भीष्म उवाच योगक्षेमो हि राष्ट्रस्य राजन्यायत्त उच्यते। योगक्षेमो हि राज्ञो हि समायत्त पुरोहिते॥
Bhishma said It is said that the preservation and advancement of the kingdom depends upon the king. The preservation and advancement of the kings depends upon the king's priest.
यत्रादृष्टं भयं ब्रह्म प्रजानां शमयत्युत। दृष्टं च राजा बाहुभ्यां तद् राज्यं सुखमेधते॥
That kingdom truly enjoys felicity where the invisible fears of the subjects, are removed by the Brahmana and all visible ones are suppressed by the king with the strength of his arin.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। मुचुकुन्दस्य संवादं राज्ञो वैश्रवणस्य च॥
Regarding it is cited the old discourse between king Muchukunda and Vaishravana.
मुचुकुन्दो विजित्येमां पृथिवीं पृथिवीपतिः। जिज्ञासमानः स्वबलमभ्ययादलकाधिपम्॥
King Muchukunda, having conquered the entire Earth, went to the lord of Alaka for testing his strength.
ततो वैश्रवणो राजा राक्षसानसृजत् तदा। ते बलान्यवमृद्गन्त मुचुकुन्दस्य नैर्ऋताः॥
King Vaishravana created a large army of Rakshasas. These grinded the army led by Muchukunda.
स हन्यमाने सैन्ये स्वे मुचुकुन्दो नराधिपः। गर्हयामास विद्वांसं पुरोहितमरिंदमः॥
Witnessing the destruction of his army, king Muchukunda, O chastiser of foes, began to remonstrate with his own feared priest Vasishtha.
तत उग्रं तपस्तप्त्वा वसिष्ठो धर्मवित्तमः। रक्षांस्युपावधीत् तस्य पन्थानं चाप्यविन्दत॥
Thereupon that foremost of righteous persons, viz, Vasishtha, practised very austere penances, and, causing those Rakshasas to be killed, ascertained the true course which Muchukunda was following.
ततो वैश्रवणो राजा मुचुकुन्दमदर्शयत्। वध्यमानेषु सैन्येषु वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्॥
When king Vaishravana's troops were being killed, he showed himself Muchukunda and said these words. to
धनद उवाच बलवन्तस्त्वया पूर्वे राजानः सपुरोहिताः। न चैवं समवर्तन्त यथा त्वमिह वर्तसे॥
The Lord of Death said Many kings of yore, more powerful than you, aided by their priests, had never approached me thus.
ते खल्वपि कृतास्त्राश्च बलवन्तश्च भूमिपाः। आगम्य पर्युपासन्ते मामीशं सुखदुःखयोः॥
All of them were clever in weapons and all of them were powerful. Knowing me as the giver of happiness and misery, they approached me for offering adorations.
यद्यस्ति बाहुवीर्यं ते तद् दर्शयितुमर्हसि। किं ब्राह्मणबलेन त्वमतिमात्र प्रवर्तसे॥
In truth, if you have might of arms you should display it. Why do you act so proudly helped by Brahmana power.
मुचुकुन्दस्ततः क्रुद्धः प्रत्युवाच धनेश्वरम्। न्यायपूर्वमसंरब्धमसम्भ्रान्तमिदं वचः॥
Enraged at these words, Muchukunda, shorn of pride and fear, said to the Lord of Death these words pregnant with reason and justice.
ब्रह्मक्षत्रमिदं सृष्टमेकयोनि स्वयम्भुवा। पृथग्बलविधानं तन्न लोकं परिपालयेत्॥
The Self-create Brahman created the Brahmana and the Kshatriya. They have a common origin. If they apply their energies separately, they would never be able to keep up the world.
तपो मन्त्रबलं नित्यं ब्राह्मणेषु प्रतिष्ठितम्। अस्त्रबाहुबलं नित्यं क्षत्रियेषु प्रतिष्ठितम्॥
The power of penances and Mantras was given to the Brahmanas; the strength of arms and of weapons was conferred upon Kshatriyas.
ताभ्यां सम्भूय कर्तव्यं प्रजानां परिपालनम्। तथा च मां प्रवर्तन्तं किं गर्हस्यलकाधिप।॥
Helped by both kinds of strength, kings should protect their subjects. I am acting in that way. Why do you, O lord of Alaka, remonstrate with me then?
ततोऽब्रवीद् वैश्रवणो राजानं सपुरोहितम्। नाहं राज्यमनिर्दिा कस्मैचिद् विदधाम्युत॥ नाच्छिन्दे चाप्यनिादमिति जानीहि पार्थिव।
Thus accosted, Vaishravana said to Muchukunda and his priest,-I never, without being ordered (by the Self-born) confr sovereignty upon any one. Nor do I ever, without his behest, snatch it away from any one. Know this, O king.
प्रशाधि पृथिवीं कृत्स्ना मद्दत्तामखिलामिमाम्। एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच मुचुकुन्दो महीपतिः॥
Do you rule then the boundless Earth.—Thus addressed, king Muchukunda replied, saying.-
मुचुकुन्द उवाच नाहं राज्यं भवद्दत्तं भोक्तुमिच्छामि पार्थिव। बाहुवीर्यार्जितं राज्यम श्नीयामिति कामये॥
I do not, O king, desire to enjoy sovereignty given by you as a gift. I desire to enjoy sovereignty secured by the power of my own arms.
भीष्म उवाच ततो वैश्रवणो राजा विस्मयं परमं ययौ। क्षत्रधर्मे स्थितं दृष्ट्वा मुचुकुन्दमसम्भ्रमम्॥
Bhishma said At these words of Muchukunda, Vaishravana, seeing the king undaunted in the observance of Kshatriya duties, was stricken with surprise.
ततो राजा मुचुकुन्दः सोऽन्वशासद् वसुन्धराम्। बाहुवीर्यार्जितां सम्यक्षत्रधर्ममनुव्रतः॥
King Muchukunda, devoted to Kshatriya duties, continued to rule the entire Earth acquired by the power of his own arms.
एवं यो धर्मविद् राजा ब्रह्मपूर्वं प्रवर्तते। जयत्यविजितामुर्वी यशश्च महदश्नुते॥
That virtuous king, who governs his kingdom, aided by and revering the Brahmana, succeeds in subjugating the whole Earth and acquiring great fame.
नित्योदकी ब्राह्मणः स्यान्नित्यशस्त्रश्च क्षत्रियः। तयोहि सर्वमायत्तं यत् किञ्चिज्जगतीगतम्॥
The Brahmana should daily perform his religious rites and the Kshatriya should always be ready with weapons. They both are the rightful owners of everything in the world.'