युधिष्ठिर उवाच ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्राणां च परंतप। धर्मवृत्तं च वित्तं च वृत्त्युपायाः फलानि च॥
Yudhishthira said You have, O scorcher of foes, described the duties, the general conduct, the means of sustenance, with their results, of Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras.
राज्ञां वित्तं च कोशं च कोशसंचयनं जयः। अमात्यगुणवृत्तिश्च प्रकृतीनां च वर्धनम्॥ पाड्गुण्यगुणकल्पश्च सेनावृत्तिस्तथैव च। परिज्ञानं च दुष्टस्य लक्षणं च सतामपि॥ समहीनाधिकानां च यथावल्लक्षणं च यत्। मध्यमस्य च तुष्ट्यर्थं यथा स्थेयं विवर्धता॥ क्षीणग्रहणवृत्तिश्च यथाधर्मं प्रकीर्तितम्। लघुना देशरूपेण ग्रन्थयोगेन भारत॥
You have described also the duties of kings, and discoursed on their treasures, the means of filling them, and on the subject of conquest and victory. You have also described the characteristics of ministers, the measures that secure the prosperity of the subjects, the characteristics of the six limbs of a kingdom, the qualities of armies, the means of marking out the wicked, and the marks of the good, the attributes of those that are equal, those that are inferior, and those that are superior, the conduct which a king seeking selfaggrandisement should follow towards the masses, and the manner in which the weak should be protected and cherished. You have described all these subjects, O Bharata, delivering instructions sanctioned by the scriptures.
विजिगीषोस्तथा वृत्तमुक्तं चैव तथैव ते। गणानां वृत्तिमिच्छामि श्रोतुं मतिमतां वर॥
You have also described the conduct that should be followed by kings desirous of conquering their enemies. I desire now, O foremost of intelligent men, to hear how should a person treat the number of brave men (vassals) that gather round a king.
यथा गणाः प्रवर्धन्ते न भिद्यन्ते च भारत। अरींश्च विजिगीषन्ते सुहृदः प्राप्नुवन्ति च।॥
I wish to hear how they may advance, how they may be attached to the person of the king, and how, O Bharata, they may subduing foes gain friends.
भेदमूलो विनाशो हि गणानामुपलक्षये। मन्त्रसंवरणं दुःखं बहूनामिति मे मतिः॥
It appears to me that disunion alone can encompass their destruction. I think it is always difficult to keep counsels close when there are many in the assemblage.
एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं निखिलेन परंतप। यथा च ते न भिद्येरंस्तच्च मे वद पार्थिव॥
I desire to hear ail this fully, O scorcher of foes. Tell me also, O king, the means by which they may not happen to quarrel with the king."
भीष्म उवाच गणानां च कुलानां च राज्ञां भरतसत्तम। वैरसंदीपनावेतौ लोभामर्षी नराधिप।॥
Bhishma said "O king, avarice and anger between nobles and the kings create enmity.
लोभमेको हि वृणुते ततोऽमर्षमनन्तरम्। तौ क्षयव्ययसंयुक्तावन्योन्यं च विनाशिनौ॥
The king yields to avarice. And, therefore, anger takes possession of the other. Each bent upon weakening and wasting the other, they both meet with destruction.
चारमन्त्रबलादानैः सामदानविभेदनैः। क्षयव्ययभयोपायैः प्रकर्षन्तीतरेतरम्॥
By engaging spies, instruments of policy, and physical force, and adopting the means of conciliation, gifts, and dissension, and applying other methods for producing weakness, waste, and fear, the parties attack each other.
तत्रादानेन भिद्यन्ते गणाः संघातवृत्तयः। भिन्ना विमनसः सर्वे गच्छन्त्यरिवशं भयात्॥
The aristocracy of a kingdom in a body becoine alienated from the king, if the latter seeks to exact too much from them. Alienated from the king, all of them become dissatisfied, and from fear join the enemies of the king.
भेदे गणा विनेशुर्हि भिन्नास्तु सुजयाः परैः। तस्मात् संघातयोगेन प्रयतेरन् गणा: सदा॥
If again the aristocracy of a kingdom are divided, they meet with destruction. Disunited, they are easily ruined by their foes. The nobles, therefore, should always act unitedly.
अर्थाश्चैवाधिगम्यन्ते संघातबलपौरुषैः। बाह्याश्च मैत्री कुर्वन्ति तेषु संघातवृत्तिषु॥
If they be united together, they may acquire valuable properties by means of their strength and prowess. When they are thus united, many people from outside seek their alliance.
ज्ञानवृद्धाः प्रशंसन्ति शुश्रूषन्तः परस्परम्। विनिवृत्ताभि संधानाः संखमेधन्ति सर्वशः॥
Wise people speak highly of those nobles who are united with one another in ties of love. If of one purpose, all of them can be happy.
धर्मिष्ठान् व्यवहारांश्च स्थापयन्तश्च शास्त्रतः। यथावत् प्रतिपश्यन्तो विवर्धन्ते गणोत्तमाः॥
They can establish fairness of conduct. By behaving properly, they grow prosperous.
पुत्रान् भ्रातृन् निगृह्णन्तो विनयन्तश्च तान् सदा। विनीतांश्च प्रगृह्णन्तो विवर्धन्ते गणोत्तमाः॥
By restraining their sons and brothers and instructing them in their duties, and treating all persons kindly whose pridc has been subdued by knowledge, the aristocracy grow prosperous.
चारमन्त्रविधानेषु कोशसंनिचयेषु च। नित्ययुक्ता महाबाहो वर्धन्ते सर्वतो गणाः॥
By always engaging spies and concerting measures of policy, and filling up their treasuries, the aristocracy, O you of mighty arms, grow prosperous.
प्राज्ञाशूरान् महोत्साहान् कर्मसु स्थिरपौरुषान्। मानयन्तः सदा युक्ता विवर्धन्ते गणा नृप॥
By receiving properly those who are endued with wisdom, courage and perseverance and who show steady prowess in all kinds of work, the aristocracy grow prosperous.
द्रव्यवन्तश्च शूराश्च शस्त्रज्ञाः शास्त्रपारगाः। कृच्छ्रास्वापत्सु सम्मूढान् गणाः संतारयन्ति ते॥
Having wealth and resources, and mastcred the scriptures and all the arts and sciences, the aristocracy rescue the ignorant masses from all sorts of distress and danger,
क्रोधो भेदो भयं दण्डः कर्षणं निग्रहो वधः। नयत्यरिवशं सद्यो गणान् भरतसत्तम॥
King's anger, disunion with him, terror, punishment, persecution, oppression, and executions, O chief of the Bharatas, quickly alienate the aristocracy from the king and make them side with kings' enemies.
तस्मान्मानयितव्यास्ते गणमुख्याः प्रधानतः । लोकयात्रा समायत्ता भूयसी तेषु पार्थिव॥
Therefore, the leaders of the aristocracy should be honoured by the king. The affairs of the kingdom, o king, depend greatly upon them.
मन्त्रगुप्तिः प्रधानेषु चारश्चामित्रकर्षण। न गणाः कृत्स्नशो मन्त्रं श्रोतुमर्हन्ति भारत॥
Consultations should be held with the leaders of the aristocracy, and secret agents should be engaged, O crusher of foes, to watch them. The king should not, O Bharata, consult with every member of the aristocracy.
गणमुख्यैस्तु सम्भूय कार्यं गणहितं मिथः! पृथग्गणस्य भिन्नस्य विततस्य ततोऽन्यथा॥
Acting jointly with the leaders, the king, should do what is for the behoof of the whole order. When, however, the aristocracy are divided and disunited and have no leaders, other courses of action should be followed,
अर्थाः प्रत्यवसीदन्ति तथाना भवन्ति च। तेषामन्योन्यभिन्नानां स्वशक्तिमनुतिष्ठताम्॥
If the members of the aristocracy fall out with one another and act, each according to his means, without unity, their prosperity disappears and diverse sorts of evil occur.
निग्रहः पण्डितैः कार्यः क्षिप्रमेव प्रधानतः। कुलेषु कलहा जाताः कुलवृद्धैरुपेक्षिताः॥ गोत्रस्य नाशं कुर्वन्ति गणभेदस्य कारकम्।
The leaned and wise amongst them should put down a dispute as soon as it takes place. Indeed, if the elders of a family grow indifferent, quarrels break out amongst the members. Such quarrels bring about the ruin of a family and create disunion among the nobles.
आभ्यन्तरं भयं रक्ष्यमसारं बाह्यतो भयम्॥ आभ्यन्तरं भयं राजन् सद्यो मूलानि कृन्तति।
Protect yourself, O king, from all internal fears. External fears, however, are not very important. The first kind of fear, O king, may cut your roots in a single day.
अकस्मात् क्रोधमोहाभ्यां लोभाद् वापि स्वभावजात्।। अन्योन्यं नाभिभाषन्ते तत्पराभवलक्षणम्। जात्या च सदृशाः सर्वे कुलेन सदृशास्तथा॥ न चोद्योगेन बुद्ध्या वा रूपद्रव्येण वा पुनः। तस्मात् संघातमेबाहुर्गणानां शरणं महत्॥
Persons who are equal in family and blood, under the influence of anger, folly and covetousness cease to speak with one another. This is an indication of defeat. It is not by courage, nor intelligence, nor by beauty, nor by riding, that enemies can destroy the aristocracy. It is only by disunion and gifts that it can be brought to subjugation. Therefore, union is the greatest refuge of the aristocracy.