Matsya Purana 216.3

216.3

anukūlaṃ priyaṃ tasya vaktavyaṃ janasaṃsadi.
raho gatasya vaktavyamapriyaṃ yaddhitaṃ bhavet .. 216.3 ..

A servant of the State should carefully listen to what the king says and never interrupt him in his speech. In an assemblage he should speak sweet and agreeable words to the king and unsavoury things that may be unavoidable and necessary for his well being should be communicated to him privately When a sovereign is of a peaceful disposition he may then be approached with a prayer of conferring any favour upon some one but no prayer should be made for one s ownself Such a prayer should always be made through some friend He should be specially careful that one s duty should not be neglected He should not overwork any one, nor should he misappropriate any money He should never shew any indifference to the honours conferred by the sovereign and should always try to keep himself in his good graces. He should never imitate the king in his dress mode of talking nor any other actions He should avoid what is not pleasing to him and should not equal or excel him in dress —2 7