वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो राज्ञाभ्यनुज्ञातो धृतराष्ट्रः प्रतापवान्। ययौ स्वभवनं राजा गान्धार्यानुगतस्तदा।॥
Vaishampayana said son Having received the kings' permission, the highly energetic king Dhritarastra, then, went to his own palace, followed by Gandhari.
मन्दप्राणगतिर्धीमान् कृच्छ्रादिव समुद्वहन्। पदातिः स महीपालो जीर्णो गजपतिर्यथा॥
With weakened strength and slow motion, that highly intelligent king walked with difficulty, like the leader, exhausted with age, of an elephantine herd.
तमन्वगच्छद् विदुरो विद्वान् सूतश्च संजयः। स चापि परमेष्वासः कृपः शारद्वतस्तथा॥
He was followed by the highly learned Vidura, and his charioteer Sanjaya, as also that powerful bowman Kripa the of Sharadvata.
स प्रविश्य गृहं राजन् कृतपूर्वाहिकक्रियः। तर्पयित्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठानाहारमकरोत् तदा॥
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॥
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 कृताहारा: सर्वे ते विदुरादयः। पाण्डवाश्च कुरुश्रेष्ठमुपातिष्ठन्त तं नृपम्॥
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॥ अप्रमादस्त्वया कार्यः सर्वथा कुरुनन्दन। अष्टाङ्गे राजशार्दूल राज्ये धर्मपुरस्कृते॥
Then the son of Ambika, O monarch, addressing Kunti's son, who was seated near him, and touching his back with his hand, said, 'You should always, O delighter of the Kurus, act vigilantly about everything connected with your kingdom consisting of eight limbs, o foremost of kings, and in which the claims of virtue should ever be kept foremost.
तत्त शक्यं महाराज रक्षितुं पाण्डुनन्दन। राज्यं धर्मेण कौन्तेय विद्वानसि निबोध तत्॥
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.
विद्यावृद्धान् सदैव त्वमुपासीथा युधिष्ठिर। शृणुयास्ते च यद् ब्रूयुः कुर्याश्चैवाविचारयन्॥
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 तान् राजन् पूजयित्वा यथाविधि। कृत्यकाले समुत्पन्ने पृच्छेथाः कार्यमात्मनः॥
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 सम्मानिता राजंस्त्वया कार्यहितार्थिना। प्रवक्ष्यन्ति हितं तात सर्वथा तव भारत॥
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 वाजिवत् परिपालय। हितायैव भविष्यन्ति रक्षित द्रविणं यथा॥
You should always keep your senses as you keep your horses. They will then prove beneficial to you, like riches that is not wasted.
अमात्यानुपधातीतान् पितृपैतामहाशुचीन्। दान्तान् कर्मसु पुण्यांश्च पुण्यान् सर्वेषु योजयेः॥
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.
चारयेयाश्च सततं चारैरविदितः परैः। परीक्षितैर्बहुविधैः स्वराष्ट्रप्रतिवासिभिः॥
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 स्याद् दृढप्राकारतोरणम्। अट्टाट्टालकसम्बाधं षट्पदं सर्वतोदिशम्॥
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 सर्वाणि पर्याप्तानि बृहन्ति च। सर्वतः सुविभक्तानि यन्त्रैरारक्षितानि च॥
The gates should all be large and sufficiently strong. Kept in proper places, those gates should be carefully guarded.
पुरुषैरलमर्थस्ते विदितैः कुलशीलतः। आत्मा च रक्ष्यः सततं भोजनादिषु भारत॥ विहाराहारकालेषु माल्यशय्यासनेषु च। स्त्रियश्च ते सुगुप्ताः स्युर्वृद्धराप्तैरधिष्ठिताः॥ शीलवद्भिः कुलीनैश्च विद्वद्धिश्च युधिष्ठिर।
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 द्विजान् विद्याविशारदान्॥ विनीतांश्च कुलीनांश्च धर्मार्थकुशलानृजून्।
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।
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।
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 मनुष्यानुसारिणः॥ सर्वे मन्त्रगृहे वा ये चापि जडपङ्गवः।
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 शक्या: समाधातुं कथंचिदिति मे मतिः।
I think that the evils which originate from the divulgence of the counsels of kings are such that they cannot be remedied.
दोषांश्च मन्त्रभेदस्य ब्रूयास्त्वं मन्त्रिमण्डले॥ अभेदे च गुणा राजन् पुनः पुनररिंदम।
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 न शौचाशौचे युधिष्ठिर॥ यथा स्याद् विदितं राजंस्तथा कार्यं कुरूद्वह।
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.
व्यवहरश्च ते राजन् नित्यमाप्तैरधिष्ठितः॥ योज्यस्तुष्टैर्हितै राजन् नित्यं चारैरनुष्ठितः।
Let your laws, O king, be always administered by trusted judges placed in charge thereof, who should also be contented and of good conduct. Their acts should also be ascertained by you through spies.
परिमाणं विदित्वा च दण्डं दण्ड्येषु भारत॥ प्रणयेयुर्यथान्यायं पुरुषास्ते युधिष्ठिर।
Let your judicial officers, O Yudhishthira, mete out punishments, according to the law, on offenders after careful determining the gravity of the offenses.
आदानरुचयश्चैव परदाराभिमर्शिनः॥ उग्रदण्डप्रधानाश्च मिथ्या व्याहारिणस्तथा। आक्रोष्टारश्च लुब्धश्च हर्तारः साहसप्रियाः।॥ समाविहारभेत्तारो वर्णानां च प्रदूषकाः।
They who take bribes, they who are the violators of the chastity of other peoples' wives, they who inflict heavy punishments, they who are liars, they who are revelers, they who are stained by cupidity, they who are murderers, they who are doers of rash deeds, they who are disturbers of assemblies and the sports of others, and they who brings about a confusion of castes, should, according to considerations of time and place, be punished with either fines or death.
हिरण्यदण्ड्या वध्याश्च कर्तव्या देशकालतः॥ प्रातरेव हि पश्येथा ये कुर्युर्व्ययकर्म ते।
In the morning you should see those who are employed in making your disbursements. After that you should look to your toilet and then to your food.
अलंकारमथो भोज्यमत ऊर्ध्वं समाचरेः॥ पश्येथाश्च ततो योधान् सदा त्वं प्रतिहर्षयन्।
You should next supervise your arms, pleasing them on every occasion. You should devote your evenings to envoys and spies.
दूतानां च चराणां च प्रदोषस्ते सदा भवेत्॥ सदा चापररात्रान्ते भवेत् कार्यार्थनिर्णयः। मध्यरात्रे विहारस्ते मध्याह्ने च सदा भवेत्॥
The latter end of the night should be devoted by you to settle what acts should be done by you in the day. Midnight's and midday's should be devoted to amusements and sports. At all times, however, you should think of the means for the execution your projects.
सर्वे त्वौपयिकाः कालाः कार्याणां भरतर्षभ। तथैवालंकृतः काले तिष्ठेथा भूरिदक्षिण॥
At the proper time, adorning your body, you should sit prepared to make gifts in profusion. The turns for different deeds, O son, ceaselessly revolve like wheels.
चक्रवत् तात कार्याणां पर्यायो दृश्यते सदा। कोशस्य निचये यत्नं कुर्वीथा न्यायतः सदा॥
You should do your best to fill your treasuries of various kinds by fair means. You should avoid all unlawful means for that purpose.
विपिधस्य महाराज विपरीतं विवर्जयेः। चारैर्विदित्वा शुज्रेश्च ये राज्ञामन्तरैषिणः॥
Learning through your spies who your enemies are, who are bent on finding out your shortcoming, you should, through trusted agents, cause them to be destroyed from a distance.
तानाप्तैः पुरुषैर्दूराद् घातयेथा नराधिप। कर्म दृष्ट्वाथ भृत्यांस्त्वं वरयेथाः कुरूद्वह॥
Examining their conduct, you should, O perpetuator of Kuru's race, appoint your servants. You should cause all your deeds to be accomplished through your servitors whether they are appointed for those acts or not.
कारयेयाश्च कर्माणि युक्तायुक्तैरधिष्ठितैः। सेनाप्रणेता च भवेत् तव तात दृढव्रतः॥
The commandant of your army should be of firm conduct, courageous, capable of bearing hardships, loyal, and devoted to your wellbeing.
शूरः क्लेशसहश्चैव हितो भक्तश्च पूरुषः। सर्वे जनपदाश्चैव तव कर्माणि पाण्डव॥
Artisans and mechanics, O son of Pandu, living in your provinces, should always do your acts like kine and asses.
गोवद्रासभवश्चैव कुर्युर्ये व्यवहारिणः। स्वरन्ध्र पररन्धं च स्वेषु चैव परेषु च॥ उपलक्षयितव्यं ते नित्यमेव युधिष्ठिर।
You should always, O Yudhishthira, be careful to ascertain your own shortcomings as also those of your enemies. The shortcomings also of your own men as also of the men of your enemies should equally be known.
देशजाश्चैव पुरुषा विक्रान्ताः स्वेषु कर्मसु॥ यात्राभिरनुरूपाभिरनुग्राह्या हितास्त्वया।
Those men of your kingdom, who are wellskilled in their respective callings, and are devoted to your good, should be patronized by you with adequate means of support.
गुणार्थिनां गुणः कार्यो विदुषां वै जनाधिप। अविचार्याश्च ते ते स्युरचला इव नित्यशः॥
A wise king, O chief of men, should always see that the accomplishments of his subjects might be kept up. They would then be firinly devoted to you, seeing that they did not fall away from their skill