15.012
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said.
sandhivigraham apy atra paśyethā rājasattama. dviyoniṁ trividhopāyaṁ bahukalpaṁ yudhiṣṭhira ॥15-12-1॥
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)
rājendra paryupāsīthāś-chittvā dvaividhyam-ātmanaḥ। tuṣṭapuṣṭabalaḥ śatrur-ātmavān-iti ca smaret ॥15-12-2॥
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)
paryupāsanakāle tu viparītaṃ vidhīyate। āmardakāle rājendra vyapasarpastato varaḥ ॥15-12-3॥
But during a siege, the opposite course is prescribed. O king, during an assault, it is better to withdraw. (15-12-3)
vyasanaṃ bhedanaṃ caiva śatrūṇāṃ kārayettataḥ। karṣaṇaṃ bhīṣaṇaṃ caiva yuddhe cāpi bahukṣayam ॥15-12-4॥
Then he should bring adversity and division among the enemies; in battle he should also cause harassment, terror, and great destruction. (15-12-4)
prayāsyamāno nṛpatistrividhaṃ paricintayet. ātmanaścaiva śatrośca śaktiṃ śāstraviśāradaḥ ॥15-12-5॥
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)
utsāhaprabhuśaktibhyāṃ mantraśaktyā ca bhārata। upapanno naro yāyād viparītam ato'nyathā ॥15-12-6॥
O Bhārata, endowed with zeal, authority, and the power of counsel, a man should act; otherwise, he goes contrary to this. (15-12-6)
ādadīta balaṃ rājā maulaṃ mitrabalaṃ tathā. aṭavībalaṃ bhṛtaṃ caiva tathā śreṇībalaṃ ca yat ॥15-12-7॥
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)
tatra mitrabalaṃ rājanmaulena na viśiṣyate. śreṇībalaṃ bhṛtaṃ caiva tulya eveti me matiḥ ॥15-12-8॥
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)
tathā cārabalaṃ caiva parasparasamaṃ nṛpa। vijñeyaṃ balakāleṣu rājñā kāla upasthite ॥15-12-9॥
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)
āpadaś cāpi boddhavyā bahurūpā narādhipa। bhavanti rājñāṃ kauravya yāstāḥ pṛthagataḥ śṛṇu॥15-12-10॥
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)
vikalpā bahavo rājann āpadāṃ pāṇḍunandana। sāmādibhir upanyasya śamayet tān nṛpaḥ sadā ॥15-12-11॥
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)
yātrāṃ yāyād balair yukto rājā ṣaḍbhiḥ parantapa। saṃyukto deśa-kālābhyāṃ balaiḥ ātma-guṇaiḥ tathā ॥15-12-12॥
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)
tuṣṭapuṣṭabalo yāyād rājā vṛddhyudaye rataḥ। āhūtaś cāpy atho yāyād anṛtāv api pārthivaḥ ॥15-12-13॥
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)
sthūṇāśmānaṃ vājirathapradhānāṃ; dhvajadrumaiḥ saṃvṛtakūlarodhasam। padātināgairbahukardamāṃ nadīṃ; sapatnanāśe nṛpatiḥ prayāyāt ॥15-12-14॥
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)
athopapattayā śakaṭaṃ padmaṃ vajraṃ ca bhārata। uśanā veda yacchāstraṃ tatraitadvihitaṃ vibho ॥15-12-15॥
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)
sādayitvā parabalaṃ kṛtvā ca balaharṣaṇam। svabhūmau yojayed yuddhaṃ parabhūmau tathaiva ca ॥15-12-16॥
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)
labdhaṃ praśamayed rājā nikṣiped dhanino narān। jñātvā sva-viṣayaṃ taṃ ca sāmādibhir upakramet ॥15-12-17॥
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)
sarvathaiva mahārāja śarīraṁ dhārayed iha। pretyeha caiva kartavyam ātmaniḥśreyasaṁ param ॥15-12-18॥
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)
evaṁ kurvañ śubhā vāco loke'smiñ śṛṇute nṛpaḥ। pretya svargaṁ tathāpnōti prajā dharmeṇa pālayan ॥15-12-19॥
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)
evaṁ tvayā kuruśreṣṭha vartitavyaṁ prajāhitam। ubhayorlokayostāta prāptaye nityameva ca ॥15-12-20॥
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)
bhīṣmeṇa pūrvam ukto'si kṛṣṇena vidureṇa ca। mayāpy avaśyaṃ vaktavyaṃ prītyā te nṛpasattama ॥15-12-21॥
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)
etatsarvaṃ yathānyāyaṃ kurvīthā bhūridakṣiṇa। priyastathā prajānāṃ tvaṃ svarge sukhamavāpsyasi॥15-12-22॥
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)
aśvamedhasahasreṇa yo yajet pṛthivīpatiḥ। pālayed vā api dharmeṇa prajāḥ tulyaṃ phalaṃ labhet ॥15-12-23॥
A king who performs a thousand Aśvamedha sacrifices, or who rules his subjects righteously, obtains an equal result. (15-12-23)
