Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.88
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12.88.1
यदा राजा समर्थोऽपि कोशार्थी स्यान्महामते ।
कथं प्रवर्तेत करस्तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥ १२.८८.१ ॥
When a king, though capable, seeks treasure, O greatly wise one, how should the tax be levied? Tell me that, O grandsire.
12.88.2
यथादेशं यथाकालं यथाबुद्धि यथाबलम् ।
अनुशिष्यात्प्रजा राजा धर्मार्थी तद्धिते रतः ॥ १२.८८.२ ॥
According to place, time, wisdom and strength, the king should instruct his subjects, devoted to their welfare and to dharma and wealth.
12.88.3
यथा तासां च मन्येत श्रेय आत्मन एव च ।
तथा धर्माणि सर्वाणि राजा राष्ट्रेषु वर्तयेत् ॥ १२.८८.३ ॥
So that he may judge what is good both for them and for himself, the king should establish all the duties throughout his realms.
12.88.4
मधुदोहं दुहेद्राष्ट्रं भ्रमरान्न प्रपातयेत् ।
वत्सापेक्षी दुहेच्चैव स्तनांश्च न विकुट्टयेत् ॥ १२.८८.४ ॥
The king should milk the realm as one gathers honey, not knocking down the bees; he should milk with regard for the calf, and not crush the udders.
12.88.5
जलौकावत्पिबेद्राष्ट्रं मृदुनैव नराधिपः ।
व्याघ्रीव च हरेत्पुत्रान्संदशेन्न च पीडयेत् ॥ १२.८८.५ ॥
Like a leech, the king should drink from the realm gently only; like a tigress carrying her cubs, he should lift them, but not bite or crush them.
12.88.6
यथा शल्यकवानाखुः पदं धूनयते सदा ।
अतीक्ष्णेनाभ्युपायेन तथा राष्ट्रं समापिबेत् ॥ १२.८८.६ ॥
As the porcupine and the rat always shake their feet, so the king should drain the realm entirely by means that are not harsh.
12.88.7
अल्पेनाल्पेन देयेन वर्धमानं प्रदापयेत् ।
ततो भूयस्ततो भूयः क्रमवृद्धिं समाचरेत् ॥ १२.८८.७ ॥
From one who must give a little at a time, let a growing sum be made to pay little by little. Then again and again, then again and again, one should bring about gradual growth.
12.88.8
दमयन्निव दम्यानि शश्वद्भारं विवर्धयेत् ।
मृदुपूर्वं प्रयत्नेन पाशानभ्यवहारयेत् ॥ १२.८८.८ ॥
As a tamer, taming those who must be tamed, constantly increases the burden, so first with gentleness and effort the nooses should be applied gradually.
12.88.9
सकृत्पाशावकीर्णास्ते न भविष्यन्ति दुर्दमाः ।
उचितेनैव भोक्तव्यास्ते भविष्यन्त्ययत्नतः ॥ १२.८८.९ ॥
Once surrounded by nooses, they will no longer be hard to tame. They should be governed in a fitting way, and they will become subdued without effort.
12.88.10
तस्मात्सर्वसमारम्भो दुर्लभः पुरुषं प्रति ।
यथा मुख्यान्सान्त्वयित्वा भोक्तव्या इतरे जनाः ॥ १२.८८.१० ॥
Therefore, bringing every means to bear upon a single man is difficult. Having conciliated the chief ones, the other people should be governed.
12.88.11
ततस्तान्भेदयित्वा तु परस्परविवक्षितान् ।
भुञ्जीत सान्त्वयंश्चैव यथासुखमयत्नतः ॥ १२.८८.११ ॥
Then, having divided those who are mutually hostile, and while conciliating them, one should govern them comfortably and without effort.
12.88.12
न चास्थाने न चाकाले करांस्तेभ्यो निपातयेत् ।
आनुपूर्व्येण सान्त्वेन यथाकालं यथाविधि ॥ १२.८८.१२ ॥
Neither at an improper place nor at an improper time should taxes be levied from them; in due order, by conciliation, at the proper time and according to rule, they should be levied.
12.88.13
उपायान्प्रब्रवीम्येतान्न मे माया विवक्षिता ।
अनुपायेन दमयन्प्रकोपयति वाजिनः ॥ १२.८८.१३ ॥
I speak of these expedients; my intention is no deceit. He who tries to tame horses by an improper means only enrages them.
12.88.14
पानागारनिवोशाश्च वेश्याः प्रापणिकास्तथा ।
कुशीलवाः सकितवा ये चान्ये केचिदीदृशाः ॥ १२.८८.१४ ॥
Tavern-dwellers, courtesans, merchants, actors and bards, gamblers and their companions, and certain others of this kind.
12.88.15
नियम्याः सर्व एवैते ये राष्ट्रस्योपघातकाः ।
एते राष्ट्रेऽभितिष्ठन्तो बाधन्ते भद्रिकाः प्रजाः ॥ १२.८८.१५ ॥
All these destroyers of the realm must be restrained. Dwelling within the kingdom, they oppress the innocent subjects.
12.88.16
न केनचिद्याचितव्यः कश्चित्किंचिदनापदि ।
इति व्यवस्था भूतानां पुरस्तान्मनुना कृता ॥ १२.८८.१६ ॥
No one should beg anything from anyone unless in distress. This order for beings was established long ago by Manu.
12.88.17
सर्वे तथाऽनुजीवेयुर्न कुर्युः कर्म चेदिह ।
सर्व एव इमे लोका न भवेयुरसंशयम् ॥ १२.८८.१७ ॥
Let all live by their own work here; if all here refused to act, then undoubtedly all these worlds would cease to be.
12.88.18
प्रभुर्नियमने राजा य एतान्न नियच्छति ।
भुङ्क्ते स तस्य पापस्य चतुर्भागमिति श्रुतिः ॥ १२.८८.१८ ॥
The king who is able to restrain them, but does not restrain them, shares in a quarter of that sin, so says the scripture.
12.88.19
भोक्ता तस्य तु पापस्य सुकृतस्य यथातथा ।
नियन्तव्याः सदा राज्ञा पापा ये स्युर्नराधिप ॥ १२.८८.१९ ॥
He is the one who enjoys the fruit of that sin and of merit alike. O lord of men, the king must always restrain those who are sinners.
12.88.20
कृतपापस्त्वसौ राजा य एतान्न नियच्छति ।
तथा कृतस्य धर्मस्य चतुर्भागमुपाश्नुते। ॥ १२.८८.२० ॥
That king who does not restrain these is himself guilty of sin, and likewise obtains a quarter of the righteousness that is done.
12.88.21
स्थानान्येतानि संयम्य प्रसङ्गो भूतिनाशनः ।
कामे प्रसक्तः पुरुषः किमकार्यं विवर्जयेत् ॥ १२.८८.२१ ॥
Having restrained these stations, for attachment destroys prosperity: a man attached to desire, what forbidden act would he refrain from?
12.88.22
मद्यमांसपरस्वानि तथा दारधनानि च ।
आहरेद्रागवशगस्तथा शास्त्रं प्रदर्शयेत् ॥ १२.८८.२२ ॥
A man governed by passion seizes wine, flesh, another's property, as well as wives and wealth; and likewise he displays the scripture only for show.
12.88.23
आपद्येव तु याचन्ते येषां नास्ति परिग्रहः ।
दातव्यं धर्मतस्तेभ्यस्त्वनुक्रोशाद्भयान्न तु ॥ १२.८८.२३ ॥
To those who have no means of support and who beg only in distress, one should give according to dharma — out of compassion, not out of fear.
12.88.24
मा ते राष्ट्रे याचनका भवेयुर्मा च दस्यवः ।
उपादातार एवैते नैते भूतस्य भावकाः ॥ १२.८८.२४ ॥
Let there be no beggars in your kingdom, nor robbers; these are only takers, not promoters of the welfare of creatures.
12.88.25
ये भूतान्यनुगृह्णन्ति वर्धयन्ति च ये प्रजाः ।
तेते राष्ट्रेषु वर्तन्तां मा भूतानां प्रबाधकाः ॥ १२.८८.२५ ॥
Let those who show favor to beings and make the subjects flourish dwell in the realms; let them not become oppressors of beings.
12.88.26
दण्ड्यास्ते च महाराज धनादानप्रयोजकाः ।
प्रयोगं कारयेथास्ते यथा दद्युः करांस्तथा ॥ १२.८८.२६ ॥
O great king, those who instigate the seizure of wealth deserve punishment. Have them carry out such a procedure that they pay their taxes.
12.88.27
कृषिगोरक्ष्यवाणिज्यं यच्चान्यत्किंचिदीदृशम् ।
पुरुषैः कारयेत्कर्म बहुभिः कर्मभेदतः ॥ १२.८८.२७ ॥
Farming, cattle-keeping, trade, and whatever other work of this kind there may be, should be carried out by many men according to the division of tasks.
12.88.28
नरश्चेत्कृषिगोरक्ष्यं वाणिज्यं चाप्यनुष्ठितः ।
संशयं लभते किंचित्तेन राजा विगर्ह्यते ॥ १२.८८.२८ ॥
If a man engaged in farming, cattle-keeping and trade meets with some misfortune, the king is thereby censured.
12.88.29
धनिनः पूजयेन्नित्यं पानाच्छादनभोजनैः ।
वक्तव्याश्चानुगृह्णीध्वं प्रजाः सह मयेति वै ॥ १२.८८.२९ ॥
One should always honor the wealthy with drink, clothing and food, and tell them: 'Show favor to the subjects together with me.'
12.88.30
अङ्गमेतन्महद्राज्ये धनिनो नाम भारत ।
ककुदं सर्वभूतानां धनस्थो नात्र संशयः ॥ १२.८८.३० ॥
O Bhārata, this great limb of the kingdom is the wealthy. Those who dwell in wealth are the summit of all beings; there is no doubt of this.
12.88.31
प्राज्ञः शूरो धनस्थश्च स्वामी धार्मिक एव च ।
तपस्वी सत्यवादी च बुद्धिमांश्चापि रक्षति ॥ १२.८८.३१ ॥
The wise, the brave, the wealthy, the lord, the righteous, the ascetic, the truthful and the intelligent also protect it.
12.88.32
तस्मात्सर्वेषु भूतेषु प्रीतिमान्भव पार्थिव ।
सत्यमार्जवमक्रोधमानृशंस्यं च पालय ॥ १२.८८.३२ ॥
Therefore, O king, be affectionate toward all beings; maintain truthfulness, uprightness, freedom from anger and kindness.
12.88.33
एवं दण्डं च कोशं च मित्रं भूमिं च लप्स्यसि ।
सत्यार्जवपरो राजन्मित्रकोशबलान्वितः ॥ १२.८८.३३ ॥
Thus you will obtain the rod of punishment, the treasury, allies and land; O king, intent on truth and uprightness, you will be endowed with allies, treasury and strength.