Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.75
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12.75.1
यया वृत्त्या महीपालो विवर्धयति मानवान् ।
पुण्यांश्च लोकाञ्जयति तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥ १२.७५.१ ॥
By what conduct does the protector of the earth make men flourish and win the meritorious worlds? Tell me that, grandsire.
12.75.2
दानशीलो भवेद्राजा यज्ञशीलश्च भारत ।
उपवासतपः शीलः प्रजानां पालने रतः ॥ १२.७५.२ ॥
A king should be disposed to giving and to sacrifice, O Bhārata, disposed to fasting and austerity, and devoted to the protection of his subjects.
12.75.3
सर्वाश्चैव प्रजा नित्यं राजा धर्मेण पालयन् ।
उत्थानेन प्रदानेन पूजयेच्चापि धार्मिकान् ॥ १२.७५.३ ॥
A king who always protects all his subjects by dharma should honor the righteous, by raising them up and by giving gifts.
12.75.4
राज्ञा हि पूजितो धर्मस्ततः सर्वत्र पूज्यते ।
यद्यदाचरते राजा तत्प्रजानां स्म रोचते ॥ १२.७५.४ ॥
Dharma honored by the king is then honored everywhere; whatever the king practices, that pleases his subjects.
12.75.5
नित्यमुद्यतदण्डश्च भवेन्मृत्युरिवारिषु ।
निहन्यात्सर्वतो दस्यून्न राज्ञो दस्युषु क्षमा ॥ १२.७५.५ ॥
The king should always hold the rod of punishment raised, like death to his enemies; he should slay robbers on every side, and a king should show no forbearance toward robbers.
12.75.6
यं हि धर्मं चरन्तीह प्रजा राज्ञा सुरक्षिताः ।
चतुर्थं तस्य धर्मस्य राजा भागं च विन्दति ॥ १२.७५.६ ॥
Of whatever dharma the subjects practice here, well protected by the king, the king obtains a fourth share.
12.75.7
यदधीते यद्ददाति यञ्जुहोति यदर्चति ।
राजा चतुर्थभाक्तस्य प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन् ॥ १२.७५.७ ॥
Whatever one studies, gives, offers in sacrifice, or worships with, the king who protects his subjects by dharma receives a fourth share of it.
12.75.8
यद्राष्ट्रोऽकुशलं किंचिद्राज्ञो रक्षयतः प्रजाः ।
चतुर्थं तस्य पापस्य राजा भारत विन्दति ॥ १२.७५.८ ॥
Whatever evil occurs in the realm, the king who protects his subjects obtains a fourth part of that sin, O Bhārata.
12.75.9
अप्याहुः सर्वमेवेति भूयोऽर्धमिति निश्चयः ।
कर्मणा पृथिवीपाल नृशंसोऽनृतवागपि ॥ १२.७५.९ ॥
Some say it is all his, and then, certainly, it becomes half. O protector of the earth, the man who is cruel in action and also a speaker of falsehood (likewise).
12.75.10
तादृशात्किल्बिपाद्राजा शृणु येन प्रमुच्यते ।
प्रत्याहर्तुमशक्यं स्याद्धनं चोरैर्हृतं यदि।
तत्स्वकोशात्प्रदेयं स्यादशक्तेनोपजीवतः ॥ १२.७५.१० ॥
Hear by what means the king is freed from such a transgression. If wealth stolen by thieves cannot be recovered, it should be given from his own treasury to one who is unable and lives by him.
12.75.11
सर्ववर्णैः सदा रक्ष्यं ब्रह्मस्वं ब्राह्मणा यथा ।
न स्थेयं विषये तेन योऽपकुर्याद्द्विजातिषु ॥ १२.७५.११ ॥
All the social classes should always protect the property of brahmins. He who wrongs the twice-born should not remain in the realm.
12.75.12
ब्रह्मस्वे रक्ष्यमाणे तु सर्वं भवति रक्षितम् ।
तेषां प्रसादे निर्वृत्ते कृतकृत्यो भवेन्नृपः ॥ १२.७५.१२ ॥
When brahmin property is protected, everything is protected. When their favour is secured, the king becomes one who has accomplished his task.
12.75.13
पर्जन्यमिव भूतानि महाद्रुममिव द्विजाः ।
नरास्तमुपजीवन्ति नृपं सर्वार्थसाधकम् ॥ १२.७५.१३ ॥
As creatures depend on the rain-cloud and birds on a great tree, so men depend on that king who accomplishes all aims.
12.75.14
न हि कामात्मना राज्ञा सततं शठबुद्धिना ।
नृशंनेनातिलुब्धेन शक्यं पालयितुं प्रजाः ॥ १२.७५.१४ ॥
Indeed, a king whose self is given to desire, always deceitful in mind, cruel and extremely greedy, cannot protect his subjects.
12.75.15
नाहं राज्यसुखान्वेषी राज्यमिच्छाम्यपि क्षणम् ।
धर्मार्थं रोचये राज्यं धर्मश्चात्र न विद्यते ॥ १२.७५.१५ ॥
I am not one who seeks the pleasures of kingship, nor do I desire kingship even for a moment. I would accept kingship for the sake of dharma, but here dharma is not found.
12.75.16
तदल मम राज्येन यत्र धर्मो न विद्यते ।
वनमेव गमिष्यामि तस्माद्धर्मचिकीर्षया ॥ १२.७५.१६ ॥
Therefore, let kingship without dharma be enough for me. Out of the desire to practise dharma, I shall go to the forest itself.
12.75.17
तत्र मेध्येष्वरण्येषु न्यस्तदण्डो जितेन्द्रियः ।
धर्ममाराधयिष्यामि मुनिर्मूलफलाशनः ॥ १२.७५.१७ ॥
There, in the pure forests, having laid down the staff and with my senses subdued, I shall worship dharma as a sage eating roots and fruits.
12.75.18
वेदाहं तव या बुद्धिरानृशंस्येऽगुणैव सा ।
न च नित्यानृशंसेन शक्यं राज्यमुपासितुम् ॥ १२.७५.१८ ॥
I know that your intellect is inclined toward non-cruelty; yet that non-cruelty is without merit. And one who is always non-cruel cannot rule a kingdom.
12.75.19
सदैव त्वां मृदुप्रज्ञमत्यार्यमतिधार्मिकम् ।
क्लीबं धर्मघृणायुक्तं न लोको बहुमन्यते ॥ १२.७५.१९ ॥
People always regard you as gentle in wisdom, exceedingly noble-minded and exceedingly righteous; yet the world does not hold in high esteem one who is weak and endowed with compassion for dharma.
12.75.20
राजधर्ममवेक्षस्व पितृपैतामहोचितम् ।
नैतद्राज्ञामथो वृत्तं यथा त्वं स्थातुमिच्छसि ॥ १२.७५.२० ॥
Look to the duty of kings, fitting for your fathers and grandfathers; this is not the conduct of kings, the way you wish to remain.
12.75.21
न हि वैक्लव्यसंसृष्टमानृशंस्यमिहास्थितः ।
प्रजापालनसंभूतं प्राप्तो धर्मफलं ह्यसि ॥ १२.७५.२१ ॥
Having resorted here to a compassion mixed with weakness, you have not obtained the fruit of dharma that arises from protecting your subjects.
12.75.22
न ह्येतामाशिषं पाण्डुर्न च कुन्त्यभ्यभाषत ।
विचित्रवीर्यो धर्मात्मा चित्रवीर्यो नराधिपः ॥ १२.७५.२२ ॥
Neither Pāṇḍu nor Kuntī spoke this blessing; nor did the righteous-souled Vicitravīrya and Citravīrya, lords of men, speak thus.
12.75.23
शन्तनुश्च महीपालः सर्वक्षत्रस्य पूजितः ।
तवैतां प्राज्ञतां तात यथा चरसि मेधया ॥ १२.७५.२३ ॥
Śantanu too, protector of the earth and honored by all warriors, did not say this. Dear son, this wisdom is yours, the way you conduct yourself by intelligence.
12.75.24
शौर्यं बलं च सत्यं च पिता तव सदाऽब्रवीत् ।
महत्त्वं बलमौदार्यं भवतः कुन्त्ययाचत ॥ १२.७५.२४ ॥
Your father always spoke of valor, strength and truth; for you, Kuntī asked for greatness, strength and generosity.
12.75.25
नित्यं स्वाहा स्वधा नित्यं चोभे मानुषदैवते ।
पुत्रेष्वाशासते नित्यं पितरो दैवतानि च ॥ १२.७५.२५ ॥
Svāhā and svadhā, always, both having men and gods as their deities. The ancestors and the gods always look to their sons for it.
12.75.26
दानमध्ययनं यज्ञं प्रजानां परिपालनम् ।
धर्म्यमेतदधर्म्यं वा जन्मनैवाभ्यजायथाः ॥ १२.७५.२६ ॥
Giving, study, sacrifice, and the protection of the people, whether righteous or unrighteous, you were born with these.
12.75.27
कुले धुरि च युक्तानां वहतां भारमीदृशम् ।
सीदतामपि कौन्तेय कीर्तिर्न परिहीयते ॥ १२.७५.२७ ॥
For those yoked at the axle of the family, bearing such a burden, son of Kuntī, even when sinking, fame is not lost.
12.75.28
समन्ततो विनीतो यो वहत्यस्खलितो हि सः ।
निर्दोषकर्मवचनात्सिद्धिः कर्मण एव सा ॥ १२.७५.२८ ॥
He who, humble on all sides, bears the burden without faltering, indeed attains success in action through the faultless word of action.
12.75.29
नैकान्ते विनिपातेऽपि विहरेदिह कश्चन ।
धर्मी गृही वा राजा वा ब्रह्मचार्यथवा द्विजः ॥ १२.७५.२९ ॥
Not even in solitude, not even in ruin, should anyone here live in vain, whether righteous, householder, king, celibate student, or twice-born.
12.75.30
अल्पं हि सारभूयिष्ठं यत्कर्मोदारमेव तत् ।
कृतमेवाकृताच्छ्रेयो न पापीयोऽस्य कर्मणः ॥ १२.७५.३० ॥
Little as it may be, full of essence, the noble deed is the one to do; a deed done is better than one left undone, and nothing is more sinful than this deed.
12.75.31
यदा कुलीनो धर्मज्ञः प्राप्नोत्यैश्वर्यमुत्तमम् ।
योगक्षेमस्तदा राज्ञः कुशलायैव कल्पते ॥ १२.७५.३१ ॥
When a man of noble birth who knows dharma obtains supreme sovereignty, then the king's yoga-kṣema is fit for welfare.
12.75.32
दानेनान्यं बलेनान्यमन्यं सूनृतया गिरा ।
सर्वतः प्रतिगृह्णीयाद्राज्यं प्राप्येह धार्मिकः ॥ १२.७५.३२ ॥
Let the righteous man, having obtained the kingdom here, take from all sides: one by gift, another by force, and another by sweet, truthful speech.
12.75.33
यं हि वैद्याः कुले जाता ह्यवृत्तिभयपीडिताः ।
प्राप्य तृप्ताः प्रतिष्ठन्ति धर्मः कोऽभ्यधिकस्ततः ॥ १२.७५.३३ ॥
Having obtained it, the vaiśyas born in the family, afflicted by fear of want of livelihood, abide satisfied. What dharma is greater than that?
12.75.34
किं न्वतः परमं स्वर्ग्यं का ततः प्रीतिरुत्तमा ।
किं ततः परमैश्वर्यं ब्रूहि मे यदि पश्यसि ॥ १२.७५.३४ ॥
What is higher than this, leading to heaven? What supreme joy is greater than that? What is the supreme sovereignty beyond that? Tell me, if you see it.
12.75.35
यस्मिन्भयार्दिताः सन्तः क्षेमं विन्दन्त्यपि क्षणम् ।
स स्वर्गजित्तमोऽस्माकं सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥ १२.७५.३५ ॥
That in which good men tormented by fear find security even for a moment — that is, for us, the highest conqueror of heaven. This truth I tell you.
12.75.36
त्वमेव प्रीतिमांस्तस्मात्कुरूणां कुरुसत्तम ।
भव राजा जय स्वर्गं सतो रक्षाऽसतो जहि ॥ १२.७५.३६ ॥
Therefore you alone are beloved among the Kurus, best of the Kurus. Become king, conquer heaven; protect the good, and strike down the wicked.
12.75.37
अनु त्वां तात जीवन्तु सुहृदः साधुभिः सह ।
पर्जन्यमिव भूतानि स्वादुद्रुममिव द्विजाः ॥ १२.७५.३७ ॥
Dear son, may your good friends live by you together with the virtuous, as creatures live by the rain-cloud and twice-born men live by a tree laden with sweet fruit.
12.75.38
धृष्टं शूरं प्रहर्तारमनृशंसं जितेन्द्रियम् ।
वत्सलं संविभक्तारमुपजीवन्तु बान्धवाः ॥ १२.७५.३८ ॥
May your kinsmen live by you, the bold, heroic striker, the compassionate, self-controlled, affectionate one who shares out gifts.