Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.64
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12.64.1
एवंवीर्यः सर्वधर्मोपपन्नः ।
क्षात्रः श्रेष्ठः सर्वधर्मेषु धर्मः।
पाल्यो युष्माभिर्लोकपालैरुदारै ।
र्विपर्यये स्यादभवः प्रजानाम्। ॥ १२.६४.१ ॥
Such a one, of such valour, endowed with all dharma: the warrior's dharma is the best of all dharmas. It must be protected by you, the noble guardians of the worlds; if it is reversed, there will be ruin for the people.
12.64.2
भूसस्कारं धर्मसंस्कारयोग्यं ।
दीक्षाचर्यां पालनं च प्रजानाम्।
विद्याद्राज्ञः सर्वभूतानुकम्पा ।
देहत्यागं चाहवे धर्ममग्र्यम् ॥ १२.६४.२ ॥
The consecration of the land, vow and conduct fit for the consecration of dharma, and the protection of the people; for a king, compassion for all beings and giving up the body in battle — this one should know as the foremost dharma.
12.64.3
त्यागं श्रेष्ठं मुनयो वै वदन्ति ।
सर्वश्रेष्ठं यच्छरीरं त्यजन्ति।
नित्यं व्यक्तं राजधर्मेषु सर्वे ।
प्रत्यक्षं ते भूमिपाला यथैते ॥ १२.६४.३ ॥
The sages say that renunciation is the best, in which men even give up the body. In the duties of kings this is always manifest; O protectors of the earth, it is plainly before you as it is.
12.64.4
बहुश्रुत्या गुरुशुश्रूषया वा ।
परस्पराः संहननाद्वदन्ति।
नित्यं धर्मं क्षत्रियो ब्रह्मचारी ।
चरेदेको ह्याश्रमं धर्मकामः ॥ १२.६४.४ ॥
Through much learning or service to the teacher, or through firm bonds among themselves, they say; the warrior should always keep dharma, and, as a celibate student desiring dharma, alone practise one stage of life.
12.64.5
सामान्यार्थे व्यवहारे प्रवृत्ते ।
प्रियाप्रिये वर्जयन्नैव यत्नात्।
चातुर्वर्ण्यं स्थापनात्पालनाच्च ।
तैस्तैर्योगैर्नियमैरौषधैश्च ॥ १२.६४.५ ॥
When one is engaged in ordinary affairs, avoiding the pleasant and the unpleasant with effort, by establishing and protecting the fourfold order of classes, by those and those means, disciplines and remedies.
12.64.6
सर्वोद्योगैराश्रमं धर्ममाहुः ।
क्षात्रं श्रेष्ठं सर्वधर्मोपपन्नम्।
वंस्वं धर्मं येन चरन्ति वर्णा ।
स्तांस्तान्धर्मानन्यथार्थान्वदन्ति ॥ १२.६४.६ ॥
By all efforts the duty of the stages of life is spoken of; the duty of the kṣatriya is the best, endowed with all dharmas. The hereditary duty is that by which the classes conduct themselves; those and those duties they declare for other purposes.
12.64.7
नेर्मर्यादान्नित्यमर्थे निविष्टा ।
नाहुस्तान्वै पशुभूतान्मनुष्यान्।
यथा नीतिं गमयत्यर्थयोगा ।
च्छ्रेयस्तस्मादाश्रमात्क्षत्रधर्मः ॥ १२.६४.७ ॥
Those who are always engaged in wealth yet do not stray from the boundary, they do not call beast-like men; as the connection with wealth leads to right conduct, therefore the kṣatriya duty is better than the stage of life.
12.64.8
त्रैविद्यानां या गतिर्ब्राह्मणानां ।
ये चैवोक्ताः स्वाश्रमा ब्राह्मणानाम्।
एतत्कर्म क्षत्रियस्याहुरग्र्य ।
मन्यत्कुर्वञ्छूद्रवच्छस्त्रवध्यः ॥ १२.६४.८ ॥
The path of those versed in the three Vedas, and the stages of life declared for brahmins — this they say is the foremost action of a kṣatriya; one who does other action is like a śūdra, to be slain by the weapon.
12.64.9
चातुराश्रम्यधर्माश्च वेदवादाश्च पार्थिव ।
ब्राह्मणेनानुगन्तव्या नान्यो विद्यात्कदाचन ॥ १२.६४.९ ॥
O king, the duties of the four stages of life and the teachings of the Vedas are to be followed by a brahmin alone; no one else should ever know them.
12.64.10
अन्यथा वर्तमानस्य न सा वृत्तिः प्रकल्प्यते ।
कर्मणा वर्धते धर्मो यथा धर्मस्तथैव सः ॥ १२.६४.१० ॥
For one who conducts himself otherwise, that livelihood is not prescribed; dharma grows through action, and as dharma is, so is it.
12.64.11
यो विकर्मस्थितो विप्रो न स सन्मानमर्हति ।
कर्म स्वमप्रयुञ्जानमविश्वास्यं हि तं विदुः ॥ १२.६४.११ ॥
A brahmin who abides in forbidden action does not deserve honour; one who does not practise his own duty, they know him to be untrustworthy.
12.64.12
एते वर्णाः सर्वधर्मैश्च हीना ।
उत्क्रष्टव्याः क्षत्रियैरेव धर्माः।
तस्माच्छ्रेष्ठा राजधर्मा न चान्ये ।
वीर्यश्रेष्ठा राजधर्मा मता मे ॥ १२.६४.१२ ॥
These classes are bereft of all dharmas; the duties to be abandoned are only for kshatriyas. Therefore the kingly duties are the foremost, not the others; in my view the kingly duties, foremost in valour, are the ones deemed so.
12.64.13
मान्धातोवाच ।
यवनाः किराता गान्धाराश्चीनाः शबरबर्बराः।
शकास्तुषाराः कङ्काश्च पल्लवाश्चान्ध्रमद्रकाः ॥ १२.६४.१३ ॥
Māndhātṛ said: Yavanas, Kirātas, Gāndhāras, Chinese, Śabaras and Barbaras, Śakas, Tukhāras, Kaṅkas, Pallavas, Āndhras and Madrakas.
12.64.14
उष्ट्राः पुलिन्दा आरट्टाः काचा म्लेच्छाश्च सर्वशः ।
ब्रह्मक्षत्रप्रसूताश्च वैश्याः शूद्राश्च मानवाः ॥ १२.६४.१४ ॥
Uṣṭras, Pulindas, Āraṭṭas, Kācas and all the mlecchas; those born of brahmin and kshatriya, vaiśyas, śūdras and human beings.
12.64.15
कथं धर्मांश्चरिष्यन्ति सर्वे विषयवासिनः ।
मद्विधैश्च कथं स्थाप्याः सर्वे वै दस्युजीविनः ॥ १२.६४.१५ ॥
How will all the dwellers of the realm practise their duties? And how can all who live by plunder be established by men like me?
12.64.16
एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं मघवंस्तद्ब्रवीहि मे ।
त्वं बन्धुभूतो ह्यस्माकं क्षत्रियाणां सुरेश्वर ॥ १२.६४.१६ ॥
O Maghavan, I wish to hear this; tell it to me. O lord of the gods, you have become a kinsman to us kṣatriyas.
12.64.17
मातापित्रोर्हि शुश्रूषा कर्तव्या सर्वदस्युभिः ।
आचार्यगुरुशुश्रूषा तथैवाश्रमवासिनाम् ॥ १२.६४.१७ ॥
Service to mother and father must indeed be performed by all plunderers; likewise service to teacher and preceptor, and to those who dwell in the stages of life.
12.64.18
भूमिपानां च शुश्रूषा कर्तव्या सर्वदस्युभिः ।
देशधर्मक्रियाश्चैव तेषां धर्मो विधीयते ॥ १२.६४.१८ ॥
Service to the rulers of the land must also be performed by all plunderers; the duties and rites of the land are prescribed for them.
12.64.19
पितृयज्ञास्तथा कूपाः प्रपाश्च शयनानि च ।
दानानि च यथाकालं दातव्यानि द्विजातिषु ॥ १२.६४.१९ ॥
Sacrifices to the ancestors, likewise wells, water-stations and resting-places; and gifts should be given to the twice-born at the proper time.
12.64.20
अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधो वृत्तिदायानुपालनम् ।
भरणं पुत्रदाराणां शौचमद्रोह एव च ॥ १२.६४.२० ॥
Non-violence, truthfulness, freedom from anger, maintaining the grants of livelihood, supporting sons and wives, purity, and non-hostility.
12.64.21
दक्षिणा सर्वयज्ञानां दातव्या धर्ममिच्छता ।
पाकयज्ञा महार्थाश्च दातव्याः सर्वदस्युभिः ॥ १२.६४.२१ ॥
Whoever desires dharma must give the sacrificial fee for all sacrifices. The household offerings and the rites of great purpose must be given by all robbers as well.
12.64.22
एतान्येवंप्रकाराणि विहितानि पुराऽनघ ।
सर्वलोकस्य कर्माणि कर्तव्यानीह पार्थिव ॥ १२.६४.२२ ॥
O sinless one, such kinds of duties were enjoined in former times. O king, these are the duties of all the world, to be performed here.
12.64.23
मान्धातोवाच ।
दृश्यन्ते मानुषे लोके सर्ववर्णेषु दस्यवः।
लिङ्गान्तरे वर्तमाना आश्रमेषु तथैव च ॥ १२.६४.२३ ॥
In the human world robbers are seen among all the varṇas, existing under different marks, and likewise among the stages of life.
12.64.24
विनष्टायां दण्डनीत्यां राजधर्मे विनाकृते ।
संप्रमुह्यन्ति भूतानि राजदौरात्म्यतोऽनघ ॥ १२.६४.२४ ॥
O sinless one, when the science of punishment is destroyed and the king's duty is neglected, creatures are utterly bewildered through the wickedness of the king.
12.64.25
असङ्ख्याता भविष्यन्ति भिक्षवो लिङ्गिनस्तथा ।
आश्रमाणां विकल्पाश्च वृत्तेऽस्मिन्वैकृते युगे ॥ १२.६४.२५ ॥
In this corrupted age there will be countless mendicants and bearers of marks; and there will be confusions and changes among the stages of life.
12.64.26
अशृण्वानाः पुराणानां धर्माणां शतशो नराः ।
उत्पथं प्रतिपत्स्यन्ते काममन्युसमीरिताः ॥ १२.६४.२६ ॥
Hundreds of men, not hearing the ancient dharmas, driven by desire and anger, will take up the wrong path.
12.64.27
यदा निवर्त्यते पापो दण्डनीत्या महात्मभिः ।
तदा धर्मो न चलते संभूतः शाश्वतः पुरा ॥ १२.६४.२७ ॥
When the wicked are restrained by the policy of punishment by great-souled ones, then dharma, eternal and established of old, does not waver.
12.64.28
सर्वलोकगुरुं चैव राजानं योऽवमन्यते ।
न तस्य दत्तं न कृतं न श्रुतं फलति क्वचित् ॥ १२.६४.२८ ॥
Whoever disrespects the king, the teacher of all worlds, his gift, his deed, and his learning never bear fruit.
12.64.29
मानुषाणामधिपतिं देवभूतं महाद्युतिम् ।
देवाश्च बहुमन्यन्ते धर्मकामं नरेश्वरम् ॥ १२.६४.२९ ॥
The gods greatly honour the lord of men, god-like and of great splendour, the king who desires dharma.
12.64.30
प्रजापतिर्हि भगवान्यः सर्वमसृजज्जगत् ।
स प्रवृत्तिनिवृत्त्यर्थं धर्माणां क्षत्रमिच्छति ॥ १२.६४.३० ॥
The blessed lord Prajāpati, who created the whole world, desires kingship (kṣatra) for the sake of the duties of activity and of renunciation.
12.64.31
प्रवृत्तस्य हि धर्मस्य बुद्ध्या यः स्मरते गतिम् ।
स मे मान्यश्च पूज्यश्च स च क्षत्रे प्रतिष्ठितः ॥ १२.६४.३१ ॥
He who remembers by his intellect the course of dharma that has been set in motion is worthy of my honour and worship; and he is established in the kṣatra.
12.64.32
एवमुक्त्वा स भगवान्मरुद्गणवृतः प्रभुः ।
जगाम भवनं विष्णुरक्षरं शाश्वतं परम् ॥ १२.६४.३२ ॥
Having spoken thus, the blessed lord Viṣṇu, surrounded by the host of Maruts, went to his abode, the imperishable, eternal, supreme.
12.64.33
एवं प्रवर्तिते धर्मे पुरा सुचरितेऽनघ ।
कः क्षत्रमतिवर्तेत चेतनावान्बहुश्रुतः ॥ १२.६४.३३ ॥
Thus, when dharma was well established in former times, O sinless one, what thinking and learned man would transgress the duty of the kṣatriya?
12.64.34
अन्यायेन प्रवृत्तानि निवृत्तानि तथैव च ।
अन्तरा विलयं यान्ति यथा पथि विचक्षुषः ॥ १२.६४.३४ ॥
Actions set in motion by injustice, and likewise those that are held back, perish midway, as a path is lost to one without sight.
12.64.35
आदौ प्रवर्तिते चक्रे तथैवादिपरायणे ।
वर्तस्व पुरुषव्याघ्र संविजानामि तेऽनघ ॥ १२.६४.३५ ॥
As the wheel was first set turning, and rests in its beginning, so conduct yourself, tiger among men; O sinless one, I know you well.