Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच युगक्षयात्परिक्षीणे धर्मे लोके च भारत दस्युभिः पीड्यमाने च कथं स्थेयं पितामह
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said When both virtue and men, O Bharata, suffer for the gradual lapse of a cycle and when the world is assailed by robbers, how, O Grandfather should a king then behave.
भीष्म उवाच हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि नीतिमापत्सु भारत उत्सृज्यापि घृणां काले यथा वर्तेत भूमिपः
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said 'I shall tell you, O Bharata, the policy the king should pursue amid such distress. I shall tell you how he should behave himself at such a time, casting off mercy.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् भरद्वाजस्य संवादं राज्ञः शत्रुंतपस्य च
M. N. Dutt: Regarding it is cited the old story of the conversation between Bharadwaja and king Shatrunjaya.
राजा शत्रुंतपो नाम सौवीराणां महारथः कणिङ्कमुपसंगम्य पप्रच्छार्थविनिश्चयम्
AI Translation: King Shatruntapa, the great warrior of the Souviras, approached Kanika and asked him to decide on the matter.
अलब्धस्य कथं लिप्सा लब्धं केन विवर्धते वर्धितं पालयेत्केन पालितं प्रणयेत्कथम्
AI Translation: How can one desire what is not obtained? By what is the obtained increased? By what is the increased protected? How is the protected loved?
तस्मै विनिश्चयार्थं स परिपृष्टार्थनिश्चयः उवाच ब्राह्मणो वाक्यमिदं हेतुमदुत्तरम्
M. N. Dutt: Thus accosted about the truths of the science of Profit, the twice-born one said the following reasonable words to that king for explaining those truths.
नित्यमुद्यतदण्डः स्यान्नित्यं विवृतपौरुषः अच्छिद्रश्छिद्रदर्शी च परेषां विवरानुगः
M. N. Dutt: The king should always remain with the rod of punishment in his hand. He should always show his prowess. Himself without shortcomings, he should mark those of his enemies. Indeed, his eye should always be used for that object.
नित्यमुद्यतदण्डस्य भृशमुद्विजते जनः तस्मात्सर्वाणि भूतानि दण्डेनैव प्ररोधयेत्
M. N. Dutt: On seeing a king who has the rod of punishment ever uplifted in his hand, every one is filled with fear. Therefore, the king should rule all creatures with the rod of punishment.
एवमेव प्रशंसन्ति पण्डितास्तत्त्वदर्शिनः तस्माच्चतुष्टये तस्मिन्प्रधानो दण्ड उच्यते
M. N. Dutt: Men endued with learning and knowledge of truth speak high of Punishment. Hence, of the four-fold means, viz., Conciliation, Gift, Dissension and Punishment, Punishment is said to be the foremost.
छिन्नमूले ह्यधिष्ठाने सर्वे तज्जीविनो हताः कथं हि शाखास्तिष्ठेयुश्छिन्नमूले वनस्पतौ
M. N. Dutt: When the root of a refuge is cut off, all the refugees die. When the root of a tree cut off, how would the branches live?
मूलमेवादितश्छिन्द्यात्परपक्षस्य पण्डितः ततः सहायान्पक्षं च सर्वमेवानुसारयेत्
M. N. Dutt: A wise king should cut off the very roots of his enemy. He should then win over and bring under his control the allies and partisans of that enemy.
सुमन्त्रितं सुविक्रान्तं सुयुद्धं सुपलायितम् आपदां पदकालेषु कुर्वीत न विचारयेत्
M. N. Dutt: When calamities befall the king, he should advise wisely, show his prowess properly, fight with ability, and even retreat with wisdom.
वाङ्मात्रेण विनीतः स्याद्धृदयेन यथा क्षुरः श्लक्ष्णपूर्वाभिभाषी च कामक्रोधौ विवर्जयेत्
M. N. Dutt: In words only should the king show his humility, but at heart he should be sharp as a razol. He should renounce lust and anger, and speak sweetly and mildly.
सपत्नसहिते कार्ये कृत्वा संधिं न विश्वसेत् अपक्रामेत्ततः क्षिप्रं कृतकार्यो विचक्षणः
M. N. Dutt: When the time for cominunication with an enemy arrives, a far-sighted king should make peace, without tn.sting hirr blindly. When thi: transaction is finished. he should speedily renounce the new ally.
शत्रुं च मित्ररूपेण सान्त्वेनैवाभिसान्त्वयेत् नित्यशश्चोद्विजेत्तस्मात्सर्पाद्वेश्मगतादिव
M. N. Dutt: One should conciliate an enemy with sweet assurances as if he were a friend. One, however, should always fear that enemy like a room within which there is a snake.
यस्य बुद्धिं परिभवेत्तमतीतेन सान्त्वयेत् अनागतेन दुष्प्रज्ञं प्रत्युत्पन्नेन पण्डितम्
M. N. Dutt: You should assure him with references to the past whose sense you want to control. A wicked man should be assured by promises of future well-being.
अञ्जलिं शपथं सान्त्वं प्रणम्य शिरसा वदेत् अश्रुप्रपातनं चैव कर्तव्यं भूतिमिच्छता
M. N. Dutt: The wise person should be assured by present services. The person who is desirous of acquiring prosperity should join hands, swear, use sweet words, adore by bending down his head, and shed tears.
वहेदमित्रं स्कन्धेन यावत्कालविपर्ययः अथैनमागते काले भिन्द्याद्घटमिवाश्मनि
M. N. Dutt: one should carry his enemy, on his shoulders as long as time is unfavourable. When, however, the opportunity presents itself, one should break him into pieces like an earthcn jar on a stone.
मुहूर्तमपि राजेन्द्र तिन्दुकालातवज्ज्वलेत् न तुषाग्निरिवानर्चिर्धूमायेत नरश्चिरम्
M. N. Dutt: It is better, O monarch, that a king should burn up for the time being like charcoal of ebony-wood than that he should smoulder and sinoke like chaff for many years.
नानर्थकेनार्थवत्त्वं कृतघ्नेन समाचरेत् अर्थे तु शक्यते भोक्तुं कृतकार्योऽवमन्यते तस्मात्सर्वाणि कार्याणि सावशेषाणि कारयेत्
M. N. Dutt: A man who has many things to do, should not hesitatu to deal with even an ungrateful person. If successful, one can enjoy happiness. If unsuccessful, one loses respect.
कोकिलस्य वराहस्य मेरोः शून्यस्य वेश्मनः व्याडस्य भक्तिचित्रस्य यच्छ्रेष्ठं तत्समाचरेत्
M. N. Dutt: Therefore, in doing the work of such persons, one should, without finishing them completely, always keep something undone. A king should do what is for his well-being, imitating a kokila, a boar, the mountains of Meru, and empty chamber, an actor, and a devoted friend.
उत्थायोत्थाय गच्छेच्च नित्ययुक्तो रिपोर्गृहान् कुशलं चापि पृच्छेत यद्यप्यकुशलं भवेत्
M. N. Dutt: The king should, always, with careful application, go to the houses of his enemies, and even if calamities overtake them, ask them about their well-being.
नालसाः प्राप्नुवन्त्यर्थान्न क्लीबा न च मानिनः न च लोकरवाद्भीता न च शश्वत्प्रतीक्षिणः
M. N. Dutt: Those who are idle never acquire ricnes; nor those who are shorn of manliness and exertion; nor those who are vain; nor those who fear unpopularity; nor those who arc always dilatory.
नास्य छिद्रं परो विद्याद्विद्याच्छिद्रं परस्य तु गूहेत्कूर्म इवाङ्गानि रक्षेद्विवरमात्मनः
M. N. Dutt: The king should act in such way that his foe may not see his shortcomings. He should, however, himself notice the weak points of his enemy. He should imitate the tortoise which conceals its limbs. He should always keep hidden his own holes.
बकवच्चिन्तयेदर्थान्सिंहवच्च पराक्रमेत् वृकवच्चावलुम्पेत शशवच्च विनिष्पतेत्
M. N. Dutt: He should think of all financial matters like a crane. He should show his prowess like a lion. He should lie in ambush like a wolf and attack and pierce his foes like an arrow.
पानमक्षास्तथा नार्यो मृगया गीतवादितम् एतानि युक्त्या सेवेत प्रसङ्गो ह्यत्र दोषवान्
M. N. Dutt: He should be careful in his enjoyments regarding drink, dice, women, hunting, and music. Addiction to these produces evil.
कुर्यात्तृणमयं चापं शयीत मृगशायिकाम् अन्धः स्यादन्धवेलायां बाधिर्यमपि संश्रयेत्
M. N. Dutt: He should make his bow of bamboos; he should sleep like the deer; he should be blind when it is necessary for him to be so, or he should even be deaf when it is necessary to be deaf.
देशं कालं समासाद्य विक्रमेत विचक्षणः देशकालाभ्यतीतो हि विक्रमो निष्फलो भवेत्
M. N. Dutt: The wise king should display his prowess, considering time and place. If these are not favourable, prowess becomes useless.
कालाकालौ संप्रधार्य बलाबलमथात्मनः परस्परबलं ज्ञात्वा तथात्मानं नियोजयेत्
M. N. Dutt: Noting the opportune and inopportune moment, reflecting upon his own strength by comparing it with that of the enemy, the king should take up his work.
दण्डेनोपनतं शत्रुं यो राजा न नियच्छति स मृत्युमुपगूह्यास्ते गर्भमश्वतरी यथा
M. N. Dutt: That king who does not crush down an enemy by military force, provides for his own death like the crab when she conceives.
सुपुष्पितः स्यादफलः फलवान्स्याद्दुरारुहः आमः स्यात्पक्वसंकाशो न च शीर्येत कस्यचित्
M. N. Dutt: The king should show blossoms but not fruits. When showing fruits he should be difficult of climbing; and though unripe he should seem to be ripe. If he acts thus he would succeed in upholding himself against all enemies. then put man
Supplementary Passages:
12.138.31 After 31, T2 ins. (cf. ibid., the added line after line 177): *344 आदातव्यं न दातव्यं प्रियं ब्रूयान्निरर्थकम्
आशां कालवतीं कुर्यात्तां च विघ्नेन योजयेत् विघ्नं निमित्ततो ब्रूयान्निमित्तं चापि हेतुतः
M. N. Dutt: The king should first strengthen the hopes (of the suitors). He should impediments in the way of the fulfilment of those hopes. He should say that those impediments are merely due to time. He should next represent that those occasions are really the outcome of weighty causes.
भीतवत्संविधातव्यं यावद्भयमनागतम् आगतं तु भयं दृष्ट्वा प्रहर्तव्यमभीतवत्
M. N. Dutt: As long as the cause of fear does not actually arrive, the king should make all his arrangements like a person filled with fear. When, however, the cause of fear arrives, he should smite fearlessly.
न संशयमनारुह्य नरो भद्राणि पश्यति संशयं पुनरारुह्य यदि जीवति पश्यति
M. N. Dutt: No can derive benefit without incurring danger. If, again, he succeeds in preserving his life in the midst of danger's he is sure to acquire great benefits.
अनागतं विजानीयाद्यच्छेद्भयमुपस्थितम् पुनर्वृद्धिक्षयात्किंचिदभिवृत्तं निशामयेत्
M. N. Dutt: A king should determine all future dangers; when they are present, he should conquer them; and lest they may grow again, he should, even after conquering them, consider them, as unconquered.
प्रत्युपस्थितकालस्य सुखस्य परिवर्जनम् अनागतसुखाशा च नैष बुद्धिमतां नयः
M. N. Dutt: The relinquishing of present happiness and the pursuit of the future one, is never the policy of an intelligent person.
योऽरिणा सह संधाय सुखं स्वपिति विश्वसन् स वृक्षाग्रप्रसुप्तो वा पतितः प्रतिबुध्यते
M. N. Dutt: That king who having made peace with an enemy sleeps happily and confidently is lįke a man who sleeping on the top of a iree awakes after a fall,
कर्मणा येन तेनेह मृदुना दारुणेन वा उद्धरेद्दीनमात्मानं समर्थो धर्ममाचरेत्
M. N. Dutt: When one is in distress, he should raise himself by any means in his power. mild or stern; and after such advancement, he should, if able, practise virtue.
ये सपत्नाः सपत्नानां सर्वांस्तानपवत्सयेत् आत्मनश्चापि बोद्धव्याश्चाराः प्रणिहिताः परैः
M. N. Dutt: The king should always honour the enemies of his foes. He should consider his own spies as agents employed by his enemies,
चारः सुविहितः कार्य आत्मनोऽथ परस्य च पाषण्डांस्तापसादींश्च परराष्ट्रं प्रवेशयेत्
AI Translation: The spy should be well-appointed for the purpose of his own or others' welfare. He should introduce heretics, ascetics, etc. into the enemy's country.
Supplementary Passages:
12.138.40 For 40cd, D7 T1 G1.2.5 subst.: *345 पाषण्डाद्यैरविज्ञातैर्विदित्वारिं वशं नयेत्
उद्यानेषु विहारेषु प्रपास्वावसथेषु च पानागारेषु वेशेषु तीर्थेषु च सभासु च
AI Translation: In gardens, in places of recreation, in wells, in houses, In drinking houses, in brothels, in sacred places, in assemblies,
धर्माभिचारिणः पापाश्चारा लोकस्य कण्टकाः समागच्छन्ति तान्बुद्ध्वा नियच्छेच्छमयेदपि
AI Translation: Those who are wicked and perform evil deeds, who are thorns to the world, Having known them, one should restrain them and subdue them.
न विश्वसेदविश्वस्ते विश्वस्ते नापि विश्वसेत् विश्वस्तं भयमन्वेति नापरीक्ष्य च विश्वसेत्
M. N. Dutt: The king should not confide in an unworthy person; nor should he over confide in a person who is worthy of trust. Danger originates from confidence. Confidence should never be placed without previous examination.
विश्वासयित्वा तु परं तत्त्वभूतेन हेतुना अथास्य प्रहरेत्काले किंचिद्विचलिते पदे
M. N. Dutt: Having by ostensible created confidence in the enemy, the king should strike him when he makes a mistake. reasons
अशङ्क्यमपि शङ्केत नित्यं शङ्केत शङ्कितात् भयं हि शङ्किताज्जातं समूलमपि कृन्तति
M. N. Dutt: The king should fear him from whom there is no fear; he should also always fear them who should be feared. Fear rising from a person who is not feared, may bring on total extermination.
अवधानेन मौनेन काषायेण जटाजिनैः विश्वासयित्वा द्वेष्टारमवलुम्पेद्यथा वृकः
M. N. Dutt: By devotion to religious pursuits, by taciturnity, by assuming the orange grab of monks, and wearing matted locks skins, one should create confidence in his enemy, and then, when the time comes, should pounce upon him like the wolf.
पुत्रो वा यदि वा भ्राता पिता वा यदि वा सुहृत् अर्थस्य विघ्नं कुर्वाणा हन्तव्या भूतिवर्धनाः
M. N. Dutt: A king seeking prosperity should not hesitate to kill son or brother or father or friend, if any of these seek to thwart his objects.
गुरोरप्यवलिप्तस्य कार्याकार्यमजानतः उत्पथप्रतिपन्नस्य दण्डो भवति शासनम्
M. N. Dutt: The very preceptor, if he is haughty, ignorant of what should be done and what should not, and an impious person, should be restrained by Punishment.
प्रत्युत्थानाभिवादाभ्यां संप्रदानेन कस्यचित् प्रतिपुष्कलघाती स्यात्तीक्ष्णतुण्ड इव द्विजः
M. N. Dutt: As sharp-stinged insects cut off all the flowers and fruits of the trees on which they sit, the king should, after having created confidence in his enemies by honours, salutations and gifts, go against him and deprive him of everything.
नाच्छित्त्वा परमर्माणि नाकृत्वा कर्म दारुणम् नाहत्वा मत्स्यघातीव प्राप्नोति परमां श्रियम्
M. N. Dutt: Without cutting the very vitals of others, without killing living creatures like fishermen, one cannot win great prosperity.
Supplementary Passages:
12.138.50 After 50ab, D3 ins.: *346 नाविचार्य चिरं काले नरो भद्राणि पश्यति
नास्ति जात्या रिपुर्नाम मित्रं नाम न विद्यते सामर्थ्ययोगाज्जायन्ते मित्राणि रिपवस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: There is no separate order of creatures called enemies or friends. Persons become friends or enemies according to the trend of circumstances.
अमित्रं नैव मुञ्चेत ब्रुवन्तं करुणान्यपि दुःखं तत्र न कुर्वीत हन्यात्पूर्वापकारिणम्
M. N. Dutt: The king should never allow his enemy to escape even if he bewails piteously. He should never be moved by these; on the other hand, he should destroy the person who has done him an injury.
संग्रहानुग्रहे यत्नः सदा कार्योऽनसूयता निग्रहश्चापि यत्नेन कर्तव्यो भूतिमिच्छता
M. N. Dutt: A king seeking prosperity should studiously win over as many men as he can, and do them good. In his conduct towards his subjects he should always be shorn of malice. He should also studiously punish and restrain the wicked and disaffected.
प्रहरिष्यन्प्रियं ब्रूयात्प्रहृत्यापि प्रियोत्तरम् अपि चास्य शिरश्छित्त्वा रुद्याच्छोचेदथापि वा
M. N. Dutt: When he wishes to take wealth, he should say what is agreeable. Having collected wealth, he should say similar things. Having severed one's head with his sword, he should grieve and shed tears.
निमन्त्रयेत सान्त्वेन संमानेन तितिक्षया आशाकारणमित्येतत्कर्तव्यं भूतिमिच्छता
M. N. Dutt: A king seeking posperity should win over others by sweet words, honours, and gifts. Thus should he take men into his service.
न शुष्कवैरं कुर्वीत न बाहुभ्यां नदीं तरेत् अपार्थकमनायुष्यं गोविषाणस्य भक्षणम् दन्ताश्च परिघृष्यन्ते रसश्चापि न लभ्यते
M. N. Dutt: The king should never engage in idle disputes. He should never cross a river with the help only of his two arms. To eat cow-horns is useless and never gives strength. By eating them one's teeth are broken while the taste is not gratified.
त्रिवर्गे त्रिविधा पीडानुबन्धास्त्रय एव च अनुबन्धवधौ ज्ञात्वा पीडां हि परिवर्जयेत्
M. N. Dutt: The three-fold objects have triple disadvantageous adjuncts. Carefully considering them, the disadvantages should be avoided.
ऋणशेषोऽग्निशेषश्च शत्रुशेषस्तथैव च पुनः पुनर्विवर्धेत स्वल्पोऽप्यनिवारितः
AI Translation: The remainder of debt, the remainder of fire, and the remainder of enemies, if not checked, would increase again and again, even if small.
वर्धमानमृणं तिष्ठत्परिभूताश्च शत्रवः आवहन्त्यनयं तीव्रं व्याधयश्चाप्युपेक्षिताः
M. N. Dutt: Debt which always multiplies is sure to remain unless it is wholly paid up. Likewise are the defeated foes and neglected diseases. These always create great fear.
नासम्यक्कृतकारी स्यादप्रमत्तः सदा भवेत् कण्टकोऽपि हि दुश्छिन्नो विकारं कुरुते चिरम्
M. N. Dutt: Every work should be done completely. One should be always careful. If extracted badly, such a minute thing as a thorn leads to obstinate gangrene.
वधेन च मनुष्याणां मार्गाणां दूषणेन च आकराणां विनाशैश्च परराष्ट्रं विनाशयेत्
M. N. Dutt: By killing its inhabitants, by breaking its roads and otherwise injuring them, and by burning and pulling down its houses, a king should devastate an enemy's realm.
गृध्रदृष्टिर्बकालीनः श्वचेष्टः सिंहविक्रमः अनुद्विग्नः काकशङ्की भुजंगचरितं चरेत्
M. N. Dutt: A king should be far-sighted like the vulture, stable like a crane, watchful like a dog, brave like a lion, dreadful like a crow, and enter into the kingdom of his enemies like a snake with ease and without anxiety.
Supplementary Passages:
12.138.62 After 62, K3.5 V1 B Da Dn1.n3 D2.3.5.8 ins.: *347 शूरमञ्जलिपातेन भीरुं भेदेन भेदयेत् लुब्धमर्थप्रदानेन समं तुल्येन विग्रहः
श्रेणिमुख्योपजापेषु वल्लभानुनयेषु च अमात्यान्परिरक्षेत भेदसंघातयोरपि
M. N. Dutt: He should take care to create dissension among the leaders of sects and of conciliating those that are dear to him. He should protect his ministers from dissension and destruction,
मृदुरित्यवमन्यन्ते तीक्ष्ण इत्युद्विजन्ति च तीक्ष्णकाले च तीक्ष्णः स्यान्मृदुकाले मृदुर्भवेत्
M. N. Dutt: If the king becomes mild, the people disrespect him. If he becomes stern, the people afflicted. The rule is that he should be stern when sternness is necessary, and mild when mildness is necessary.
मृदुना सुमृदुं हन्ति मृदुना हन्ति दारुणम् नासाध्यं मृदुना किंचित्तस्मात्तीक्ष्णतरं मृदु
M. N. Dutt: By mildness the mild should be conquered. By mildness one may destroy that which is dreadful. There is nothing which mildness cannot do. Therefore, mildness is said to be sharper than fierceness.
काले मृदुर्यो भवति काले भवति दारुणः स साधयति कृत्यानि शत्रूंश्चैवाधितिष्ठति
M. N. Dutt: That king who becomes mild when mildness is necessary and who becomes stern when sternness is necessary, gains all his ends, and represses his enemies.
पण्डितेन विरुद्धः सन्दूरेऽस्मीति न विश्वसेत् दीर्घौ बुद्धिमतो बाहू याभ्यां हिंसति हिंसितः
M. N. Dutt: Having created an enemy in a person endued with knowledge and wisdom, one should not be satisfied with the belief that he is at a distance from his foe. The arms of an intelligent man are extensive by which he injures when injured.
न तत्तरेद्यस्य न पारमुत्तरे;न्न तद्धरेद्यत्पुनराहरेत्परः न तत्खनेद्यस्य न मूलमुत्खने;न्न तं हन्याद्यस्य शिरो न पातयेत्
AI Translation: He should not cross over that which cannot be crossed over; he should not take away that which is taken away again by another. He should not dig that which cannot be dug up; he should
इतीदमुक्तं वृजिनाभिसंहितं; न चैतदेवं पुरुषः समाचरेत् परप्रयुक्तं तु कथं निशामये;दतो मयोक्तं भवतो हितार्थिना
M. N. Dutt: A king should not always act in this way. The course of conduct that I have pointed out should be followed only in times of distress. Actuated with the desire of doing you good I have said this for instructing you as to how you should act when attacked by enemies.
यथावदुक्तं वचनं हितं तदा; निशम्य विप्रेण सुवीरराष्ट्रियः तथाकरोद्वाक्यमदीनचेतनः; श्रियं च दीप्तां बुभुजे सबान्धवः
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Hearing these words given vent to by that Brahmana with the desires of doing him good, the king of Sauviras obeyed those instructions gladly and attained with his kinsmen and friends shining prosperity.