इन्द्र उवाच एवंवीर्यः सर्वधर्मोपपन्न क्षात्रः श्रेष्ठः सर्वधर्मेषु धर्मः। पाल्यो युष्माभिर्लोकहितैरुदारै विपर्यये स्यादभवः प्रजानाम्॥
Indra said Kshatriya duties, O king, which are so very potent, which embrace the exercise of all other duties, and which are the highest of all duties, should be observed by persons that are like you so high-souled and seek the well-being of the world. If those duties are not properly satisfied all creatures would be ruined.
भूसंस्कारं राजसंस्कारयोर्ग मभैक्ष्यचर्यां पालनं च प्रजानाम्। विद्याद् राजा सर्वभूतानुकम्पी देहत्यागं चाहवे धर्ममग्न्यम्॥
The king, cherishing mercy for all creatures, should consider these as the highest of his duties, viz., reclaiming the land for cultivation and fertilizing it, celebration of great sacrifices for purifying himself, aversion for begging, and protection of subjects.
त्यागं श्रेष्ठं मुनयो वै वदन्ति सर्वश्रेष्ठं यच्छरीरं त्यजन्तः। नित्यं युक्ता राजधर्मेषु सर्वे प्रत्यक्षं ते भूमिपाला यथैव॥ बहुश्रुत्वा गुरुशुश्रूषया चा परस्परं संहननाद् वदन्ति। नित्यं धर्मं क्षत्रियो ब्रह्मचारी चरेदेको ह्याश्रमं धर्मकामः॥
Making gifts is said by the sages to be the greatest of virtues. Of all kinds of gifts again, that of the body in battle, is the highest. You have seen with your own eyes how the kings, ever following Kshatriya duties, having duly waited upon their preceptors and acquired great learning, at last sacrifice their bodies, while fighting with one another. The Kshatriya, desirous of earning religious merit, should after following the Brahmacharya mode, live like a house-holder which is always meritorious.
सामान्यार्थे व्यवहारे प्रवृत्ते प्रियाप्रिये वर्जयन्नेव यत्नात्। चातुर्वर्ण्यस्थापनात् पालनाच्च तैस्तैर्योगैर्नियमैरौरसैश्च॥ सर्वोद्योगैराश्रमं धर्ममाहुः क्षात्रं श्रेष्ठं सर्वधर्मोपपन्नम्। स्वं स्वं धर्मं येन चरन्ति वर्णा स्तांस्तान्धर्मानन्यथार्थान् वदन्ति॥
While settling the question of right (between) his subjects, he should be perfectly impartial. For making the various orders follow their respective duties, for the protection they give to all, for the various contrivances and means and the prowess and exertion Kshatriya duties, which embrace all other duties, are said to be the highest. The other orders are able to follow their respective duties for kingly duties. Therefore the former depend upon the latter regarding the merit they produce.
निर्मर्यादान् नित्यमर्थे निविर्श नाहुस्तांस्तान् वै पशुभूतान्मनुष्यान्। यथा नीतिं गमयत्यर्थयोर्गा च्छ्रेयस्तस्मादाश्रमात् क्षत्रधर्मः॥
Those men, who disobey all healthy checks and who are too much attached to the worldly objects, are regarded as brutes. They are constrained to act justly by the exercise of kingly duties. Those duties, therefore, are said to be the highest of all.
विद्यानां या गतिर्ब्राह्मणानां ये चैवोक्ताश्चाश्रमा ब्राह्मणानाम्। एतत् कर्म ब्राह्मणस्याहुरग्रर्य मन्यत् कुर्वञ्छूद्रवच्छस्त्रवध्यः॥
That course of conduct which has been laid down for Brahmanas who follow the three Vedas, and those modes of life that have been laid down for Brahmanas, should, first, of all be observed by every Brahmana. If a Brahmana acts otherwise, he should be punished like a Shudra,
चातुराश्रम्यधर्माश्च वेदधर्माश्च पार्थिवा ब्राह्मणेनानुगन्तव्या नान्यो विद्यात् कदाचन॥
The duties of the four modes of life and the rituals laid down in the Vedas, O king, should always be followed by a Brahmana; he has no other duties.
अन्यथा वर्तमानस्य नासौ वृत्तिः प्रकल्प्यते। कर्मणा वर्धते धर्मो यथाधर्मस्तथैव सः॥
A Kshatriya should never maintain a Brahmana acting otherwise. His religious merit increases for his acts. A Brahmana, indeed, is like Dharma.
यो विकर्मस्थितो विप्रो न स सम्मानमर्हति। कर्म स्वं नोपयुञ्जानमविश्वास्यं हि तं विदुः॥
That Brahmana who does works that are not sanctioned for him, deserves no respect. If not engaged in his proper acts, he should not be trusted.
एते धर्माः सर्ववर्णेषु लीना उत्क्रष्टव्याः क्षत्रियैरेष धर्मः। तस्माज्येष्ठा राजधर्मा न चान्ये वीर्यज्येष्ठा वीरधर्मा मता मे॥
These are the duties of the various orders. Kshatriyas should look after them so that their observance may be improved. These are the duties of Kshatriyas. For these reasons also, kingly duties and no others, are the highest of all. They are, as I believe, the duties of heroes, and the heroes are foremost in following them.
मान्धातोवाच यवनाः किराता गान्धाराचीनाः शबरबर्बराः। शकास्तुषाराः कङ्काश्च परवाश्चान्ध्रमद्रकाः॥ पौण्ड्राः पुलिन्दा रमठा: काम्बोजाश्चैव सर्वशः। ब्रह्मक्षत्रप्रसूताश्च वैश्याः शूद्राश्च मानवाः॥ कथं धर्माचरिष्यन्ति सर्वे विषयवासिनः। मद्विधैश्च कथं स्थाप्याः सर्वे वै दस्युजीविनः॥
What duties should be practised by the Yavanas, the Kiratas, the Gandharas, the Chinas, the Shavaras, the Barbaras, the Shakas, the Tusharas, the Kankas, the Palhavas, the Andhras, the Madrakas, the Paundras, the Pulindas, the Ramathas, the Kambojas, the several castes that have originated from Brahmanas and Kshatriyas, the Vaishyas, and the Shudras, that live in the dominions of Aryan kings? What are those duties again which kings like ourselves should compel the iribes living by robbery to follow.
मान्धातोवाच एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं भगवंस्तद् ब्रवीहि मे। त्वं बन्धुभूतो ह्यस्माकं क्षत्रियाणां सुरेश्वर॥
I wish to hear all this, O illustrious god, instruct me. O chief of all the gods, you are the friend of us Kshatriyas.
इन्द्र उवाच मातापित्रोर्हि शुश्रूषा कर्तव्या सर्वदस्युभिः। आचार्य गुरुशुश्रूषा तथैवाश्रमवासिनाम्॥
Indra said All the robber tribes should serve their parents, their preceptors and other elders and hermits living in the forest.
भूमिपानां च शुश्रूषा कर्तव्या सर्वदस्युभिः। वेदधर्मक्रियाश्चैव तेषां धर्मो विधीयते॥
All the robber tribes should also serve their kings. The duties and rites laid down in the Vedas should also be followed by them.
पितृयज्ञास्तथा कूपाः प्रपाश्च शयनानि च। दानानि च यथाकालं द्विजेभ्यो विसृजेत् सदा॥
They should celebrate sacrifices in honour of the departed manes, dig wells, for the public give water to thirsty travellers, distribute beds and other presents amongst Brahmanas.
अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधो वृत्तिदायानुपालनम्। भरणं पुत्रदाराणां शौचमद्रोह एव च॥ दक्षिणा सर्वयज्ञानां दातव्या भूतिमिच्छता। पाकयज्ञा महाश्चि दातव्याः सर्वदस्युभिः॥
Abstention from injury, truth, control of anger, supporting Brahmanas and relatives by giving them their dues, maintenance of wives and children, purity, peacefulness, making presents to Brahmanas at all sorts of sacrifices are duties to be followed by every person of this tribe who seeks his own prosperity. Such a person should also celebrate all kinds of Pakayajnas with rich presents of food and wealth.
एतान्येवंप्रकाराणि विहितानि पुरानघ। सर्वलोकस्य कर्माणि कर्तव्यानीह पार्थिव॥
These and similar duties, O sinless one, were laid down in days of yore for person of this class. All these acts, which have been laid down for all others, should be done by the robbers also, O king.
मान्धातोवाच दृश्यन्ते मानुषे लोके सर्ववर्णेषु दस्यवः। लिङ्गान्तरे वर्तमाना आश्रमेषु चतुर्ध्वपि॥
Mandhatri said In this world, such wicked men may be seen living in disguise among all the four castes and in all the four modes of life.
इन्द्र उवाच विनष्टायां दण्डनीत्यां राजधर्मे निराकृते। सम्प्रमुह्यन्ति भूतानि राजदौरात्म्यतोऽनघ॥
Indra said When the kingly duties are lost as well as the science of punishment, all creatures become exceedingly exercised, O sinless one, for the oppression of kings.
असंख्याता भविष्यन्ति भिक्षवो लिङ्गिनस्तथा। आश्रमाणां विकल्पाश्च निवृत्तेऽस्मिन् कृते युगे॥
After the termination of the Krita age, a confusion will set in regarding the various modes of life, and numberless mendicants will appear with sectarial marks of various sorts.
अशृण्वानाः पुराणानां धर्माणां परमा गतीः। उत्पथं प्रतिपत्स्यन्ते काममन्युसमीरिताः॥
Disregarding the Puranas and the great truths of religion, men, urged by lust and anger, will wend wrong ways.
यदा निवर्त्यते पापो दण्डनीत्या महात्मभिः। तदा धर्मो न चलते सद्भूतः शाश्वतः परः॥
When sinful men are restrained by highsouled persons with the help of the science of punishment, then religion, which reigns supreme over everything and is eternal and which is the source of all good, becomes firmly established.
सर्वलोकगुरुं चैव राजानं योऽवमन्यते। न तस्य दत्तं न हुतं न श्राद्धं फलते क्वचित्॥
The gifts, and libations, and offerings to the departed manes of the man who disregards the king who is superior to every one, become useless.
मानुषाणामधिपतिं देवभूतं सनातनम्। देवापि नावमन्यन्ते धर्मकामं नरेश्वरम्॥
The very gods do not disobey a virtuous king who is truly a personification of god.
प्रजापतिर्हि भगवान् सर्वं चैवासृजज्जगत्। स प्रवृत्तिनिवृत्त्यर्थं धर्माणां क्षत्रमिच्छति॥
Having created the universe, the divine Lord of all creatures meant the Kshatriya to rule men making them follow their duties.
प्रवृत्तस्य हि धर्मस्य बुद्ध्या यः स्मरते गतिम्। स मे मान्यश्च पूज्यश्च तत्र क्षत्रं प्रतिष्ठितम्॥
I respect and worship that person who hclped by his understanding, watches the course of the duties performed by men. Upon such supervision depend Kshatriya duties.
भीष्म उवाच एवमुक्त्वा स भगवान् मरुद्गणवृतः प्रभुः। जगाम भवनं विष्णोरक्षरं शाश्वतं पदम्॥
Bhishma continued 'Having said these words, the divine and powerful Narayana, in the forın of Indra, accompanied by the Maruts, repaired to his eternal abode of endless felicity.
एवं प्रवर्तिते धर्मे पुरा सुचरितेऽनघ। कः क्षत्रमवमन्येत चेतनावान् बहुश्रुतः॥
When, O sinless one, duties were thus followed in days of yore what man of cleansed soul and learning is there that would disregard the Kshatriya?
अन्यायेन प्रवृत्तानि निवृत्तानि तथैव च। अन्तरा विलयं यान्ति यथा पथि विचक्षुषः॥
Like blind men lost on the way creatures, acting unrighteously, meet with ruin.
आदौ प्रवर्तिते चक्रे तथैवादिपरायणे। वर्तस्व पुरुषव्याघ्र संविजानामि तेऽनघ॥
O foremost of men, do you follow those duties which were first promulgated and which the ancients had followed. I know, O sinless one, that you are quite competent to do this.'