Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.66
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12.66.1
चातुराश्रम्यमुक्तं ते चातुर्वण्यं तथैव च ।
राष्ट्रस्य यत्कृत्यतमं तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥ १२.६६.१ ॥
You have declared the fourfold order of life-stages and likewise the fourfold social order. Tell me, grandsire, which is the most essential duty of a realm.
12.66.2
राष्ट्रस्य यत्कृत्यतमं राज्ञ एवाभिषेचनम् ।
अनिन्द्रमबलं राष्ट्रं दस्यवोऽभिभवन्त्युत ॥ १२.६६.२ ॥
The most essential duty of a realm is indeed the consecration of its king. A realm without a ruler, weak, is overpowered by robbers.
12.66.3
अराजकेषु राष्ट्रेषु धर्मो न व्यवतिष्ठते ।
परस्परं च खादन्ति सर्वथा धिगराजकम् ॥ १२.६६.३ ॥
In kingless realms dharma does not take hold; there people devour one another. Shame indeed on the state without a king.
12.66.4
इन्द्रमेव प्रणमते यद्राजानमिति श्रुतिः ।
यथैवेन्द्रस्तथा राजा संपूज्यो भूतिमिच्छता ॥ १२.६६.४ ॥
The Veda declares that people bow to Indra as their king; as Indra is to be honoured, so must the king be honoured by one who desires prosperity.
12.66.5
नाराजकेषु राष्ट्रेषु वस्तव्यमिति वैदिकम् ।
नाराजकेषु राष्ट्रेषु हव्यं वहति पावकः ॥ १२.६६.५ ॥
The Vedic rule is that one should not dwell in kingless realms; in kingless realms the sacred fire does not carry the oblation.
12.66.6
अथ चेदधिवेर्तेत राज्यार्थी बलवत्तरः ।
अराजकाणि राष्ट्राणि हतवीराणि वा पुनः ॥ १२.६६.६ ॥
But if a stronger man, desiring the kingdom, should seize power, or in kingless realms whose heroes have been slain, once again...
12.66.7
प्रत्युद्गम्याभिपूज्यः स्यादेतदत्र सुमन्त्रितम् ।
न हि राज्यात्पापतरमस्ति किंचिदराजकात् ॥ १२.६६.७ ॥
One should go forth to meet him and honour him; this is the well-considered counsel here. Indeed, there is nothing more sinful than kingship's absence, than anarchy.
12.66.8
स चेत्समनुपश्येत समग्रं कुशलं भवेत् ।
बलवान्हि प्रकुपितः कुर्यान्निः शेषतामपि ॥ १२.६६.८ ॥
If he looks upon all of it well, all will be well; for a mighty man, when enraged, may even bring about complete ruin.
12.66.9
भूयांसं लभते क्लेशं या गौर्भवति दुर्दुहा ।
अथ या सुदुहा राजन्नैव तां वितुदन्त्यपि ॥ १२.६६.९ ॥
The cow that is hard to milk suffers much trouble; but, O king, the one that is easy to milk they do not torment at all.
12.66.10
यदतप्तं प्रणमते न तत्संतापयन्त्युत ।
यत्स्वयं नमते दारु न तत्संनामयन्त्यपि ॥ १२.६६.१० ॥
What bends without being heated, they do not heat; and wood that bends of itself, they do not bend.
12.66.11
एतयोपमया धीरः सन्नमेत बलीयसे ।
इन्द्राय स प्रणमते नमते यो बलीयसे ॥ १२.६६.११ ॥
By this simile, the wise man should bow before the mighty; as one bows to Indra, so he who bows to the mightier one bows.
12.66.12
तस्माद्राजैव कर्तव्यः सततं भूतिमिच्छता ।
न धनार्थो न दारार्थस्तेषां येषामराजकम् ॥ १२.६६.१२ ॥
Therefore, one who desires prosperity should always appoint a king; for those among whom there is anarchy, neither wealth nor wife has any purpose.
12.66.13
प्रीयते हि हरन्पापः परवित्तमराजके ।
यदाऽस्य तद्धरन्त्यन्ये तदा राजानमिच्छति ॥ १२.६६.१३ ॥
In a realm without a king, the wicked man rejoices in seizing another's wealth; but when others seize his own wealth, then he desires a king.
12.66.14
पापा ह्यपि तदा क्षेमं न लभन्ते कदाचन ।
एकस्य हि द्वौ हरतो द्वयोश्च बहवोऽपरे ॥ १२.६६.१४ ॥
Then not even the wicked ever obtain security: two seize the wealth of one, and many others seize the wealth of two.
12.66.15
अदासः क्रियते दासो ह्रियन्ते च बलात्स्त्रियः ।
एतस्मात्कारणाद्देवाः प्रजापालान्प्रचक्रिरे ॥ १२.६६.१५ ॥
A free man is made a slave, and women are seized by force. For this reason the gods appointed kings as protectors of the people.
12.66.16
राजा चेन्न भवेल्लोके पृथिव्या दण्डधारकः ।
जले मत्स्यानिवाभक्ष्यन्दुर्बलं बलवत्तराः ॥ १२.६६.१६ ॥
If in the world there were no king bearing the rod of punishment upon the earth, the stronger would devour the weak, as big fish devour small fish in the water.
12.66.17
अराजकाः प्रजाः पूर्वं विनेशुरिति नः श्रुतम् ।
परस्परं भक्षयन्तो मत्स्या इव जले कृशान् ॥ १२.६६.१७ ॥
We have heard that in former times kingless peoples perished, devouring one another, the lean ones, like fish in the water.
12.66.18
समेत्य तास्ततश्चक्रुः समयानिति नः श्रुतम् ।
वाक्शूरो दण्डपरुषो यश्च स्यात्पारदारिकः ॥ १२.६६.१८ ॥
Then they gathered together and made agreements, so we have heard: whoever is bold in speech, harsh in punishment, and given to others' wives...
12.66.19
यश्च नः समयं भिन्द्यात्त्याज्या नस्तादृशा इति ।
विश्वासार्थं च सर्वेषां वर्णानामविशेषतः।
तास्तथा समयं कृत्वा समयेनावतस्थिरे ॥ १२.६६.१९ ॥
Whoever breaks our agreement shall be cast out as one such. For the sake of trust among all, without distinction among the social classes, having made the agreement in this way, they abided by it.
12.66.20
सहितास्तास्तदा जग्मुरसुखार्ताः पितामहम् ।
अनीश्वरा विनश्यामो भगवन्नीश्वरं दिश ॥ १२.६६.२० ॥
Then, afflicted with misery, they went together to the grandfather. O blessed one, without a lord we are perishing; show us a lord.
12.66.21
यं पूजयेम संभूय यश्च नः प्रतिपालयेत् ।
ताभ्यो मनुं व्यादिदेश मनुर्नाभिननन्द ताः ॥ १२.६६.२१ ॥
"Whom we together would honor, and who would protect us" — Manu was instructed for their sake; but Manu did not approve of them.
12.66.22
बिभेमि कर्मणः पापाद्राज्यं हि भृशदुष्करम् ।
विशेषतो मनुष्येषु मिथ्यावृत्तेषु नित्यदा ॥ १२.६६.२२ ॥
I fear the sin of action; kingship is indeed exceedingly difficult, especially over men whose conduct is always false.
12.66.23
तमब्रुवन्प्रजा मा भैर्विधास्यामो धनं तव ।
पशूनामथ पञ्चांशं धरण्यस्य तथैव च ॥ १२.६६.२३ ॥
The subjects said to him, "Do not fear; we shall provide wealth for you — a fifth part of the cattle, and likewise of the produce of the earth."
12.66.24
धान्यस्य दशमं भागं दास्यामः कोशवर्धनम् ।
कन्यां शुल्के चारुरूपां विवाहेषूद्यतासु च ॥ १२.६६.२४ ॥
We shall give a tenth share of the grain to increase the treasury; and as the bride-price for a maiden of beautiful form, when marriages are undertaken.
12.66.25
मुख्येन शस्त्रपत्रेण ये मनुष्याः प्रधानतः ।
भवन्तं तेऽनुयास्यन्ति महेन्द्रमिव देवताः ॥ १२.६६.२५ ॥
The men who, chiefly with the foremost weapon-bearers, will follow you, as the gods follow Mahendra.
12.66.26
स त्वं जातबलो राजन्दुष्प्रधर्षः प्रतापवान् ।
सुखे धास्यसि नः सर्वान्कुबेर इव नैर्ऋतान् ॥ १२.६६.२६ ॥
You, O king, having gained strength, hard to assail and mighty, will set all of us in happiness, as Kubera sets the Nairṛtas.
12.66.27
यं च धर्मं चरिष्यन्ति प्रजा राज्ञा सुरक्षिताः ।
चतुर्थं तस्य धर्मस्य त्वत्संस्थं नो भविष्यति ॥ १२.६६.२७ ॥
And the dharma that the subjects, well protected by the king, will practise, its fourth part will rest in you.
12.66.28
तेन धर्मेण महता सुखं लब्धेन भावितः ।
पाह्यस्मान्सर्वतो राजन्देवानिव शतक्रतुः ॥ १२.६६.२८ ॥
Filled with the happiness obtained through that great dharma, O king, protect us on all sides, as Indra, the hundred-sacrificer, protects the gods.
12.66.29
विजयाय हि निर्याहि प्रतपत्रश्मिवानिव ।
मानं विधम शत्रूणां धर्मं जनय नः सदा ॥ १२.६६.२९ ॥
Set out for victory, blazing like the radiant sun. Crush the pride of your enemies, and always establish dharma for us.
12.66.30
स निर्ययौ महातेजा बलेन महता वृतः ।
महाभिजनसंपन्नस्तेजसा प्रज्वलन्निव ॥ १२.६६.३० ॥
He, of great splendour, surrounded by a great army, endowed with a noble lineage, went forth as if blazing with brilliance.
12.66.31
तस्य दृष्ट्वा महत्वं ते महेन्द्रस्येव देवताः ।
अपतत्रसिरे सर्वे स्वधर्मे च ददुर्मनः।
वर्णिनश्चाश्रमाश्चैव म्लेच्छाः सर्वे च दस्यवः ॥ १२.६६.३१ ॥
Seeing his greatness, all the gods, as if beholding Mahendra, were struck with awe and fixed their minds on their own dharma; the varṇas and āśramas, and all the mlecchas and robbers likewise.
12.66.32
ततो महीं परिययौ पर्जन्य इव वृष्टिमान् ।
शमयन्सर्वतः पापान्स्वकर्मसु च योजयन् ॥ १२.६६.३२ ॥
Then he went over the earth like a rain-bearing cloud, calming the wicked on every side and engaging them in their own duties.
12.66.33
एवं ये भूतिमिच्छेयुः पृथिव्यां मानवाः क्वचित् ।
कुर्यू राजानमेवाग्रे प्रजानुग्रहकारणात् ॥ १२.६६.३३ ॥
Thus, whatever men on earth desire prosperity should first set up a king, for the sake of favouring the people.
12.66.34
नमस्येरंश्च तं भक्त्या शिष्या इव गुरुं सदा ।
देवा इव च देवेन्द्रं नरा राजानमन्तिकात् ॥ १२.६६.३४ ॥
And people should always revere him with devotion, as disciples revere a teacher and the gods revere Devendra; men should pay homage to the king from close by.
12.66.35
सत्कृतं स्वजनेनेह परोऽपि बहुमन्यते ।
स्वजनेन त्ववज्ञातं परे परिभवन्त्युत ॥ १२.६६.३५ ॥
Here one honored by one's own kin is esteemed even by strangers; but one despised by one's own kin is insulted by others as well.
12.66.36
राज्ञः परैः परिभवः सर्वेषामसुखावहः ।
तस्माच्छत्रं च पत्रं च वासांस्याभरणानि च ॥ १२.६६.३६ ॥
A king's humiliation at the hands of enemies brings unhappiness to all; therefore he should bear the parasol, the banner, garments and ornaments.
12.66.37
भोजनान्यथ पानानि राज्ञे दद्युर्गृहाणि च ।
आसनानि च शय्याश्च सर्वोपकरणानि च ॥ १२.६६.३७ ॥
They should give the king food, drink, dwellings, seats, beds and all necessary equipment.
12.66.38
गोप्ता चास्य दुराधर्षः स्मितपूर्वाभिभाषिता ।
आभाषितश्च मधुरं प्रत्याभाषेत मानवान् ॥ १२.६६.३८ ॥
His protector should be hard to assail; he should speak first with a smile. When addressed, he should answer people sweetly.
12.66.39
कृतज्ञो दृढभक्तिः स्यात्संविभागी जितेन्द्रियः ।
ईक्षितः प्रतिवीक्षेत मृदु वल्गु च चर्जु च ॥ १२.६६.३९ ॥
He should be grateful, of firm devotion, one who shares justly, and self-controlled. When looked at, he should look back gently, pleasantly and straightforwardly.