The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 12.69: ekonasaptatitamo'dhyāyaḥ

12.69.1

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |
pārthivena viśeṣeṇa kiṃ kāryamavaśiṣyate |
kathaṃ rakṣyo janapadaḥ kathaṃ rakṣyāśca śatravaḥ || 1 ||

"Yudhishthira said, 'What other special duties remain for the king to discharge? How should he protect his kingdom and how subdue his foes? How should he employ his spies? How should he inspire confidence in the four orders of his subjects, his own servants, wives, and sons, O Bharata?'

12.69.2

kathaṃ cāraṃ prayuñjīta varṇānviśvāsayetkatham |
kathaṃ bhṛtyānkathaṃ dārānkathaṃ putrāṃśca bhārata || 2 ||

12.69.3

bhīṣma uvāca |
rājavṛttaṃ mahārāja śṛṇuṣvāvahito'khilam |
yatkāryaṃ pārthivenādau pārthivaprakṛtena vā || 3 ||

"Bhishma said, 'Listen, O monarch, with attention to the diverse duties of kings,--to those acts which the king or one that is in the position of a king should first do. The king should first subdue himself and then seek to subdue his foes. How should a king who has not been able to conquer his own self be able to conquer his foes? The conquest of these, viz., the aggregate of five, is regarded as the conquest of self. The king that has succeeded in subduing his senses is competent to resist his foes. He should place bodies of foot-soldiers in his forts, frontiers, towns, parks, and pleasure gardens, O delighter of the Kurus, as also in all places where he himself goes, and within his own palace, O tiger among men! He should employ as spies men looking like idiots or like those that are blind and deaf. Those should all be persons who have been thoroughly examined (in respect of their ability), who are possessed of wisdom, and who are able to endure hunger and thirst. With proper attention, the king should set his spies upon all his counsellors and friends and sons, in his city and the provinces, and in dominions of the chiefs under him. His spies should be so employed that they may not know one another.

12.69.4

ātmā jeyaḥ sadā rājñā tato jeyāśca śatravaḥ |
ajitātmā narapatirvijayeta kathaṃ ripūn || 4 ||

12.69.5

etāvānātmavijayaḥ pañcavargavinigrahaḥ |
jitendriyo narapatirbādhituṃ śaknuyādarīn || 5 ||

12.69.6

nyaseta gulmāndurgeṣu saṃdhau ca kurunandana |
nagaropavane caiva purodyāneṣu caiva ha || 6 ||

12.69.7

saṃsthāneṣu ca sarveṣu pureṣu nagarasya ca |
madhye ca naraśārdūla tathā rājaniveśane || 7 ||

12.69.8

praṇidhīṃśca tataḥ kuryājjaḍāndhabadhirākṛtīn |
puṃsaḥ parīkṣitānprājñānkṣutpipāsātapakṣamān || 8 ||

12.69.9

amātyeṣu ca sarveṣu mitreṣu trividheṣu ca |
putreṣu ca mahārāja praṇidadhyātsamāhitaḥ || 9 ||

12.69.10

pure janapade caiva tathā sāmantarājasu |
yathā na vidyuranyonyaṃ praṇidheyāstathā hi te || 10 ||

12.69.11

cārāṃśca vidyātprahitānpareṇa bharatarṣabha |
āpaṇeṣu vihāreṣu samavāyeṣu bhikṣuṣu || 11 ||

He should also, O bull of Bharata's race, know the spies of his foes by himself setting spies in shops and places of amusement, and concourses of people, among beggars, in his pleasure gardens and parks, in meetings and conclaves of the learned, in the country, in public places, in places where he holds his own court, and in the houses of the citizens. The king possessed of intelligence may thus ascertain the spies despatched by his foes. If these be known, the king may derive much benefit, O son of Pandu! When the king, by a survey of his own, finds himself weak, he should then, consulting with his counsellors make peace with a foe that is stronger. The king that is wise should speedily make peace with a foe, even when he knows that he is not weak, if any advantage is to be derived from it. Engaged in protecting his kingdom with righteousness, the king should make peace with those that are possessed of every accomplishment, capable of great exertion, virtuous, and honest. When the king finds himself threatened with danger and about to be overtaken by ruin, he should slay all offenders whom he had overlooked before and all such persons as are pointed at by the people. A king should have nothing to do with that person who can neither benefit nor injure him, or with one who cannot rescue himself from distress.

12.69.12

ārāmeṣu tathodyāne paṇḍitānāṃ samāgame |
veśeṣu catvare caiva sabhāsvāvasatheṣu ca || 12 ||

12.69.13

evaṃ vihanyāccāreṇa paracāraṃ vicakṣaṇaḥ |
cāreṇa vihataṃ sarvaṃ hataṃ bhavati pāṇḍava || 13 ||

12.69.14

yadā tu hīnaṃ nṛpatirvidyādātmānamātmanā |
amātyaiḥ saha saṃmantrya kuryātsaṃdhiṃ balīyasā || 14 ||

12.69.15

ajñāyamāno hīnatve kuryātsaṃdhiṃ pareṇa vai |
lipsurvā kaṃcidevārthaṃ tvaramāṇo vicakṣaṇaḥ || 15 ||

12.69.16

guṇavanto mahotsāhā dharmajñāḥ sādhavaśca ye |
saṃdadhīta nṛpastaiśca rāṣṭraṃ dharmeṇa pālayan || 16 ||

12.69.17

ucchidyamānamātmānaṃ jñātvā rājā mahāmatiḥ |
pūrvāpakāriṇo hanyāllokadviṣṭāṃśca sarvaśaḥ || 17 ||

12.69.18

yo nopakartuṃ śaknoti nāpakartuṃ mahīpatiḥ |
aśakyarūpaścoddhartumupekṣyastādṛśo bhavet || 18 ||

12.69.19

yātrāṃ yāyādavijñātamanākrandamanantaram |
vyāsaktaṃ ca pramattaṃ ca durbalaṃ ca vicakṣaṇaḥ || 19 ||

As regards military operations a king who is confident of his own strength, should, at the head of a large force, cheerfully and with courage give the order to march, without proclaiming his destination against one destitute of allies and friends or already at war with another and (therefore) heedless (of danger from other quarters), or one weaker than himself, having first made arrangements for the protection of his own capital. A king should not for ever live in subjection to another possessed of greater prowess. Though weak, he should seek to afflict the stronger, and resolved upon this, continue to rule his own. He should afflict the kingdom of the stronger one by means of weapons, fire and application of poison. He should also cause dissensions amongst his counsellors and servants. Vrihaspati has said that a king possessed of intelligence should always avoid war for acquisition of territory. The acquisition of dominion should be made by the three well-known means (of conciliation, gift, and disunion). The king that is possessed of wisdom should be gratified with those acquisition that are made by means of conciliation, gift, and disunion. The king, O delighter of the Kurus, should take a sixth of the incomes of his subjects as tribute for meeting the expenses of protecting them. He should also forcibly take away wealth, much or little (as the case may require), from the ten kinds of offenders mentioned in the scriptures, for the protection of his subjects.

12.69.20

yātrāmājñāpayedvīraḥ kalyapuṣṭabalaḥ sukhī |
pūrvaṃ kṛtvā vidhānaṃ ca yātrāyāṃ nagare tathā || 20 ||

12.69.21

na ca vaśyo bhavedasya nṛpo yadyapi vīryavān |
hīnaśca balavīryābhyāṃ karśayaṃstaṃ parāvaset || 21 ||

12.69.22

rāṣṭraṃ ca pīḍayettasya śastrāgniviṣamūrchanaiḥ |
amātyavallabhānāṃ ca vivādāṃstasya kārayet |
varjanīyaṃ sadā yuddhaṃ rājyakāmena dhīmatā || 22 ||

12.69.23

upāyaistribhirādānamarthasyāha bṛhaspatiḥ |
sāntvenānupradānena bhedena ca narādhipa |
yamarthaṃ śaknuyātprāptuṃ tena tuṣyeddhi paṇḍitaḥ || 23 ||

12.69.24

ādadīta baliṃ caiva prajābhyaḥ kurunandana |
ṣaḍbhāgamamitaprajñastāsāmevābhiguptaye || 24 ||

12.69.25

daśadharmagatebhyo yadvasu bahvalpameva ca |
tannādadīta sahasā paurāṇāṃ rakṣaṇāya vai || 25 ||

12.69.26

yathā putrāstathā paurā draṣṭavyāste na saṃśayaḥ |
bhaktiścaiṣāṃ prakartavyā vyavahāre pradarśite || 26 ||

A king should, without doubt, look upon his subjects as his own children. In determining their disputes, however, he should not show compassion. For hearing the complaints and answers of disputants in judicial suits, the king should always appoint persons possessed of wisdom and a knowledge of the affairs of the world, for the state really rests upon a proper administration of justice. The king should set honest and trustworthy men over his mines, salt, grain, ferries, and elephant corps. The king who always wields with propriety the rod of chastisement earns great merit. The proper regulation of chastisement is the high duty of kings and deserves great applause. The king should be conversant with the Vedas and their branches, possessed of wisdom, engaged in penances, charitable, and devoted to the performance of sacrifices. All these qualities should permanently reside in a king. If the king fails to administer justice, he can neither have heaven nor fame. If a king be afflicted by a stronger one, the former, if possessed of intelligence, should seek refuge in a fort. Assembling his friends for consultation, he should devise proper means. Adopting the policy of conciliation and of producing dissensions, he should devise means for waging war with the assailant. He should set the inhabitants of the woods on the high roads, and, if necessary, cause whole villages to be removed, transplanting all the inhabitants to minor towns or the outskirts of great cities.

12.69.27

sutaṃ ca sthāpayedrājā prājñaṃ sarvārthadarśinam |
vyavahāreṣu satataṃ tatra rājyaṃ vyavasthitam || 27 ||

12.69.28

ākare lavaṇe śulke tare nāgavane tathā |
nyasedamātyānnṛpatiḥ svāptānvā puruṣānhitān || 28 ||

12.69.29

samyagdaṇḍadharo nityaṃ rājā dharmamavāpnuyāt |
nṛpasya satataṃ daṇḍaḥ samyagdharme praśasyate || 29 ||

12.69.30

vedavedāṅgavitprājñaḥ sutapasvī nṛpo bhavet |
dānaśīlaśca satataṃ yajñaśīlaśca bhārata || 30 ||

12.69.31

ete guṇāḥ samastāḥ syurnṛpasya satataṃ sthirāḥ |
kriyālope tu nṛpateḥ kutaḥ svargaḥ kuto yaśaḥ || 31 ||

12.69.32

yadā tu pīḍito rājā bhavedrājñā balīyasā |
tridhā tvākrandya mitrāṇi vidhānamupakalpayet || 32 ||

12.69.33

ghoṣānnyaseta mārgeṣu grāmānutthāpayedapi |
praveśayecca tānsarvāñśākhānagarakeṣvapi || 33 ||

12.69.34

ye guptāścaiva durgāśca deśāsteṣu praveśayet |
dhanino balamukhyāṃśca sāntvayitvā punaḥ punaḥ || 34 ||

Repeatedly assuring his wealthy subjects and the principal officers of the army, he should cause the inhabitants of the open country to take refuge in such forts as are well-protected. He should himself withdraw all stores of grain (from the open country into his forts). If that becomes impossible, he should destroy them completely by fire. He should set men for destroying the crops on the fields of the enemy (by producing disunion among the enemy's subjects). Failing to do this, he should destroy those crops by means of his own troops. He should destroy all the bridges over the rivers in his kingdom. He should bale out the waters of all the tanks in his dominions, or, if incapable of baling them out, cause them to be poisoned. Disregarding the duty of protecting his friends, he should, in view of both present and future circumstances, seek the protection of the ruler of another kingdom who may happen to be the foe of his foe and who may be competent to deal with his foe on the field of battle. He should destroy all the smaller forts in his kingdom. He should also cut down all the smaller trees excepting those that are called Chaitya. He should cause the branches of all the larger trees to be lopped off, but he should not touch the very leaves of those called Chaitya. He should raise outer ramparts round his forts, with enclosures in them, and fill his trenches with water, driving pointed stakes at their bottom and filling them with crocodiles and sharks.

12.69.35

sasyābhihāraṃ kuryācca svayameva narādhipaḥ |
asaṃbhave praveśasya dāhayedagninā bhṛśam || 35 ||

12.69.36

kṣetrastheṣu ca sasyeṣu śatrorupajapennarān |
vināśayedvā sarvasvaṃ balenātha svakena vai || 36 ||

12.69.37

nadīṣu mārgeṣu sadā saṃkramānavasādayet |
jalaṃ nisrāvayetsarvamanisrāvyaṃ ca dūṣayet || 37 ||

12.69.38

tadātvenāyatībhiśca vivadanbhūmyanantaram |
pratīghātaḥ parasyājau mitrakāle'pyupasthite || 38 ||

12.69.39

durgāṇāṃ cābhito rājā mūlacchedaṃ prakārayet |
sarveṣāṃ kṣudravṛkṣāṇāṃ caityavṛkṣānvivarjayet || 39 ||

12.69.40

pravṛddhānāṃ ca vṛkṣāṇāṃ śākhāḥ pracchedayettathā |
caityānāṃ sarvathā varjyamapi patrasya pātanam || 40 ||

12.69.41

prakaṇṭhīḥ kārayetsamyagākāśajananīstathā |
āpūrayecca parikhāḥ sthāṇunakrajhaṣākulāḥ || 41 ||

12.69.42

kaḍaṅgadvārakāṇi syurucchvāsārthe purasya ha |
teṣāṃ ca dvāravadguptiḥ kāryā sarvātmanā bhavet || 42 ||

He should keep small openings in his walls for making sallies from his fort, and carefully make arrangements for their defence like that of the greater gates. In all his gates he should plant destructive engines. He should plant on the ramparts (of his forts) Sataghnis and other weapons. He should store wood for fuel and dig and repair wells for supply of water to the garrison. He should cause all houses made of grass and straw to be plastered over with mud, and if it is the summer month, he should, from fear of fire, withdraw (into a place of safety) all the stores of grass and straw. He should order all food to be cooked at night. No fire should be ignited during the day, except for the daily homa. Particular care should be taken of the fires in smithies and lying-in rooms. Fires kept within the houses of the inhabitants should be well covered. For the effectual protection of the city, it should be proclaimed that condign punishment will overtake the person who lights fires by the day time. During such times, all beggars, eunuchs, lunatics, and mimes, should, O foremost of men, be driven out of the town, for if they are permitted to remain, evil will follow. In places of public resort, in tirthas, in assemblies, and in the houses of the citizens, the king should set competent spies. The king should cause wide roads to be constructed and order shops, and places for the distribution of water, to be opened at proper stations.

12.69.43

dvāreṣu ca gurūṇyeva yantrāṇi sthāpayetsadā |
āropayecchataghnīśca svādhīnāni ca kārayet || 43 ||

12.69.44

kāṣṭhāni cābhihāryāṇi tathā kūpāṃśca khānayet |
saṃśodhayettathā kūpānkṛtānpūrvaṃ payorthibhiḥ || 44 ||

12.69.45

tṛṇacchannāni veśmāni paṅkenāpi pralepayet |
nirharecca tṛṇaṃ māse caitre vahnibhayātpuraḥ || 45 ||

12.69.46

naktameva ca bhaktāni pācayeta narādhipaḥ |
na divāgnirjvaledgehe varjayitvāgnihotrikam || 46 ||

12.69.47

karmārāriṣṭaśālāsu jvaledagniḥ samāhitaḥ |
gṛhāṇi ca praviśyātha vidheyaḥ syāddhutāśanaḥ || 47 ||

12.69.48

mahādaṇḍaśca tasya syādyasyāgnirvai divā bhavet |
praghoṣayedathaivaṃ ca rakṣaṇārthaṃ purasya vai || 48 ||

12.69.49

bhikṣukāṃścākrikāṃścaiva kṣībonmattānkuśīlavān |
bāhyānkuryānnaraśreṣṭha doṣāya syurhi te'nyathā || 49 ||

12.69.50

catvareṣu ca tīrtheṣu sabhāsvāvasatheṣu ca |
yathārhavarṇaṃ praṇidhiṃ kuryātsarvatra pārthivaḥ || 50 ||

12.69.51

viśālānrājamārgāṃśca kārayeta narādhipaḥ |
prapāśca vipaṇīścaiva yathoddeśaṃ samādiśet || 51 ||

12.69.52

bhāṇḍāgārāyudhāgārāndhānyāgārāṃśca sarvaśaḥ |
aśvāgārāngajāgārānbalādhikaraṇāni ca || 52 ||

Depots (of diverse necessaries), arsenals, camps and quarters for soldiers, stations for the keeping of horses and elephants, encampments of soldiers, trenches, streets and bypaths, houses and gardens for retirement and pleasure, should be so ordered that their sites may not be known to others, O Yudhishthira. A king who is afflicted by a hostile army should gather wealth, and store oil and fat and honey, and clarified butter, and medicines of all kinds, and charcoal and munja grass, leaves, arrows, scribes and draftsmen, grass, fuel, poisoned arrows, weapons of every kind such as darts, swords, lances, and others. The king should store such articles. He should especially keep ready drugs of every kind, roots and fruits, the four kinds of physicians, actors and dancers, athletes, and persons capable of assuming diverse disguises. He should decorate his capital and gladden all his subjects. The king should lose no time in bringing under his control such persons as may happen to inspire him with fear, be they his servants or counsellors or citizens or neighbouring monarchs. After any task of the king has been accomplished, he should reward that those that have aided in its accomplishment with wealth and other proportionate gifts and thankful speeches. It has been laid down in the scriptures, O delighter of the Kurus, that a king pays off his debt when he discomfits his foe or slays him outright. A king should take care of seven things. Listen to me as I recite them.

12.69.53

parikhāścaiva kauravya pratolīḥ saṃkaṭāni ca |
na jātu kaścitpaśyettu guhyametadyudhiṣṭhira || 53 ||

12.69.54

atha saṃnicayaṃ kuryādrājā parabalārditaḥ |
tailaṃ madhu ghṛtaṃ sasyamauṣadhāni ca sarvaśaḥ || 54 ||

12.69.55

aṅgārakuśamuñjānāṃ palāśaśaraparṇinām |
yavasendhanadigdhānāṃ kārayeta ca saṃcayān || 55 ||

12.69.56

āyudhānāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ śaktyṛṣṭiprāsavarmaṇām |
saṃcayānevamādīnāṃ kārayeta narādhipaḥ || 56 ||

12.69.57

auṣadhāni ca sarvāṇi mūlāni ca phalāni ca |
caturvidhāṃśca vaidyānvai saṃgṛhṇīyādviśeṣataḥ || 57 ||

12.69.58

naṭāśca nartakāścaiva mallā māyāvinastathā |
śobhayeyuḥ puravaraṃ modayeyuśca sarvaśaḥ || 58 ||

12.69.59

yataḥ śaṅkā bhaveccāpi bhṛtyato vāpi mantritaḥ |
paurebhyo nṛpatervāpi svādhīnānkārayeta tān || 59 ||

12.69.60

kṛte karmaṇi rājendra pūjayeddhanasaṃcayaiḥ |
mānena ca yathārheṇa sāntvena vividhena ca || 60 ||

12.69.61

nirvedayitvā tu paraṃ hatvā vā kurunandana |
gatānṛṇyo bhavedrājā yathā śāstreṣu darśitam || 61 ||

12.69.62

rājñā saptaiva rakṣyāṇi tāni cāpi nibodha me |
ātmāmātyaśca kośaśca daṇḍo mitrāṇi caiva hi || 62 ||

12.69.63

tathā janapadaścaiva puraṃ ca kurunandana |
etatsaptātmakaṃ rājyaṃ paripālyaṃ prayatnataḥ || 63 ||

They are his own self, his counsellors, his treasury, his machinery for awarding punishments, his friends, his provinces, and his capital. He should with care protect his kingdom which consists of these seven limbs. That king, O tiger among men, who is conversant with the aggregate of six, the triple aggregate, and the high aggregate of three, succeeds in winning the sovereignty of the whole earth. Listen, O Yudhishthira, to what has been called the aggregate of six. These are ruling in peace after concluding a treaty (with the foe), marching to battle, producing disunion among the foe, concentration of forces, for inspiring the foe with fear, preparedness for war with readiness for peace, and alliance with others. Listen now with attention to what has been called the triple aggregate. They are decrease, maintenance of what is, and growth. The high aggregate of three consists of Virtue, Profit and Pleasure. These should be pursued judiciously. By the aid of virtue, a king succeeds in ruling the earth for ever. Touching this matter, Angirasa's son: Vrihaspati himself has sung two verses. Blessed be thou, O son of Devaki, it behoveth thee to hear them. 'Having discharged all his duties and having protected the earth, and having also protected his cities, a king attains to great happiness in heaven. What are penances to that king, and what need has he of sacrifices who protects his people properly? Such a king should be regarded as one conversant with every virtue!'

12.69.64

ṣāḍguṇyaṃ ca trivargaṃ ca trivargamaparaṃ tathā |
yo vetti puruṣavyāghra sa bhunakti mahīmimām || 64 ||

12.69.65

ṣāḍguṇyamiti yatproktaṃ tannibodha yudhiṣṭhira |
saṃdhāyāsanamityeva yātrāsaṃdhānameva ca || 65 ||

12.69.66

vigṛhyāsanamityeva yātrāṃ saṃparigṛhya ca |
dvaidhībhāvastathānyeṣāṃ saṃśrayo'tha parasya ca || 66 ||

12.69.67

trivargaścāpi yaḥ proktastamihaikamanāḥ śṛṇu |
kṣayaḥ sthānaṃ ca vṛddhiśca trivargamaparaṃ tathā || 67 ||

12.69.68

dharmaścārthaśca kāmaśca sevitavyo'tha kālataḥ |
dharmeṇa hi mahīpālaściraṃ pālayate mahīm || 68 ||

12.69.69

asminnarthe ca yau ślokau gītāvaṅgirasā svayam |
yādavīputra bhadraṃ te śrotumarhasi tāvapi || 69 ||

12.69.70

kṛtvā sarvāṇi kāryāṇi samyaksaṃpālya medinīm |
pālayitvā tathā paurānparatra sukhamedhate || 70 ||

12.69.71

kiṃ tasya tapasā rājñaḥ kiṃ ca tasyādhvarairapi |
apālitāḥ prajā yasya sarvā dharmavinākṛtāḥ || 71 ||