Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच प्रणिपत्य हृषीकेशमभिवाद्य पितामहम् अनुमान्य गुरून्सर्वान्पर्यपृच्छद्युधिष्ठिरः
M. N. Dutt: Having saluted Hrishikesha, and Bhishma, and taken the permission of all the elders assembled there, Yudhishthira began to question Bhishma.
राज्यं वै परमो धर्म इति धर्मविदो विदुः महान्तमेतं भारं च मन्ये तद्ब्रूहि पार्थिव
M. N. Dutt: 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.
राजधर्मान्विशेषेण कथयस्व पितामह सर्वस्य जीवलोकस्य राजधर्माः परायणम्
M. N. Dutt: O grandfather, do you speak fully on the duties of kings. The science of royal duties is the refuge of all creatures.
त्रिवर्गोऽत्र समासक्तो राजधर्मेषु कौरव मोक्षधर्मश्च विस्पष्टः सकलोऽत्र समाहितः
M. N. Dutt: 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 द्विरदस्याङ्कुशो यथा नरेन्द्रधर्मो लोकस्य तथा प्रग्रहणं स्मृतम्
M. N. Dutt: 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.
अत्र वै संप्रमूढे तु धर्मे राजर्षिसेविते लोकस्य संस्था न भवेत्सर्वं च व्याकुलं भवेत्
M. N. Dutt: If one becomes bewildered regarding the duties observed by kings, disorder would prevail on Earth and everything will be in confusion.
उदयन्हि यथा सूर्यो नाशयत्यासुरं तमः राजधर्मास्तथालोक्यामाक्षिपन्त्यशुभां गतिम्
M. N. Dutt: As the Sun rising removes darkness, so this science destroys all the evil consequences of the world.
तदग्रे राजधर्माणामर्थतत्त्वं पितामह प्रब्रूहि भरतश्रेष्ठ त्वं हि बुद्धिमतां वरः
M. N. Dutt: 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 सर्वेषां नः परंतप भवन्तं हि परं बुद्धौ वासुदेवोऽभिमन्यते
M. N. Dutt: 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 धर्मान्वक्ष्यामि शाश्वतान्
M. N. Dutt: 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 कार्त्स्न्येन मत्तस्त्वं राजधर्मान्युधिष्ठिर निरुच्यमानान्नियतो यच्चान्यदभिवाञ्छसि
M. N. Dutt: 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
M. N. Dutt: 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.
दैवतान्यर्चयित्वा हि ब्राह्मणांश्च कुरूद्वह आनृण्यं याति धर्मस्य लोकेन च स मान्यते
M. N. Dutt: 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.
उत्थाने च सदा पुत्र प्रयतेथा युधिष्ठिर न ह्युत्थानमृते दैवं राज्ञामर्थप्रसिद्धये
M. N. Dutt: 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 ह्येतद्दैवमुत्थानमेव च पौरुषं हि परं मन्ये दैवं निश्चित्यमुच्यते
M. N. Dutt: 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 घटते विनयस्तात राज्ञामेष नयः परः
M. N. Dutt: 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 किंचिद्राज्ञां वै सिद्धिकारणम् सत्ये हि राजा निरतः प्रेत्य चेह च नन्दति
M. N. Dutt: 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 राज्ञः परं सत्यान्नान्यद्विश्वासकारणम्
M. N. Dutt: 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.
गुणवाञ्शीलवान्दान्तो मृदुर्धर्म्यो जितेन्द्रियः सुदर्शः स्थूललक्ष्यश्च न भ्रश्येत सदा श्रियः
M. N. Dutt: 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
M. N. Dutt: 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.
Supplementary Passages:
12.56.20 After 20ab, D7 S (G4 damaged) ins.: *122 आर्जवेन समायुक्ता मोदन्ते ऋषयो दिवि
मृदुर्हि राजा सततं लङ्घ्यो भवति सर्वशः तीक्ष्णाच्चोद्विजते लोकस्तस्मादुभयमाचर
M. N. Dutt: 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 नित्यं विप्राः स्युर्ददतां वर भूतमेतत्परं लोके ब्राह्मणा नाम भारत
M. N. Dutt: 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 चापि राजेन्द्र गीतौ श्लोकौ महात्मना धर्मेषु स्वेषु कौरव्य हृदि तौ कर्तुमर्हसि
AI Translation: And Manu, the great king, also recited two verses, O descendant of Kuru, which you should keep in your heart regarding your own duties.
अद्भ्योऽग्निर्ब्रह्मतः क्षत्रमश्मनो लोहमुत्थितम् तेषां सर्वत्रगं तेजः स्वासु योनिषु शाम्यति
AI Translation: Fire is born from water, the Kshatriya from the Brahmana, and iron from stone. The radiance of these is all-pervading, but it subsides in its own sources.
अयो हन्ति यदाश्मानमग्निश्चापोऽभिपद्यते ब्रह्म च क्षत्रियो द्वेष्टि तदा सीदन्ति ते त्रयः
AI Translation: When iron strikes stone, and fire touches water, and a Brahmin hates a Kshatriya, then those three perish.
एतज्ज्ञात्वा महाराज नमस्या एव ते द्विजाः भौमं ब्रह्म द्विजश्रेष्ठा धारयन्ति शमान्विताः
AI Translation: Knowing this, O great king, the twice-born ones should bow down to them. The twice-born ones, O best of Brahmins, who are endowed with tranquility, uphold the earth and the Brahman.
एवं चैव नरव्याघ्र लोकतन्त्रविघातकाः निग्राह्या एव सततं बाहुभ्यां ये स्युरीदृशाः
M. N. Dutt: 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 पुरा तात महर्षिणा तौ निबोध महाप्राज्ञ त्वमेकाग्रमना नृप
AI Translation: And the two verses sung by the great sage Usanas in olden times, O greatly wise king, understand them with a concentrated mind.
उद्यम्य शस्त्रमायान्तमपि वेदान्तगं रणे निगृह्णीयात्स्वधर्मेण धर्मापेक्षी नरेश्वरः
AI Translation: Even if he is a knower of the Vedas, the king should restrain him in battle, if he is coming with a weapon raised, but he should do so in accordance with his own duty, and with a regard for Dharma.
विनश्यमानं धर्मं हि यो रक्षति स धर्मवित् न तेन भ्रूणहा स स्यान्मन्युस्तं मनुमृच्छति
AI Translation: He who protects the Dharma when it is being destroyed is one who knows the Dharma. He should not be considered a killer of an embryo. Manu forgives him.
एवं चैव नरश्रेष्ठ रक्ष्या एव द्विजातयः स्वपराद्धानपि हि तान्विषयान्ते समुत्सृजेत्
AI Translation: Thus, O best of men, the twice-born should be protected. Even those who have committed crimes against them should be released at the end of their territory.
अभिशस्तमपि ह्येषां कृपायीत विशां पते ब्रह्मघ्ने गुरुतल्पे च भ्रूणहत्ये तथैव च
AI Translation: O Lord of the people, even those who are cursed should be shown compassion, even those who have killed a Brahmin, defiled their teacher's bed, or killed a fetus.
राजद्विष्टे च विप्रस्य विषयान्ते विसर्जनम् विधीयते न शारीरं भयमेषां कदाचन
AI Translation: The expulsion of a Brahmin from the kingdom or from the country is prescribed, but never physical fear.
Supplementary Passages:
12.56.33 For 33ab, K1 m subst.: *123 वपनं द्रविणादानं स्वपुर्याश्च विसर्जनम्
दयिताश्च नरास्ते स्युर्नित्यं पुरुषसत्तम न कोशः परमो ह्यन्यो राज्ञां पुरुषसंचयात्
M. N. Dutt: 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 षट्सु ये शास्त्रनिश्चिताः सर्वेषु तेषु मन्यन्ते नरदुर्गं सुदुस्तरम्
M. N. Dutt: 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 चातुर्वर्ण्ये विपश्चिता धर्मात्मा सत्यवाक्चैव राजा रञ्जयति प्रजाः
M. N. Dutt: 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 भाव्यं नित्यं पुरुषसत्तम अधर्म्यो हि मृदू राजा क्षमावानिव कुञ्जरः
M. N. Dutt: 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 वै श्लोका विनियताः पुरा अस्मिन्नर्थे महाराज तन्मे निगदतः शृणु
M. N. Dutt: 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 गजस्येव शिर एवारुरुक्षति
M. N. Dutt: 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 वापि भवेन्नृपः वसन्तेऽर्क इव श्रीमान्न शीतो न च घर्मदः
M. N. Dutt: 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 तथौपम्योपदेशतः परीक्ष्यास्ते महाराज स्वे परे चैव सर्वदा
M. N. Dutt: 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
M. N. Dutt: 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.
नित्यं हि व्यसनी लोके परिभूतो भवत्युत उद्वेजयति लोकं चाप्यतिद्वेषी महीपतिः
M. N. Dutt: 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
M. N. Dutt: 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
M. N. Dutt: 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 नित्यं धर्मानुवर्तिना स्वं प्रियं समभित्यज्य यद्यल्लोकहितं भवेत्
M. N. Dutt: 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 धैर्यं कदाचिदपि पाण्डव धीरस्य स्पष्टदण्डस्य न ह्याज्ञा प्रतिहन्यते
M. N. Dutt: 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 न नित्यं वदतां वर कर्तव्यो राजशार्दूल दोषमत्र हि मे शृणु
M. N. Dutt: 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 संहर्षादुपजीविनः स्वे स्थाने न च तिष्ठन्ति लङ्घयन्ति हि तद्वचः
M. N. Dutt: 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 याचन्तेऽभोज्यान्याहारयन्ति च
M. N. Dutt: 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.
क्रुध्यन्ति परिदीप्यन्ति भूमिमध्यासतेऽस्य च उत्कोचैर्वञ्चनाभिश्च कार्याण्यनुविहन्ति च
M. N. Dutt: 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
M. N. Dutt: 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.
वातं च ष्ठीवनं चैव कुर्वते चास्य संनिधौ निर्लज्जा नरशार्दूल व्याहरन्ति च तद्वचः
M. N. Dutt: 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 नृपतिसंमतम् अधिरोहन्त्यनादृत्य हर्षुले पार्थिवे मृदौ
M. N. Dutt: 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 दुर्विचेष्टितम् इत्येवं सुहृदो नाम ब्रुवन्ति परिषद्गताः
M. N. Dutt: His counsellors, in court, plainly say-This is beyond your power. This is a wicked attempt.
क्रुद्धे चास्मिन्हसन्त्येव न च हृष्यन्ति पूजिताः संघर्षशीलाश्च सदा भवन्त्यन्योन्यकारणात्
M. N. Dutt: 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.
विस्रंसयन्ति मन्त्रं च विवृण्वन्ति च दुष्कृतम् लीलया चैव कुर्वन्ति सावज्ञास्तस्य शासनम् अलंकरणभोज्यं च तथा स्नानानुलेपनम्
M. N. Dutt: 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.
हेलमाना नरव्याघ्र स्वस्थास्तस्योपशृण्वते निन्दन्ति स्वानधीकारान्संत्यजन्ति च भारत
AI Translation: The tigers among men, who are indifferent, listen to him calmly. They criticize their own duties and abandon them, O descendant of Bharata.
न वृत्त्या परितुष्यन्ति राजदेयं हरन्ति च क्रीडितुं तेन चेच्छन्ति ससूत्रेणेव पक्षिणा अस्मत्प्रणेयो राजेति लोके चैव वदन्त्युत
M. N. Dutt: 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 मार्दवोपेते हर्षुले च युधिष्ठिर
M. N. Dutt: 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.