12.129
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
kṣīṇasya dīrghasūtrasya sānukrośasya bandhuṣu। viraktapaurarāṣṭrasya nirdravyanicayasya ca ॥12-129-1॥
Of the diminished, the procrastinator, the compassionate, among relatives, of one whose citizens and kingdom are disaffected, and of one whose wealth is exhausted.
pariśaṅkitamukhyasya srutamantrasya bhārata। asambhāvitamitrasya bhinnāmātyasya sarvaśaḥ ॥12-129-2॥
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.
paracakrābhiyātasya durbalasya balīyasā। āpannacetaso brūhi kiṃ kāryam avaśiṣyate ॥12-129-3॥
Tell me, when a weak person is attacked by a stronger enemy force and is mentally afflicted, what should be done?
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
bāhyaś ced vijigīṣuḥ syād dharmārthakuśalaḥ śuciḥ। javena sandhiṃ kurvīta pūrvān pūrvān vimokṣayan ॥12-129-4॥
If an external enemy wishes to conquer, one should be skilled in dharma and artha, pure, and quickly make alliances, releasing the previous ones.
adharmavijigīṣuścedbalavānpāpaniścayaḥ। ātmanaḥ saṃnirodhena sandhiṃ tenābhiyojayet ॥12-129-5॥
If a powerful person, intent on evil and seeking to conquer through unrighteousness, arises, one should make peace with him by self-restraint.
apāsya rājadhānīṃ vā tared anyena vā padam। tad-bhāva-abhāve dravyāṇi jīvan punar upārjayet ॥12-129-6॥
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.
yāstu syuḥ kevalatyāgācchak yāstaritumāpadaḥ। kastatrādhikamātmānaṃ santyajedarthadharmavit ॥12-129-7॥
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?
avarodhājjugupseta kā sapatnadhane dayā। na tvevātmā pradātavyaḥ śakye sati kathañcana ॥12-129-8॥
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.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
ābhyantare prakupite bāhye copanipīḍite। kṣīṇe kośe srute mantre kiṃ kāryam avaśiṣyate॥12-129-9॥
When there is turmoil within, oppression outside, the treasury is depleted, and counsel is lost, what action remains to be done?
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
kṣipraṃ vā sandhikāmaḥ syāt kṣipraṃ vā tīkṣṇavikramaḥ। padāpanayanaṃ kṣipram etāvat sāmparāyikam॥12-129-10॥
One should either quickly seek alliance or act with sharp prowess; the swift removal of the army—this is the essential rule in battle.
anuraktena puṣṭena hṛṣṭena jagatīpate। alpenāpi hi sainyena mahīṃ jayati pārthivaḥ ॥12-129-11॥
O king, a ruler who is devoted, well-nourished, and joyful can conquer the earth even with a small army.
hato vā divam ārohed vijayī kṣitim āvaset। yuddhe tu santyajan prāṇāñ śakrasya eti salokatām ॥12-129-12॥
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.
sarvalokāgamaṃ kṛtvā mṛdutvaṃ gantum eva ca। viśvāsād vinayaṃ kuryād vyavasyed vāpy upānahau ॥12-129-13॥
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.
apakramitum icched vā yathākāmaṃ tu sāntvayet। viliṅgam itvā mitreṇa tataḥ svayam upakramet॥12-129-14॥
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.
