Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच कथं स्विदिह राजेन्द्र पालयन्पार्थिवः प्रजाः प्रति धर्मं विशेषेण कीर्तिमाप्नोति शाश्वतीम्
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said O foremost of kings, what is that method by which a king governing his subjects may, thereby, acquire great blessedness and eternal fame?
भीष्म उवाच व्यवहारेण शुद्धेन प्रजापालनतत्परः प्राप्य धर्मं च कीर्तिं च लोकावाप्नोत्युभौ शुचिः
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said A king of pure soul and devoted to the duty of protecting his subjects acquires merit and fame, both here and hereafter, by acting righteously.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच कीदृशं व्यवहारं तु कैश्च व्यवहरेन्नृपः एतत्पृष्टो महाप्राज्ञ यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said What should attitude of the king with regard to the treatment of others. Asked by me, O you of great wisdom, you should tell me everything duly!
ये चैते पूर्वकथिता गुणास्ते पुरुषं प्रति नैकस्मिन्पुरुषे ह्येते विद्यन्त इति मे मतिः
M. N. Dutt: The virtues of men, which you have described, cannot be found to exist in any single individual. Bhishma said-
भीष्म उवाच एवमेतन्महाप्राज्ञ यथा वदसि बुद्धिमान् दुर्लभः पुरुषः कश्चिदेभिर्गुणगुणैर्युतः
M. N. Dutt: You are highly intelligent, O Yudhishthira! It is what you say. The person is very rare who is endued with all those good qualities.
किं तु संक्षेपतः शीलं प्रयत्ने नेह दुर्लभम् वक्ष्यामि तु यथामात्यान्यादृशांश्च करिष्यसि
M. N. Dutt: In short, such a one, [who is possessed of all those virtues) is very difficult to be seen even upon careful search. I shall, however, tell you what kinds of ministers should be appointed by you.
चतुरो ब्राह्मणान्वैद्यान्प्रगल्भान्सात्त्विकाञ्शुचीन् त्रींश्च शूद्रान्विनीतांश्च शुचीन्कर्मणि पूर्वके
AI Translation: Four Brahmins, learned, eloquent, of good character, and pure, And three Shudras, disciplined and pure, for the earlier rites,
Supplementary Passages:
12.86.7 After 7ab, Dn D2. 3.6.7 S ins.: *207 क्षत्रियान्दश वाष्टौ वा बलिनः शस्त्रपाणयः वैश्यान्वित्तेन संपन्नानेकविंशतिसंख्यया
अष्टाभिश्च गुणैर्युक्तं सूतं पौराणिकं चरेत् पञ्चाशद्वर्षवयसं प्रगल्भमनसूयकम्
AI Translation: One should employ a physician who is endowed with eight qualities, who is learned in the ancient texts, who is fifty years old, who is eloquent and free from envy,
मतिस्मृतिसमायुक्तं विनीतं समदर्शनम् कार्ये विवदमानानां शक्तमर्थेष्वलोलुपम्
AI Translation: One who is endowed with intelligence and memory, who is disciplined and has an even outlook, Who is capable in resolving disputes about duties and is not greedy for wealth,
विवर्जितानां व्यसनैः सुघोरैः सप्तभिर्भृशम् अष्टानां मन्त्रिणां मध्ये मन्त्रं राजोपधारयेत्
AI Translation: who are free from the seven terrible vices, and among the eight ministers, the king should consider the counsel.
ततः संप्रेषयेद्राष्ट्रे राष्ट्रायाथ च दर्शयेत् अनेन व्यवहारेण द्रष्टव्यास्ते प्रजाः सदा
M. N. Dutt: He should then announce in his kingdom, for the information of his subjects, the results of such consultations. You should always, following such a conduct, watch over your people.
न चापि गूढं कार्यं ते ग्राह्यं कार्योपघातकम् कार्ये खलु विपन्ने त्वां सोऽधर्मस्तांश्च पीडयेत्
AI Translation: And you should not accept a secret task that will harm the task. For if the task fails, that sin will afflict you and them.
विद्रवेच्चैव राष्ट्रं ते श्येनात्पक्षिगणा इव परिस्रवेच्च सततं नौर्विशीर्णेव सागरे
AI Translation: Your kingdom will flee like birds from a hawk, and will always leak like a ship in the ocean.
प्रजाः पालयतोऽसम्यगधर्मेणेह भूपतेः हार्दं भयं संभवति स्वर्गश्चास्य विरुध्यते
M. N. Dutt: If a king governs his subjects unfairly, fear takes possession of his heart and the door of heaven is shut against him.
अथ योऽधर्मतः पाति राजामात्योऽथ वात्मजः धर्मासने नियुक्तः सन्धर्ममूलं नरर्षभ
AI Translation: Now, O bull among men, he who protects by unrighteousness, whether king, minister, or son, when appointed to the seat of Dharma, is the root of Dharma.
Supplementary Passages:
12.86.15 After 15, D7 S (except G4) ins.: *208 स्वर्गं याति महीपालो नियुक्तैः सचिवैः सह
कार्येष्वधिकृताः सम्यगकुर्वन्तो नृपानुगाः आत्मानं पुरतः कृत्वा यान्त्यधः सहपार्थिवाः
AI Translation: Those who are appointed to tasks but do not perform them properly, the king's followers, placing themselves first, go down along with the king.
बलात्कृतानां बलिभिः कृपणं बहु जल्पताम् नाथो वै भूमिपो नित्यमनाथानां नृणां भवेत्
M. N. Dutt: Helpless inen, who are oppressed by the strong and who consequently bewail piteously, have the king for their protector.
ततः साक्षिबलं साधु द्वैधे वादकृतं भवेत् असाक्षिकमनाथं वा परीक्ष्यं तद्विशेषतः
M. N. Dutt: In cases of dispute between two parties, the decision should depend upon the evidence of witness. If one of the parties has no witness and is helpless, the king should give the case his best consideration.
अपराधानुरूपं च दण्डं पापेषु पातयेत् उद्वेजयेद्धनैरृद्धान्दरिद्रान्वधबन्धनैः
M. N. Dutt: The king should punish the offenders according to their offences. The wealthy should be punished with fines and confiscations; the poor, with loss of liberty.
विनयैरपि दुर्वृत्तान्प्रहारैरपि पार्थिवः सान्त्वेनोपप्रदानेन शिष्टांश्च परिपालयेत्
M. N. Dutt: The wicked should be punished by the king with corporal punishments. The king should maintain all good men with sweet speeches and presents of riches.
राज्ञो वधं चिकीर्षेद्यस्तस्य चित्रो वधो भवेत् आजीवकस्य स्तेनस्य वर्णसंकरकस्य च
M. N. Dutt: He who tries to bring about the death of the king should be punished with death to be effected by various means. One who becomes guilty of arson or theft or such co-habitation with women as may lead to an intermixture of castes, should be punished with death.
सम्यक्प्रणयतो दण्डं भूमिपस्य विशां पते युक्तस्य वा नास्त्यधर्मो धर्म एवेह शाश्वतः
M. N. Dutt: A king, O monarch, who inflicts punishments duly and according to the dictates of the science of punishment, commits no sin by the act. On the other hand, he acquires eternal merit.
कामकारेण दण्डं तु यः कुर्यादविचक्षणः स इहाकीर्तिसंयुक्तो मृतो नरकमाप्नुयात्
M. N. Dutt: That foolish king who inflicts punishments whimsically, earns infamy here and sinks into hell hereafter.
न परस्य श्रवादेव परेषां दण्डमर्पयेत् आगमानुगमं कृत्वा बध्नीयान्मोक्षयेत वा
M. N. Dutt: One should not be punished for the fault of another. Bestowing sufficient thought upon the code, a person should be convicted or acquitted.
न तु हन्यान्नृपो जातु दूतं कस्यांचिदापदि दूतस्य हन्ता निरयमाविशेत्सचिवैः सह
M. N. Dutt: A king should never kill a messenger under any circumstances. That king who kills a messenger sinks into hell with all his ministers.
यथोक्तवादिनं दूतं क्षत्रधर्मरतो नृपः यो हन्यात्पितरस्तस्य भ्रूणहत्यामवाप्नुयुः
M. N. Dutt: That king, mindful of Kshatriya practices, who kills a messenger faithfully speaking out his message, causes his departed manes to be stained with the sin of killing a foetus.
कुलीनः शीलसंपन्नो वाग्मी दक्षः प्रियंवदः यथोक्तवादी स्मृतिमान्दूतः स्यात्सप्तभिर्गुणैः
M. N. Dutt: A messenger should have these seven accomplishments, viz., he should be of high descent, of a good family, eloquent, clever, sweet-speeched, faithful in delivering the message with which he is sent, and possessed of good memory.
एतैरेव गुणैर्युक्तः प्रतीहारोऽस्य रक्षिता शिरोरक्षश्च भवति गुणैरेतैः समन्वितः
M. N. Dutt: The aid-de-camp of the king, who guards his persons, should also possess similar qualities. The officer also that guards his capital or citadel should possess the same qualities.
धर्मार्थशास्त्रतत्त्वज्ञः संधिविग्रहको भवेत् मतिमान्धृतिमान्धीमान्रहस्यविनिगूहिता
M. N. Dutt: The king's minister should be well-read in the scriptures and capable in directing wars and making treaties. He should also be intelligent, courageous, modest, and capable of keeping secrets.
कुलीनः सत्यसंपन्नः शक्तोऽमात्यः प्रशंसितः एतैरेव गुणैर्युक्तस्तथा सेनापतिर्भवेत्
M. N. Dutt: He should also be of high birth, have strength of mind, and be pure in conduct. If endued with these qualities, he should be regarded worthy. The commander of the king's forces should have also the same qualities.
व्यूहयन्त्रायुधीयानां तत्त्वज्ञो विक्रमान्वितः वर्षशीतोष्णवातानां सहिष्णुः पररन्ध्रवित्
M. N. Dutt: He should also be master of the various sorts of battle array and with the uses of engines and weapons. He should be able to bear exposure to rain, cold, heat, and wind, and watchful of the shortcomings of foes.
विश्वासयेत्परांश्चैव विश्वसेन्न तु कस्यचित् पुत्रेष्वपि हि राजेन्द्र विश्वासो न प्रशस्यते
M. N. Dutt: The king, O monarch, should, be able to make his enemies sleep under a sense of security. He should not, however, himself trust any one. The reposing of confidence on even his own son is not good.
एतच्छास्त्रार्थतत्त्वं तु तवाख्यातं मयानघ अविश्वासो नरेन्द्राणां गुह्यं परममुच्यते
M. N. Dutt: I have now, O sinless one, described to you what are the injunctions of the scriptures. Not to trust any one has been regarded one of the greatest mysteries of king-craft?