चेद्बलवान्पापनिश्चयः। आत्मनः संनिरोधेन सन्धिं तेनाभियोजयेत् ॥१२-१२९-५॥
If a powerful person, intent on evil and seeking to conquer through unrighteousness, arises, one should make peace with him by self-restraint.
अपास्य राजधानीं वा तरेदन्येन वापदम्। तद्भावभावे द्रव्याणि जीवन्पुनरुपार्जयेत् ॥१२-१२९-६॥
If one must, he should abandon the capital city or move to another place. Whether that is possible or not, he should strive to earn wealth again while living.
यास्तु स्युः केवलत्यागाच्छक्यास्तरितुमापदः। कस्तत्राधिकमात्मानं सन्त्यजेदर्थधर्मवित् ॥१२-१२९-७॥
But as for those calamities that can be overcome merely by renunciation, who there, being wise in wealth and righteousness, would abandon himself even more?
अवरोधाज्जुगुप्सेत का सपत्नधने दया। न त्वेवात्मा प्रदातव्यः शक्ये सति कथञ्चन ॥१२-१२९-८॥
One should feel aversion due to confinement; what compassion is appropriate regarding a rival's wealth? But indeed, the self should never be given away in any way, if it can be avoided.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira said.
आभ्यन्तरे प्रकुपिते बाह्ये चोपनिपीडिते। क्षीणे कोशे स्रुते मन्त्रे किं कार्यमवशिष्यते ॥१२-१२९-९॥
When there is turmoil within, oppression outside, the treasury is depleted, and counsel is lost, what action remains to be done?
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
क्षिप्रं वा सन्धिकामः स्यात्क्षिप्रं वा तीक्ष्णविक्रमः। पदापनयनं क्षिप्रमेतावत्साम्परायिकम् ॥१२-१२९-१०॥
One should either quickly seek alliance or act with sharp prowess; the swift removal of the army—this is the essential rule in battle.
अनुरक्तेन पुष्टेन हृष्टेन जगतीपते। अल्पेनापि हि सैन्येन महीं जयति पार्थिवः ॥१२-१२९-११॥
O king, a ruler who is devoted, well-nourished, and joyful can conquer the earth even with a small army.
हतो वा दिवमारोहेद्विजयी क्षितिमावसेत्। युद्धे तु सन्त्यजन्प्राणाञ्शक्रस्यैति सलोकताम् ॥१२-१२९-१२॥
If slain, he ascends to heaven; if victorious, he lives on earth. But if he gives up his life in battle, he attains the same world as Indra.
सर्वलोकागमं कृत्वा मृदुत्वं गन्तुमेव च। विश्वासाद्विनयं कुर्याद्व्यवस्येद्वाप्युपानहौ ॥१२-१२९-१३॥
One should, after considering the ways of all people and adopting gentleness, proceed; from trust, one should act with humility or decide even about sandals.
अपक्रमितुमिच्छेद्वा यथाकामं तु सान्त्वयेत्। विलिङ्गमित्वा मित्रेण ततः स्वयमुपक्रमेत् ॥१२-१२९-१४॥
If he wishes to depart, or as he desires, he should first try to conciliate. Then, having gone in disguise with a friend, he should approach himself.
