Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच ततो राज्ञाभ्यनुज्ञातो धृतराष्ट्रः प्रतापवान् ययौ स्वभवनं राजा गान्धार्यानुगतस्तदा
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said son Having received the kings' permission, the highly energetic king Dhritarastra, then, went to his own palace, followed by Gandhari.
मन्दप्राणगतिर्धीमान्कृच्छ्रादिव समुद्धरन् पदातिः स महीपालो जीर्णो गजपतिर्यथा
M. N. Dutt: With weakened strength and slow motion, that highly intelligent king walked with difficulty, like the leader, exhausted with age, of an elephantine herd.
तमन्वगच्छद्विदुरो विद्वान्सूतश्च संजयः स चापि परमेष्वासः कृपः शारद्वतस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: He was followed by the highly learned Vidura, and his charioteer Sanjaya, as also that powerful bowman Kripa the of Sharadvata.
स प्रविश्य गृहं राजा कृतपूर्वाह्णिकक्रियः तर्पयित्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठानाहारमकरोत्तदा
M. N. Dutt: Entering his palace, O king, he performed the morning rites and, after pleasing many foremost of Brahmanas, he took some food.
गान्धारी चैव धर्मज्ञा कुन्त्या सह मनस्विनी वधूभिरुपचारेण पूजिताभुङ्क्त भारत
M. N. Dutt: Gandhari knowing every duty, as also the highly intelligent Kunti, adored with offers of various articles by their daughters-in-law, then took some food, O Bharata.
कृताहारं कृताहाराः सर्वे ते विदुरादयः पाण्डवाश्च कुरुश्रेष्ठमुपातिष्ठन्त तं नृपम्
M. N. Dutt: After Dhritarashtra had eaten, and Vidura also and others had done the same, the Pandavas, having finished their meals, approached and sat around the old king.
ततोऽब्रवीन्महाराज कुन्तीपुत्रमुपह्वरे निषण्णं पाणिना पृष्ठे संस्पृशन्नम्बिकासुतः
AI Translation: Then the son of Ambika, touching with his hand the back of the son of Kunti who was seated in the assembly, spoke to the great king.
अप्रमादस्त्वया कार्यः सर्वथा कुरुनन्दन अष्टाङ्गे राजशार्दूल राज्ये धर्मपुरस्कृते
AI Translation: You must be careful in every way, O descendant of the Kurus. O best of kings, in the eight-limbed kingdom where Dharma is foremost,
तत्तु शक्यं यथा तात रक्षितुं पाण्डुनन्दन राज्यं धर्मं च कौन्तेय विद्वानसि निबोध तत्
M. N. Dutt: You are, O son of Kunti, cndued with intelligence and learning. Listen to me, O king, I tell you what the means are by which, O son of Pandu, the kingdom is capable of being righteously protected.
विद्यावृद्धान्सदैव त्वमुपासीथा युधिष्ठिर शृणुयास्ते च यद्ब्रूयुः कुर्याश्चैवाविचारयन्
M. N. Dutt: You should always, O Yudhishthria, honour those persons who are old in learning. You should listen to what they would say, and act accordingly without any scruple.
प्रातरुत्थाय तान्राजन्पूजयित्वा यथाविधि कृत्यकाले समुत्पन्ने पृच्छेथाः कार्यमात्मनः
M. N. Dutt: Rising early in the morning, O king, adore them with due rites, and when the time comes for action, you should consult them about your (intended) acts.
ते तु संमानिता राजंस्त्वया राज्यहितार्थिना प्रवक्ष्यन्ति हितं तात सर्वं कौरवनन्दन
M. N. Dutt: When, led by the desire of knowing what would be beneficial to you about your measures, you honour them, they will, O son, always declare what is for your behoof, O Bharata!
इन्द्रियाणि च सर्वाणि वाजिवत्परिपालय हिताय वै भविष्यन्ति रक्षितं द्रविणं यथा
M. N. Dutt: You should always keep your senses as you keep your horses. They will then prove beneficial to you, like riches that is not wasted.
अमात्यानुपधातीतान्पितृपैतामहाञ्शुचीन् दान्तान्कर्मसु सर्वेषु मुख्यान्मुख्येषु योजयेः
M. N. Dutt: You should employ only those ministers who have passed the tests of honesty, who are hereditary officers of state, possessed of pure conduct, self-controlled, expert in the discharge of business, and endued with righteous conduct.
चारयेथाश्च सततं चारैरविदितैः परान् परीक्षितैर्बहुविधं स्वराष्ट्रेषु परेषु च
M. N. Dutt: You should always gather information through spies in various disguises, whose faithfulness have been tested, who are natives of your kingdom, and who should not be known to your enemies.
पुरं च ते सुगुप्तं स्याद्दृढप्राकारतोरणम् अट्टाट्टालकसंबाधं षट्पथं सर्वतोदिशम्
M. N. Dutt: Your citadel should be properly protected with strong walls and arched gates. On every side such walls, with watch-towers on them standing close to one another, should be made as will admit six persons walking side by side on their top.
तस्य द्वाराणि कार्याणि पर्याप्तानि बृहन्ति च सर्वतः सुविभक्तानि यन्त्रैरारक्षितानि च
M. N. Dutt: The gates should all be large and sufficiently strong. Kept in proper places, those gates should be carefully guarded.
पुरुषैरलमर्थज्ञैर्विदितैः कुलशीलतः आत्मा च रक्ष्यः सततं भोजनादिषु भारत
AI Translation: Enough with men who know the meaning, who are known by their family and character. And the self must always be protected, O Bhārata, in eating and other activities.
विहाराहारकालेषु माल्यशय्यासनेषु च स्त्रियश्च ते सुगुप्ताः स्युर्वृद्धैराप्तैरधिष्ठिताः शीलवद्भिः कुलीनैश्च विद्वद्भिश्च युधिष्ठिर
M. N. Dutt: Let your purpose be accomplished through men whose families and conduct are wellknown. You should always protect your body also with care in matters connected with your food, O Bharata, as also in the hours of sport and eating and in matters connected with the garlands you wear and the beds you lie upon. The ladies of your household should be properly protected, looked over by aged and trusted servitors, of good conduct, well-born, and possessed of learning, O Yudhishthira.
मन्त्रिणश्चैव कुर्वीथा द्विजान्विद्याविशारदान् विनीतांश्च कुलीनांश्च धर्मार्थकुशलानृजून्
M. N. Dutt: You should made ministers of Brahmanas possessed of learning, endued with humility, well-born, knowing religion and profit, and adorned with simplicity of behaviour.
तैः सार्धं मन्त्रयेथास्त्वं नात्यर्थं बहुभिः सह समस्तैरपि च व्यस्तैर्व्यपदेशेन केनचित्
M. N. Dutt: You should hold consultations with them. You should not, however, admit many persons into your consultations. on particular occasions you may consult with the whole of your council or with a portion of it.
सुसंवृतं मन्त्रगृहं स्थलं चारुह्य मन्त्रयेः अरण्ये निःशलाके वा न च रात्रौ कथंचन
M. N. Dutt: Entering a chamber or spot that is wellprotected (from intruders) you should hold your consultations. You may hold your consultation in a forest hat is divested of grass. You should never consult at night time.
वानराः पक्षिणश्चैव ये मनुष्यानुकारिणः सर्वे मन्त्रगृहे वर्ज्या ये चापि जडपङ्गुकाः
M. N. Dutt: Apes and birds and other animals which can imitatc human beings should all be excluded from the council chamber, as also idiots and lame and palsied individuals.
मन्त्रभेदे हि ये दोषा भवन्ति पृथिवीक्षिताम् न ते शक्याः समाधातुं कथंचिदिति मे मतिः
M. N. Dutt: I think that the evils which originate from the divulgence of the counsels of kings are such that they cannot be remedied.
दोषांश्च मन्त्रभेदेषु ब्रूयास्त्वं मन्त्रिमण्डले अभेदे च गुणान्राजन्पुनः पुनररिंदम
M. N. Dutt: You should repeatedly refer, in the midst of your counselors, to the evils which arise from the divulgence of counsels, ochastiser of enemies, and to the merits which flow from counsels properly kept.
पौरजानपदानां च शौचाशौचं युधिष्ठिर यथा स्याद्विदितं राजंस्तथा कार्यमरिंदम
M. N. Dutt: You should, O Yudhishthira, act in such a manner as to determine the merits and faults of the inhabitants of your city and the provinces.