युधिष्ठिर उवाच पार्थिवेन विशेषेण किं कार्यमवशिष्यते। कथं रक्ष्यो जनपदः कथं जेयाश्च शत्रवः॥
Yudhishthira said 'What other special duties remain for the king to satisfy? How should he protect his kingdom and how vanquish his foes.
कथं चारं प्रयुञ्जीत वर्णान् विश्वासयेत् कथम्। कथं भृत्यान् कथं दारान् कथं पुत्रांश्च भारत॥
How should he engage his spies? How should he create confidence in the four orders of his subjects, his own servants, wives, and sons, O Bharata?
भीष्म उवाच राजवृत्तं महाराज शृणुष्वावहितोऽखिलम्। यत् कार्यं पार्थिवेनादौ पार्थिवप्रकृतेन वा॥
Bhishma said 'Listen, O king, with attention to the various duties of kings,-to those acts which the king or one who is in his position should first do.
आत्मा जेयः सदा राज्ञा ततो जेयाश्च शत्रवः। अजितात्मा नरपतिविजयेत कथं रिपून्॥
The king should first conquer himself and then try to subdue his enemies. He can a king who has not been able to conquer his own self be able to conquer his enemies?
एतावानात्मविजयः पञ्चवर्गविनिग्रहः। जितेन्द्रियो नरपतिर्बाधितुं शक्नुयादरी॥
The conquest of these, viz., the five objects, is tantamount to the conquest of self. The king who has governed his senses is capable to resist his enemies.
न्यसेत गुल्मान् दुर्गेषु सन्धौ च कुरुनन्दन। नगरोपवने चैव पुरोद्यानेषु चैव ह॥ संस्थानेषु च सर्वेषु पुरेषु नगरेषु च। मध्ये च नरशार्दूल तथा राजनिवेशने॥
He should place infantry 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 foremost of men.
प्रणिधींश्च ततः कुर्याज्जडान्धबधिराकृतीन्। पुंसः परीक्षितान् प्राज्ञान् क्षुत्पिपासाश्रमक्षयान्॥
He should appoint as spies men looking like idiots or like those who are blind and deaf. These should all be well-tried persons who are endued with wisdom, and who are able to bear hunger and thirst.
अमात्येषु च सर्वेषु मित्रेषु विविधेषु च। पुत्रेषु च महाराज प्रणिदध्यात् समाहितः॥ पुरे जनपदे चैव तथा सामन्तराजसु। यथा न विद्युरन्योन्यं प्रणिधेयास्तथा हि ते॥
With proper attention the king should engage his spies to watch the actions of all his counsellors and friends and sons, in his city and the provinces, and in the territories of feudatory chiefs. His spies should be so employed that they may not know one another.
चारांश्च विद्यात् प्रहितान् पुरेण भरतर्षभ। आपणेषु विहारेषु समाजेषु च भिक्षुषु॥ आरामेषु तथोद्याने पण्डितानां समागमे। देशेषु चत्वरे चैव सभास्वावसथेषु च॥
He should also, O foremost of Bharatas, know the spies of his enemies by himself placing spies in shops and places of amusement, amid gatherings of people, among beggars, in his pleasure gardens and parks, in meetings and assemblages of the learned, in the country, in public places, in the court, and in the houses of the citizens.
एवं विचिनुयाद् राजा परचारं विचक्षणः। चारे हि विदिते पूर्वं हितं भवति पाण्डव॥
An intelligent king may thus ascertain the spies sent by his enemies. If these be known, the king may derive iinmense benefit, O son of Pandu.
यदा तु हीनं नृपतिर्विद्यादात्मानमात्मना। अमात्यैः सह सम्मन्त्र्य कुर्यात् संधि बलीयसा॥
When the king, after seeing everything finds himself weak, he should then, consulting with his ministers make peace with a stronger foe.
अज्ञायमाने हीनत्वे संधिं कुर्यात् परेण वै। लिप्सुर्वा कंचिदेवार्थं त्वरमाणो विचक्षणः॥
The wise king should quickly make peace with enemies even when he knows that he is not weak, if he can derive any advantage out of it.
गुणवन्तो महोत्साहा धर्मज्ञाः साधवश्च ये। संदधीत नृपस्तैश्च राष्ट्र धर्मेण पालयन्॥
Engaged in protecting his kingdom piously the king should make peace with accomplished persons capable of great work, virtuous and honest.
उच्छिद्यमानमात्मानं ज्ञात्वा राजा महामतिः। पूर्वापकारिणो हन्याल्लोकद्विशंश्च सर्वशः॥
When the king finds himself overtaken with danger and about to be ruined, he should kill all offenders whom he had overlooked before and all such persons as are marked out by the people.
यो नोपकर्तुं शक्नोति नोपकर्तुं महीपतिः। न शक्यरूपश्चोद्धर्तुमुपेक्ष्यस्तादृशो भवेत्॥
A king should not deal with a person who can neither benefit nor injure him, or with one who cannot save himself from distress,
यात्रायां यदि विज्ञातमनाक्रन्दमनन्तरम्। व्यासक्तं च प्रमत्तं च दुर्बलं च विचक्षणः॥ यात्रामाज्ञापयेद् वीरः कल्यः पुष्टबलः सुखी। पूर्वं कृत्वा विधानं च यात्रायां नगरे तथा॥
As regards military operations, a king, who knows his own strength, should, commanding a large army cheerfully and courageously give the order to march, without announcing his destination, against one shorn of allies and friends or already at war with another and hence careless or one weaker than himself, having first made arrangements for the protection of his own city.
न च वश्यो भवेदस्य नृपो यश्चातिवीर्यवान्। हीनश्च बलवीर्याभ्यां कर्षयंस्तत्परो वसेत्॥
A king should not for ever live under a more powerful king. Though weak, he should try to assail the stronger and resolved upon this continue to rule his own.
राष्ट्रं च पीडयेत् तस्य शस्त्राग्निविषमूर्च्छनैः। अमात्यवल्लभानां च विवादास्तस्य कारयेत्॥
He should assail the kingdom of the stronger one by neans of weapons fire, and the administering of poison. He should also create dissensions amongst his ministers and servants.
वर्जनीयं सदा युद्धं राज्यकामेन धीमता। उपायैस्त्रिभिरादानमर्थस्याह बृहस्पतिः॥
Brihaspati has said that an intelligent king should always avoid war for the acquisition of territory. The acquisition of territories should be made by the three well-known means (of conciliation, gift, and dissension).
सान्त्वेन तु प्रदानेन भेदेन च नराधिप। यदर्थं शक्नुयात् प्राप्तुं तेन तुष्येत पण्डितः॥
The wise king should be satisfied with those acquisitions that are made by means of conciliation, gift, and dissension.
आददीत बलिं चापि प्रजाभ्यः कुरुनन्दन। स षड्भागमपि प्राज्ञस्तासामेवाभिगुप्तये॥
The king, O delighter of the Kurus, should take a sixth of the incomes of his subjects as tribute for performing the duties of their protection.
दशधर्मतेभ्यो यद् वसु बह्वल्पमेव च। तदाददीत सहसा पौराणां रक्षणाय वै॥
He should also take away by force the wealth, much or little, of the ten sorts of offenders mentioned in the scriptures, for the protection of his subjects.
यथा पुत्रास्तथा पौत्रा द्रष्टव्यास्ते न संशयः। भक्तिश्चैषां न कर्तव्या व्यवहारे प्रदर्शिते॥
A king should, forsooth, consider his subjects as his own children. In settling their disputes, however, he should not show any mercy.
श्रोतुं चैव न्यसेद् राजा प्राज्ञान् सर्वार्थदर्शिनः। व्यवहारेषु सततं तत्र राज्यं प्रतिष्ठितम्॥
For hearing the charges and defences in judicial suits, the king should always appoint wise persons endued with a knowledge of worldly affairs, for the state really depends upon a proper administration of justice.
आकरे लवणे शुल्के तरे नागबले तथा। न्यसेदमात्यान् नृपतिः स्वाप्तान् वा पुरुषान् हितान्।।२९
The king should appoint honest and trustworthy men to look after his mines, salt, grain, ferries, and elephant corps.
सम्यग्दण्डधरो नित्यं राजा धर्ममवाप्नुयात्। नृपस्य सततं दण्डः सम्यग् धर्मः प्रशस्यते॥
The king, who always judiciously holds the rod of punishment, acquires great merit. The proper regulation of punishment is the great duty of kings and deserves great praise.
वेदवेदाङ्गवित् प्राज्ञः सुतपस्वी नृपो भवेत्। दानशीलश्च सततं यज्ञशीलश्च भारत॥
The king should master the Vedas and their auxiliaries, be possessed of wisdom, engaged in penances, charitable, and devoted to the celebration of sacrifices.
एते गुणाः समस्ताः स्युपस्य सततं स्थिराः। व्यवहारलोपे नृपतेः कुतः स्वर्गः कुतो यशः॥
All these qualities should always be in a king. If the king fails to administer justice, he can neither acquire heaven nor fame.
यदा तु पीडितो राजा भवेद् राजा बलीयसा। तदाभिसंश्रयेद् दुर्गं बुद्धिमान् पृथिवीपतिः॥
If a king be attacked by a stronger one, the former, if intelligent, should seek refuge in a fort.
विधावाक्रम्य मित्राणि विधानमुपकल्पयेत्। सामभेदान् विरोधार्थं विधानमुपकल्पयेत्॥
Collecting his friends for consultation, he should devise proper means. Adopting the policy of conciliation and of creating dissensions, he should devise means for fighting with the assailants.
घोषान् न्यसेत मार्गेषु ग्रामानुत्थापयेदपि। प्रवेशयेच्च तान् सर्वान् शाखानगरकेष्वपि॥
He should place the inhabitants of the woods on the high roads, and, it, necessary, cause whole villages to be removed, removing all the inhabitants of minor towns or on the outskirts of great cities.
ये गुप्ताश्चैव दुर्गाश्च देशास्तेषु प्रवेशयेत्। धनिनो बलमुख्यांश्च सान्त्वयित्वा पुनः पुनः॥
Giving repeated assurances to his wealthy subjects and the principal officers of the army, he should make the dwellers of the open country to take refuge in well-protected forts.
शस्याभिहारं कुर्याच्च स्वयमेव नराधिपः। असम्भवे प्रवेशस्य दहेद् दावाग्निना भृशम्॥
He should deposit all sorts of grain in his forts. If that is impossible, he should destroy them completely by fire.
क्षेत्रस्थेषु च सस्येषु शत्रोरुपजयेन्नरान्। विनाशयेद् वा तत् सर्वं बलेनाथ स्वकेन वा॥
He should engage men for destroying the crops on the fields of the enemy. Failing to do this, he should destroy those crops to do this, he should destroy those crops by means of his own men.
नदीमार्गेषु च तथा संक्रमानवसादयेत्। जलं विस्त्रावयेत् सर्वमविस्त्राव्यं च दूषयेत्॥
He should destroying all the bridges over the rivers in his kingdom. He should draw out the waters of all the tanks in his territories, or, if incapable to do so, cause them to be poisoned.
तदात्वेनायतीभिश्च निवसेद् भूम्यनन्तरम्। प्रतीघातं परस्याजौ मित्रकार्येऽप्युपस्थिते।॥
Disregarding the duty of protecting his friends, he should, considering present and future circumstances, seek the protection of another king who may happen to be the foe of his foe and who may be capable to fight with his enemy on the field of battle.
दुर्गाणां चाभितो राजा मूलच्छेदं प्रकारयेत्। सर्वेषां क्षुद्रवृक्षाणां चैत्यवृक्षान् विवर्जयेत्॥
He should demolish all the minor forts in his kingdom. He should also cut down all the smaller trees except those called Chaitya.
प्रवृद्धानां च वृक्षाणां शाखां प्रच्छेदयेत् तथा। चैत्यानां सर्वथा त्याज्यमपि पत्रस्य पातनम्॥
He should cause the branches of all large threes to be cut off, but he should not touch the very leaves of Chaitya ones.
प्रगण्डीः कारयेत् सम्यगाकाशजननीस्तदा। आपूरयेच्च परिखां स्थाणुनक्रझषाकुलाम्॥
He should erect outer ramparts round his forts, and fill his trenches with water, putting pointed stakes at their bottom and filling them with crocodiles and sharks.
संकटद्वारकाणि स्युरुच्छ्वासार्थं पुरस्य च। तेषां च द्वारवद् गुप्तिः कार्या सर्वात्मना भवेत्॥
He should keep small outlets in his walls for firing guns from his fort, and carefully make arrangements for their defence like that of the greater gates.
द्वारेषु च गुरूण्येव यन्त्राणि स्थापयेत् सदा। आरोपयेच्छतघ्नीश्च स्वाधीनानि च कारयेत्॥
In all his gates he should place destructive engines. He should place on ramparts Shataghnis and other weapons.
काष्ठानि चाभिहार्याणि तथा कूपांश्च खानयेत्। संशोधयेत् तथा कूपान् कृतपूर्वान् पयोऽर्थिभिः॥
He should lay by wood for fuel and dig and repair wells for supply of water to the garrison.
तृणच्छन्नानि वेश्मानि पङ्केनाथ प्रलेपयेत्। निहरेच्च तृणं मासि चैत्रे वह्निभयात् तथा॥
He should have all houses made of grass and straw plastered over with mud, and if it is summer, he should, from fear of fire, collect in a safe place all the stores of grass and straw.
नक्तमेव च भक्तानि पाचयेत नराधिपः। न दिवा ज्वालयेदग्निं वर्जयित्वाऽऽग्निहोत्रिकम्॥
He should order all food to be cooked at night. No fire should be lighted during the day, except for the daily Homa.
कर्मारारिश्शालासु ज्वलेदग्निः सुरक्षितः। गृहाणि च प्रवेश्यान्तर्विधेयः स्याद्भुताशनः॥
Particular care should be taken of the fires lighted in smitheries and lying-in chambers. Fires in the houses of the inhabitants should be well covered.
महादण्डश्च तस्य स्याद् यस्याग्निवै दिवा भवेत्। प्रघोषयेदथैवं च रक्षणार्थं पुरस्य च॥
For the better protection of the city, it should be announced that a person, lighting fires in the day time, will be sufficiently punished.
भिक्षुकांश्चाक्रिकांश्चैव क्लीवोन्मत्तान् कुशीलवान्। बाह्यान् कुर्यान्नरश्रेष्ठ दोषाय स्युर्हि तेऽन्यथा॥
During such times, all beggars, cartmen, eunuchs, lunatics, should, O foremost of men, be driven out of the town, for if they are allowed to remain, evil will come.
चत्वरेष्वथ तीर्थेषु सभास्वावसथेषु च। यथार्थवर्णं प्रणिधिं कुर्यात् सर्वस्य पार्थिवः॥
In places of public resort, in Tirthas, in assemblies and in the houses of the citizens, the king should keep capable spies.
विशालान् राजमार्गाश्च कारयीत नराधिपः। प्रपाश्च विपणांश्चैव यथोद्देशं समाविशेत्॥
The king should have wide roads constructed, and open up shops, and places for the distribution of water, at proper stations.
भाण्डागारायुधागारान् योधागारांश्च सर्वशः। अश्वागारान् गजागारान् बलाधिकरणानि च॥ परिखाश्चैव कौरव्य प्रतोलीनिष्कुटानि च। न जात्वन्यः प्रपश्येत मुह्यमेतद् युधिष्ठिर॥
Shops of necessary articles, arsenals, camps and quarters for soldiers, stables for horses and elephants, encampments, of soldiers, trenches, streets and lanes, houses and pleasure gardens should be so made that their situations may not be known to others, O Yudhishthira.
अर्थसंनिचयं कुर्याद् राजा परबलार्दितः। तैलं वसा मधु घृतमौषधानि च सर्वशः॥
A king, who is attacked by a hostile army, should collect wealth, and store oil and fat and honey, and clarified butter, and medicines of all sorts,
अङ्गारकुशमुजानां पलाशशरवर्णिनाम्। यवसेन्धनादिग्धानां कारयीत च संचयान्॥ आयुधानां च सर्वेषां शक्त्य॒श्विासवर्मणाम्। संचयानेवमादीनां कारयीत नराधिपः॥
And charcoal and munja grass, leaves, arrows, scribes and draftsmen, grass, fuel, poisoned arrows, weapons of all sorts such as darts, swords, lances and others, The king should store such articles.
औषधानि च सर्वाणि मूलानि च फलानि च। चतुर्विधांश्च वैद्यान् वै संगृह्णीयाद् विशेषतः॥ नटांश्च नर्तकांश्चैव मल्लान् मायाविनस्तथा। शोभयेयुः पुरवरं मोदयेयुश्च सर्वशः॥
He should especially keep ready various drugs, roots and fruits, the four kinds of physicians, actors and dancers, athletes, and persons capable of assuming various disguises. He should adorn his capital and please all his subjects.
यतः शङ्का भवेच्चापि भृत्यतोऽथापि मन्त्रितः। पौरेभ्यो नृपतेर्वापि स्वाधीनान् कारयीत तान्॥
The king should speedily subjugate such persons as may cause fear, be they his servants or counsellors or citizens or neighbouring kings.
कृते कर्मणि राजेन्द्र पूजयेद् धनसंचयैः। दानेन च यथार्हेण सान्त्वेन विविधेन च॥
Whenever any of his work is done the king should reward those who have helped in its accomplishment with wealth and other becoming presents and grateful speeches.
निर्वेदयित्वा तु परं हत्वा वा कुरुनन्दन। ततोऽनृणो भवेद् राजा यथा शास्त्रे निदर्शितम्॥
It has been laid down in the scriptures, O delighter of the Kurus, that a king satisfies his debt when he defeats his foe or kills him at once.
राज्ञा सप्तैव रक्ष्याणि तानि चैव निबोध मे। आत्मामात्याश्च कोशाश्च दण्डो मित्राणि चैव हि॥ तथा जनपदाश्चैव पुरं च कुरुनन्दन। एतत् सप्तात्मकं राज्यं परिपाल्यं प्रयत्नतः॥
A king should take care of seven things. Listen to me as I name them. They are his own self, his ministers, his treasury, his servants for inflicting punishments, his friends, his provinces, and his capital. He should carefully protect his kingdom consisting of these seven limbs.
पाङ्गद्धण्यं त्रिवर्गं च त्रिवर्गपरमं तथा। यो वेत्ति पुरुषव्याघ्र स भुक्कते पृथिवीमिमाम्॥
That king, O foremost of man, who is conversant with the collection of six and three objects, and the high collection of three, gains the sovereignty of the whole Earth.
पाड्गुण्यमिति यत् प्रोक्तं तन्निबोध युधिष्ठिर। संधानासनमित्येव यात्रासंधानमेव च॥ विगृह्यासनमित्येव यात्रां सम्परिगृह्य च। द्वैधीभावस्तथान्येषां संश्रयोऽथ परस्य च॥
Hear, O Yudhishthira, what is called the aggregate of six. They are ruling peacefully after making a treaty (with the foe), marching to battle, creating disunion among the enemy, concentration of army for filling the enemy with fear, preparation for war with readiness for peace, and alliances with others.
त्रिवर्गश्चापि यः प्रोक्तस्तमिहैकमनाः शृणु। क्षयः स्थानं च वृद्धिश्च त्रिवर्गः परमस्तथा॥ धर्मश्चार्थश्च कामश्च सेवितव्योऽथ कालतः। धर्मेण च महीपालश्चिरं पालयते महीम्॥
Listen now with attention to what are the triple objects. They are decrease, maintenance of what is, and growth. The great three fold objects consist of religion, Profit and Pleasure. These should be followed judiciously. By the help of religion a king succeeds in ruling the Earth for ever.
अस्मिन्नर्थे च श्लोकौ द्वौ गीतावङ्गिरसा स्वयम्। यादवीपुत्र भद्रं ते तावपि श्रोतुमर्हसि॥
Regarding this matter, Angirasa's son Brihaspati himself has recited two verses. Blessed be you, O son of Devaki, you should
कृत्वा सर्वाणि कार्याणि सम्यक् सम्पाल्य मेदिनीम्। पालयित्वा तथा पौरान् परत्र सुखमेधते॥
'Having satisfied all his duties and having protected the Earth, and having also protected the cities, a king enjoys great happiness in heaven.
किं तस्य तपसा राज्ञः किं च तस्याध्वरैरपि। सुपालितप्रजो यः स्यात् सर्वधर्मविदेव सः॥
Of what use are penances to that king, and what need has he of sacrifices who protects his people properly? Such a king should be known as one conversant with every virtue.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच दण्डनीतिश्च राजा च समस्तौ तावुभावपि। कस्य किं कुर्वतः सिद्ध्येत् तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह॥
Yudhishthira said There is the science of punishment; there is the king, and there are the subjects. Tell me, O grandfather, what advantage is derived by one of those from the others.
भीष्म उवाच महाभाग्यं दण्डनीत्याः सिद्धः शब्दैः सहेतुकैः। शृणु मे शंसतो राजन् यथावदिह भारत॥
Bhishma said Listen to me, O king, as I describe, O Bharata, the great virtues of the science of punishment in weighty and sacred words.
दण्डनीतिः स्वधर्मेभ्यश्चातुर्वण्र्यं नियच्छति। प्रयुक्ता स्वामिना सम्यगधर्मेभ्यो नियच्छति॥
The science of punishment compels all men to satisfy the duties of their respective orders. Properly administered, it compels people to perform virtuous acts.
चातुर्वर्ण्य स्वकर्मस्थे मर्यादानामसंकरे। दण्डनीतिकृते क्षेमे प्रजानामकुतोभये॥ स्वाम्ये प्रयत्नं कुर्वन्ति त्रयो वर्णा यथाविधि। तस्मादेव मनुष्याणां सुखं विद्धि समाहितम्॥
When the four orders perform their respective duties, when all healthy restrictions are kept up, when peace and happiness emanate from the science of punishment when the people are shorn of all fear, and the three higher orders try according to their respective duties, to preserve harmony people become truly happy at such times.
कालो वा कारणं राज्ञो राजा वा कालकारणम्। इति ते संशयो मा भूद् राजा कालस्य कारणम्।।७९।
You should not doubt whether it is the king that makes the age, or, it is the age that makes the king; the truth is that the king makes the age.
दण्डनीत्यां यदा राजा सम्यक् कात्स्न्येन वर्तते। तदा कृतयुगं नाम कालसृष्टं प्रवर्तते॥
When the king rules depending entirely on the science of punishment the foremost of ages called Krita is then said flourish.
ततः कृतयुगे धर्मो नाधर्मो विद्यते क्वचित्। सर्वेषामेव वर्णानां नाधर्मे रमते मनः॥
Righteousness prevails in the Krita age. Nothing unrighteous exists then; the four orders are not inclined to take any pleasure in unrighteousness.
योगक्षेमाः प्रवर्तन्ते प्रजानां नात्र संशयः। वैदिकानि च सर्वाणि भवन्त्यपि गुणान्युत॥
Forsooth, all men succeed in acquiring the objects they seek and preserving those that have been acquired. All the Vedic rites yield merit.
ऋतवश्च सुखाः सर्वे भवन्त्युत निरामयाः। प्रसीदन्ति नराणां च स्वरवर्णमनांसि च॥
All the seasons are delightful and free from evil. The voice pronunciation, and minds of all men became clear and delightful.
व्याधयो न भवन्त्यत्र नाल्पायुर्दृश्यते नरः। विधवा न भवन्त्यत्र कृपणो न तु जायते॥
Ailments disappear and all men enjoy long lives. Wives do not become widows, and no person becomes a miser.
अकृष्टपच्या पृथिवी भवन्त्योषधयस्तथा। त्वक्पत्रफलमूलानि वीर्यवन्ति भवन्ति च॥
The Earth yield crops without being cultivated and herbs and plants grow abundantly. Barks, leaves, fruits, and roots, become strong and profuse.
नाधर्मो विद्यते तत्र धर्म एव तु केवलम्। इति कार्तयुगानेतान् धर्मान् विद्धि युधिष्ठिर।॥
No unrighteousness is seen. Nothing but righteousness exists. These are the characteristics, O Yudhishthira, of the Krita.
दण्डनीत्यां यदा राजा त्रीनंशाननुवर्तते। चतुर्थमंशमुत्सृज्य तदा त्रेता प्रवर्तते॥
When the king depends upon only three of the four parts of the science of punishment leaving out a fourth, the age called Treta sets in.
अशुभस्य चतुर्थांशस्त्रीनंशाननुवर्तते। कृष्टपच्यैव पृथिवी भवन्त्योषधयस्तथा॥
A fourth part of unrighteousness sets in by the observance of the great science by threefourths. The Earth gives crops but waits for cultivation; the herbs and plants grow by cultivation.
अर्धं त्यक्त्वा यदा राजा नीत्यर्धमनुवर्तते। ततस्तु द्वापरं नाम स कालः सम्प्रवर्तते॥
When the king follows the great science by only a half, leaving out the other half, then the age that sets in is called Dvapara.
अशुभस्य यदा त्वधं द्वावंशावनुवर्तते। कृष्टपच्यैव पृथिवी भवत्यर्धफला तथा॥
A half of unrighteousness follows the observance of the great science by half. The Earth yields crops by half and that even by tillage.
दण्डनीतिं परित्यज्य यदा कात्स्येन भूमिपः। प्रजाः क्लिश्नात्ययोगेन प्रवर्तेत तदा कलिः॥
When the king, leaving aside the great science altogether, oppresses his subjects by all manner and means the age that sets in is called Kali.
कलावधर्मो भूयिष्ठं धर्मो भवति न क्वचित्। सर्वेषामेव वर्णानां स्वधर्माच्च्यवते मनः॥
During the age called Kali, unrighteousness assumes the full proportion and nothing of righteousness is seen. The hearts of men of all the orders, are disinclined to their respective duties.
शूद्रा भैक्षेण जीवन्ति ब्राह्मणाः परिचर्यया। योगक्षेमस्य नाशश्च वर्तते वर्णसंकरः॥
Shudras live by adopting lives of mendicancy, and Brahmanas live by serving others. Men cannot acquire the objects they seek and preserve those already acquired. Intermixture of the four castes takes place.
वैदिकानि च कर्माणि भवन्ति विगुणान्युत। ऋतवो न सुखाः सर्वे भवन्त्यामयिनस्तथा॥
Vedic rites fail to yield fruits. All the seasons eases to the delightful and visited by evils.
ह्रसन्ति च मनुष्याणां स्वरवर्णमनांस्युत। व्याधयश्च भवन्त्यत्र म्रियन्ते च गतायुषः॥
The voice, pronunciation, and minds of men lose power. Diseases appear, and men die untimely.
विधवाश्च भवन्त्यत्र नृशंसा जायते प्रजा। क्व चिद् वर्षति पर्जन्यः क्वचित् सस्यं प्ररोहति॥
Wives become widows, and many cruel men appear; the clouds do not rain in seasons and crops fail.
रसाः सर्वे क्षयं यान्ति यदा नेच्छति भूमियः। प्रजाः संरक्षितुं सम्यग् दण्डनीतिसमाहितः॥
All kinds of moisture also fail, when the king does not, by duly following the great science, protect the subjects.
राजा कृतयुगस्रष्टा त्रेताया द्वापरस्य च। युगस्य च चतुर्थस्य राजा भवति कारणम्॥
The king is the creator of the Krita age, of the Treta, and of the Dvapara. The king is the creator of the fourth age (called Kali).
कृतस्य करणाद् राजा स्वर्गमत्यन्तमश्नुते। त्रेतायाः करणाद् राजा स्वर्गं नात्यन्तमश्नुते॥
If he creates the Krita age, he acquires eternal heaven. If he creates the Treta age, he acquires heaven for a limited period.
प्रवर्तनाद् द्वापरस्य यथाभागमुपाश्नुते। कलेः प्रवर्तनाद् राजा पापमत्यन्तमश्नुते॥
If he creates the Dvapara, he attains to blessedness in heaven in proportion to his merits. By creating the Kali age, the king incurs a heavy sin.
ततो वसति दुष्कर्मा नरके शाश्वतीः समाः। प्रजानां कल्मषे मग्नोऽकीर्तिं पापं च विन्दति॥
Sullied by wickedness, he suffers in hell for numberless years, for being drowned in the sins of his subjects, he incurs great sin and infamy himself.
दण्डनीतिं पुरस्कृत्य विजानन् क्षत्रियः सदा। अनवाप्तं च लिप्सेत लब्धं च परिपालयेत्॥
Following the great science the learned Kshatriya should try to acquire those objects which he seeks and protect those which he has already acquired.
लोकस्य सीमन्तकरी मर्यादा लोकभाविनी। सम्यड्नीता दण्डनीतिर्यथा माता यथा पिता॥
The science of punishment, which establishes all men in the observance of their respective duties, which is the basis of all healthy distinctions, and which truly keeps up the world and sets it agoing if properly administered, protects all men like parents protecting their children.
यस्यां भवन्ति भूतानि तद् विद्धि मनुजर्षभ। एष एव परो धर्मो यद् राजा दण्डनीतिमान्॥
Know, O foremost of men, that the very lives of creatures depend upon it. The greatest merit of a king consists in his acquaintance with the science of punishment and administering it properly.
तस्मात् कौरव्य धर्मेण प्रजा: पालय नीतिमान्। एवंवृत्तः प्रजा रक्षन् स्वर्ग जेतासि दुर्जयम्॥
Therefore, O you of Kuru's race, protect your subjects righteously, with the help of that great science. By protecting your subjects and adopting such a conduct, you will, forsooth, attain to such blessedness in heaven which cannot be easily acquired.