Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच कथं मृदौ कथं तीक्ष्णे महापक्षे च पार्थिव अरौ वर्तेत नृपतिस्तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said Tell me, O grandfather, how should a king treat a mild foe, one who is fierce, and one who has many allies and a large army.
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् बृहस्पतेश्च संवादमिन्द्रस्य च युधिष्ठिर
M. N. Dutt: 'Regarding it is cited, O Yudhishthira the old discourse between Brihaspati and Indra.
बृहस्पतिं देवपतिरभिवाद्य कृताञ्जलिः उपसंगम्य पप्रच्छ वासवः परवीरहा
M. N. Dutt: Once on a time, that destroyer of hostile heroes, viz., Vasava, the king of the gods, joining his hands, approached Brihaspati, and saluting him, said these words.
अहितेषु कथं ब्रह्मन्वर्तयेयमतन्द्रितः असमुच्छिद्य चैवेनान्नियच्छेयमुपायतः
M. N. Dutt: Indra said How, O twice-born one, should I treat my enemies? How should I subdue them by various contrivances, without rooting them out?
सेनयोर्व्यतिषङ्गेण जयः साधारणो भवेत् किं कुर्वाणं न मां जह्याज्ज्वलिता श्रीः प्रतापिनी
M. N. Dutt: In a collision between two arinies, victory may be achieved by either side. In what way should I behave so that this shining prosperity that I have acquired and that scorches all my enemies, may not leave me?
ततो धर्मार्थकामानां कुशलः प्रतिभानवान् राजधर्मविधानज्ञः प्रत्युवाच पुरंदरम्
M. N. Dutt: Thus addressed, Brihaspati, skilled in Virtue, Profit, and Pleasure, endued with a knowledge of royal duties, and great intelligence, answered Indra as follows.
न जातु कलहेनेच्छेन्नियन्तुमपकारिणः बालसंसेवितं ह्येतद्यदमर्षो यदक्षमा न शत्रुर्विवृतः कार्यो वधमस्याभिकाङ्क्षता
AI Translation: One should never wish to restrain an enemy by quarreling, for this is the practice of children, namely, intolerance and impatience. One who desires to kill an enemy should not make
क्रोधं बलममर्षं च नियम्यात्मजमात्मनि अमित्रमुपसेवेत विश्वस्तवदविश्वसन्
AI Translation: Having controlled anger, strength, and intolerance, one should serve an enemy as if he were a friend, but without trusting him.
प्रियमेव वदेन्नित्यं नाप्रियं किंचिदाचरेत् विरमेच्छुष्कवैरेभ्यः कण्ठायासं च वर्जयेत्
AI Translation: He should always speak what is pleasing and do nothing that is displeasing. He should refrain from dry quarrels and avoid straining the throat.
यथा वैतंसिको युक्तो द्विजानां सदृशस्वनः तान्द्विजान्कुरुते वश्यांस्तथा युक्तो महीपतिः वशं चोपनयेच्छत्रून्निहन्याच्च पुरंदर
M. N. Dutt: One should avoid useless acts of hostility as also insolent speech. As a fowler, carefully uttering cries like those of the birds he wishes to catch, or destroy, captures and brings them under his control, even so should a king, O Purandara, bring his enemies under subjection and then kill them if he likes.
न नित्यं परिभूयारीन्सुखं स्वपिति वासव जागर्त्येव च दुष्टात्मा संकरेऽग्निरिवोत्थितः
M. N. Dutt: Having defeated one's enemies, one should not sleep at ease. A wicked enemy rises up against like a fire carelessly extinguished reappearing itself.
न संनिपातः कर्तव्यः सामान्ये विजये सति विश्वास्यैवोपसंन्यास्यो वशे कृत्वा रिपुः प्रभो
M. N. Dutt: When victory may be achieved by either side, a hostile collision of arms should be avoided. Having made an enemy feel security, one should subdue him and active one's end.
Supplementary Passages:
12.104.12 After 12, Ś1 K1.2.4 ins.: *241 वशे कुर्यान्न शमयेत्तीक्ष्णान्कर्कशपीडनैः स यथा नेष्यते राज्ञस्तीक्ष्णोपकरणक्षयः हेतावीर्षुः फलेनेर्षुः स्याच्छक्र व्यवसायवित् दोषेण गुणरूपेण द्विषतो यो जयेत्सदा
संप्रधार्य सहामात्यैर्मन्त्रविद्भिर्महात्मभिः उपेक्षमाणोऽवज्ञाते हृदयेनापराजितः
AI Translation: Having deliberated with his ministers, the wise and noble ones, Ignoring the insult, with an unvanquished heart,
अथास्य प्रहरेत्काले किंचिद्विचलिते पदे दण्डं च दूषयेदस्य पुरुषैराप्तकारिभिः
AI Translation: Then, when his foot is slightly unsteady, he should strike him at the right time. And he should discredit him with men who have accomplished their task.
आदिमध्यावसानज्ञः प्रच्छन्नं च विचारयेत् बलानि दूषयेदस्य जानंश्चैव प्रमाणतः
AI Translation: One should investigate what is hidden, knowing the beginning, middle, and end. One should weaken his forces, knowing them by means of valid means of knowledge.
भेदेनोपप्रदानेन संसृजन्नौषधैस्तथा न त्वेव चेलसंसर्गं रचयेदरिभिः सह
AI Translation: By giving away in a divided manner, by mixing with medicines, One should not mix with enemies.
दीर्घकालमपि क्षान्त्वा विहन्यादेव शात्रवान् कालाकाङ्क्षी यामयेच्च यथा विस्रम्भमाप्नुयुः
AI Translation: Even after a long time, one should destroy the enemies by being patient. One should wait for the right time, so that they may come to trust.
Supplementary Passages:
12.104.17 After 17c, D7 S ins.: *242 उपासीत शचीपते तथा प्रियं च वक्तव्यं
न सद्योऽरीन्विनिर्हन्याद्दृष्टस्य विजयोऽज्वरः न यः शल्यं घट्टयति नवं च कुरुते व्रणम्
AI Translation: He who does not immediately destroy his enemies, whose victory is not free from fever, who does not irritate the old wound and make a new one,
प्राप्ते च प्रहरेत्काले न स संवर्तते पुनः हन्तुकामस्य देवेन्द्र पुरुषस्य रिपुं प्रति
M. N. Dutt: The king should never do such an injury to his enemy as would remain in the latter's heart. Nor should he afflict him with wordy darts and arrows. If the opportunity comes, he should strike him, without letting it slip. In this way, O king of the gods, should a king, desirous of killing his foes, treat them.
यः कालो हि व्यतिक्रामेत्पुरुषं कालकाङ्क्षिणम् दुर्लभः स पुनः कालः कालधर्मचिकीर्षुणा
M. N. Dutt: If an opportunity, with respect to the man who waits for it, once goes away it can never be secured again by the person desirous of acting.
और्जस्थ्यं विजयेदेवं संगृह्णन्साधुसंमतान् कालेन साधयेन्नित्यं नाप्राप्तेऽभिनिपीडयेत्
M. N. Dutt: Acting according to the advice of the wise, a king should only break the strength of his enemy. He should never, when the opportunity is not favourable, try to achieve his end. Nor should he, when the opportunity arises, persecute his enemy.
विहाय कामं क्रोधं च तथाहंकारमेव च युक्तो विवरमन्विच्छेदहितानां पुरंदर
M. N. Dutt: Giving up lust, anger and pride, the king should carefully and continually watch for the shortcomings of his foes,
मार्दवं दण्ड आलस्यं प्रमादश्च सुरोत्तम मायाश्च विविधाः शक्र साधयन्त्यविचक्षणम्
M. N. Dutt: His own mildness, the hardship of his punishments, his inactivity and carelessness. O king of the gods, and the deceitful means well applied (by his foes), ruin a foolish king.
निहत्यैतानि चत्वारि मायां प्रतिविधाय च ततः शक्नोति शत्रूणां प्रहर्तुमविचारयन्
M. N. Dutt: That king who can overcome these four shortcomings and counteract the deceitful expedients of his enemies, succeeds, forsooth, in smiting them all.
यदैवैकेन शक्येत गुह्यं कर्तुं तदाचरेत् यच्छन्ति सचिवा गुह्यं मिथो विद्रावयन्त्यपि
M. N. Dutt: When only one minister is capable to perform a secret object, the king should consult with that one minister only regarding such secret object. Many ministers, if consulted, try to throw the burden of the task upon the another's shoulders and even give out that object which should be kept close.
अशक्यमिति कृत्वा वा ततोऽन्यैः संविदं चरेत् ब्रह्मदण्डमदृष्टेषु दृष्टेषु चतुरङ्गिणीम्
M. N. Dutt: If consultation with one is not proper, then only should the king consult with many. When enemies are not seen, he should invoke divine punishment upon them; when seen, the army, consisting of fourfold forces, should be set in motion.
भेदं च प्रथमं युञ्ज्यात्तूष्णींदण्डं तथैव च काले प्रयोजयेद्राजा तस्मिंस्तस्मिंस्तदा तदा
M. N. Dutt: The king should first use the means of creating disunion, as also those of conciliation. When the time for each particular means arrives, that particular expedient should be made use of.
प्रणिपातं च गच्छेत काले शत्रोर्बलीयसः युक्तोऽस्य वधमन्विच्छेदप्रमत्तः प्रमाद्यतः
M. N. Dutt: Occasionally the king should even prostrate himself before a powerful enemy. It is again desirable that acting with every care, he should try to bring about the victor's destruction when the latter becomes careless.
प्रणिपातेन दानेन वाचा मधुरया ब्रुवन् अमित्रमुपसेवेत न तु जातु विशङ्कयेत्
M. N. Dutt: By prostrating one's self, by giving tribute, by uttering sweet words, one should humble one's self before a more powerful king. One should never do anything that may create the suspicions of one's powerful enemy.
स्थानानि शङ्कितानां च नित्यमेव विवर्जयेत् न च तेष्वाश्वसेद्द्रुग्ध्वा जाग्रतीह निराकृताः
M. N. Dutt: The weaker king should, under such circumstances, carefully avoid every act that may create suspicion. A victorious king, again, should not trust his defeated enemies, for the vanquished always remain alert.
न ह्यतो दुष्करं कर्म किंचिदस्ति सुरोत्तम यथा विविधवृत्तानामैश्वर्यममराधिप
M. N. Dutt: There is nothing, O best of gods, that is more difficult to be done than the acquisition of prosperity, O king of gods, by restless persons.
तथा विविधशीलानामपि संभव उच्यते यतेत योगमास्थाय मित्रामित्रानवारयन्
M. N. Dutt: The very existence of restless persons is dangerous. Kings should, therefore, with minute attention, determine their friends, and enemies.
मृदुमप्यवमन्यन्ते तीक्ष्णादुद्विजते जनः मातीक्ष्णो मामृदुर्भूस्त्वं तीक्ष्णो भव मृदुर्भव
M. N. Dutt: A mild king is always disregarded. If he becomes fierce, i.e., strikes people with fear. Therefore do not be fierce. Do not, again, be mild. But be both fierce and mild.
यथा वप्रे वेगवति सर्वतःसंप्लुतोदके नित्यं विवरणाद्बाधस्तथा राज्यं प्रमाद्यतः
M. N. Dutt: As a rapid current ceaselessly washes away the high bank and causes large landslips, so carelessness and mistake bring about the ruination of a kingdom.
न बहूनभियुञ्जीत यौगपद्येन शात्रवान् साम्ना दानेन भेदेन दण्डेन च पुरंदर
AI Translation: One should not attack many enemies at the same time. O Purandara, by means of conciliation, gifts, dissension, and punishment.
एकैकमेषां निष्पिंषञ्शिष्टेषु निपुणं चरेत् न च शक्तोऽपि मेधावी सर्वानेवारभेन्नृपः
AI Translation: One should be careful in dealing with the remaining ones, crushing each one of them. Even a wise king, though capable, should not undertake all of them.
यदा स्यान्महती सेना हयनागरथाकुला पदातियन्त्रबहुला स्वनुरक्ता षडङ्गिनी
AI Translation: When there is a great army, crowded with horses, elephants, chariots, and infantry, with many machines, and with the six limbs, and when there is a great battle, with the sound of drums, conches, and trumpets,
यदा बहुविधां वृद्धिं मन्यते प्रतिलोमतः तदा विवृत्य प्रहरेद्दस्यूनामविचारयन्
AI Translation: When he thinks that the enemy is increasing in many ways, then, having opened up, he should strike the enemies without hesitation.
न साम दण्डोपनिषत्प्रशस्यते; न मार्दवं शत्रुषु यात्रिकं सदा न सस्यघातो न च संकरक्रिया; न चापि भूयः प्रकृतेर्विचारणा
M. N. Dutt: If the enemy be strong, the adoption of a policy of conciliation is not good. On the other hand, punishment by secret means should be inflicted. Such enemies shouid not be treated mildly, repeated attacks, destruction of crops, poisoning of wells and tanks, and suspicion regarding the seven branches of administration, should be made.
मायाविभेदानुपसर्जनानि; पापं तथैव स्पशसंप्रयोगात् आप्तैर्मनुष्यैरुपचारयेत; पुरेषु राष्ट्रेषु च संप्रयुक्तः
M. N. Dutt: The king should, on such occasions, adopt various kinds of deception, various expedients for setting his foes against one another, and various kinds of hypocrisy. He should also, through trusted agents, learn the doings of his enemies in their cities and provinces.
पुराणि चैषामनुसृत्य भूमिपाः; पुरेषु भोगान्निखिलानिहाजयन् पुरेषु नीतिं विहितां यथाविधि; प्रयोजयन्तो बलवृत्रसूदन
M. N. Dutt: Kings, O killer of Vala and Vritra, pursuing their enemies and entering their towers, seize and appropriate the best things that are to be had there, and adopt proper measures of policy in their own cities and dominions.
प्रदाय गूढानि वसूनि नाम; प्रच्छिद्य भोगानवधाय च स्वान् दुष्टाः स्वदोषैरिति कीर्तयित्वा; पुरेषु राष्ट्रेषु च योजयन्ति
M. N. Dutt: Presenting them wealth privately, and confiscating their properties publicly, without, however, injuring them materially, and proclaiming that they are all wicked men who have suffered for their own misdeeds, kings should despatch their agents to the cities and provinces of their enemies.
तथैव चान्यै रतिशास्त्रवेदिभिः; स्वलंकृतैः शास्त्रविधानदृष्टिभिः सुशिक्षितैर्भाष्यकथाविशारदैः; परेषु कृत्यानुपधारयस्व
M. N. Dutt: At the same time, in their own cities, they should, through other persons well-read in scriptures, endued with every accomplishment, acquainted with the injunctions of the sacred books; and possessed of learning, cause incantations, and foe-destroying rites to be performed.
इन्द्र उवाच कानि लिङ्गानि दुष्टस्य भवन्ति द्विजसत्तम कथं दुष्टं विजानीयादेतत्पृष्टो ब्रवीहि मे
M. N. Dutt: What are the marks, O best of the twiceborn, of a wicked person! Accosted by me, tell me how am I to know who is wicked!
बृहस्पतिरुवाच परोक्षमगुणानाह सद्गुणानभ्यसूयति परैर्वा कीर्त्यमानेषु तूष्णीमास्ते पराङ्मुखः
M. N. Dutt: Brihaspati said A wicked person is he who speaks of the faults of others at their back, who is filled with envy on seeing the accomplishments of others, and who remains silent when the merits of other people are described before him, being most unwilling to join them.
तूष्णींभावेऽपि हि ज्ञानं न चेद्भवति कारणम् विश्वासमोष्ठसंदंशं शिरसश्च प्रकम्पनम्
M. N. Dutt: Mere silence is no mark of wickedness on such occasions. A wicked person breathes heavily, bites his lips, and snakes his head.
करोत्यभीक्ष्णं संसृष्टमसंसृष्टश्च भाषते अदृष्टितो विकुरुते दृष्ट्वा वा नाभिभाषते
M. N. Dutt: Such a person always mixes in society and talks irrelevantly. Such a man never does what he promises, when the person to whom he has given the assurance does not observe him. When this man observes him, the wicked man does not even refer to the subject.
पृथगेत्य समश्नाति नेदमद्य यथाविधि आसने शयने याने भावा लक्ष्या विशेषतः
M. N. Dutt: The wicked man eats alone, and finds fault with the food placed before him, saying.-All is not right to-day, as before. His true nature comes out when sitting, lying down, and riding.
आर्तिरार्ते प्रिये प्रीतिरेतावन्मित्रलक्षणम् विपरीतं तु बोद्धव्यमरिलक्षणमेव तत्
M. N. Dutt: Lamenting in times of sorrow and rejoicing in times of joy are the marks of a friend, Contrary actions from the indications of an enemy.
एतान्येवं यथोक्तानि बुध्येथास्त्रिदशाधिप पुरुषाणां प्रदुष्टानां स्वभावो बलवत्तरः
M. N. Dutt: Keep in your heart these sayings, O king of the gods! The nature of wicked men can never be concealed.
इति दुष्टस्य विज्ञानमुक्तं ते सुरसत्तम निशाम्य शास्त्रतत्त्वार्थं यथावदमरेश्वर
M. N. Dutt: I have now told you, O foremost of gods, what are the marks of a wicked person. Having listened to the truths given but in the scriptures, follow them duly, O king of the gods!
भीष्म उवाच स तद्वचः शत्रुनिबर्हणे रत;स्तथा चकारावितथं बृहस्पतेः चचार काले विजयाय चारिहा; वशं च शत्रूननयत्पुरंदरः
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Having heard these words of Brihaspati, Purandara, engaged in defeating his foes, followed them strictly. Bent upon victory, that destroyer of foes, when the opportunity came, followed these instructions and subdued all his enemies!'