15.011
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra said.
मण्डलानि च बुध्येथाः परेषामात्मनस्तथा। उदासीनगुणानां च मध्यमानां तथैव च ॥१५-११-१॥
You should understand the circles of others and yourself, as well as the qualities of the neutrals and the intermediates likewise. (15-11-1)
चतुर्णां शत्रुजातानां सर्वेषामाततायिनाम्। मित्रं चामित्रमित्रं च बोद्धव्यं तेऽरिकर्शन ॥१५-११-२॥
O subduer of foes, you should discern among all the four kinds of enemies and aggressors, which are the friend and which is the false friend. (15-11-2)
तथामात्या जनपदा दुर्गाणि विषमाणि च। बलानि च कुरुश्रेष्ठ भवन्त्येषां यथेच्छकम् ॥१५-११-३॥
In the same way, O best of Kurus, the ministers, districts, fortresses, difficult terrains, and forces of these people are as they desire. (15-11-3)
ते च द्वादश कौन्तेय राज्ञां वै विविधात्मका:। मन्त्रिप्रधानाश्च गुणाः षष्टिर्द्वादश च प्रभो ॥१५-११-४॥
And those twelve types, O son of Kuntī, of kings indeed are of various natures; and there are sixty plus twelve qualities of ministerial leaders, O lord. (15-11-4)
एतन्मण्डलमित्याहुराचार्या नीतिकोविदाः। अत्र षाड्गुण्यमायत्तं युधिष्ठिर निबोध तत् ॥१५-११-५॥
Teachers who are experts in policy call this the circle. Here, the sixfold policy is dependent upon it; Yudhiṣṭhira, know this. (15-11-5)
वृद्धिक्षयौ च विज्ञेयौ स्थानं च कुरुनन्दन। द्विसप्तत्या महाबाहो ततः षाड्गुण्यचारिणः ॥१५-११-६॥
O delight of the Kurus, increase and decrease and the situation (are) to be understood, O mighty-armed, in the context of seventy-two types, then (applied to) those who follow the six-fold policy. (15-11-6)
यदा स्वपक्षो बलवान्परपक्षस्तथाबलः। विगृह्य शत्रून्कौन्तेय यायात्क्षितिपतिस्तदा ॥ यदा स्वपक्षोऽबलवांस्तदा सन्धिं समाश्रयेत् ॥१५-११-७॥
When both one's own side and the enemy are of equal strength, O son of Kunti, then the king should, after fighting the enemies, advance. But when one's own side is weak, then he should resort to making alliances. (15-11-7)
द्रव्याणां सञ्चयश्चैव कर्तव्यः स्यान्महांस्तथा। यदा समर्थो यानाय नचिरेणैव भारत ॥१५-११-८॥
The accumulation of wealth should indeed be undertaken, and it should be considerable. When one is capable of departing, O Bhārata, it should not be long delayed. (15-11-8)
तदा सर्वं विधेयं स्यात्स्थानं च न विभाजयेत्। भूमिरल्पफला देया विपरीतस्य भारत ॥१५-११-९॥
Then all should be assigned together, and a place should not be divided. Land of little yield should be given to the opposing party, O Bhārata. (15-11-9)
हिरण्यं कुप्यभूयिष्ठं मित्रं क्षीणमकोशवत्। विपरीतान्न गृह्णीयात्स्वयं सन्धिविशारदः ॥१५-११-१०॥
A person skilled in alliances should not himself accept either gold that is primarily merchandise, or a friend who is impoverished like someone with no treasury, or things of contrary nature. (15-11-10)
सन्ध्यर्थं राजपुत्रं च लिप्सेथा भरतर्षभ। विपरीतस्तु तेऽदेयः पुत्र कस्याञ्चिदापदि ॥ तस्य प्रमोक्षे यत्नं च कुर्याः सोपायमन्त्रवित् ॥१५-११-११॥
For the sake of conciliation you should seek the prince too, O best of the Bharatas; but in the contrary case, the son is not to be given to you in any calamity. For his release, make every effort, knowing means and strategy. (15-11-11)
प्रकृतीनां च कौन्तेय राजा दीनां विभावयेत्। क्रमेण युगपद्द्वंद्वं व्यसनानां बलाबलम् ॥१५-११-१२॥
O son of Kunti, the king should consider even the weakest among his ministers. He should, in order, also discern the relative strengths and weaknesses of calamities when they arise together. (15-11-12)
पीडनं स्तम्भनं चैव कोशभङ्गस्तथैव च। कार्यं यत्नेन शत्रूणां स्वराष्ट्रं रक्षता स्वयम् ॥१५-११-१३॥
Afflicting, restraining, and breaking the treasury of enemies likewise—these actions should be performed with effort by one who himself protects his own kingdom. (15-11-13)
न च हिंस्योऽभ्युपगतः सामन्तो वृद्धिमिच्छता। कौन्तेय तं न हिंसेत यो महीं विजिगीषते ॥१५-११-१४॥
And a vassal who has approached (submitted) should not be harmed by one seeking increase; O Kaunteya, one who desires to conquer the earth should not harm him. (15-11-14)
गणानां भेदने योगं गच्छेथाः सह मन्त्रिभिः। साधुसङ्ग्रहणाच्चैव पापनिग्रहणात्तथा ॥१५-११-१५॥
You should, together with your ministers, form alliances in dividing groups. Likewise, by assembling the virtuous and restraining the wicked. (15-11-15)
दुर्बलाश्चापि सततं नावष्टभ्या बलीयसा। तिष्ठेथा राजशार्दूल वैतसीं वृत्तिमास्थितः ॥१५-११-१६॥
O tiger among kings, you should always remain having assumed the conduct of the bamboo, not oppressing the weak by your strength. (15-11-16)
यद्येवमभियायाच्च दुर्बलं बलवान्नृपः। सामादिभिरुपायैस्तं क्रमेण विनिवर्तयेत् ॥१५-११-१७॥
If thus a strong king approaches a weak one, he should gradually make him withdraw using conciliation and other means. (15-11-17)
अशक्नुवंस्तु युद्धाय निष्पतेत्सह मन्त्रिभिः। कोशेन पौरैर्दण्डेन ये चान्ये प्रियकारिणः ॥१५-११-१८॥
But if unable for battle, he should go out along with his ministers, treasury, citizens, means of punishment, and others who are well-wishers. (15-11-18)
असम्भवे तु सर्वस्य यथामुख्येन निष्पतेत्। क्रमेणानेन मोक्षः स्याच्छरीरमपि केवलम् ॥१५-११-१९॥
But if (the path) for all is impossible, then it would proceed according to the principal (order); by this sequence, liberation would arise, and the body alone would remain. (15-11-19)
