युधिष्ठिर उवाच सभासदः सहायाश्च सुहृदश्च विशाम्पते। परिच्छदास्तथामात्याः कीदृशाः स्युः पितामह॥
Yudhishthira said What should be the gratification, O grandfather, of the law-makers, the ministers of war, the countries, the commanders, and the counsellors of a king!
भीष्म उवाच ह्रीनिषेवास्तथा दान्ताः सत्यार्जवसमन्विताः। शक्ताः कथयितुं सम्यक् ते तव स्युः सभासदः॥
Bhishma said Such persons as are endued with modesty, self-control, truth, sincerity, and courage to say the proper thing, should be your law-makers.
अमात्यांश्चातिशूरांश्च ब्राह्मणांश्च परिश्रुतान्। सुसंतुष्टांश्च कौन्तेय महोत्साहांश्च कर्मसु॥ एतान् सहायाँल्लिप्सेथाः सर्वास्वापत्सु भारत।
They who are always devoted to you who are gifted with great courage, who are of the twice-bom caste, highly learned, well pleased with you, and persevering in acts, should, O son of Kunti, be sought by you for becoming your ministers of war at all seasons of distress, O Bharata!
कुलीनः पूजितो नित्यं न हि शक्तिं निगृहति॥ प्रसन्नमप्रसन्नं वा पीडितं हतमेव वा।
One who is born in a high family, who treated honourably by you, always tries his best of your behalf, and who will never forsake you in happiness or misery, illness or death, should be kept by you as a courtier.
आवर्तयति भूयिष्ठं तदेव ह्यनुपालितम्॥ कुलीना देशजाः प्राज्ञा रूपवन्तो बहुश्रुताः।
Those who are of high descent, who. are born in your kingdom, who have wisdom, beauty, great learning, and dignity of conduct, and who are, besides, devoted to you, should be employed as officers of your army.
प्रगल्भाश्चानुरक्ताश्च ते तव स्युः परिच्छदाः॥ दौष्कुलेयाश्च लुब्धाश्च नृशंसा निरपत्रपाः।
Persons of low birth, who are covetous, cruel and shameless, would seek you, O sire, as long as they are paid.
ते त्वां तात निषेवेयुर्याबदाईकपाणयः॥ कुलीनाशीलसम्पन्नानिङ्गितज्ञाननिष्ठुरान्। देशकालविधानज्ञान् भर्तृकार्यहितैषिणः॥ नित्यमर्थेषु सर्वेषु राजा कुर्वीत मन्त्रिणः।
Those who are of good-birth and good behaviour, who can interpret all sings and gestures, who are shorn of cruelty, who know the requirements of place and time, who always seek the well-being of their master in all works, should be appointed as ministers by the king in all his affairs.
अर्थमानार्घ्यसत्कारैर्भोगैरुच्चावचैः प्रियान्॥ यानर्थभाजो मनयेथास्ते ते स्युः सुखभागिनः।
Those who have been swon over with gifts of wealth, honour, respectful receptions, and means of giving happiness, and who on that account may be known by you as persons inclined to do you good in all your affairs, should always be made sharers of your happiness.
अभिन्नवृत्ता विद्वांसः सद्वृत्ताश्चरितव्रताः। न त्वां नित्यार्थिनो जझुरक्षुद्राः सत्यवादिनः॥
They who are unchangeable in conduct, endued with learning and good behaviour, observant of excellent vows, large-hearted, and truthful in speech, will always attend to your affairs and will never forsake you.
अनार्या ये न जानन्ति समयं मन्दचेतसः। तेभ्यः परिजुगुप्सेथा ये चापि समयच्युताः॥
They, on the other hand, who disrespectable, who do not follow healthy control, who are wicked, and who have fallen away from good practices, should always be compelled by you to observe all healthy restraints.
नैकमिच्छेद् गणं हित्वा स्याच्चेदन्यतरग्रहः। यस्त्वेको बहुभिः श्रेयान् कामं तेन गणं त्यजेत्॥
When the question arises as to which of two sides should be adopted, you should not abandon the many for adopting the side of one. When, however, that one person excels the many by virtue of his possessing many accomplishments, then you should for that one, forsake the many.
श्रेयसो लक्षणं चैतद् विक्रमो यस्य दृश्यते। कीर्तिप्रधानो यश्च स्यात् समये यश्च तिष्ठति॥
The marks of superiority, are prowess, devotion to works that bring fame, and observance of healthy restraints. are
ते समर्थान् पूजयेद् यश्च नास्पर्धेः स्पर्धते च यः। न च कामाद् भयात् क्रोधाल्लोभाद् वा धर्ममुत्सृजेत्।। अमानी सत्यवान् क्षान्तो जितात्मा मानसंयुतः। स मन्त्रसहायः स्यात् सर्वावस्थापरीक्षितः॥
He, again, who honours all able persons that never cherishes feelings of rivalry with meritorious persons, who never forsakes righteousness from lust or fear or anger or covetousness, who is humble, who is truthful and forgiving, who has his mind under control, who has a sense of dignity, and who has been tried in every situation, should be appointed by you as your counsellor.
कुलीनः कुलसम्पन्नस्तितिक्षुर्दक्ष आत्मवान्। शूरः कृतज्ञः सत्यश्च श्रेयसः पार्थ लक्षणम्॥
High birth, purity of blood, forgiveness, cleverness, and purify of mind, bravery gratefulness, and truthfulness are, O son of Pritha, characteristic of superiority and goodness.
तस्यैवं वर्तमानस्य पुरुषस्य विजानतः। अमित्राः सम्प्रसीदन्ति तथा मित्रीभवन्त्यपि॥
A wiseman who conduct himself thus, succeeds in freeing his very enemies of their hostility and converting them into friends.
अत ऊर्ध्वममात्यानां परीक्षेत गुणागुणम्। संयतात्मा कृतप्रज्ञो भूतिकामश्च भूमिपः॥
A king who has his mind under control, who is endued with wisdom, and who seeks prosperity, should carefully examine the merits and demerits of his ministers.
सम्बन्धिपुरुषैराप्तैरभिजातैः स्वदेशजैः। अहायैरव्यभीचारैः सर्वशः सुपरीक्षितैः॥ यौनाः श्रौतास्तथा मौलास्तथैवाप्यनहंकृताः। कर्तव्या भूतिकामेन पुरुषेण बुभृषता॥
A king who seeks prosperity and wishes to outdo his contemporaries, should have for ministers trustworthy persons, of high descent, born in his own kingdom, incapable of being corrupted, unstained by adultery and similar vices, well proved, belonging to good families, possessed of learning, sprung from ancestors who held similar offices, and adorned with humility.
येषां वैनयिकी बुद्धिः प्रकृतिश्चैव शोभना। तेजो धैर्य क्षमा शौचमनुरागः स्थिति तिः॥ परीक्ष्य च गुणान् नित्यं प्रौढभावान् धुरंधरान्। पञ्चोपधाव्यतीतांश्च कुर्याद् राजार्थकारिणः॥
The king should appoint five such persons to superintend his affairs, who are intelligent, shorn of pride, possessed of a good disposition, energy, patience, forgiveness, purity, loyalty, firmness, and courage, whose merits and faults have been well proved, who are aged, who are capable of bearing burden and who are free from deceit.
पर्याप्तवचनान् वीरान् प्रतिपत्तिविशारदान्। कुलीनान् सत्त्वसम्पन्नानिङ्गित्तज्ञाननिष्ठुरान्॥ देशकालविधानज्ञान् भर्तृकार्यहितैषिणः। नित्यमर्थेषु सर्वेषु राजन् कुर्वीत मन्त्रिणः॥
Men who are wise in speech, who are endued which heroism, who are full of resources under difficulties, who are of high descent, who are truthful, who can read signs, who are shorn of cruelty, who know the requirements of place and time, and who seek the well-being of their masters, should be appointed by the king as his ministers in all affairs of the kingdom.
हीनतेजोऽभिसंसृष्टो नैव जातु व्यवस्यति। अवश्यं जनयत्येव सर्वकर्मसु संशयम्॥
One who is shorn of energy and who has been forsaken by friends can never work with perseverance. Such a man if, appointed, fails in almost every work.
एवमल्पश्रुतो मन्त्री कल्याणाभिजनोऽप्युत। धर्मार्थकामसंयुक्तो नालं मन्त्रं परीक्षितुम्॥
A minister possessing little learning, even if he be highly born and attentive to virtue, profit, and pleasure, cannot choose proper courses of action.
तथैवानभिजातोऽपि काममस्तु बहुश्रुतः। अनायक इवाचक्षुर्मुह्यत्यणुषु कर्मसु॥
Likewise, a person of low birth, even if endued with great learning, always makes mistakes, like a blind man without a guide, in all acts requiring cleverness and foresight.
यो वाप्यस्थिरसंकल्पो बुद्धिमानागतागमः। उपायज्ञोऽपि नालं स कर्म प्रापयितुं चिरम्॥
A person, again, who is of unsettled purposes, even if endued with intelligence and learning, and even if conversant with means, cannot long act with success.
केवलात् पुनरादानात् कर्मणो नोपपद्यते। परामर्शो विशेषाणामश्रुतस्येह दुर्मतेः॥
A wicked man possessed of no learning may begin a work but he fails to determine what the results will be of his work.
मन्त्रिण्यननुरक्ते तु विश्वासो नोपपद्यते। तस्मादननुरक्ताय नैव मन्त्रं प्रकाशयेत्॥
A king should never trust a minister who is not devoted to him. He should, therefore, never give out his counsels to a minister who is not devoted to him.
व्यथयेद्धि स राजानं मन्त्रिभिः सहितोऽनृजुः। मारुतोपहितच्छिद्रैः प्रविश्याग्निरिव दुमम्॥
Such a wicked minister, in conjunction with the other minister of the king, may ruin his lord, like fire consuming a tree by entering into it through the holes in its body with the help of the wind.
संक्रुद्धश्चैकदा स्वामी स्थानाच्चैवापकर्षति। वाचाक्षिपति संरब्धः पुनः पश्चात् प्रसीदति॥
Being angry, a master may, deprive a servant of his office or reprove him, from rage, in harsh words, and restore him to power again.
तानि तान्यनुरक्तेन शक्यानि हि तितिक्षितुम्। मन्त्रिणां च भवेत् क्रोधो विस्फूर्जितमिवाशनेः॥
None save a servant devoted to the master stand and overlook such treatment. Ministers also become sometimes highly offended with their masters. can
यस्तु संसहते तानि भर्तुः प्रियचिकीर्षया। समानसुखदुःखं तं पृच्छेदर्थेषु मानवम्॥
That one, amongst them, who subdues his anger from desire of doing good to his master,-that person who partakes in the king's happiness and misfortune, should be consulted by the king in all his affairs.
अनृजुस्त्वनुरक्तोऽपि सम्पन्नश्चेतरैर्गुणैः। राज्ञः प्रज्ञानयुक्तोऽपि न मन्त्रं श्रोतुमर्हति॥
An wily person, even if he be devoted to his master and possessed of wisdom and adorned with numerous accomplishments, should never be consulted by the king.
योऽमित्रैः सह सम्बद्धो न पौरान् बहु मन्यते। असुहृत् तादृशो ज्ञेयो न मन्त्रं श्रोतुमर्हति॥
One who is allied with enemies and who does not care for the interests of the king's subjects, should be regarded as an enemy. The king should never consult him.
अविद्वानशुचिः स्तब्धः शत्रुसेवी विकत्थनः। असुहृत् क्रोधनो लुब्धो न मन्त्रं श्रोतुमर्हति॥
One who is not learned, who is not pure, who is proud, who seeks the king's enemies, who is given to brag, who is unfriendly, wrathful, and covetous, should should not be consulted by the king.
आगन्तुश्चानुरक्तोऽपि काममस्तु बहुश्रुतः। सत्कृतः संविभक्तो वा न मन्त्रं श्रोतुमर्हति॥
One who is a stranger, even if he be devoted to the king and possessed of great learning, may be honoured by the king and pleased with maintenance, but the king should never consult him in his affairs.
विधर्मतो विप्रकृतः पिता यस्याभवत् पुरा। सत्कृतः स्थापितः सोऽपि न मन्त्रं श्रोतुमर्हति॥
A person whose father was unjustly exiled by royal order should not be consulted by the king, even if the king may have afterwards conferred honours upon him and given him the means of sustenance.
यः स्वल्पेनापि कार्येण सुहृदाक्षारितो भवेत्। पुनरन्यैर्गुणैर्युक्तो न मन्त्रं श्रोतुमर्हति॥
A well-wisher whose property was once confiscated for a slight offences, even if he be endued with all accomplishments, should not still be consulted by the king.
कृतप्रज्ञश्च मेधावी बुधो जानपदः शुचिः। सर्वकर्मसु यः शुद्धः स मन्त्रं श्रोतुमर्हति॥
A person endued with wisdom, intelligence, and learning, who is born within the kingdom, who is pure and righteous in all his works, should be consulted by the king.
ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्पन्नः प्रकृतिज्ञः परात्मनोः। सुहृदात्मसमो राज्ञः स मन्त्रं श्रोतुमर्हति॥
One who is possessed of knowledge and wisdom, who knows the nature of friends and foes, who is a friend of the king like his second self, should be consulted.
सत्यवाक् शीलसम्पन्नो गम्भीरः सत्रपो मृदुः। पितृपैतामहो यः स्यात् स मन्त्रं श्रोतुमर्हति॥
One who is truthful in speech and modest and mild, and who is a hereditary servant of the king, should be consulted.
संतुष्टः सम्मतः सत्यः शौटीरो द्वेष्यपापकः। मन्त्रवित् कालविच्छूरः स मन्त्रं श्रोतुमर्हति॥
One who is contented and honoured, who is truthful and dignified, who hates wickedness and wicked men, who is conversant with policy and the requirements of time, and who is courageous, should be consulted by the king.
सर्वलोकमिमं शक्तः सान्त्वेन कुरुते वशे। तस्मै मन्त्रः प्रयोक्तव्यो दण्डमाधित्सता नृप।॥
One who is capable to win over all men by conciliation should be consulted, O monarch, by the king, who wishes to rule according to the dictates of the science of punishment.
पौरजानपदा यस्मिन् विश्वासं धर्मतो गताः। योद्धा नयविपश्चिच्च स मन्त्रं श्रोतुमर्हति॥
One whom the inhabitants of both the capital and the provinces truth for his righteous ! conduct, who is competent to right and conversant with the rules of policy, should be consulted by the king.
तस्मात् सर्वैर्गुणैरेतैरुपपन्नाः सुपूजिताः। मन्त्रिणः प्रकृतिज्ञाः स्युस्त्र्यवरा महदीप्सवः॥
Therefore, men endued with such accomplishments, men conversant with the nature of all and desirous of achieving high acts, should be honoured by the king and made his ministers. Their number also should not be less than three.
स्वासु प्रकृतिषुच्छिद्रं लक्षयेरन् परस्य च। मन्त्रिणां मन्त्रमूलं हि राज्ञो राष्ट्रं विवर्धते॥
Ministers should be employed in noticing the shortcomings of their masters, of themselves, of the subject, and of the foes of their masters. The kingdom depends upon the counsels of policy which the ministers give, and its growth originates from the same source.
नास्य च्छिद्रं परः पश्येच्छिद्रेषु परमन्वियात्। गृहेत् कूर्म इवाङ्गानि रक्षेद् विवरमात्मनः॥ मन्त्रगूढा हि राज्यस्य मन्त्रिणो ये मनीषिणः। मन्त्रसंहननो राजा मन्त्राङ्गानीतरे जनाः॥
Ministers should act in such a way that the enemies of their master may not be able to detect his loopholes. On the other hand, when their shortcomings are seen, they should then be assailed. Like the tortoise protecting its limbs by withdrawing them within its shell, ministers should keep close their own counsels. They should, even thus, conceal their own short-comings. Those ministers of a kingdom, who succeed in keeping their counsels close, are said to be wise. Counsels are the armour of a king, and the limbs are his subjects and officers.
राज्यं प्रणिधिमूलं हि मन्त्रसारं प्रचक्षते। स्वामिनं त्वनुवर्तन्ते वृत्त्यर्थमिह मन्त्रिणः॥
A kingdom depends upon spies and secret agents, and its strength lies in counsels of policy. If masters and ministers follow each other for getting support from each other, controlling pride and anger, and vanity and envy, they may then both become happy.
संविनीय मदक्रोधौ मानमर्त्यां च निवृताः। नित्यं पञ्चोपधातीतैर्मन्त्रयेत् सह मन्त्रिभिः॥
A king should also consult such minister as are free from the five kinds of deceit.
तेषां त्रयाणां विविधं विमर्श विबुद्ध्य चित्तं विनिवेश्य तत्र। स्वनिश्चयं तं परनिश्चयं च निवेदयेदुत्तरमन्त्रकाले।॥ धर्मार्थकामज्ञमुपेत्य पृच्छेद् युक्तो गुरुं ब्राह्मणमुत्तरार्थम्। निष्ठा कृता तेन यदा सहः स्यात् तं मन्त्रमार्ग प्रणयेदसक्तः॥
Ascertaining well, first of all, the different opinions of the three whom he has consulted, the king should, for subsequent settlement, go to his preceptor for informing him of those opinions and his own. His preceptor should be a Brahmana well read in all matters of virtue, profit and pleasure. Going, for such subsequent deliberation, to him, the king should, with a calm mind, ask his opinion. When a decision is got at after due deliberation with him, the king should then, without attachment, carry it out into practice.
एवं सदा मन्त्रयितव्यमाई ये मन्त्रतत्त्वार्थविनिश्चयज्ञाः। तस्मात् तमेवं प्रणयेत् सदैव मन्त्रं प्रजासंग्रहणे समर्थम्॥
Those who know the science of consultation hold that kings should always hold consultation in this way. Having settled plans in this way, they should then carry them into execution, for then they will be able to win over all the subjects.
न वामनाः कुब्जकृशा न खजा नान्धो जडः स्त्री च नपुंसकं च। न चात्र तिर्यक् च पुरों न पर्था नोर्ध्वं न चाधः प्रचरेत् कथंचित्।॥
There should be no dwarfs, no humpbacked persons, no lean man, no lame or blind man, no idiot, no woman, and no eunuch, at the spot where the king holds his consultations. Nothing should move there, before or behind, above or below, or in opposite directions.
आरुह्य वा वेश्म तथैव शून्य स्थलं प्रकाशं कुशकाशहीनम्। वागणदोषान्परिहत्य सर्वान् सम्मन्त्रयेत्कार्यमहीनकालम्॥
Getting up on a boat, or going to an open space shorn of grass and grassy bushes and whence the surrounding land may be distinctly seen, the king should hold consultations at the proper time, avoiding shortcomings of speech and gestures.'