Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.120

हिन्दी · தமிழ் · తెలుగు · ಕನ್ನಡ · മലയാളം · বাংলা · मराठी · ગુજરાતી · ਪੰਜਾਬੀ · ଓଡ଼ିଆ · اردو · English · Español · Français · Deutsch · Português · Русский · 中文 · 日本語 · العربية · Bahasa Indonesia · ไทย

Read with meanings

12.120.1

राजवृत्तान्यनेकानि त्वया प्रोक्तानि भारत ।
पूर्वैः पूर्वनियुक्तानि राजधर्मार्थवेदिभिः ॥ १२.१२०.१ ॥

O descendant of Bharata, you have told of the many kings' conduct, prescribed long ago by the ancients who knew the duty and purpose of kings.

12.120.2

तदेव विस्तरेणोक्तं पूर्ववृत्तं सतां मतम् ।
प्रणेयं राजधर्माणां प्रब्रूहि भरतर्षभ ॥ १२.१२०.२ ॥

That ancient conduct, accepted by the good, you have already told at length. O bull among the Bharatas, now tell what is to be taught of the duties of kings.

12.120.3

रक्षणं सर्वभूतानामिति क्षात्रं परं मतम् ।
तद्यथा रक्षणं कुर्यात्तथा शृणु महीपते ॥ १२.१२०.३ ॥

The protection of all beings is held to be the highest duty of the warrior. Hear how that protection should be carried out, O lord of the earth.

12.120.4

यथा बर्हाणि चित्राणि बिभर्ति भुजगाशनः ।
तथा बहुविधं राजा रूपं कुर्वीत् धर्मवित् ॥ १२.१२०.४ ॥

As the snake-eating peacock bears its bright-colored plumes, so the king who knows dharma should assume many forms.

12.120.5

तैक्ष्ण्यं जिह्नत्वमादानं सत्यमार्जवमेव च ।
मध्यस्थाः सत्वमातिष्ठंस्तथा वै सुखमृच्छति ॥ १२.१२०.५ ॥

By taking up sharpness and guile, seizing, truth and straightforwardness, and standing in the middle with steadiness, one indeed attains happiness.

12.120.6

यस्मिन्नर्थे यथैव स्यात्तदूर्णं रूपमादिशेत् ।
बहुरूपस्य राज्ञो हि सूक्ष्मोऽप्यर्थो न सीदति ॥ १२.१२०.६ ॥

In whatever affair a given guise fits, one should promptly adopt that guise; for the king of many forms, even the subtlest matter does not fail.

12.120.7

नित्यं रक्षितमन्त्रः स्याद्यथा मूकः शरच्छिखी ।
श्लक्ष्णाक्षरगतः श्रीमान्भवेच्छास्त्रविशारदः ॥ १२.१२०.७ ॥

The king should always keep his counsel secret, like a mute man or fire hidden in reeds. Let him be glorious and skilled in the treatises with subtle letters.

12.120.8

आयव्ययेषु युक्तः स्याज्जलस्रवणेष्विव ।
शैलाद्वर्षोदकानीव द्विजान्सिद्धान्समाश्रयेत्।
आत्मार्थं हि सदा राजा कुर्याद्धर्मध्वजोत्तमम् ॥ १२.१२०.८ ॥

Let the king be attentive to income and expenditure; as rain-water flows from the mountains, so let him resort to the accomplished brahmins. For his own good, let the king always raise the highest banner of dharma.

12.120.9

नित्यमुद्यतदण्डः स्यादाचारे चाप्रमादवान् ।
लोके चायव्ययौ दृष्ट्वा वृक्षाद्वृक्षमिवाव्रजेत् ॥ १२.१२०.९ ॥

Let the king always keep his rod raised, and be vigilant in conduct. Having observed income and expenditure in the world, let him move as one passes from tree to tree.

12.120.10

आज्ञावान्स्यात्स्वयूथ्येषु भौमानि चरणैः किरन् ।
जतिपक्षः परिस्पन्देत्प्रेक्षेद्वैकल्यमात्मनः ॥ १२.१२०.१० ॥

Let the king be one whose command is obeyed among his own kinsmen, and let him move about the earth on his own feet. Taking his kin as his support, let him be active, and let him watch for any weakness in himself.

12.120.11

दोषान्विवृणुयाच्छत्रोः परपक्षांश्च सूदयेत् ।
क ननेष्विव पुष्पाणि बहिरर्थान्समाचरेत् ॥ १२.१२०.११ ॥

Let the king expose the faults of his enemy and destroy the enemy's party. As flowers are gathered from gardens, so let him pursue his aims from outside.

12.120.12

उच्छ्रितानाश्रयेत्स्फूतान्नरेन्द्रानचलोपमान् ।
श्रयेच्छायामिव ज्ञातिं गुप्तं शरणमाश्रयेत् ॥ १२.१२०.१२ ॥

Let the king take refuge with exalted, prosperous kings who stand firm like mountains. As one seeks shade, let him seek his kinsman, and let him resort to a protected refuge.

12.120.13

प्रावृषीवासितग्रीवो माद्येत निशि निर्जने ।
मायूरेण गुणेनैव स्त्रीभिरारक्षितश्चरेत् ॥ १२.१२०.१३ ॥

Like a peacock with a neck dark as the rainy-season cloud, let him rejoice at night in a solitary place; by the peacock's quality alone, let him move about guarded by women.

12.120.14

न जह्याच्च तनुत्राणं रक्षेदात्मानमात्मना ।
चारभूमिष्विव ततान्पाशांश्च परिवर्जयेत् ॥ १२.१२०.१४ ॥

He should not abandon his body-armour, but guard himself by himself, and avoid the snares spread in the grounds where he moves about.

12.120.15

प्रणयेद्वाऽपि तां भूमिं प्रणश्येद्ग्रहणे पुनः ।
एवं मयूरधर्मेण वर्तयन्सततं नरः।
हन्यात्क्रुद्धानतिविषांस्ताञ्जिह्मगतयोऽहिताः ॥ १२.१२०.१५ ॥

Or let him lead that ground away; if seized, let him escape again. Thus conducting himself constantly by the peacock's way, a man should slay those angered, highly venomous, crooked-moving enemies.

12.120.16

नासूयेच्चावगर्ह्याणि सन्निवासान्निवासयेत् ।
सदा बर्हिसमं कामं प्रशस्तं कृतमाचरेत्।
सर्वतश्चाददेत्प्रज्ञां पतङ्गं गहनेष्विव ॥ १२.१२०.१६ ॥

He should not envy reproachable things; from close dwelling, he should set his enemy to dwell far off. Always like a peacock's tail, let him practise desire and praiseworthy deeds; and from every side let him take up wisdom, as a moth does in dense thickets.

12.120.17

एवं मयूरवद्राजा स्वराज्यं परिपालयेत् ।
आत्मबुद्धिकरीं नीतिं विदधीत विचक्षणः ॥ १२.१२०.१७ ॥

Thus like a peacock, let the king guard his own kingdom well; let the discerning man establish a policy that makes his own intellect grow.

12.120.18

आत्मसंयमनं बुद्ध्या परबुद्ध्या विचारणाम् ।
बुद्ध्या चात्मगुणप्राप्तिरेतच्छास्त्रनिदर्शनम् ॥ १२.१२०.१८ ॥

Self-restraint through intellect, deliberation through another's intellect, and attainment of one's own virtues through intellect—this is the instruction of the treatise.

12.120.19

परं विश्वासयेत्साम्ना स्वशक्तिं चोपलक्षयेत् ।
आत्मनः परिमर्शेन बुद्धिं बुद्ध्या विचारयेत् ॥ १२.१२०.१९ ॥

One should win another's trust by conciliation and also assess one's own strength; by self-examination, one should examine the intellect with the intellect.

12.120.20

सान्त्वयोगमतिः प्राज्ञः कार्याकार्यप्रयोजनकः ।
निगूढबुद्धेर्धीरस्य वक्तव्ये वक्ष्यते तथा ॥ १२.१२०.२० ॥

The wise man, skilled in the use of conciliation and knowing the purpose of what is to be done and not done, will speak in the same way in the words to be spoken by the steadfast man of concealed intellect.

12.120.21

संनिकृष्टां कथां प्राज्ञो यदि बुद्ध्या बृहस्पतिः ।
स्वभावमेष्यते तप्तं कृष्णायसमिवोदके ॥ १२.१२०.२१ ॥

Even if the wise Bṛhaspati were to bring a close-at-hand discourse by his intellect, it attains its own nature, like black iron heated in water.

12.120.22

अनुयुञ्जीत सत्यानि सर्वाण्येव महीपतिः ।
आगमैरुपदिष्टानि स्वस्य चैव परस्य च ॥ १२.१२०.२२ ॥

The lord of the earth should attend to all truths taught by the scriptures and traditions, both for himself and for others.

12.120.23

मृदुं क्रूरं तथा प्राज्ञं शूरं चार्थविधानवित् ।
स्वकर्मणि नियुञ्जीत ये चान्ये वचनाधिकाः ॥ १२.१२०.२३ ॥

One who knows the arrangement of affairs and wealth should appoint the gentle, the harsh, the wise and the brave, and others who excel in speech, each to his own duty.

12.120.24

अप्यदृष्टानि युक्तानि स्वानुरूपेषु कर्मसु ।
सर्वांस्ताननुवर्तेत स्वरांस्तन्त्रीरिवायताः ॥ १२.१२०.२४ ॥

Even though they are unseen, he should follow all those engaged in tasks suited to them, as one follows the notes of stretched strings.

12.120.25

धर्माणामविरोधेन सर्वेषां प्रियमाचरेत् ।
ममायमिति राजा यः सपर्वत इवाचलः ॥ १२.१२०.२५ ॥

Without contradicting the dharmas, one should do what is dear to all. The king who thinks 'this is mine' stands firm like an immovable mountain together with its peaks.

12.120.26

व्यवहारं समाधाय सूर्यो रश्मीनिवायतान् ।
धर्ममेवाभिरक्षेत कृत्वा तुल्ये प्रियाप्रिये ॥ १२.१२०.२६ ॥

As the sun arranges its extended rays, so the king, having properly ordered legal affairs and regarding the pleasant and the unpleasant as equal, should protect dharma itself.

12.120.27

कुलप्रकृतिदेशानां धर्मज्ञान्मृदुभाषिणः ।
मध्ये वयसि निर्दोषान्हिते युक्ताञ्जितक्लमान् ॥ १२.१२०.२७ ॥

One should appoint men of good family, nature and country, knowers of dharma, gentle in speech, of middle age, faultless, devoted to what is beneficial, and free from fatigue.

12.120.28

अलुब्धाञ्शिक्षितान्दान्तान्धर्मेषु परिनिष्ठितान् ।
स्थापयेत्सर्वकार्येषु राजा सर्वार्थरक्षिणः ॥ १२.१२०.२८ ॥

The king should appoint in all affairs men who are free from greed, trained, self-controlled and firmly established in dharma, as guardians of all wealth.

12.120.29

एतेन च प्रकारेण कृत्यानामागतिं गतिम् ।
युक्त्या समनुतिष्ठेन तुष्टश्चारैः पुरस्कृतः ॥ १२.१२०.२९ ॥

In this same manner the king should skilfully attend to the coming and going of affairs, and remain content, supported by his spies.

12.120.30

अमोघक्रोधहर्शस्य स्वयं कृत्याऽनुदर्शिनाः ।
आत्मप्रत्ययकोशस्य वसुदैव वसुंधरा ॥ १२.१२०.३० ॥

For one whose anger and joy are never wasted, who oversees affairs himself, and whose treasury is self-confidence, wealth, fortune and the earth yield their fruit.

12.120.31

व्यक्तश्चानुग्रहो यस्य यथोक्तश्चापि निग्रहः ।
गुप्तात्मा गुप्तराष्ट्रस्य स राजा राजधर्मवित् ॥ १२.१२०.३१ ॥

The king whose favour and proper chastisement are both evident, whose own self is guarded and whose realm is guarded, he is the king who knows the duty of kings.

12.120.32

नित्यं राष्ट्रमवेक्षेत गोभिः सूर्य इवातपन् ।
चारांश्चानुचरान्विद्यात्तथा बुद्ध्या स्वयं चरेत् ॥ १२.१२०.३२ ॥

The king should constantly oversee the realm, as the sun heats with its rays; he should know the spies and attendants, and by his own intelligence he should himself move about.

12.120.33

कालप्राप्तमुपादद्यान्नार्थं राजा प्रसूचयेत् ।
अहन्यहनि संदुह्यान्महीं गामिव बुद्धिमान् ॥ १२.१२०.३३ ॥

The king should take what comes in due time and should not make wealth known; like a wise man who milks a cow day after day, he should draw from the earth day by day.

12.120.34

यथाक्रमेण पुष्पेभ्यश्चिनोति मधु षट्पदः ।
तथा द्रव्यमुपादाय राजा कुर्वीत संचयम् ॥ १२.१२०.३४ ॥

Just as the bee gathers honey from flowers in due order, so the king, taking wealth, should make a store.

12.120.35

यद्धि गुप्तावशिष्टं स्यात्तद्वित्तं धर्मकामयोः ।
संचयान्न विसर्गी स्याद्राजा शास्त्रविदात्मवान् ॥ १२.१२०.३५ ॥

That wealth which remains guarded is indeed wealth for dharma and desire; from the store there should be no giving away; the king should be learned in the scriptures and self-controlled.

12.120.36

नार्थमल्पं परिभवेन्नावमन्येत शात्रवान् ।
बुद्ध्याऽनुबुद्ध्या चात्मानं न चाबुद्धेषु विश्वसेत् ॥ १२.१२०.३६ ॥

The king should not disdain even a little wealth, nor despise his enemies; he should protect himself by intelligence and reflection that follows it, and not trust the unwise.

12.120.37

धृतिर्दाक्ष्यं संयमो बुद्धिरात्मा ।
धैर्यं शौर्यं देशकालाप्रमादः।
अल्पस्य वा महतो वा विवृद्धौ ।
धनस्यैतान्यष्ट समिंधनानि ॥ १२.१२०.३७ ॥

Steadfastness, skill, self-restraint, understanding, the self, patience, valour, and heedfulness of place and time — these eight are the kindling-fuels of wealth's growth, whether it be small or great.

12.120.38

अग्निस्तोको वर्धतेऽप्याज्यसिक्तो ।
बीजं चैकं बहुसहस्रमेति।
क्षयोदयौ विपुलौ सन्नियम्यौ ।
तस्मादल्पं नावमन्येत वित्तम् ॥ १२.१२०.३८ ॥

Even a small spark, fed with ghee, grows; a single seed comes to be many thousands. Decline and rise are both great, and must be well controlled. Therefore one should not despise even a little wealth.

12.120.39

बालोऽप्यबालः स्थविरो रिपुर्यः ।
सदा प्रमत्तं पुरुषं निहन्यात्।
कालेनान्यस्तस्य मूलं हरेत् ।
कालज्ञानं पार्थिवाना वरिष्ठम् ॥ १२.१२०.३९ ॥

Whether the enemy is a child, one come to maturity, or an old man, he who always strikes a heedless man may slay him; and another enemy, in time, may tear up his very root. For kings, knowledge of time is the best.

12.120.40

हरेत्कीर्ति धर्ममस्योपरुन्ध्या ।
दर्थे विघ्नं वीर्यमस्योपहन्यात्।
रिपुर्द्वेष्टा दुर्बलो वा बली वा ।
तस्माच्छत्रोर्नैव बिभ्येद्यथात्मा ॥ १२.१२०.४० ॥

He may take away his fame and his dharma by obstructing them, and strike down his strength by placing an obstacle in his aim. Whether the enemy is a hater, weak, or strong, therefore one should not fear the enemy as one fears oneself.

12.120.41

क्षयं शत्रोः संचयं पालनं वा ।
उभावर्थौ सहितौ धर्मकामौ।
ततश्चान्यन्मतिमान्संदधीत ।
तस्माद्राजा बुद्धिमन्तं श्रयेत ॥ १२.१२०.४१ ॥

The destruction of the enemy, the accumulation of wealth and its protection: both these aims, together with righteousness and desire, are to be pursued. Then the wise man should also consider another course. Therefore the king should resort to the intelligent man.