Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्राणां च परंतप धर्मो वृत्तं च वृत्तिश्च वृत्त्युपायफलानि च
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said You have, O scorcher of foes, described the duties, the general conduct, the means of sustenance, with their results, of Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras.
राज्ञां वृत्तं च कोशश्च कोशसंजननं महत् अमात्यगुणवृद्धिश्च प्रकृतीनां च वर्धनम्
AI Translation: The conduct of kings, and the treasury, and the great means of generating the treasury, The increase of the qualities of ministers, and the increase of the subjects,
षाड्गुण्यगुणकल्पश्च सेनानीतिस्तथैव च दुष्टस्य च परिज्ञानमदुष्टस्य च लक्षणम्
AI Translation: The one who is endowed with the qualities of the sixfold excellence, and the one who is the general, The knowledge of the wicked and the characteristics of the non-wicked,
समहीनाधिकानां च यथावल्लक्षणोच्चयः मध्यमस्य च तुष्ट्यर्थं यथा स्थेयं विवर्धता
AI Translation: The increase of the characteristics of the inferior, equal, and superior, and the way to remain and increase for the sake of satisfaction of the middling.
क्षीणसंग्रहवृत्तिश्च यथावत्संप्रकीर्तिता लघुनादेशरूपेण ग्रन्थयोगेन भारत
AI Translation: The one whose conduct of gathering is exhausted is properly proclaimed. By the method of a brief instruction, by the method of a text, O Bhārata.
विजिगीषोस्तथावृत्तमुक्तं चैव तथैव ते गणानां वृत्तिमिच्छामि श्रोतुं मतिमतां वर
M. N. Dutt: You have also described the conduct that should be followed by kings desirous of conquering their enemies. I desire now, O foremost of intelligent men, to hear how should a person treat the number of brave men (vassals) that gather round a king.
यथा गणाः प्रवर्धन्ते न भिद्यन्ते च भारत अरीन्हि विजिगीषन्ते सुहृदः प्राप्नुवन्ति च
M. N. Dutt: I wish to hear how they may advance, how they may be attached to the person of the king, and how, O Bharata, they may subduing foes gain friends.
भेदमूलो विनाशो हि गणानामुपलभ्यते मन्त्रसंवरणं दुःखं बहूनामिति मे मतिः
M. N. Dutt: It appears to me that disunion alone can encompass their destruction. I think it is always difficult to keep counsels close when there are many in the assemblage.
एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं निखिलेन परंतप यथा च ते न भिद्येरंस्तच्च मे ब्रूहि पार्थिव
M. N. Dutt: I desire to hear ail this fully, O scorcher of foes. Tell me also, O king, the means by which they may not happen to quarrel with the king."
भीष्म उवाच गणानां च कुलानां च राज्ञां च भरतर्षभ वैरसंदीपनावेतौ लोभामर्षौ जनाधिप
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said "O king, avarice and anger between nobles and the kings create enmity.
लोभमेको हि वृणुते ततोऽमर्षमनन्तरम् तौ क्षयव्ययसंयुक्तावन्योन्यजनिताश्रयौ
M. N. Dutt: The king yields to avarice. And, therefore, anger takes possession of the other. Each bent upon weakening and wasting the other, they both meet with destruction.
चारमन्त्रबलादानैः सामदानविभेदनैः क्षयव्ययभयोपायैः कर्शयन्तीतरेतरम्
M. N. Dutt: By engaging spies, instruments of policy, and physical force, and adopting the means of conciliation, gifts, and dissension, and applying other methods for producing weakness, waste, and fear, the parties attack each other.
तत्र दानेन भिद्यन्ते गणाः संघातवृत्तयः भिन्ना विमनसः सर्वे गच्छन्त्यरिवशं भयात्
M. N. Dutt: The aristocracy of a kingdom in a body becoine alienated from the king, if the latter seeks to exact too much from them. Alienated from the king, all of them become dissatisfied, and from fear join the enemies of the king.
भेदाद्गणा विनश्यन्ति भिन्नाः सूपजपाः परैः तस्मात्संघातयोगेषु प्रयतेरन्गणाः सदा
M. N. Dutt: If again the aristocracy of a kingdom are divided, they meet with destruction. Disunited, they are easily ruined by their foes. The nobles, therefore, should always act unitedly.
अर्था ह्येवाधिगम्यन्ते संघातबलपौरुषात् बाह्याश्च मैत्रीं कुर्वन्ति तेषु संघातवृत्तिषु
M. N. Dutt: If they be united together, they may acquire valuable properties by means of their strength and prowess. When they are thus united, many people from outside seek their alliance.
ज्ञानवृद्धान्प्रशंसन्तः शुश्रूषन्तः परस्परम् विनिवृत्ताभिसंधानाः सुखमेधन्ति सर्वशः
M. N. Dutt: Wise people speak highly of those nobles who are united with one another in ties of love. If of one purpose, all of them can be happy.
धर्मिष्ठान्व्यवहारांश्च स्थापयन्तश्च शास्त्रतः यथावत्संप्रवर्तन्तो विवर्धन्ते गणोत्तमाः
M. N. Dutt: They can establish fairness of conduct. By behaving properly, they grow prosperous.
पुत्रान्भ्रातॄन्निगृह्णन्तो विनये च सदा रताः विनीतांश्च प्रगृह्णन्तो विवर्धन्ते गणोत्तमाः
M. N. Dutt: By restraining their sons and brothers and instructing them in their duties, and treating all persons kindly whose pridc has been subdued by knowledge, the aristocracy grow prosperous.
चारमन्त्रविधानेषु कोशसंनिचयेषु च नित्ययुक्ता महाबाहो वर्धन्ते सर्वतो गणाः
M. N. Dutt: By always engaging spies and concerting measures of policy, and filling up their treasuries, the aristocracy, O you of mighty arms, grow prosperous.
प्राज्ञाञ्शूरान्महेष्वासान्कर्मसु स्थिरपौरुषान् मानयन्तः सदा युक्ता विवर्धन्ते गणा नृप
M. N. Dutt: By receiving properly those who are endued with wisdom, courage and perseverance and who show steady prowess in all kinds of work, the aristocracy grow prosperous.
द्रव्यवन्तश्च शूराश्च शस्त्रज्ञाः शास्त्रपारगाः कृच्छ्रास्वापत्सु संमूढान्गणानुत्तारयन्ति ते
M. N. Dutt: Having wealth and resources, and mastcred the scriptures and all the arts and sciences, the aristocracy rescue the ignorant masses from all sorts of distress and danger,
क्रोधो भेदो भयो दण्डः कर्शनं निग्रहो वधः नयन्त्यरिवशं सद्यो गणान्भरतसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: King's anger, disunion with him, terror, punishment, persecution, oppression, and executions, O chief of the Bharatas, quickly alienate the aristocracy from the king and make them side with kings' enemies.
तस्मान्मानयितव्यास्ते गणमुख्याः प्रधानतः लोकयात्रा समायत्ता भूयसी तेषु पार्थिव
M. N. Dutt: Therefore, the leaders of the aristocracy should be honoured by the king. The affairs of the kingdom, o king, depend greatly upon them.
मन्त्रगुप्तिः प्रधानेषु चारश्चामित्रकर्शन न गणाः कृत्स्नशो मन्त्रं श्रोतुमर्हन्ति भारत
M. N. Dutt: Consultations should be held with the leaders of the aristocracy, and secret agents should be engaged, O crusher of foes, to watch them. The king should not, O Bharata, consult with every member of the aristocracy.
गणमुख्यैस्तु संभूय कार्यं गणहितं मिथः पृथग्गणस्य भिन्नस्य विमतस्य ततोऽन्यथा अर्थाः प्रत्यवसीदन्ति तथानर्था भवन्ति च
M. N. Dutt: Acting jointly with the leaders, the king, should do what is for the behoof of the whole order. When, however, the aristocracy are divided and disunited and have no leaders, other courses of action should be followed,
तेषामन्योन्यभिन्नानां स्वशक्तिमनुतिष्ठताम् निग्रहः पण्डितैः कार्यः क्षिप्रमेव प्रधानतः
AI Translation: Those who are different from each other, performing their own power, The wise should quickly restrain them, especially.
कुलेषु कलहा जाताः कुलवृद्धैरुपेक्षिताः गोत्रस्य राजन्कुर्वन्ति गणसंभेदकारिकाम्
AI Translation: quarrels in families, ignored by the elders of the family, cause dissension in the clan, O king.
आभ्यन्तरं भयं रक्ष्यं सुरक्ष्यं बाह्यतो भयम् अभ्यन्तराद्भयं जातं सद्यो मूलं निकृन्तति
M. N. Dutt: Protect yourself, O king, from all internal fears. External fears, however, are not very important. The first kind of fear, O king, may cut your roots in a single day.
अकस्मात्क्रोधलोभाद्वा मोहाद्वापि स्वभावजात् अन्योन्यं नाभिभाषन्ते तत्पराभवलक्षणम्
AI Translation: Suddenly, due to anger, greed, or delusion, or naturally, they do not speak to each other. That is the characteristic of their defeat.
जात्या च सदृशाः सर्वे कुलेन सदृशास्तथा न तु शौर्येण बुद्ध्या वा रूपद्रव्येण वा पुनः
AI Translation: All are equal in caste, and also in family, but not in courage, intelligence, or in beauty or wealth.
भेदाच्चैव प्रमादाच्च नाम्यन्ते रिपुभिर्गणाः तस्मात्संघातमेवाहुर्गणानां शरणं महत्
AI Translation: And because of dissension and carelessness, the groups are bent by enemies. Therefore, they say that the union is the great refuge of the groups.