12.259
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira said.
कथं राजा प्रजा रक्षेन्न च किञ्चित्प्रतापयेत्। पृच्छामि त्वां सतां श्रेष्ठ तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥१२-२५९-१॥
How should a king protect his subjects without oppressing them in any way? I ask you, O grandsire, best among the virtuous, please tell me that.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। द्युमत्सेनस्य संवादं राज्ञा सत्यवता सह ॥१२-२५९-२॥
Here too, an ancient story is told: the conversation between Dyumatsena and King Satyavat.
अव्याहृतं व्याजहार सत्यवानिति नः श्रुतम्। वधाय नीयमानेषु पितुरेवानुशासनात् ॥१२-२५९-३॥
It was heard by us that, without being prompted, he uttered the name 'Satyavan'. When they were being led away for execution, it was solely by the father's command.
अधर्मतां याति धर्मो यात्यधर्मश्च धर्मताम्। वधो नाम भवेद्धर्मो नैतद्भवितुमर्हति ॥१२-२५९-४॥
Dharma may turn into adharma, and adharma into dharma. Sometimes, killing may be considered dharma, but this should not be so.
द्युमत्सेन उवाच॥
Dyumatsena said.
अथ चेदवधो धर्मो धर्मः को जातु चिद्भवेत्। दस्यवश्चेन्न हन्येरन्सत्यवन्सङ्करो भवेत् ॥१२-२५९-५॥
If killing were considered righteousness, then what could ever be called righteousness? If robbers are not slain, there would be a confusion of true lineage.
ममेदमिति नास्यैतत्प्रवर्तेत कलौ युगे। लोकयात्रा न चैव स्यादथ चेद्वेत्थ शंस नः ॥१२-२५९-६॥
If in the Kali age this idea of 'mine' and 'not his' did not arise, worldly conduct would not exist at all; if you know otherwise, tell us.
सत्यवानुवाच॥
Satyavan said.
सर्व एव त्रयो वर्णाः कार्या ब्राह्मणबन्धनाः। धर्मपाशनिबद्धानामल्पो व्यपचरिष्यति ॥१२-२५९-७॥
All three classes should be bound by the Brāhmaṇa; among those bound by the noose of dharma, few will deviate.
यो यस्तेषामपचरेत्तमाचक्षीत वै द्विजः। अयं मे न शृणोतीति तस्मिन्राजा प्रधारयेत् ॥१२-२५९-८॥
The twice-born should inform the king about any one among them who serves but does not listen to him, saying: "This one does not listen to me"; the king should take note of him.
तत्त्वाभेदेन यच्छास्त्रं तत्कार्यं नान्यथा वधः। असमीक्ष्यैव कर्माणि नीतिशास्त्रं यथाविधि ॥१२-२५९-९॥
If the principle is not distinguished, whatever is prescribed in the scripture is to be done; otherwise, it leads to destruction. Actions must be performed only after due examination, and the science of ethics should be followed according to the prescribed rules.
दस्यून्हिनस्ति वै राजा भूयसो वाप्यनागसः। भार्या माता पिता पुत्रो हन्यते पुरुषे हते ॥ परेणापकृते राजा तस्मात्सम्यक्प्रधारयेत् ॥१२-२५९-१०॥
The king, in punishing robbers, often destroys even the innocent. When a man is slain by another who has done wrong, his wife, mother, father, and son are also killed. Therefore, the king should judge carefully.
असाधुश्चैव पुरुषो लभते शीलमेकदा। साधोश्चापि ह्यसाधुभ्यो जायतेऽशोभना प्रजा ॥१२-२५९-११॥
Sometimes even a wicked man acquires good character, and likewise, from the good, unworthy offspring may be born from the wicked.
न मूलघातः कर्तव्यो नैष धर्मः सनातनः। अपि खल्ववधेनैव प्रायश्चित्तं विधीयते ॥१२-२५९-१२॥
Root destruction should not be done; this is not the eternal dharma. Even so, atonement is prescribed only by killing.
उद्वेजनेन बन्धेन विरूपकरणेन च। वधदण्डेन ते क्लेश्या न पुरोऽहितसम्पदा ॥१२-२५९-१३॥
Those possessing harmful wealth should not be afflicted by agitation, binding, disfigurement, or capital punishment.
यदा पुरोहितं वा ते पर्येयुः शरणैषिणः। करिष्यामः पुनर्ब्रह्मन्न पापमिति वादिनः ॥१२-२५९-१४॥
When the priests or those seeking refuge would approach you, saying, "O Brahman, we will not commit sin again," thus they spoke.
तदा विसर्गमर्हाः स्युरितीदं नृपशासनम्। बिभ्रद्दण्डाजिनं मुण्डो ब्राह्मणोऽर्हति वाससम् ॥१२-२५९-१५॥
At that time, those who are worthy of renunciation should do so—this is the king's decree. A shaven-headed brāhmaṇa, bearing a staff and deer skin, is entitled to wear a garment.
गरीयांसो गरीयांसमपराधे पुनः पुनः। तथा विसर्गमर्हन्ति न यथा प्रथमे तथा ॥१२-२५९-१६॥
Greater persons, when a greater offence is committed again and again, do not deserve release as they did the first time.
द्युमत्सेन उवाच॥
Dyumatsena said.
यत्र यत्रैव शक्येरन्संयन्तुं समये प्रजाः। स तावत्प्रोच्यते धर्मो यावन्न प्रतिलङ्घ्यते ॥१२-२५९-१७॥
Wherever and whenever the subjects can be restrained, that is called dharma as long as it is not transgressed.
अहन्यमानेषु पुनः सर्वमेव पराभवेत्। पूर्वे पूर्वतरे चैव सुशास्या अभवञ्जनाः ॥१२-२५९-१८॥
If destruction were to occur again, everything would be ruined. In former and more ancient times, people were well-governed.
मृदवः सत्यभूयिष्ठा अल्पद्रोहाल्पमन्यवः। पुरा धिग्दण्ड एवासीद्वाग्दण्डस्तदनन्तरम् ॥१२-२५९-१९॥
In earlier times, people were gentle, mostly truthful, rarely treacherous, and seldom angry; back then, mere condemnation was considered punishment, and later, punishment became just words.
आसीदादानदण्डोऽपि वधदण्डोऽद्य वर्तते। वधेनापि न शक्यन्ते नियन्तुमपरे जनाः ॥१२-२५९-२०॥
Previously, there was punishment for theft; now, only the death penalty exists. Yet, even by execution, other people cannot be restrained.
नैव दस्युर्मनुष्याणां न देवानामिति श्रुतिः। न गन्धर्वपितॄणां च कः कस्येह न कश्चन ॥१२-२५९-२१॥
Scripture declares: "There is no robber among men, nor among gods; nor among gandharvas and ancestors. Here, who belongs to whom? No one belongs to anyone."
पद्मं श्मशानादादत्ते पिशाचाच्चापि दैवतम्। तेषु यः समयं कुर्यादज्ञेषु हतबुद्धिषु ॥१२-२५९-२२॥
He who takes a lotus from the cremation ground or a divine image from a piśāca, and among such people, whoever makes an agreement with the ignorant or those whose intellect is ruined.
सत्यवानुवाच॥
Satyavan said.
तान्न शक्नोषि चेत्साधून्परित्रातुमहिंसया। कस्यचिद्भूतभव्यस्य लाभेनान्तं तथा कुरु ॥१२-२५९-२३॥
If you cannot protect the virtuous by non-violence, then bring about the end of any past or future being by whatever means of gain.
द्युमत्सेन उवाच॥
Dyumatsena said.
राजानो लोकयात्रार्थं तप्यन्ते परमं तपः। अपत्रपन्ति तादृग्भ्यस्तथावृत्ता भवन्ति च ॥१२-२५९-२४॥
Kings perform the highest austerities for the sake of maintaining the world. They do not feel shame before such people, and those who act in the same way also become like them.
वित्रास्यमानाः सुकृतो न कामाद्घ्नन्ति दुष्कृतीन्। सुकृतेनैव राजानो भूयिष्ठं शासते प्रजाः ॥१२-२५९-२५॥
The virtuous, even when afraid, do not destroy the wicked out of desire. It is by virtue alone that kings generally govern their subjects.
श्रेयसः श्रेयसीमेवं वृत्तिं लोकोऽनुवर्तते। सदैव हि गुरोर्वृत्तमनुवर्तन्ति मानवाः ॥१२-२५९-२६॥
People always follow the more excellent conduct of the superior. Indeed, humans always follow the conduct of the teacher.
आत्मानमसमाधाय समाधित्सति यः परान्। विषयेष्विन्द्रियवशं मानवाः प्रहसन्ति तम् ॥१२-२५९-२७॥
If one, without first composing himself, seeks to compose others, men who are under the sway of their senses in worldly objects will laugh at him.
यो राज्ञो दम्भमोहेन किञ्चित्कुर्यादसाम्प्रतम्। सर्वोपायैर्नियम्यः स तथा पापान्निवर्तते ॥१२-२५९-२८॥
Anyone who, out of hypocrisy and delusion, does something inappropriate to the king should be restrained by all means; thus, he is turned away from evil.
आत्मैवादौ नियन्तव्यो दुष्कृतं संनियच्छता। दण्डयेच्च महादण्डैरपि बन्धूननन्तरान् ॥१२-२५९-२९॥
First, one must restrain oneself; one who controls evil deeds should also punish even close kinsmen who follow, with severe penalties.
यत्र वै पापकृत्क्लेश्यो न महद्दुःखमर्छति। वर्धन्ते तत्र पापानि धर्मो ह्रसति च ध्रुवम् ॥ इति कारुण्यशीलस्तु विद्वान्वै ब्राह्मणोऽन्वशात् ॥१२-२५९-३०॥
Where the evil-doer afflicted does not deserve great suffering, there sins certainly increase and righteousness declines. Thus, the wise brāhmaṇa of compassionate nature investigated this. "12-259-30".
इति चैवानुशिष्टोऽस्मि पूर्वैस्तात पितामहैः। आश्वासयद्भिः सुभृशमनुक्रोशात्तथैव च ॥१२-२५९-३१॥
Thus, O dear one, I have been instructed by the former grandfathers, who, out of great compassion, comforted me in the same way.
एतत्प्रथमकल्पेन राजा कृतयुगेऽभजत्। पादोनेनापि धर्मेण गच्छेत्त्रेतायुगे तथा ॥ द्वापरे तु द्विपादेन पादेन त्वपरे युगे ॥१२-२५९-३२॥
In the first kalpa, the king enjoyed (full) dharma in the Kṛta Yuga. In the Tretā Yuga, dharma stood on three feet; in the Dvāpara on two; and in the last age, on one foot only.
तथा कलियुगे प्राप्ते राज्ञां दुश्चरितेन ह। भवेत्कालविशेषेण कला धर्मस्य षोडशी ॥१२-२५९-३३॥
Thus, when the Kali Yuga arrives, due to the evil conduct of kings, at a particular time, the portion of righteousness will be sixteenfold.
अथ प्रथमकल्पेन सत्यवन्सङ्करो भवेत्। आयुः शक्तिं च कालं च निर्दिश्य तप आदिशेत् ॥१२-२५९-३४॥
Then, according to the primary procedure, the union of Satyavan should take place. After specifying the lifespan, strength, and time, he should instruct the practice of austerity.
सत्याय हि यथा नेह जह्याद्धर्मफलं महत्। भूतानामनुकम्पार्थं मनुः स्वायम्भुवोऽब्रवीत् ॥१२-२५९-३५॥
Manu Svāyambhuva said: "Indeed, for the sake of truth, even the greatest reward of righteousness should be abandoned in this world for compassion towards all beings."
