वैशम्पायन उवाच प्रणिपत्य हृषीकेशमभिवाद्य पितामहम्। अनुमान्य गुरून् सर्वान् पर्यपृच्छद् युधिष्ठिरः॥
Having saluted Hrishikesha, and Bhishma, and taken the permission of all the elders assembled there, Yudhishthira began to question Bhishma.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच राज्ञां वै परमो धर्म इति धर्मविदो विदुः। महान्तमेतं भारं च मन्ये तद् ब्रूहि पार्थिव॥
Yudhishthira said 'Persons conversant with duty and morality lecture that royal duties are the highest science of duty. I also regard the burden of those duties as being highly heavy. Do you, therefore, O king, describe those duties.
राजधर्मान् विशेषेण कथयस्व पितामह। सर्वस्य जीवलोकस्य राजधर्मः परायणम्॥
O grandfather, do you speak fully on the duties of kings. The science of royal duties is the refuge of all creatures.
त्रिवर्गो हि समासक्तो राजधर्मेषु कारैव। मोक्षधर्मश्च विस्पष्टः सकलोऽत्र समाहितः॥
O you of Kuru's race, Religion, Profit, and Pleasure depend on royal duties. It is also clear that the practices that lead to liberation equally depend on them.
यथा हि रश्मयोऽश्वस्य द्विरदस्याङ्कद्धशो यथा। नरेन्द्रधर्मो लोकस्य तथा प्रग्रहणं स्मृतम्॥
As the reins govern the horse or the iron goad the elephant, so the science of royal duties forms the reins for restraining the world.
तत्र चेत् सम्प्रमुोत धर्मे राजर्षिसेविते। लोकस्य संस्था न भवेत् सर्वं च व्याकुलीभवेत्॥
If one becomes bewildered regarding the duties observed by kings, disorder would prevail on Earth and everything will be in confusion.
उदयन् हि यथा सूर्यो नाशयत्यशुभं तमः। राजधर्मास्तथालोक्यां निक्षिपन्त्यशुभां गतिम्॥
As the Sun rising removes darkness, so this science destroys all the evil consequences of the world.
तदने राजधर्मान् हि मदर्थे त्वं पितामह। प्रब्रूहि भरतश्रेष्ठ त्वं हि धर्मभृतां वरः॥
Therefore, O grandfather, do you, for my sake, discourse on royal duties first of all, for you, O chief of the Bharatas, are the foremost of all persons conversant with duties.
आगमश्च परस्त्वत्तः परंतप। भवन्तं हि परं बुद्धौ वासुदेवोऽभिमन्यते॥
O destroyer of foes, Vasudeva considers you as the foremost of all intelligent persons. Therefore, all of us expect the best knowledge from you.'
भीष्म उवाच नमो धर्माय महते नमः कृष्णाय वेधसे। ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नमस्कृत्य धर्मान् वक्ष्यामि शाश्वतान्।।१० सर्वेषां नः
Bhishma said 'Saluting Dharma who is Supreme, Krishna who is Brahma in full, and the Brahmanas, I shall discourse on the eternal duties (of men).
शृणु कात्स्येन मत्तस्त्वं राजधर्मान् युधिष्ठिर। निरुच्यमानान् नियतो यच्चान्यदपि वाञ्छसि॥
Hear from me, O Yudhishthira, with rapt attention, all the royal duties described accurately and fully and other duties that you may wish to know.
आदावेव कुरुश्रेष्ठ राज्ञा रञ्जनकाम्यया। देवतानां द्विजानां च वर्तितव्यं यथाविधि॥
In the first place, O chief of Kuru's race, the king should, for pleasing (his subjects), wait humbly upon the gods and the Brahmanas, always following implicitly the ordinance.
उत्थानेन सदा पुत्र दैवतान्यर्चयित्वा हि ब्राह्मणांश्च कुरूद्वह। आनृण्यं याति धर्मस्य लोकेन च समर्च्यते॥
By adoring the celestials and the Brahmanas, O increaser of Kuru's race, the king satisfies his debt to duty and morality, and acquires the respect of his subjects.
प्रयतेथा युधिष्ठिर। न ह्युस्थानमृते दैवं राज्ञामर्थं प्रसादयेत्॥
O son, you should always exert promptly, O Yudhishthira, for without exertion and manliness mere destiny never accomplishes the objects the kings wish to achieve.
साधारणं द्वयं ह्येतद् दैवमुत्थानमेव च। पौरुषं हि परं मन्ये दैवं निश्चितमुच्यते॥
These two, viz., exertion and destiny, are equal. Of them, I consider exertion to be superior for destiny is determined from the results of exertion.
विपन्ने च समारम्भे संतापं मा स्म वै कृथाः। घटस्वैव सदाऽऽत्मानं राज्ञामेष परो नयः॥
Do not be sorry if what is undertaken ends disastrously, for you should then exert yourself in the same work with redoubled attention. This is the highest of royal duties.
न हि सत्यादृते किंचिद् राज्ञां वै सिद्धिकारकम्। सत्ये हि राजा निरतः प्रेत्य चेह न नन्दति॥
There is nothing which leads so much to the success of kings as Truth. The king who is devoted to Truth enjoys happiness both here and hereafter.
ऋषीणामपि राजेन्द्र सत्यमेव परं धनम्। तथा राज्ञां परं सत्यान्नान्यद् विश्वासकारणम्॥
Even to the Rishis, O king, Truth, is the greatest wealth. Likewise for the kings, there is nothing that so much creates confidence in them as Truth.
गुणवाशीलवान् दान्तो मृदुर्धर्यो जितेन्द्रियः। सुदर्शः स्थूललक्ष्यश्च न भ्रश्येत सदा श्रियः॥
The king who is endued with all accomplishments and good conduct, who is self-controlled, Humble, and righteous, who has his passions under control, who is of a beautiful countenance and not too enquiring, never loses prosperity.
आर्जवं सर्वकार्येषु श्रयेथाः कुरुनन्दन। पुनर्नयविचारेण त्रयीसंवरणेन च॥
By administering justice, by following these three expedients, viz., concealment of his own shortcomings, ascertainment of the loop-holes of foes, and keeping is own counsel close, as also by acting straight-forwardly, the king, O delighter of the Kurus, acquires prosperity.
मृदुर्हि राजा सततं लङ्घयो भवति सर्वशः। तीक्ष्णाच्चोद्विजते लोकस्तस्मादुभयमाश्रय॥
If the king becomes mild, everybody disobey him. On the other hand, if he becomes fierce his subjects always fear him. Therefore, do you conduct yourself in both the ways.
अदण्ड्याश्चैव ते पुत्र विप्राश्च ददतां वर। भूतमेतत् परं लोके ब्राह्मणो नाम पाण्डव॥
O foremost of liberal men, the Brahmanas should never be punished by you, for the Brahmana, O son of Pandu, is the foremost of human beings on the Earth.
मनुना चैव राजेन्द्र गीतौ श्लोकौ महात्मना। धर्मेषु स्वेषु कौरव्य हृदि तौ कर्तुमर्हसि॥ अद्भ्योऽग्निर्ब्रह्मतः क्षत्रमश्मनो लोहमुत्थितम्। तेषां सर्वत्रगं तेजः स्वासु योनिषु शाम्यति॥
The great Manu, O king of kings, has written two Slokas. As regards your duties, O you of Kuru's race, you should always remember them. Fire has originated from water, the Kshatriya from the Brahmana, and iron from stone. The three, viz., fire, Kshatriya, and iron, can act on every other thing, but coming into contact with their respective origins, their force becomes neutralised.
अयो हन्ति यदाश्मानमग्निना वारि हन्यते। ब्रह्म च क्षत्रियो देशि तदा सीदन्ति ते त्रयः॥ एवं कृत्वा महाराज नमस्या एव ते द्विजाः। भौमं ब्रह्म द्विजश्रेष्ठा धारयन्ति समर्चिताः॥ पुरा तात महर्षिणा।
When iron strikes stone, or fire fights with water, or Kshatriya treats a Brahmana inimically, these three soon become weak. When this is so, O king, (you will see that) the Brahmanas deserve to be worshipped. The foremost of the Brahmanas are gods on Earth. Duly adored they maintain the Vedas and the Sacrifices.
एवं चैव नरव्याघ्र लोकत्रयविधातकाः। निग्राह्या एव सततं बाहुभ्यां ये स्युरीदृशाः॥
But they, O foremost of kings, who wish to have such honour, though they may be obstacles to the three worlds, should always be repressed by the strength of your arms.
श्लोकौ चोशनसा गीतौ तौ निबोध महाराज त्वमेकाग्रमना नृप॥ उद्यम्य शस्त्रमायान्तमपि वेदान्तगं रणे। निगृह्णीयात् स्वधर्मेण धर्मापेक्षी नराधिपः॥
The great Rishi Ushanas, O son, recited two Slokas in days of yore. Listen to them, O king, with rapt attention. The true Kshatriya, ever observant of his duties, should punish a Brahmana, inspite of his being the master of the Vedas if he rushes to battle with an uplifted weapon.
विनश्यमानं धर्मं हि योऽभिरक्षेत् स धर्मवित्। न तेन धर्महा स स्यान्मन्युस्तन्मन्युमृच्छति।॥ एवं चैव नरश्रेष्ठ रक्ष्या एव द्विजातयः। सापराधानपि हि तान् विषयान्ते समुत्सृजेत्॥
The Kshatriya, observant of his duties, who maintains righteousness when it is trespassed against, does not by that act, commit sin, for the anger of the assailant justifies the anger of the punisher. With these restrictions only, O foremost of kings, the Brahmanas should be protected. If they commit any offence they should be banished out of the country.
अभिशस्तमपि ह्येषां कृपायीत विशाम्पते। ब्रह्मने गुरुतल्पे च भ्रूणहत्ये तथैव च।॥ राजद्विष्टे च विप्रस्य विषयान्ते विसर्जनम्। विधीयते न शारीरं दण्डमेषां कदाचन॥
Even when they deserve punishment you should, O king, show them mercy. If a Brahmana becomes guilty of Brahmanicide, or of violating the bed of his preceptor or other elders, or of causing miscarriage, or of treason against the king, he should be punished with banishment from your territories. No corporal punishment is laid down for them.
दयिताश्च नरास्ते स्युभक्तिमन्तो द्विजेषु ये। न कोशः परमोऽन्योऽस्ति राज्ञां पुरुषसंचयात्॥
Those persons who revere the Brahmanas should be favoured by you. There is no wealth more valuable to kings than the proper selection of servants.
दुर्गेषु च महाराज षट्स ये शास्त्रनिश्चिताः। सर्वदुर्गेषु मन्यन्ते नरदुर्गं सुदुस्तरम्॥
Among the six kinds of forts described in the scriptures, among every kind of other forts the service and the love of the subjects is of the most impregnable.
तस्मान्नित्यं दया कार्या चातुर्वर्ये विपश्चिता। धर्मात्मा सत्यवाक् चैव राजा रञ्जयति प्रजाः॥
Therefore, a wise king should always show mercy towards the four orders of his subjects. The righteous and truthful king succeeds in pleasing his subjects.
न च क्षान्तेन ते नित्यं भाव्यं पुत्र समन्ततः। अधर्मो हि मृदू राजा क्षमावानिव कुञ्जरः॥
You should not, however, O son, always forgive everybody, for a mild king is regarded as the worst like an elephant shorn of fierceness.
बार्हस्पत्ये च शास्त्रे च श्लोको निगदितः पुरा। अस्मिन्नर्थे महाराज तन्मे निगदतः शृणु॥
In the Samhita of Brihaspati, a Sloka was recited in days of yore applicable to the present subject. Hear, O king, I shall recite it.
क्षममाणं नृपं नित्यं नीचः परिभवेज्जनः। हस्तियन्ता गजस्यैव शिर एवारुरुक्षति॥
If the king becomes always forgiving, the lowest of persons influences him, as the driver who sits on the head of the elephant he guides.
तस्मान्नैव मृदुर्नित्यं तीक्ष्णो नैव भवेन्नृपः। वासन्तार्क इव श्रीमान् न शीतो न च धर्मदः॥
The king, therefore, should not always be mild. Nor should be always be terrific. He should be like the vernal sun, neither too cold nor too hot.
प्रत्यक्षेणानुमानेन तथौपम्यागमैरपि। परीक्ष्यास्ते महाराज स्वे परे चैव नित्यशः॥
By the direct evidence of the senses, by conjecture, by comparisons, and by the injunctions of the scriptures, O monarch, the king should study friends and enemies.
व्यसनानि च सर्वाणि त्यजेथा भूरिदक्षिण। न चैव न प्रयुञ्जीत सङ्गं तु परिवर्जयेत्॥
O noble king, you should renounce all those evil practices which are called Vyasanas. It is not incumbent that you should never indulge in them. What, however, is necessary is that you should not be attached to them.
लोकस्य व्यसनी नित्यं परिभूतो भवत्युत। उद्वेजयति लोकं च योऽतिद्वेषी महीपतिः॥
He that is attached to those practices is under the influence of every one. The king who does not love his subjects fills the latter with anxiety.
भवितव्यं सदा राज्ञा गर्भिणीसहधर्मिणा। कारणं च महाराज शृणु येनेदमिष्यते॥
The king should always treat his subjects as a mother does the child of her womb. Hear, O king, why this is desirable.
यथा हि गर्भिणी हित्वा स्वं प्रियं मनसोऽनुगम्। गर्भस्य हितमाधत्ते तथा राज्ञाप्यसंशयम्॥
As the mother, even not caring for those objects which she likes best, seeks the wellbeing of her child alone, so, forsooth, should kings treat their subjects.
वर्तितव्यं कुरुश्रेष्ठ सदा धर्मानुवर्तिना। स्वं प्रियं तु परित्यज्य यद् यल्लोकहितं भवेत्॥
A righteous king, O foremost one of Kuru's race, should always act in such a manner, as to sacrifice what he loves most for the sake of securing the well-being of his people.
न संत्याज्यं च ते धैर्य कदाचिदपि पाण्डव। धीरस्य स्पश्दण्डस्य न भयं विद्यते क्वचित्॥
You should never, O son of Pandu, abandon fortitude. The king who is crowned with fortitude and who punished wrong-doers, has no cause of fear.
परिहासश्च भृत्यैस्ते नात्यर्थं वदतां वर। कर्तव्यो राजशार्दूल दोषमत्र हि मे शृणु॥
O foremost of speakers, you should never cut jokes with your servants. O foremost of kings, listen to the short-comings of such an act.
अवमन्यन्ति भर्तारं संघर्षादुपजीविनः। स्वे स्थाने न च तिष्ठन्ति लङ्घयन्ति च तद्वचः॥
If the master mixes too freely with them, servants begin to disregard him. They forget their own position and do not care their master.
प्रेष्यमाणा विकल्पन्ते गुह्यं चाप्यनुयुञ्जते। अयाच्यं चैव याचन्ते भोज्यान्याहारयन्ति च॥
Ordered to do a thing, they hesitate, and give out the master's secrets. They ask for unbecoming things and take the food that is intended for the master.
क्रुश्यन्ति परिदीप्यन्ति भूमिपायाधितिष्ठते। उत्कोचैर्वञ्चनाभिश्च कार्याण्यनुविहन्ति च॥
They even display their anger and try to excel their master. They even try to reign supreme over the king, and taking bribes and practising deceit, hinder the business of the state.
जर्जरं चास्य विषयं कुर्वन्ति प्रतिरूपकैः। स्त्रीरक्षिभिश्च सज्जन्ते तुल्यवेषा भवन्ति च॥
They ruin the state with abuses by falsifications and forgeries. They make love with the female warders of the palace and dress in the same way as their master.
वान्तं निष्ठीवनं चैव कुर्वते चास्य संनिधौ। निर्लज्जा राजशार्दूल व्याहरन्ति च तद्वचः॥
They become so shameless as to pass wind and spit before the very eyes of their master, O foremost of kings, and they do not fear even to speak of him lightly before others.
हयं वा दन्तिनं वापि रथं वा नृपसत्तम। अभिरोहन्त्यनादृत्य हर्षुले पार्थिवे मृदौ॥
If the king becomes mild and cuts jokes, his servants, disobeying him, ride on horses and elephants and cars as good as the king's.
इदं ते दुष्करं राजन्निदं ते दुष्टचेष्टितम्। इत्येवं सुहृदो वाचं वदन्ते परिषद्गताः॥
His counsellors, in court, plainly say-This is beyond your power. This is a wicked attempt.
क्रुद्धे चास्मिन् हसन्त्येव न च हृष्यन्ति पूजिताः। संघर्षशीलाश्च तदा भवन्त्यन्योन्यकारणात्॥
If the king becomes angry, they laugh; nor are they pleased if favours be conferred upon them, though they may express joy for other reasons.
विस्त्रंसयन्ति मन्त्रं च विवृण्वन्ति च दुष्कृतम्। लीलया चैव कुर्वन्ति सावज्ञास्तस्य शासनम्॥
They give out the secret counsels of their master and speak of his evil deeds. Without the least anxiety they disregard the king's commands.
अलंकारे च भोज्ये च तथा स्नानानुलेपने। हेलनानि नरव्याघ्र स्वस्थास्तस्योप शृण्वतः॥
If the king's jewels, or food, or the necessaries of his bath, or unguents, be not ready, the servants, in his very presence, do not display the least anxiety.
निन्दन्ते स्वानधीकारान् संत्यजन्ते च भारत। न वृत्त्या परितुष्यन्ति राजदेयं हरन्ति च॥
They do not take what belongs to them legitimately. On the other hand, without being content with what has been given to them, they take to themselves what belongs to the king.
क्रीडितुं तेन चेच्छन्ति ससूत्रेणेव पक्षिणा। अस्मत्प्रणेयो राजेति लोकांश्चैव वदन्त्युत॥
They wish to sport with the king as with a bird tied in a rope, and always make the people understand that the king is on very intimate terms with them and loves them dearly.
एते चैवापरे चैव दोषाः प्रादुर्भवन्त्युत। नृपतौ मार्दवोपेत हर्षुले च युधिष्ठिर॥
If the king is mild and disposed to cut jokes. O Yudhishthira, these and many other evils originate from it. They wish to sport with the king as with a bird tied in a rope, and always make the people understand that the king is on very intimate terms with them and loves them dearly.
एते चैवापरे चैव दोषाः प्रादुर्भवन्त्युत। नृपतौ मार्दवोपेत हर्षुले च युधिष्ठिर॥
If the king is mild and disposed to cut jokes. O Yudhishthira, these and many other evils originate from it.