Mahabharata 4.4: caturtho'dhyāyaḥ

4.4.1

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |
karmāṇyuktāni yuṣmābhiryāni tāni kariṣyatha |
mama cāpi yathābuddhi rucitāni viniścayāt || 1 ||

Yudhishthira said, "Ye have already said what offices ye will respectively perform. I also, according to the measure of my sense, have said what office I will perform. Let our priest, accompanied by charioteers and cooks, repair to the abode of Drupada, and there maintain our Agnihotra fires. And let Indrasena and the others, taking with then the empty cars, speedily proceeded to Dwaravati. Even this is my wish. And let all these maid-servants of Draupadi go to the Panchalas, with our charioteers and cooks. And let all of them say,--We do not know where the Pandavas have gone leaving us at the lake of Dwaitavana."

4.4.2

purohito'yamasmākamagnihotrāṇi rakṣatu |
sūdapaurogavaiḥ sārdhaṃ drupadasya niveśane || 2 ||

4.4.3

indrasenamukhāśceme rathānādāya kevalān |
yāntu dvāravatīṃ śīghramiti me vartate matiḥ || 3 ||

4.4.4

imāśca nāryo draupadyāḥ sarvaśaḥ paricārikāḥ |
pāñcālāneva gacchantu sūdapaurogavaiḥ saha || 4 ||

4.4.5

sarvairapi ca vaktavyaṃ na prajñāyanta pāṇḍavāḥ |
gatā hyasmānapākīrya sarve dvaitavanāditi || 5 ||

4.4.6

dhaumya uvāca |
vidite cāpi vaktavyaṃ suhṛdbhiranurāgataḥ |
ato'hamapi vakṣyāmi hetumātraṃ nibodhata || 6 ||

Vaisampayana said, "Having thus taken counsel of one another and told one another the offices they would discharge, the Pandavas sought Dhaumya's advice. And Dhaumya also gave them advice in the following words, saying, Ye sons of Pandu, the arrangements ye have made regarding the Brahmanas, yours friends, cars, weapons, and the (sacred) fires, are excellent. But it behoveth thee, O Yudhishthira, and Arjuna specially, to make provision for the protection of Draupadi. Ye king, ye are well-acquainted with the characters of men. Yet whatever may be your knowledge, friends may from affection be permitted to repeat what is already known. Even this is subservient to the eternal interests of virtue, pleasure, and profit. I shall, therefore speak to you something. Mark ye. To dwell with a king is, alas, difficult. I shall tell you, ye princes, how ye may reside in the royal household, avoiding every fault. Ye Kauravas, honourably or otherwise, ye will have to pass this year in the king's palace, undiscovered by those that know you. Then in the fourteenth year, ye will live happy. O son of Pandu, in this world, that cherisher and protector of all beings, the king, who is a deity in an embodied form, is as a great fire sanctified with all the mantras. One should present himself before the king, after having obtained his permission at the gate. No one should keep contact with royal secrets. Nor should one desire a seat which another may covet.

4.4.7

hantemāṃ rājavasatiṃ rājaputrā bravīmi vaḥ |
yathā rājakulaṃ prāpya caranpreṣyo na riṣyati || 7 ||

4.4.8

durvasaṃ tveva kauravyā jānatā rājaveśmani |
amānitaiḥ sumānārhā ajñātaiḥ parivatsaram || 8 ||

4.4.9

diṣṭadvāro labheddvāraṃ na ca rājasu viśvaset |
tadevāsanamanvicchedyatra nābhiṣajetparaḥ || 9 ||

4.4.10

nāsya yānaṃ na paryaṅkaṃ na pīṭhaṃ na gajaṃ ratham |
ārohetsaṃmato'smīti sa rājavasatiṃ vaset || 10 ||

He who doth not, regarding himself to be a favourite, occupy (the king's) car, or coach, or seat, or vehicle, or elephant, is alone worthy of dwelling in a royal household. He that sits not upon a seat the occupation of which is calculated raise alarm in the minds of malicious people, is alone worthy of dwelling in a royal household. No one should, unasked offer counsel (to a king). Paying homage in season unto the king, one should silently and respectfully sit beside the king, for kings take umbrage at babblers, and disgrace laying counsellors. A wise person should not contact friendship with the king's wife, nor with the inmates of the inner apartments, nor with those that are objects of royal displeasure. One about the king should do even the most unimportant acts and with the king's knowledge. Behaving thus with a sovereign, one doth not come by harm. Even if an individual attain the highest office, he should, as long as he is not asked or commanded, consider himself as born-blind, having regard to the king's dignity, for O repressers of foes, the rulers of men do not forgive even their sons and grandsons and brothers when they happen to tamper with their dignity. Kings should be served with regardful care, even as Agni and other god; and he that is disloyal to his sovereign, is certainly destroyed by him. Renouncing anger, and pride, and negligence, it behoveth a man to follow the course directed by the monarch.

4.4.11

atha yatrainamāsīnaṃ śaṅkeranduṣṭacāriṇaḥ |
na tatropaviśejjātu sa rājavasatiṃ vaset || 11 ||

4.4.12

na cānuśiṣyedrājānamapṛcchantaṃ kadācana |
tūṣṇīṃ tvenamupāsīta kāle samabhipūjayan || 12 ||

4.4.13

asūyanti hi rājāno janānanṛtavādinaḥ |
tathaiva cāvamanyante mantriṇaṃ vādinaṃ mṛṣā || 13 ||

4.4.14

naiṣāṃ dāreṣu kurvīta maitrīṃ prājñaḥ kathaṃcana |
antaḥpuracarā ye ca dveṣṭi yānahitāśca ye || 14 ||

4.4.15

vidite cāsya kurvīta kāryāṇi sulaghūnyapi |
evaṃ vicarato rājño na kṣatirjāyate kvacit || 15 ||

4.4.16

yatnāccopacaredenamagnivaddevavacca ha |
anṛtenopacīrṇo hi hiṃsyādenamasaṃśayam || 16 ||

4.4.17

yacca bhartānuyuñjīta tadevābhyanuvartayet |
pramādamavahelāṃ ca kopaṃ ca parivarjayet || 17 ||

4.4.18

samarthanāsu sarvāsu hitaṃ ca priyameva ca |
saṃvarṇayettadevāsya priyādapi hitaṃ vadet || 18 ||

After carefully deliberating on all things, a person should set forth before the king those topics that are both profitable and pleasant; but should a subject be profitable without being pleasant, he should still communicate it, despite its disagreeableness. It behoveth a man to be well-disposed towards the king in all his interests, and not to indulge in speech that is alike unpleasant and profitless. Always thinking--I am not liked by the king--one should banish negligence, and be intent on bringing about what is agreeable and advantageous to him. He that swerveth not from his place, he that is not friendly to those that are hostile to the king, he that striveth not to do wrong to the king, is alone worthy to dwell in a royal household. A learned man should sit either on the king's right or the left; he should not sit behind him for that is the place appointed for armed guards, and to sit before him is always interdicted. Let none, when the king is engaged in doing anything (in respect of his servants) come forward pressing himself zealously before others, for even if the aggrieved be very poor, such conduct would still be inexcusable. It behoveth no man to reveal to others any lie the king may have told inasmuch as the king bears ill will to those that report his falsehoods. Kings also always disregard persons that regard themselves as learned.

4.4.19

anukūlo bhaveccāsya sarvārtheṣu kathāsu ca |
apriyaṃ cāhitaṃ yatsyāttadasmai nānuvarṇayet || 19 ||

4.4.20

nāhamasya priyo'smīti matvā seveta paṇḍitaḥ |
apramattaśca yattaśca hitaṃ kuryātpriyaṃ ca yat || 20 ||

4.4.21

nāsyāniṣṭāni seveta nāhitaiḥ saha saṃvaset |
svasthānānna vikampeta sa rājavasatiṃ vaset || 21 ||

4.4.22

dakṣiṇaṃ vātha vāmaṃ vā pārśvamāsīta paṇḍitaḥ |
rakṣiṇāṃ hyāttaśastrāṇāṃ sthānaṃ paścādvidhīyate |
nityaṃ vipratiṣiddhaṃ tu purastādāsanaṃ mahat || 22 ||

4.4.23

na ca saṃdarśane kiṃcitpravṛddhamapi saṃjapet |
api hyetaddaridrāṇāṃ vyalīkasthānamuttamam || 23 ||

4.4.24

na mṛṣābhihitaṃ rājño manuṣyeṣu prakāśayet |
yaṃ cāsūyanti rājānaḥ puruṣaṃ na vadecca tam || 24 ||

4.4.25

śūro'smīti na dṛptaḥ syādbuddhimāniti vā punaḥ |
priyamevācaranrājñaḥ priyo bhavati bhogavān || 25 ||

No man should be proud thinking--I am brave, or, I am intelligent, but a person obtains the good graces of a king and enjoys the good things of life, by behaving agreeably to the wishes of the king. And, O Bharata, obtaining things agreeable, and wealth also which is so hard to acquire, a person should always do what is profitable as well as pleasant to the king. What man that is respected by the wise can even think of doing mischief to one whose ire is great impediment and whose favour is productive of mighty fruits? No one should move his lips, arms and thighs, before the king. A person should speak and spit before the king only mildly. In the presence of even laughable objects, a man should not break out into loud laughter, like a maniac; nor should one show (unreasonable) gravity by containing himself, to the utmost. One should smile modestly, to show his interest (in what is before him). He that is ever mindful of the king's welfare, and is neither exhilarated by reward nor depressed by disgrace, is alone worthy of dwelling in a royal household. That learned courtier who always pleaseth the king and his son with agreeable speeches, succeedeth in dwelling in a royal household as a favourite. The favourite courtier who, having lost the royal favour for just reason, does not speak evil of the king, regains prosperity. The man who serveth the king or liveth in his domains, if sagacious, should speak in praise of the king, both in his presence and absence.

4.4.26

aiśvaryaṃ prāpya duṣprāpaṃ priyaṃ prāpya ca rājataḥ |
apramatto bhavedrājñaḥ priyeṣu ca hiteṣu ca || 26 ||

4.4.27

yasya kopo mahābādhaḥ prasādaśca mahāphalaḥ |
kastasya manasāpīcchedanarthaṃ prājñasaṃmataḥ || 27 ||

4.4.28

na coṣṭhau nirbhujejjātu na ca vākyaṃ samākṣipet |
sadā kṣutaṃ ca vātaṃ ca ṣṭhīvanaṃ cācarecchanaiḥ || 28 ||

4.4.29

hāsyavastuṣu cāpyasya vartamāneṣu keṣucit |
nātigāḍhaṃ prahṛṣyeta na cāpyunmattavaddhaset || 29 ||

4.4.30

na cātidhairyeṇa caredgurutāṃ hi vrajettathā |
smitaṃ tu mṛdupūrveṇa darśayeta prasādajam || 30 ||

4.4.31

lābhe na harṣayedyastu na vyathedyo'vamānitaḥ |
asaṃmūḍhaśca yo nityaṃ sa rājavasatiṃ vaset || 31 ||

4.4.32

rājānaṃ rājaputraṃ vā saṃvartayati yaḥ sadā |
amātyaḥ paṇḍito bhūtvā sa ciraṃ tiṣṭhati śriyam || 32 ||

4.4.33

pragṛhītaśca yo'mātyo nigṛhītaśca kāraṇaiḥ |
na nirbadhnāti rājānaṃ labhate pragrahaṃ punaḥ || 33 ||

4.4.34

pratyakṣaṃ ca parokṣaṃ ca guṇavādī vicakṣaṇaḥ |
upajīvī bhavedrājño viṣaye cāpi yo vaset || 34 ||

4.4.35

amātyo hi balādbhoktuṃ rājānaṃ prārthayettu yaḥ |
na sa tiṣṭhecciraṃ sthānaṃ gacchecca prāṇasaṃśayam || 35 ||

The courtier who attempts to obtain his end by employing force on the king, cannot keep his place long and incurs also the risk of death. None should, for the purpose of self-interest, open communications with the king's enemies. Nor should one distinguish himself above the king in matters requiring ability and talents. He that is always cheerful and strong, brave and truthful, and mild, and of subdued senses, and who followeth his master like his shadow, is alone worthy to dwell in a royal household. He that on being entrusted with a work, cometh forward, saying,--I will do this--is alone worthy of living in a royal household. He that on being entrusted with a task, either within the king's dominion or out of it, never feareth to undertake it, is alone fit to reside in a royal household. He that living away from his home, doth no remember his dear ones, and who undergoeth (present) misery in expectation of (future) happiness, is alone worthy of dwelling in a royal household. One should not dress like the king, nor should one indulge, in laughter in the king's presence nor should one disclose royal secrets. By acting thus one may win royal favour. Commissioned to a task, one should not touch bribes for by such appropriation one becometh liable to fetters or death. The robes, ornaments, cars, and other things which the king may be pleased to bestow should always be used, for by this, one winneth the royal favour.

4.4.36

śreyaḥ sadātmano dṛṣṭvā paraṃ rājñā na saṃvadet |
viśeṣayenna rājānaṃ yogyābhūmiṣu sarvadā || 36 ||

4.4.37

amlāno balavāñśūraśchāyevānapagaḥ sadā |
satyavādī mṛdurdāntaḥ sa rājavasatiṃ vaset || 37 ||

4.4.38

anyasminpreṣyamāṇe tu purastādyaḥ samutpatet |
ahaṃ kiṃ karavāṇīti sa rājavasatiṃ vaset || 38 ||

4.4.39

uṣṇe vā yadi vā śīte rātrau vā yadi vā divā |
ādiṣṭo na vikalpeta sa rājavasatiṃ vaset || 39 ||

4.4.40

yo vai gṛhebhyaḥ pravasanpriyāṇāṃ nānusaṃsmaret |
duḥkhena sukhamanvicchetsa rājavasatiṃ vaset || 40 ||

4.4.41

samaveṣaṃ na kurvīta nātyuccaiḥ saṃnidhau haset |
mantraṃ na bahudhā kuryādevaṃ rājñaḥ priyo bhavet || 41 ||

4.4.42

na karmaṇi niyuktaḥ sandhanaṃ kiṃcidupaspṛśet |
prāpnoti hi harandravyaṃ bandhanaṃ yadi vā vadham || 42 ||

4.4.43

yānaṃ vastramalaṃkāraṃ yaccānyatsaṃprayacchati |
tadeva dhārayennityamevaṃ priyataro bhavet || 43 ||

4.4.44

saṃvatsaramimaṃ tāta tathāśīlā bubhūṣavaḥ |
atha svaviṣayaṃ prāpya yathākāmaṃ cariṣyatha || 44 ||

Ye children, controlling your minds, do ye spend this year, ye sons of Pandu, behaving in this way. Regaining your own kingdom, ye may live as ye please."

4.4.45

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |
anuśiṣṭāḥ sma bhadraṃ te naitadvaktāsti kaścana |
kuntīmṛte mātaraṃ no viduraṃ ca mahāmatim || 45 ||

Yudhishthira said, "We have been well taught by thee. Blessed be thou. There is none that could say so to us, save our mother Kunti and Vidura of great wisdom. It behoveth thee to do all that is necessary now for our departure, and for enabling us to come safely through this woe, as well as for our victory over the foe."

4.4.46

yadevānantaraṃ kāryaṃ tadbhavānkartumarhati |
tāraṇāyāsya duḥkhasya prasthānāya jayāya ca || 46 ||

4.4.47

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
evamuktastato rājñā dhaumyo'tha dvijasattamaḥ |
akarodvidhivatsarvaṃ prasthāne yadvidhīyate || 47 ||

Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Yudhishthira, Dhaumya, that best of Brahmanas, performed according to the ordinance the rites ordained in respect of departure. And lighting up their fires, he offered, with mantras, oblations on them for the prosperity and success of the Pandavas, as for their reconquest of the whole world. And walking round those fires and round the Brahmanas of ascetic wealth, the six set out, placing Yajnaseni in their front. And when those heroes had departed, Dhaumya, that best of ascetics, taking their sacred fires, set out for the Panchalas. And Indrasena, and others already mentioned, went to the Yadavas, and looking after the horses and the cars of the Pandavas passed their time happily and in privacy."

4.4.48

teṣāṃ samidhya tānagnīnmantravacca juhāva saḥ |
samṛddhivṛddhilābhāya pṛthivīvijayāya ca || 48 ||

4.4.49

agniṃ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā brāhmaṇāṃśca tapodhanān |
yājñasenīṃ puraskṛtya ṣaḍevātha pravavrajuḥ || 49 ||