Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.57
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12.57.1
एतत्ते राजधर्माणां नवनीतं युधिष्ठिर ।
बृहस्पतिर्हि भगवान्नान्यं धर्मं प्रशंसति ॥ १२.५७.१ ॥
Yudhiṣṭhira, this is the cream of the duties of kings; for the venerable Bṛhaspati praises no other duty.
12.57.2
विशालाक्षश्च भगवान्काव्यश्चैव महातपाः ।
सहस्राक्षो महेन्द्रश्च तथा प्राचेतसो मनुः ॥ १२.५७.२ ॥
Viśālākṣa (Śiva), the venerable Kāvya (Uśanas) of great austerity, the thousand-eyed great Indra, and likewise Manu, son of Pracetas.
12.57.3
भरद्वाजश्च भगवांस्तथा गौरशिरा मुनिः ।
राजशास्त्रप्रणेतारो ब्राह्मणा ब्रह्मवादिनः ॥ १२.५७.३ ॥
The venerable Bharadvāja, the sage Gauraśiras, and the brahmins who composed the science of kingship, expounders of the Veda.
12.57.4
रक्षामेव प्रशंसन्ति धर्मं धर्मभृतां वर ।
राज्ञां राजीवताम्राक्ष साधनं चात्र मे शृणु ॥ १२.५७.४ ॥
Best of those who uphold dharma, lotus-red-eyed one, they praise only protection as the duty of kings; hear from me the means to it.
12.57.5
चारश्च प्रणिधिश्चैव काले दानममत्सरः ।
युक्त्या दानं न चादानमयोगेन युधिष्ठिर ॥ १२.५७.५ ॥
Yudhiṣṭhira, appoint spies and secret agents; give gifts at the proper time, without envy; give by proper means, and do not take by improper means.
12.57.6
सतां संग्रहणं शौर्यं दाक्ष्यं सत्यं प्रजाहितम् ।
अनार्जवैरार्जवैश्च शत्रुपक्षाविवर्धनम् ॥ १२.५७.६ ॥
Winning over good people, valor, skill, truthfulness, and the welfare of subjects; and by crooked and straight means alike, preventing the enemy's side from growing.
12.57.7
केतनानां च जीर्णानामवेक्षा चैव सीदताम् ।
द्विविधस्य च दण्डस्य प्रयोगः कालचोदितः ॥ १२.५७.७ ॥
Inspecting worn-out banners and old things, attending to the distressed, and applying the twofold punishment as time demands.
12.57.8
साधूनामपरित्यागः कुलीनानां च धारणम् ।
निचयश्च निचेयानां सेवा बुद्धिमतामपि ॥ १२.५७.८ ॥
Not forsaking the good, supporting the well-born, gathering wealth, and serving those worthy of honour as well as the wise.
12.57.9
बलानां हर्षणं नित्यं प्रजानामन्ववेक्षणम् ।
कार्येष्वखेदः कोशस्य तथैव च विवर्धनम् ॥ १२.५७.९ ॥
Always gladdening the army, constant care for the subjects, tireless diligence in affairs, and likewise the increase of the treasury.
12.57.10
पुरगुप्तिरविश्वासः पौरसंघातभेदनम् ।
अरिमध्यस्थमित्राणां यथावच्चान्ववेक्षणम् ॥ १२.५७.१० ॥
Guarding the city, distrust, sowing division among the townsmen's assemblies, and properly watching the friends who stand between enemies.
12.57.11
उपजापश्च भृत्यानामात्मनः पुरदर्शनम् ।
अविश्वासः स्वयं चैव परस्याश्वासनं तथा ॥ १२.५७.११ ॥
Sowing discord among attendants, observing one's own city, remaining distrustful oneself, and giving reassurance to others.
12.57.12
नीतिवर्त्मानुसारेण नित्यमुत्थानमेव च ।
रिपूणामनवज्ञानं नित्यं चानार्यवर्जनम् ॥ १२.५७.१२ ॥
Following the path of wise policy, always being ready to act, never despising enemies, and always avoiding the ignoble.
12.57.13
उत्थानं हि नरेन्द्राणां बृहस्पतिरभाषत ।
राजधर्मस्य यन्मूलं श्लोकांश्चात्र निबोध मे ॥ १२.५७.१३ ॥
Bṛhaspati declared that exertion is the foundation of kingly duty for kings. Now hear from me the verses on this matter.
12.57.14
उत्थानेनामृतं लब्धमुत्थानेनासुरा हताः ।
उत्थानेन महेन्द्रेण श्रैष्ठ्यं प्राप्तं दिवीह च ॥ १२.५७.१४ ॥
By exertion the nectar was obtained; by exertion the asuras were slain. By exertion the great Indra attained supremacy, both in heaven and here.
12.57.15
उत्थानधीरः पुरुषो वाग्धीरानधितिष्ठति ।
उत्थानवीरान्वाग्वीरा रमयन्त उपासते ॥ १२.५७.१५ ॥
A man steady in action stands above those steady in speech; the heroes of speech delightedly attend upon the heroes of action.
12.57.16
उत्थानहीनो राजा हि बुद्धिमानपि नित्यशः ।
प्रधर्षणीयः शत्रूणां भुजङ्ग इव निर्विषः ॥ १२.५७.१६ ॥
A king lacking exertion, though wise, is always open to assault by enemies, like a serpent without venom.
12.57.17
न च शत्रुरवज्ञेयो दुर्बलोऽपि बलीयसा ।
अल्पोऽपि हि दहत्यग्निर्विषमल्पं हिनस्ति च ॥ १२.५७.१७ ॥
An enemy, even if weak, should not be despised by the strong; even a small fire burns, and a little poison kills.
12.57.18
एकाङ्गेनापि संभूतः शत्रुर्दुर्गमुपाश्रितः ।
सर्वं तापयते देशमपि राज्ञः समृद्धिनः ॥ १२.५७.१८ ॥
An enemy born even from a single limb, having taken refuge in a fortress, scorches the entire realm of a prosperous king.
12.57.19
राज्ञो रहस्यं यद्वाक्यं जयार्थे लोकसंग्रहः ।
हृदि यच्चास्य जिह्नं स्यात्कारणार्थं च यद्भवेत् ॥ १२.५७.१९ ॥
The king's secret word, which is for victory and for gathering the people; and whatever crookedness may be in his heart, and whatever may be for some cause.
12.57.20
यच्चास्य कार्यं वृजिनं मार्दवेनैव धार्यते ।
रञ्जनार्थं च लोकस्य धर्मिष्ठामाचरेत्क्रियाम् ॥ १२.५७.२० ॥
And whatever crooked deed he has is sustained only by gentleness; and to please the people, he should practise only the most righteous action.
12.57.21
राज्यं हि सुमहत्तत्र दुर्धार्यमकृतात्मभिः ।
न शक्यं मृदुना वोदुमाघातस्थानमुल्वणम् ॥ १२.५७.२१ ॥
Kingship is indeed very great, hard to bear for those who have not governed themselves; it is not possible for the gentle to endure that fierce place of blows.
12.57.22
राज्यं सर्वामिषं नित्यमार्जवेनैव धार्यते ।
तस्मान्मिश्रेण सततं वर्तितव्यं युधिष्ठिर ॥ १२.५७.२२ ॥
Kingship, which devours everything, is always sustained by straightforwardness; therefore, Yudhiṣṭhira, one should always conduct oneself by a mixed course.
12.57.23
यद्यप्यस्य विपक्तिः स्याद्रक्षमाणस्य वै प्रजाः ।
सोप्यस्य विपुलो धर्म एवं वृत्ता हि भूमिपाः ॥ १२.५७.२३ ॥
Even if suffering should come to him while protecting his subjects, his duty is vast; for kings have conducted themselves in just this way.
12.57.24
एष ते राजधर्माणां लेशः समनुवर्णितः ।
भूयस्ते यत्र संदेहस्तद्ब्रूहि कुरुसत्तम ॥ १२.५७.२४ ॥
This portion of the duties of kings has been described to you; again, where you have doubt, speak of it, best of the Kurus.
12.57.25
ततो व्यासश्च भगवान्देवस्थानोऽश्म एव च ।
वासुदेवः कृपश्चैव सात्यकिः सञ्जयस्तथा ॥ १२.५७.२५ ॥
Then the venerable Vyāsa, Devasthāna, Aśma, Vāsudeva, Kṛpa, Sātyaki and Sañjaya likewise (were there).
12.57.26
साधुसाध्विति संहृष्टा घुष्यमाणैरिवाननैः ।
अस्तुवंश्च नरव्याघ्रं भीष्मं धर्मभृतां वरम् ॥ १२.५७.२६ ॥
Delighted, as if proclaiming with their faces, 'Well done, well done,' they praised Bhīṣma, the tiger among men, the best of those who uphold dharma.
12.57.27
ततो दीनमना भीष्ममुवाच कुरुनन्दनः ।
नेत्राभ्यामश्रुपूर्णाभ्यां पादौ तस्य शनैः स्पृशन् ॥ १२.५७.२७ ॥
Then the son of the Kurus, downcast in mind, spoke to Bhīṣma, touching his feet gently with eyes full of tears.
12.57.28
श्व इदानीं स्वसंदेहं प्रवक्ष्यामि पितामह ।
उपैति सविता ह्यस्तं रसमापीय पार्थिवम् ॥ १२.५७.२८ ॥
Grandfather, tomorrow I will state my own doubt now, for the sun, having drunk the essence of the earth, is setting.
12.57.29
ततो द्विजातीनभिवाद्य केशवः ।
कृपश्च ते चैव युधिष्ठिरादयः।
प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य महानदीसुतं ।
ततो रथानारुरुहुर्मुदान्विताः ॥ १२.५७.२९ ॥
Then Keśava saluted the twice-born; Kṛpa and Yudhiṣṭhira and the others likewise; circumambulating the son of the great river, joyful, they mounted their chariots.
12.57.30
दृषद्वतीं चाप्यवगाह्य सुव्रताः ।
कृतोदकार्थाः कृतजप्यमङ्गलाः।
उपास्य संध्यां विधिवत्परंतपा ।
स्ततः पुरं ते विविशुर्गजाह्वयम् ॥ १२.५७.३० ॥
Having bathed in the Dṛṣadvatī, keeping their vows, having made water offerings and recited auspicious prayers, having duly worshipped at twilight, those scorchers of foes entered the city Gajāhvaya.