Critical Edition
भीष्म उवाच स श्वा प्रकृतिमापन्नः परं दैन्यमुपागमत् ऋषिणा हुंकृतः पापस्तपोवनबहिष्कृतः
M. N. Dutt: Having once more assumed his proper form, the dog became very dispirited. Chiding him the Rishi drove the sinful creature from his asylum.
एवं राज्ञा मतिमता विदित्वा शीलशौचताम् आर्जवं प्रकृतिं सत्त्वं कुलं वृत्तं श्रुतं दमम्
AI Translation: Thus, having known the purity of conduct, the nobility, the nature, the courage, the family, the conduct, the learning, and the self-control of the king,
अनुक्रोशं बलं वीर्यं भावं संप्रशमं क्षमाम् भृत्या ये यत्र योग्याः स्युस्तत्र स्थाप्याः सुशिक्षिताः
AI Translation: Compassion, strength, courage, disposition, tranquility, and forgiveness. Those servants who are suitable for a particular task should be appointed there, well-trained.
नापरीक्ष्य महीपालः प्रकर्तुं भृत्यमर्हति अकुलीननराकीर्णो न राजा सुखमेधते
M. N. Dutt: A king should never appoint a minister without first having examined him. If a king has about him low-born persons he can never be happy.
कुलजः प्रकृतो राज्ञा तत्कुलीनतया सदा न पापे कुरुते बुद्धिं निन्द्यमानोऽप्यनागसि
M. N. Dutt: Even if persecuted without any fault by his master, a person of high birth never thinks of, in consequence of the respectability of his blood, injuring his master.
अकुलीनस्तु पुरुषः प्रकृतः साधुसंक्षयात् दुर्लभैश्वर्यतां प्राप्तो निन्दितः शत्रुतां व्रजेत्
M. N. Dutt: A mean and low-born individual, however, having obtained ever great riches from his connection with some honest men, becomes an enemy of the latter if he is merely reproached.
कुलीनं शिक्षितं प्राज्ञं ज्ञानविज्ञानकोविदम् सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञं सहिष्णुं देशजं तथा
AI Translation: One who is of noble birth, learned, wise, skilled in knowledge and wisdom, Knower of the truth of all philosophical texts, tolerant, and born in the country.
कृतज्ञं बलवन्तं च क्षान्तं दान्तं जितेन्द्रियम् अलुब्धं लब्धसंतुष्टं स्वामिमित्रबुभूषकम्
AI Translation: One who is grateful, strong, patient, self-controlled, and disciplined, Not greedy, content with what is obtained, and desirous of pleasing the master and friends,
सचिवं देशकालज्ञं सर्वसंग्रहणे रतम् सत्कृतं युक्तमनसं हितैषिणमतन्द्रितम्
AI Translation: One who is a minister, who knows the right time and place, who is devoted to the welfare of all, Who is honored, whose mind is in harmony, who is benevolent and untiring,
युक्ताचारं स्वविषये संधिविग्रहकोविदम् राज्ञस्त्रिवर्गवेत्तारं पौरजानपदप्रियम्
AI Translation: One who is devoted to proper conduct, skilled in making alliances and waging war, One who knows the three goals of kingship, who is loved by the citizens and the subjects,
खातकव्यूहतत्त्वज्ञं बलहर्षणकोविदम् इङ्गिताकारतत्त्वज्ञं यात्रायानविशारदम्
AI Translation: One who knows the principles of the army formation, skilled in delighting the army, One who knows the principles of gestures and expressions, skilled in marching and traveling,
Supplementary Passages:
12.118.11 After 11, D1 reads 10cd; while D4 ins.: *276 भिन्नानां राजसंघातं संहतानां च भेदति एकः क्रुद्धो रणे कुर्यात्कुञ्जरः साधुनोदितः मदक्लिन्नकपोलस्य किंचिदञ्चितचक्षुषः स्विद्यदाभोगगण्डस्य कः शोभां वर्णितुं क्षमः वेगेनाधावमानस्य प्रसारितकरस्य च कः समर्थः पुरः स्थातुं स्तब्धकर्णस्य दन्ति[नः] दिशो दश तत्सैन्यं कुञ्जरा यत्र स नृपो यस्य कुञ्जराः मूर्तिमान्विजयो राजन्कुञ्जरा मददर्पिताः
हस्तिशिक्षासु तत्त्वज्ञमहंकारविवर्जितम् प्रगल्भं दक्षिणं दान्तं बलिनं युक्तकारिणम्
AI Translation: One who is skilled in elephant training, who knows the truth, who is free from ego, who is eloquent, dexterous, disciplined, strong, and capable of doing what is right,
चोक्षं चोक्षजनाकीर्णं सुवेषं सुखदर्शनम् नायकं नीतिकुशलं गुणषष्ट्या समन्वितम्
AI Translation: The one who is surrounded by the people of the sacrificial fire, who is well-dressed and pleasant to behold, The leader who is skilled in policy, endowed with sixty qualities,
अस्तब्धं प्रश्रितं शक्तं मृदुवादिनमेव च धीरं श्लक्ष्णं महर्द्धिं च देशकालोपपादकम्
AI Translation: One who is not stubborn, who is humble, who is capable, who speaks gently, Who is patient, who is smooth, who has great power, who is able to provide for the right time and place,
सचिवं यः प्रकुरुते न चैनमवमन्यते तस्य विस्तीर्यते राज्यं ज्योत्स्ना ग्रहपतेरिव
M. N. Dutt: That king, who gets such a minister can never be humiliated or defeated by any one. Indeed, his kingdom by and by spreads over the Earth like the light of the moon.
एतैरेव गुणैर्युक्तो राजा शास्त्रविशारदः एष्टव्यो धर्मपरमः प्रजापालनतत्परः
M. N. Dutt: A king, again, who is well-read in the scriptures, who considers righteousness as being superior to everything, who always protects his subjects, and who is endued with the following virtues, secures the love of all. eftit wat ufarkingur: Gordt gelateral
धीरो मर्षी शुचिः शीघ्रः काले पुरुषकारवित् शुश्रूषुः श्रुतवाञ्श्रोता ऊहापोहविशारदः
AI Translation: He is patient, pure, quick, and knows the right time for action. He is attentive, learned, and listens. He is skilled in understanding and in making decisions.
मेधावी धारणायुक्तो यथान्यायोपपादकः दान्तः सदा प्रियाभाषी क्षमावांश्च विपर्यये
AI Translation: Intelligent, endowed with retention, able to give reasons in accordance with the rules, Self-controlled, always speaking pleasantly, forgiving in adversity,
दानाच्छेदे स्वयंकारी सुद्वारः सुखदर्शनः आर्तहस्तप्रदो नित्यमाप्तंमन्यो नये रतः
AI Translation: One who gives, one who cuts off, one who acts for oneself, one who has good doors, one who is pleasant to behold, One who always gives to those who ask, one who is always satisfied, one who is devoted to good conduct,
नाहंवादी न निर्द्वंद्वो न यत्किंचनकारकः कृते कर्मण्यमोघानां कर्ता भृत्यजनप्रियः
AI Translation: Not a self-proclaimer, not free from duality, not a doer of whatever, The doer of deeds that are not in vain, dear to the servants.
संगृहीतजनोऽस्तब्धः प्रसन्नवदनः सदा दाता भृत्यजनावेक्षी न क्रोधी सुमहामनाः
M. N. Dutt: Avoiding idleness, he should always win over men by doing them good. He should always be cheerful in appearance. He should always look to the wants of his servants and never yield to anger. He should should be magnanimous.
युक्तदण्डो न निर्दण्डो धर्मकार्यानुशासकः चारनेत्रः परावेक्षी धर्मार्थकुशलः सदा
AI Translation: One who is not without punishment, but who punishes justly, and who instructs in the affairs of religion; One who is the eye of the spies, who looks on all sides, and who is always skilled in the affairs of religion and wealth;
राजा गुणशताकीर्ण एष्टव्यस्तादृशो भवेत् योधाश्चैव मनुष्येन्द्र सर्वैर्गुणगुणैर्वृताः
AI Translation: The king should be endowed with hundreds of virtues, and should be like that. And the warriors, O lord of men, should be endowed with all the qualities.
अन्वेष्टव्याः सुपुरुषाः सहाया राज्यधारणाः न विमानयितव्याश्च राज्ञा वृद्धिमभीप्सता
AI Translation: The wise should seek out good men who can help them rule the kingdom, and should not slight them if they wish to prosper.
योधाः समरशौटीराः कृतज्ञाः शस्त्रकोविदाः धर्मशास्त्रसमायुक्ताः पदातिजनसंयुताः
AI Translation: Warriors who are skilled in battle, grateful, and skilled in weapons, united with the Dharma scriptures, accompanied by infantry.
अर्थमानविवृद्धाश्च रथचर्याविशारदाः इष्वस्त्रकुशला यस्य तस्येयं नृपतेर्मही
AI Translation: Those who are increased in wealth and honor, skilled in chariot riding, and skilled in archery, for him is this earth of the king.
Supplementary Passages:
12.118.26 After 26, D7 S (G3 missing) ins.: *277 ज्ञातीनामनवज्ञानं भृत्येष्वशठता सदा नैपुण्यं चार्थचर्यासु यस्यैते तस्य सा मही आलस्यं चैव निद्रा च व्यसनान्यतिहास्यता यस्यैतानि न विद्यन्ते तस्येयं सुचिरं मही वृद्धसेवी महोत्साहो वर्णानां चैव रक्षिता धर्मचर्या सदा यस्य तस्येयं सुचिरं मही नीतिवर्त्मानुसरणं नित्यमुत्थानमेव च रिपूणामनवज्ञानं तस्येयं सुचिरं मही उत्थानं चैव दैवं च तयोर्नानात्वमेव च मनुना वर्णितं पूर्वं वक्ष्ये शृणु तदेव हि उत्थानं हि नरेन्द्राणां बृहस्पतिरभाषत नयानयविधानज्ञः सदा भव कुरूद्वह दुर्हृदां छिद्रदर्शी यः सुहृदामुपकारवान् विशेषविच्च भृत्यानां स राज्यफलमश्नुते
सर्वसंग्रहणे युक्तो नृपो भवति यः सदा उत्थानशीलो मित्राढ्यः स राजा राजसत्तमः
M. N. Dutt: That king, who always tries to win over men to himself, who is ready for work, who is rich in friends and allies, becomes the foremost of king.
शक्या अश्वसहस्रेण वीरारोहेण भारत संगृहीतमनुष्येण कृत्स्ना जेतुं वसुंधरा
M. N. Dutt: A king, who has won over all men to himself, may, O Bharata, with the help of even a thousand brave horsemen, succeed in conquering the entire Earth.'