Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.71
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12.71.1
कथं राजा प्रजा रक्षन्नाधिबन्धेन युज्यते ।
धर्मे च नापराध्नोति तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥ १२.७१.१ ॥
How does a king, while protecting his subjects, not become bound by mental fetters, and not transgress dharma? Tell me that, grandsire.
12.71.2
समासेनैव ते राजन्धर्मान्वक्ष्यामि शाश्वतान् ।
विस्तरेणैव धर्माणां न जात्वन्तमवाप्नुयात् ॥ १२.७१.२ ॥
O king, I will tell you the eternal dharmas only in brief, for no one could ever reach the end of dharmas even if they were described in detail.
12.71.3
धर्मनिष्ठाञ्श्रुतवतो देवव्रतसमाहितान् ।
अर्चितान्वासयेथास्त्वं गृहे गुणवतो द्विजान् ॥ १२.७१.३ ॥
Having honored the brahmins who are steadfast in dharma, learned, devoted to Devavrata, and endowed with virtue, you should lodge them in your house.
12.71.4
प्रत्युत्थायोपसंगृह्य चरणावभिवाद्य च ।
अथ सर्वाणि कुर्वीथाः कार्याणि सपुरोहितः ॥ १२.७१.४ ॥
Rising to greet them, approaching them, taking hold of their feet and bowing to them, then you should perform all the duties together with your priest.
12.71.5
धर्मकार्याणि निर्वर्त्य मङ्गलानि प्रयुज्य च ।
ब्राह्मणान्वाचयेथास्त्वमर्थसिद्धिजयाशिषः ॥ १२.७१.५ ॥
Having completed the religious duties and performed the auspicious rites, you should have the brahmins recite blessings for the success of your aims and for victory.
12.71.6
आर्जवेन च संपन्नो धृत्या बुद्ध्या च भारत ।
धर्मार्थौ प्रतिगृह्णीयात्कामक्रोधौ च वर्जयेत् ॥ १२.७१.६ ॥
O Bhārata, endowed with uprightness, steadfastness and wisdom, one should embrace dharma and wealth, and avoid desire and anger.
12.71.7
कामक्रोधौ पुरस्कृत्य योऽर्थं राजाऽनुतिष्ठति ।
न स धर्मं न चाप्यर्थं प्रतिगृह्णाति बालिशः ॥ १२.७१.७ ॥
The king who, placing desire and anger before him, pursues wealth, that fool obtains neither dharma nor wealth.
12.71.8
मा स्म लुब्धांश्च मूर्खांश्च कामार्थे च प्रयूयुजः ।
अलुब्धान्बुद्धिसंपन्नान्सर्वकर्मसु योजयेत् ॥ १२.७१.८ ॥
Do not employ the greedy and the foolish in matters of desire and wealth; appoint the non-greedy, intelligent men to all tasks.
12.71.9
मूर्खो ह्यधिकृतोऽर्थेषु कार्याणामविशारदः ।
प्रजाः क्लिश्नात्ययोगेन कामक्रोधसमन्वितः ॥ १२.७१.९ ॥
A fool, appointed to matters of wealth, unskilled in his duties and filled with desire and anger, afflicts the subjects through improper means.
12.71.10
बलिषष्ठेन शुल्केन दण्डेनाथापराधिनाम् ।
शास्त्रानीतेन लिप्सेथा वेतनेन धनागमम् ॥ १२.७१.१० ॥
Seek the income of wealth through a sixth-part tribute, through tolls and through the fines of offenders, and through wages fixed according to the scriptures.
12.71.11
दापयित्वा करं धर्म्यं राष्ट्रं नीत्या यथाविधि ।
तथैतं कल्पयेद्राजा योगक्षेममतन्द्रितः ॥ १२.७१.११ ॥
Having the lawful tax collected from the realm rightly and according to rule, the king, tireless, should arrange his acquisition and preservation in this way.
12.71.12
गोपायितारं दातारं धर्मनित्यमतन्द्रितम् ।
अकामद्वेषसंयुक्तमनुरज्यन्ति मानवाः ॥ १२.७१.१२ ॥
People grow devoted to a king who protects and gives, is ever intent on dharma, is tireless, and is united with freedom from desire and hatred.
12.71.13
तस्माद्धर्मेण लाभेन लिप्सेथास्त्वं धनागमम् ।
धर्मार्थावध्रुवौ तस्य यो न शास्त्रपरो भवेत् ॥ १२.७१.१३ ॥
Therefore, seek the acquisition of wealth through gain that is righteous. For the man who is not devoted to the scriptures, both dharma and wealth are unstable.
12.71.14
अपशास्त्रधनो राजा संचयं नाधिगच्छति ।
अस्थाने चास्य तद्वित्तं सर्वमेव विनश्यति ॥ १२.७१.१४ ॥
A king whose wealth is gained by means contrary to the scriptures does not attain accumulation. And that wealth of his, being placed in an improper place, is wholly destroyed.
12.71.15
अर्थमूलोऽपि हिंसां च कुरुते स्वयमात्मनः ।
करैरशास्त्रदृष्टैर्हि मोहात्संपीडयन्प्रजाः ॥ १२.७१.१५ ॥
Though rooted in wealth, he brings violence upon himself, for out of delusion he oppresses his subjects with taxes not sanctioned by the scriptures.
12.71.16
ऊधश्छिन्द्यात्तु यो धेन्वाः क्षीरार्थी न लभेत्पयः ।
एवं राष्ट्रमयोगेन पीडितं न विवर्धते ॥ १२.७१.१६ ॥
He who desires milk and cuts off the udder of a cow does not obtain milk. Likewise, a kingdom oppressed by improper means does not flourish.
12.71.17
यवसोदकमादाय सान्त्वेन विनयेन च ।
यो हि दोग्ध्रीमुपास्ते च स नित्यं विन्दते पयः।
एवं राष्ट्रमुपायेन भुञ्जानो लभते फलम् ॥ १२.७१.१७ ॥
He who, offering fodder and water, attends with gentleness and humility to the milch cow, always obtains milk. Likewise, one who enjoys the kingdom by proper means obtains its fruit.
12.71.18
अथ राष्ट्रमुपायेन भुज्यमानं सुरक्षितम् ।
जनयत्यतुलां नित्यं कोशवृद्धिं युधिष्ठिर ॥ १२.७१.१८ ॥
Now, O Yudhiṣṭhira, a kingdom enjoyed by proper means and well protected constantly produces an incomparable growth of the treasury.
12.71.19
दोग्ध्री धान्यं हिरण्यं च मही राजा सुरक्षिता ।
नित्यं स्वेभ्यः परेभ्यश्च तृप्ता माता यथा पयः ॥ १२.७१.१९ ॥
The earth, ruled by a king who keeps her well protected, is a cow that yields grain and gold; like a mother who always satisfies her own and others with milk, she is always content.
12.71.20
मालाकारोपमो राजन्भव माऽऽङ्गारिकोपमः ।
तथायुक्तश्चिरं राज्यं भोक्तुं शक्ष्यसि पालयन् ॥ १२.७१.२० ॥
O king, be like a garland-maker, not like a charcoal-burner; thus applied and protecting, you will be able to enjoy the kingdom for a long time.
12.71.21
परचक्राभियानेन यदि ते स्याद्धनक्षयः ।
अथ साम्नैव लिप्सेथा धनमब्राह्मणेषु यत् ॥ १२.७१.२१ ॥
If your wealth is lost through an enemy army's advance, then seek by conciliation alone the wealth that is held by non-brahmins.
12.71.22
मा स्म ते ब्राह्मणं दृष्ट्वा धनस्थं प्रचलेन्मनः ।
अन्त्यायामप्यवस्थायां किमु स्फीतस्य भारत ॥ १२.७१.२२ ॥
Let your mind not stray when you see a brahmin standing in wealth; not even in the last extremity should it be so, much less, O Bhārata, for one who is prosperous.
12.71.23
धनानि तेभ्यो दद्यास्त्वं यथाशक्ति यथार्हतः ।
सान्त्वयन्परिरक्षंश्च स्वर्गमाप्स्यसि दुर्जयम् ॥ १२.७१.२३ ॥
You should give them wealth according to your ability and their worth; consoling and protecting them, you will obtain unconquerable heaven.
12.71.24
एवं धर्म्येण वृत्तेन प्रजास्त्वं परिपालय ।
स्वर्ग्यं पुण्यं यशो नित्यं प्राप्स्यसे कुरुनन्दन ॥ १२.७१.२४ ॥
Thus, by righteous conduct, protect your subjects; O delight of the Kurus, you will always obtain heavenly, meritorious fame.
12.71.25
धर्मेण व्यवहारेण प्रजाः पालय पाण्डव ।
युधिष्ठिर यथायुक्तो नाधिबन्धेन योक्ष्यसे ॥ १२.७१.२५ ॥
Protect your subjects with dharma and righteous conduct, O son of Pāṇḍu, Yudhiṣṭhira. Act as is fitting; do not bind them with oppressive chains.
12.71.26
एष एव परो धर्मो यद्राजा रक्षति प्रजाः ।
भूतानां हि यदा धर्मो रक्षणं परमा दया ॥ १२.७१.२६ ॥
This is indeed the supreme dharma: that the king protects his subjects. For the duty toward living beings is their protection, and that is supreme compassion.
12.71.27
तस्मादेवं परं धर्मं मन्यन्ते धर्मकोविदाः ।
यो राजा रक्षणे युक्तो भूतेषु कुरुते दयाम् ॥ १२.७१.२७ ॥
Therefore the knowers of dharma regard this as the highest dharma: the king who is devoted to protection and shows compassion toward beings.
12.71.28
यदह्ना कुरुते पापमरक्षन्भयतः प्रजाः ।
राजा वर्षसहस्रेण तस्यान्तमधिगच्छति ॥ १२.७१.२८ ॥
If a king, failing to protect his subjects and acting out of fear, commits evil even for one day, he meets its end only after a thousand years.
12.71.29
यदह्ना कुरुते धर्मं प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन् ।
दशवर्षसहस्राणि तस्य भुङ्क्ते फलं दिवि ॥ १२.७१.२९ ॥
If a king, protecting his subjects with dharma, performs dharma even for one day, he enjoys its fruit in heaven for ten thousand years.
12.71.30
स्विष्टिः स्वधीतिः सुतपा लोकाञ्जयति यावतः ।
क्षणेन तानवाप्नोति प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन् ॥ १२.७१.३० ॥
As many worlds as are won through well-performed sacrifice, well-studied recitation and good austerity, the king who protects his subjects with dharma attains them all in an instant.
12.71.31
एवं धर्मं प्रयत्नेन कौन्तेय परिपालय ।
ततः पुण्यफलं लब्ध्वा नानुबन्धेन योक्ष्यसे ॥ १२.७१.३१ ॥
Thus, son of Kuntī, guard dharma diligently. Then, having obtained the fruit of merit, you will not be bound by attachment to it.
12.71.32
स्वर्गलोके सुमहतीं श्रियं प्राप्स्यसि पाण्डव ।
असंभवश्च धर्माणामीदृशानामराजसु ॥ १२.७१.३२ ॥
Son of Pāṇḍu, in the heavenly world you will attain very great glory. Such dharmas are hardly possible for those who are not kings.
12.71.33
तस्माद्राजैव नान्योऽस्ति यो धर्मफलमाप्नुयात् ।
स राज्यं धृतिमान्प्राप्य धर्मेण परिपालय।
इन्द्रं तर्पय सोमेन कामैश्च सुहृदो जनान् ॥ १२.७१.३३ ॥
Therefore, it is only the king who can obtain the fruit of dharma, no other. Steadfast one, having obtained the kingdom, protect it righteously. Gratify Indra with soma, and gratify friends and people with desired gifts.