15.012
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said.
सन्धिविग्रहमप्यत्र पश्येथा राजसत्तम। द्वियोनिं त्रिविधोपायं बहुकल्पं युधिष्ठिर ॥१५-१२-१॥
O best of kings, O Yudhisthira, here you may also observe treaty and war, which have two origins, three methods, and many forms. (15-12-1)
राजेन्द्र पर्युपासीथाश्छित्त्वा द्वैविध्यमात्मनः। तुष्टपुष्टबलः शत्रुरात्मवानिति च स्मरेत् ॥१५-१२-२॥
O king of kings, you should approach after having removed inner duplicity. Remember: an enemy who is content, nourished, and strong is self-controlled. (15-12-2)
पर्युपासनकाले तु विपरीतं विधीयते। आमर्दकाले राजेन्द्र व्यपसर्पस्ततो वरः ॥१५-१२-३॥
But during a siege, the opposite course is prescribed. O king, during an assault, it is better to withdraw. (15-12-3)
व्यसनं भेदनं चैव शत्रूणां कारयेत्ततः। कर्शनं भीषणं चैव युद्धे चापि बहुक्षयम् ॥१५-१२-४॥
Then he should bring adversity and division among the enemies; in battle he should also cause harassment, terror, and great destruction. (15-12-4)
प्रयास्यमानो नृपतिस्त्रिविधं परिचिन्तयेत्। आत्मनश्चैव शत्रोश्च शक्तिं शास्त्रविशारदः ॥१५-१२-५॥
When setting forth, the king skilled in scriptures should consider three things: his own power, the enemy's power, and (the power) in threefold manner. (15-12-5)
उत्साहप्रभुशक्तिभ्यां मन्त्रशक्त्या च भारत। उपपन्नो नरो यायाद्विपरीतमतोऽन्यथा ॥१५-१२-६॥
O Bhārata, endowed with zeal, authority, and the power of counsel, a man should act; otherwise, he goes contrary to this. (15-12-6)
आददीत बलं राजा मौलं मित्रबलं तथा। अटवीबलं भृतं चैव तथा श्रेणीबलं च यत् ॥१५-१२-७॥
The king should acquire his own strength, the strength of friends, the strength of foresters, the strength of mercenaries, and the strength of guilds. (15-12-7)
तत्र मित्रबलं राजन्मौलेन न विशिष्यते। श्रेणीबलं भृतं चैव तुल्य एवेति मे मतिः ॥१५-१२-८॥
There, O king, the strength of friends is not distinguished from that of the crown. The strength of guilds and retainers, too, is equivalent—such is my view. (15-12-8)
तथा चारबलं चैव परस्परसमं नृप। विज्ञेयं बलकालेषु राज्ञा काल उपस्थिते ॥१५-१२-९॥
Thus, O king, the force of spies and the other forces, being mutually equal, should be recognized by the king at times when the occasion for action arises. (15-12-9)
आपदश्चापि बोद्धव्या बहुरूपा नराधिप। भवन्ति राज्ञां कौरव्य यास्ताः पृथगतः शृणु ॥१५-१२-१०॥
O king, difficulties also should be understood as being of many forms. O descendant of Kuru, hear separately of those which arise to kings. (15-12-10)
विकल्पा बहवो राजन्नापदां पाण्डुनन्दन। सामादिभिरुपन्यस्य शमयेत्तान्नृपः सदा ॥१५-१२-११॥
O son of Pandu, O king, there are many alternatives in times of calamity; by applying Sāma and other means, the king should always pacify them. (15-12-11)
यात्रां यायाद्बलैर्युक्तो राजा षड्भिः परन्तप। संयुक्तो देशकालाभ्यां बलैरात्मगुणैस्तथा ॥१५-१२-१२॥
O scorcher of foes, the king, equipped with six forces, should undertake the expedition, properly united with the advantages of place and time and his own qualities. (15-12-12)
तुष्टपुष्टबलो यायाद्राजा वृद्ध्युदये रतः। आहूतश्चाप्यथो यायादनृतावपि पार्थिवः ॥१५-१२-१३॥
The king who is content, prosperous, and strong should undertake actions devoted to the growth of prosperity; and moreover, when summoned, the ruler should proceed even if it is not the time of truth. (15-12-13)
स्थूणाश्मानं वाजिरथप्रधानां; ध्वजद्रुमैः संवृतकूलरोधसम्। पदातिनागैर्बहुकर्दमां नदीं; सपत्ननाशे नृपतिः प्रयायात् ॥१५-१२-१४॥
The king advanced towards the river, whose banks were blocked by flag-trees, made very muddy by foot-soldiers and elephants, and filled with pillars, stones, horses, and chariots at the forefront, in order to destroy his rival. (15-12-14)
अथोपपत्त्या शकटं पद्मं वज्रं च भारत। उशना वेद यच्छास्त्रं तत्रैतद्विहितं विभो ॥१५-१२-१५॥
Now, O Bhārata, by reasoning, the cart, lotus, and thunderbolt (methods); that science which Uśanā knows—there, this is prescribed, O mighty one. (15-12-15)
सादयित्वा परबलं कृत्वा च बलहर्षणम्। स्वभूमौ योजयेद्युद्धं परभूमौ तथैव च ॥१५-१२-१६॥
After subduing the enemy’s force and weakening its strength, one should organize battle both on one’s own land and, similarly, on the enemy’s land. (15-12-16)
लब्धं प्रशमयेद्राजा निक्षिपेद्धनिनो नरान्। ज्ञात्वा स्वविषयं तं च सामादिभिरुपक्रमेत् ॥१५-१२-१७॥
The king should, having acquired (what is necessary), pacify (matters), and entrust the wealthy men. Knowing his own domain and that (matter), he should approach with conciliation and other means. (15-12-17)
सर्वथैव महाराज शरीरं धारयेदिह। प्रेत्येह चैव कर्तव्यमात्मनिःश्रेयसं परम् ॥१५-१२-१८॥
O great king, one should always maintain the body here in every way. Upon death and here as well, what must be done is to pursue the highest ultimate good for the self. (15-12-18)
एवं कुर्वञ्शुभा वाचो लोकेऽस्मिञ्शृणुते नृपः। प्रेत्य स्वर्गं तथाप्नोति प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन् ॥१५-१२-१९॥
Thus, by speaking auspicious words in this world, the king becomes renowned; after death, he also attains heaven by protecting his subjects with righteousness. (15-12-19)
एवं त्वया कुरुश्रेष्ठ वर्तितव्यं प्रजाहितम्। उभयोर्लोकयोस्तात प्राप्तये नित्यमेव च ॥१५-१२-२०॥
Thus, O best of the Kurus, you should always act for the welfare of the people, for the attainment of both worlds, O dear one, indeed and always. (15-12-20)
भीष्मेण पूर्वमुक्तोऽसि कृष्णेन विदुरेण च। मयाप्यवश्यं वक्तव्यं प्रीत्या ते नृपसत्तम ॥१५-१२-२१॥
Bhīṣma has previously spoken to you, and so have Kṛṣṇa and Vidura; but I too must certainly say it to you, O best of kings, out of affection. (15-12-21)
एतत्सर्वं यथान्यायं कुर्वीथा भूरिदक्षिण। प्रियस्तथा प्रजानां त्वं स्वर्गे सुखमवाप्स्यसि ॥१५-१२-२२॥
You, O great giver of gifts, should perform all this according to justice; thus, being dear to the people, you will attain happiness in heaven. (15-12-22)
अश्वमेधसहस्रेण यो यजेत्पृथिवीपतिः। पालयेद्वापि धर्मेण प्रजास्तुल्यं फलं लभेत् ॥१५-१२-२३॥
A king who performs a thousand Aśvamedha sacrifices, or who rules his subjects righteously, obtains an equal result. (15-12-23)
