Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच मित्रैः प्रहीयमाणस्य बह्वमित्रस्य का गतिः राज्ञः संक्षीणकोशस्य बलहीनस्य भारत
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said How should a king behave who is shorn of friends, has many enemies, and an exhausted treasury, and is destitute of troops, O Bharata.
दुष्टामात्यसहायस्य स्रुतमन्त्रस्य सर्वतः राज्यात्प्रच्यवमानस्य गतिमन्यामपश्यतः
AI Translation: For one who has lost his ministers, who has had his secrets divulged, who has been ousted from his kingdom, and who sees no other way out,
परचक्राभियातस्य दुर्बलस्य बलीयसा असंविहितराष्ट्रस्य देशकालावजानतः
AI Translation: of one who is attacked by a stronger enemy, of one who is weak, of one who has not arranged his kingdom, of one who does not know the time and place,
Supplementary Passages:
12.128.3 After 3a, K4.5 V1 B Da Dn D2.3.5.6.8 ins.: *299 परराष्ट्राणि मृद्नतः विग्रहे वर्तमानस्य
अप्राप्यं च भवेत्सान्त्वं भेदो वाप्यतिपीडनात् जीवितं चार्थहेतोर्वा तत्र किं सुकृतं भवेत्
AI Translation: And if there is no peace to be had, and if there is separation due to excessive pressure, or if life is for the sake of wealth, then what good deed is there?
भीष्म उवाच गुह्यं मा धर्ममप्राक्षीरतीव भरतर्षभ अपृष्टो नोत्सहे वक्तुं धर्ममेनं युधिष्ठिर
AI Translation: Bhishma said: O bull of the Bharata lineage, you have asked me about a secret. O Yudhishthira, I am not willing to speak about this dharma without being asked.
धर्मो ह्यणीयान्वचनाद्बुद्धेश्च भरतर्षभ श्रुत्वोपास्य सदाचारैः साधुर्भवति स क्वचित्
AI Translation: For Dharma is less than the Buddha's word, O best of Bharatas. Having heard and always followed good conduct, one becomes good in some way.
कर्मणा बुद्धिपूर्वेण भवत्याढ्यो न वा पुनः तादृशोऽयमनुप्रश्नः स व्यवस्यस्त्वया धिया
M. N. Dutt: By acting intelligently the king may or may not acquire wealth. Guided by your own intelligence do you think what reply should be given to your query on this subject.
उपायं धर्मबहुलं यात्रार्थं शृणु भारत नाहमेतादृशं धर्मं बुभूषे धर्मकारणात् दुःखादान इहाढ्येषु स्यात्तु पश्चात्क्षमो मतः
M. N. Dutt: Listen, O Bharata, to the highly meritorious expedient which kings should follow (during times of distress). For the sake of true morality, however, I would not call those means fair.
अनुगम्य गतीनां च सर्वासामेव निश्चयम् यथा यथा हि पुरुषो नित्यं शास्त्रमवेक्षते तथा तथा विजानाति विज्ञानं चास्य रोचते
M. N. Dutt: The scriptures or science which one always studies imparts him the knowledge becomes agreeable to him.
अविज्ञानादयोगश्च पुरुषस्योपजायते अविज्ञानादयोगो हि योगो भूतिकरः पुनः
M. N. Dutt: Ignorance yields barrenness of invention about means. Finding out of expedicnts, again, through the help of knowledge, becomes the source of great happiness. Without cherishing any misgivings and any malice, here these instructions.
अशङ्कमानो वचनमनसूयुरिदं शृणु राज्ञः कोशक्षयादेव जायते बलसंक्षयः
AI Translation: Without any doubt, without any malice, listen to these words. The destruction of the king's army arises from the destruction of the treasury.
कोशं संजनयेद्राजा निर्जलेभ्यो यथा जलम् कालं प्राप्यानुगृह्णीयादेष धर्मोऽत्र सांप्रतम्
AI Translation: The king should generate a treasury, like water from the waterless. Having attained the time, he should favor. This is the Dharma here now.
उपायधर्मं प्राप्यैनं पूर्वैराचरितं जनैः अन्यो धर्मः समर्थानामापत्स्वन्यश्च भारत
AI Translation: Having obtained this Dharma of means, practiced by the ancients, There is another Dharma for the capable in times of adversity, O descendant of Bharata.
प्राक्कोशः प्रोच्यते धर्मो बुद्धिर्धर्माद्गरीयसी धर्मं प्राप्य न्यायवृत्तिमबलीयान्न विन्दति
AI Translation: The Veda is said to be the first, Dharma is said to be the second, and Intelligence is said to be greater than Dharma. Having attained Dharma, one does not find anything greater than the conduct of justice.
यस्माद्धनस्योपपत्तिरेकान्तेन न विद्यते तस्मादापद्यधर्मोऽपि श्रूयते धर्मलक्षणः
AI Translation: Since there is no possibility of wealth at all, therefore, even in an emergency, the characteristic of Dharma is heard.
अधर्मो जायते यस्मिन्निति वै कवयो विदुः अनन्तरः क्षत्रियस्य इति वै विचिकित्ससे
AI Translation: The sages know that from which unrighteousness is born. You are doubtful about the next one after the Kshatriya.
यथास्य धर्मो न ग्लायेन्नेयाच्छत्रुवशं यथा तत्कर्तव्यमिहेत्याहुर्नात्मानमवसादयेत्
M. N. Dutt: After the time of distress is over, what should the Kshatriya do? He should act in such a way that his merit may not be dissipated. He should also act in such a way that he may not have to yield to his foes. These are his duties. He should not be despondent.
सन्नात्मा नैव धर्मस्य न परस्य न चात्मनः सर्वोपायैरुज्जिहीर्षेदात्मानमिति निश्चयः
AI Translation: One who is not attached to the self, to Dharma, to others, or to the self, should strive to liberate the self by all means. This is certain.
तत्र धर्मविदां तात निश्चयो धर्मनैपुणे उद्यमो जीवनं क्षत्रे बाहुवीर्यादिति श्रुतिः
AI Translation: There, O son, the wise in Dharma are certain about the skill in Dharma. The Śruti says that in the case of a Kṣatriya, exertion is life, and that it is due to the strength of the arms.
क्षत्रियो वृत्तिसंरोधे कस्य नादातुमर्हति अन्यत्र तापसस्वाच्च ब्राह्मणस्वाच्च भारत
M. N. Dutt: When a Kshatriya's means of sustenance are gone, what should he not take excepting what belongs to ascetics and Brahmanas?
यथा वै ब्राह्मणः सीदन्नयाज्यमपि याजयेत् अभोज्यान्नानि चाश्नीयात्तथेदं नात्र संशयः
M. N. Dutt: Even as a Brahmana in a time of distress may officiate at the sacrifice of a person for whom he should never officiate and eat forbidden food, so there is no doubt that a Kshatriya may take riches from every one say ascetics and Brahmanas.
पीडितस्य किमद्वारमुत्पथो निधृतस्य वा अद्वारतः प्रद्रवति यदा भवति पीडितः
M. N. Dutt: Even one attacked (by an enemy and seeking the means of escape) what can be an unfair means? For a person confined in a ungeon and seeking escape what can be an improper path? When a person becomes afflicted, he escapes by even an improper way.
तस्य कोशबलज्यान्या सर्वलोकपराभवः भैक्षचर्या न विहिता न च विट्शूद्रजीविका
M. N. Dutt: For a Kshatriya who has, for his insufficient treasury and army, become exceedingly humiliated, neither a life of mendicancy nor the profession of a Vaishya or that of a Shudra has been sanctioned.
स्वधर्मानन्तरा वृत्तिर्यान्याननुपजीवतः वहतः प्रथमं कल्पमनुकल्पेन जीवनम्
M. N. Dutt: The profession prescribed for a Kshatriya is the acquisition of wealth by battle and victory. He should never beg of a member of his own caste. The person who maintains himself ordinarily by following the practices primarily sanctioned, for him, may, in times of distress, support himself by following the practices laid down in the alternative.
आपद्गतेन धर्माणामन्यायेनोपजीवनम् अपि ह्येतद्ब्राह्मणेषु दृष्टं वृत्तिपरिक्षये
M. N. Dutt: In a time of distress, when ordinary practices cannot be followed, a Kshatriya may support himself by even unjust and improper means. The very Brahmanas, it is seen, do the same when their means of living run out.
क्षत्रिये संशयः कः स्यादित्येतन्निश्चितं सदा आददीत विशिष्टेभ्यो नावसीदेत्कथंचन
AI Translation: What doubt can there be for a Kshatriya? This is always certain. He should take from the best and never fall into any kind of decline.
हन्तारं रक्षितारं च प्रजानां क्षत्रियं विदुः तस्मात्संरक्षता कार्यमादानं क्षत्रबन्धुना
AI Translation: The Kshatriya is known as the protector and destroyer of the subjects. Therefore, the Kshatriya should protect the subjects.
अन्यत्र राजन्हिंसाया वृत्तिर्नेहास्ति कस्यचित् अप्यरण्यसमुत्थस्य एकस्य चरतो मुनेः
M. N. Dutt: No person in this world, O king, can maintain himself without injuring other creatures. The very ascetic leading a solitary life in the forest is no exception.
न शङ्खलिखितां वृत्तिं शक्यमास्थाय जीवितुम् विशेषतः कुरुश्रेष्ठ प्रजापालनमीप्सता
M. N. Dutt: A Kshatriya should not live, depending upon destiny, especially he, O chief of the Kurus, who wishes to rule.
परस्पराभिसंरक्षा राज्ञा राष्ट्रेण चापदि नित्यमेवेह कर्तव्या एष धर्मः सनातनः
M. N. Dutt: The king and the kingdom should always mutually protect each other. This is an eternal duty.
राजा राष्ट्रं यथापत्सु द्रव्यौघैः परिरक्षति राष्ट्रेण राजा व्यसने परिरक्ष्यस्तथा भवेत्
M. N. Dutt: As the king protects, by spending all his money, the kingdom, when it is in distress, so should the kingdom protect the kingdom protect the king when he is in distress.
कोशं दण्डं बलं मित्रं यदन्यदपि संचितम् न कुर्वीतान्तरं राष्ट्रे राजा परिगते क्षुधा
M. N. Dutt: The king, even when reduced to straits, should never abandon his treasury, his machinery for punishing the wicked, his army, his friends and allies, and uther necessary institutions and the chiefs living in his kingdom.
बीजं भक्तेन संपाद्यमिति धर्मविदो विदुः अत्रैतच्छम्बरस्याहुर्महामायस्य दर्शनम्
M. N. Dutt: Masters of duty say that one must keep his seeds, even from his very food. This a truth cited from the work of Shamvara, well-known for his great powers of illusion.
धिक्तस्य जीवितं राज्ञो राष्ट्रे यस्यावसीदति अवृत्त्यान्त्यमनुष्योऽपि यो वै वेद शिबेर्वचः
M. N. Dutt: Fie on the life of that king whose kingdom is weakened. Fie on the life of that men who from want of means goes to a foreign country in quest of a living.
राज्ञः कोशबलं मूलं कोशमूलं पुनर्बलम् तन्मूलं सर्वधर्माणां धर्ममूलाः पुनः प्रजाः
M. N. Dutt: The king depends upon his treasury and army. His army, again, depends on his treasury. His army is the source of all his religious merits. His religious merits, again, are the root of his people.
नान्यानपीडयित्वेह कोशः शक्यः कुतो बलम् तदर्थं पीडयित्वा च दोषं न प्राप्तुमर्हति
M. N. Dutt: The treasury can never be replenished without oppressing others. How then can the army be maintained without oppression? The king, therefore, in times of difficulty, commits no sin by oppressing his subjects for filling the treasury.
अकार्यमपि यज्ञार्थं क्रियते यज्ञकर्मसु एतस्मात्कारणाद्राजा न दोषं प्राप्तुमर्हति
M. N. Dutt: For celebrating sacrifices many improper deeds are done. Therefore a king commits no sin by doing improper acts (when he seeks to fill his treasury in a time of distress).
अर्थार्थमन्यद्भवति विपरीतमथापरम् अनर्थार्थमथाप्यन्यत्तत्सर्वं ह्यर्थलक्षणम् एवं बुद्ध्या संप्रपश्येन्मेधावी कार्यनिश्चयम्
M. N. Dutt: For the sake of wealth improper practices are followed in seasons of distress. If (at such times) such improper practices be not followed, evil is the sure consequence. All those institutions that are maintained for working destruction and miso y exist for the sake of collecting wealth. Guided by such considerations, an intelligent king should settle his conduct.
यज्ञार्थमन्यद्भवति यज्ञे नार्थस्तथापरः यज्ञस्यार्थार्थमेवान्यत्तत्सर्वं यज्ञसाधनम्
M. N. Dutt: As animals and other articles are a necessary or sacrifices, as sacrifices are for purifying the heart, and as animals, sacrifices, and purity of the heart, are all for final liberation, even so policy and punishment exist for the treasury, the treasury, exists for the army, and policy and treasury and army all the three exists for defeating enemies and protecting or enlarging the kingdom.
उपमामत्र वक्ष्यामि धर्मतत्त्वप्रकाशिनीम् यूपं छिन्दन्ति यज्ञार्थं तत्र ये परिपन्थिनः
AI Translation: I shall here give an illustration which reveals the truth of Dharma. Those who obstruct the cutting of the sacrificial post for the sake of the sacrifice,
द्रुमाः केचन सामन्ता ध्रुवं छिन्दन्ति तानपि ते चापि निपतन्तोऽन्यान्निघ्नन्ति च वनस्पतीन्
AI Translation: Some of the trees are cut down by the foresters, and they fall down and crush other trees.
एवं कोशस्य महतो ये नराः परिपन्थिनः तानहत्वा न पश्यामि सिद्धिमत्र परंतप
M. N. Dutt: So they who stand in the way of replenishing a treasury must be killed. I do not see how else success can be acquired.
धनेन जयते लोकावुभौ परमिमं तथा सत्यं च धर्मवचनं यथा नास्त्यधनस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: By wealth, both the worlds, viz., this and the other, can be acquired, as also Truth and religious merit. A person who has no wealth is more dead than alive.
सर्वोपायैराददीत धनं यज्ञप्रयोजनम् न तुल्यदोषः स्यादेवं कार्याकार्येषु भारत
M. N. Dutt: Wealth for the celebration of sacrifices should be won by every means. The demerit of an act, done in an hour of difficulty, does not equal to that which permeates the same, if done at other tinies, O Bharata.
नैतौ संभवतो राजन्कथंचिदपि भारत न ह्यरण्येषु पश्यामि धनवृद्धानहं क्वचित्
M. N. Dutt: The acquisition of wealth and its abandonment cannot both be possibly suen in the same individual, O king. I do not see a rich man in the forest.
यदिदं दृश्यते वित्तं पृथिव्यामिह किंचन ममेदं स्यान्ममेदं स्यादित्ययं काङ्क्षते जनः
M. N. Dutt: With respect to wealth which is seen in this world, every one fights with every one else, saying,-This shall be mine.-This shall be imine.
न च राज्यसमो धर्मः कश्चिदस्ति परंतप धर्मं शंसन्ति ते राज्ञामापदर्थमितोऽन्यथा
M. N. Dutt: There is nothing, O scorcher of foes, which yields greater merit to a king than the possession of a kingdom. It is sinful for a king to oppress his subjects with heavy taxes at ordinary times. In a season of distress, it is quite different.
दानेन कर्मणा चान्ये तपसान्ये तपस्विनः बुद्ध्या दाक्ष्येण चाप्यन्ये चिन्वन्ति धनसंचयान्
M. N. Dutt: Some acquire wealth by gifts and sacrifices; some who like penances acquire the same by penances; some acquire it by the help of their intelligence and cleverness.
अधनं दुर्बलं प्राहुर्धनेन बलवान्भवेत् सर्वं धनवतः प्राप्यं सर्वं तरति कोशवान् कोशाद्धर्मश्च कामश्च परो लोकस्तथाप्ययम्
M. N. Dutt: A person who has no wealth is said to be weak, while he who has wealth becomes powerful. A man of riches may acquire everything. A king who has a well-replenished treasury can accomplish everything.
Supplementary Passages:
12.128.49 After 49, Ś1 K5 V1 B Da Dn D2.3.5.6.8 ins.: *300 तं च धर्मेण लिप्सेत नाधर्मेण कदाचन