युधिष्ठिर उवाच केषां प्रभवते राजा वित्तस्य भरतर्षभ। कया च वृत्त्या वर्तेत तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह॥
Yudhishthira said Of whose wealth, O foremost of Bharata's race, is the king considered to be the master? And what conduct also should the king follow? Describe to me this, O grandfather!
भीष्म उवाच अब्राह्मणानां वित्तस्य स्वामी राजेति वैदिकम्। ब्राह्मणानां च ये केचिद् विकर्मस्था भवन्त्युत॥
Bhishma said 'The Vedas declare that the king is the master of the wealth that belongs to all persons except Brahmanas, as also of those Brahmanas who do not follow their proper duties.
विकर्मस्थाश्च नोपेक्ष्या विप्रा राज्ञा कथञ्चन। इति राज्ञां पुरावृत्तमाभिजल्पन्ति साधवः॥
The king should not spare those Brahmanas who do not follow their duties. The righteous say that this is the ancient practice of kings.
यस्य स्म विषये राज्ञः स्तेनो भवति वै द्विजः। राज्ञ एवापराधं तं मन्यन्ते किल्बिषं नृप॥
That king, O monarch, in whose dominion a Brahmana becomes a thief, is considered to be the doer of that misdeed. The king is visited by sins on that account.
अभिशस्तमिवात्मानं मन्यन्ते येन कर्मणा। तस्माद् राजर्षयः सर्वे ब्राह्मणानन्वपालयन्॥
For such an offence, kings consider themselves to be worthy of reproach. All righteous kings, therefore, provide Brahmanas with the means of sustenance,
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। गीतं कैकेयराजेन ह्रियमाणेन रक्षसा॥
Regarding it is cited the old narrative of the speech made by the king of the Kaikeyas to a Rakshasa while the latter was about to abduct him away.
केकयानामधिपतिं रक्षो जग्राह दारुणम्। स्वाध्यायेनान्वितं राजन्नरण्ये संशितव्रतम्॥
Of rigid vows and well-read in the Vedas, the king of the Kaikeyas, O monarch, while living in the forest, was by force seized on a certain occasion by a Rakshasa.
राजोवाच न मे स्तेनो जनपदे न कदर्यो न मद्यपः। नानाहिताग्नि यज्वा मामकान्तरमायिशः॥
The king said, There is no thief in my kingdom, nor any wicked person nor any one who drinks alcohol. There is no one in my kingdomn who does not preserve his sacred fire or who does not celebrate sacrifices. How then have you been able to possess by heart?
न च मे ब्राह्मणोऽविद्वान्नाव्रती नाप्यसोमपः। नानाहिताग्नित यज्वा मामकान्तरमाविशः॥
There is not Brahmana in my territories who is not learned or who does not observe Vows or who has not drunk Soma. There is no one who does not preserve his sacred fire or who does not celebrate sacrifices. How then have you been able to possess my soul?
नानाप्रदक्षिणैर्यज्ञैर्यजन्ते विषये मम। नाधीते नाव्रती कश्चिन्मामकान्तरमाविशः॥
In my kingdom no sacrifice has been celebrated without completing it by Dakshina. No one in my kingdom studies the Vedas who does not observe vows. How then have you been able to possess my soul?
अधीयतेऽध्यापयन्ति यजन्ते याजयन्ति च। ददति प्रतिगृह्णन्ति षट्सु कर्मस्ववस्थिताः॥
The Brahmanas in my kingdom teach, study, sacrifice, officiate at others' sacrifices, give, and receive presents. All of them perform those six acts.
पूजिताः संविभक्ताश्च मृदवः सत्यवादिनः। ब्राह्मणा मे स्वकर्मस्था मामकान्तरमाविशः॥
The Brahmanas in my kingdom devotedly follow the duties of their order. Adored and provided for, they are mild, and truthful in speech. How then have you been to possess my soul?
न याचन्ते प्रयच्छन्ति सत्यधर्मविशारदाः। नाध्यापयन्त्यधीयते यजन्ते याजयन्ति न॥ ब्राह्मणान् परिरक्षन्ति संग्रामेष्वपलायिनः। क्षत्रिया मे स्वकर्मस्था मामकान्तरमाविशः॥
The Kshatriyas in my kingdom devotedly follow the duties of their order. They never beg but give, and are conversant with truth and virtue. They never teach but study, and celebrate sacrifices but never officiate at the sacrifices of others. They protect the Brahmanas and never fly from battlefield. How then have you been able to possess my soul,?
कृषिगोरक्षवाणिज्यमुपजीवन्त्यमायया। अप्रमत्ताः क्रियावन्तः सुव्रताः सत्यवादिनः॥
The Vaishyas in my kingdom all follow the duties of their order. With simplicity and without deceit they gain their livelihood from agriculture, cattle-keeping, and trade. They are all careful, observant of religious rites and excellent vows, and truthful in speech.
संविभागं दमं शौचं सौहदं च व्यपाश्रिताः। मम वैश्याः स्वकर्मस्था मामकान्तरमाविशः॥
They give to their guests what is their due, are self-controlled and pure, and devoted to their relatives and kinsmen. How then have you been to possess my heart?
त्रीन् वर्णानुपजीवन्ति यथावदनसूयकाः। मम शूद्राः स्वकर्मस्था मामकान्तरमाविशः॥
The Shudras in my kingdom, always follow the duties of their order, humbly and duly serve and wait upon the other three orders without cherishing any inalice towards them. How then have you been able to possess my heart?
कृपणानाथवृद्धानां दुर्बलातुरयोषिताम्। संविभक्तास्मि सर्वेषां मामकान्तरमाविशः॥
I support the helpless and the old, the weak, the ill, and helpless women by giving them all their necessaries. How then have you been able to possess my heart?
कुलदेशादिधर्माणां प्रथितानां यथाविधि। अव्युच्छेत्तास्मि सर्वेषां मामकान्तरमाविशः॥
I have never done away with the special customs of families and of countries obtaining from days of yore. How then have you been able to possess my heart?
तपस्विनो मे विषये पूजिता: परिपालिताः। संविभक्ताश्च सत्कृत्य मामकान्तरमाविशः॥
The ascetics in my kingdom are protected and adored. They are always honoured and fed with food. How then have you been able to posses my heart?
नासं विभज्य भोक्तास्मि नाविशामि परस्त्रियम्। स्वतन्त्र जातु न क्रीडे मामकान्तरमाविशः॥
I never eat without feeding others from my food. I never know other people's wives. I never sport or recreate alone. How then have you been able to possess my heart?
नाब्रह्मचारी भिक्षावाम्भिक्षुर्वाऽब्रह्मचर्यवान् अनृत्विजा हुतं नास्ति मामकान्तरमाविशः॥
No one in my kingdom save a Brahmacharin begs his food, and no one who lives a mendicant's life desires to be a Brahmacharin. No one but a Ritwij pours libations (of clarified butter) upon the sacrificial fire. How then have you been able to possess my soul?
नावजानाम्यहं वैद्यान्न वृद्धान्न तपस्विनः। राष्ट्रे स्वपति जागर्मि मामकान्तरमाविशः॥
I never disrespect the learned or the old or those who practise penances. When all people are asleep, I keep up (for watching and protecting). How then have you been able to possess my heart?
आत्मविज्ञानसम्पन्नस्तपस्वी सर्वधर्मवित्। स्वामी सर्वस्य राष्ट्रस्य धीमान् मम पुरोहितः॥
My priest is endued with the knowledge of self. He practises penances, and is a master of duties. Highly intelligent he has the fullest power over my kingdom.
दानेन विद्यामभिवाञ्छयामि सत्येनार्थं ब्राह्मणानां च गुप्त्या। शुश्रूषया चापि गुरूनुपैमि न मे भयं विद्यते राक्षसेभ्यः॥
By presents I desire to acquire knowledge, and by truth and the protection of Brahmanas. I wish to attain blissful regions of heaven. I always strive to serve my preceptors with my services. I do not fear the Rakshasas.
न मे राष्ट्रे विधवा ब्रह्मबर्दू ब्राह्मणः कितवो नोत चोरः। अयाज्ययाजी न च पापकर्मा न में भयं विद्यते राक्षसेभ्यः॥
In my kingdom there are no widows, no wicked Brahmanas, no Brahmana who had not satisfied his duties, no deceitful person, no thief, no Brahmana who officiates in the sacrifices of those for whom he should never officiate, and no perpetrator of sinful deeds. I do not fear the Rakshasas.
न मे शस्त्रैरनिर्भिन्नं गात्रे व्यङ्गद्धलमन्तरम्। धर्मार्थं युध्यमानस्य मामकान्तरमाविशः॥
There is no space in my body, of even two fingers breadth, which does not contain the mark of a weapon-wound. I always fight for the sake of fairness. How then have you been able to possess my heart?
गोब्राह्मणेभ्यो यज्ञेभ्यो नित्यं स्वस्त्ययनं मम। आशासते जना राष्ट्रे मामकान्तरमाविशः॥
The people of my kingdom always bless me so that I may always be able to protect kine and Brahmanas and celebrate sacrifices. How then have you been able to possess me?
राक्षस उवाच यस्मात् सर्वास्ववस्थासु धर्ममेवान्ववेक्षसे। तस्मात् प्राप्नुहि कैकेय गृहं स्वस्ति व्रजाम्यहम्॥
Since you satisfy your duties under all circumstances, therefore, O king of the Kaikeyas, go back to your palace. Blessed be you, I leave you.
येषां गोब्राह्मणं रक्ष्यं प्रजा रक्ष्याश्च केकय। न रक्षोभ्यो भयं तेषां कुत एव तु पावकात्॥
They, O king of the Kaikeyas, who protect kine and Brahmanas and all their subjects, have no fear of Rakshasas, what speak of sinful persons.
येषां पुरोगमा विप्रा येषां ब्रह्म परं बलम्। अतिथिप्रियास्तथा पौरास्ते वै स्वर्गजितो नृपाः॥
Those kings, who yield to Brahmanas and whose might depends upon that of the Brahmanas, and whose subjects are always hospitable, always succeed in gaining heaven.
भीष्म उवाच तस्माद् द्विजातीन् रक्षेत ते हि रक्षन्ति रक्षिताः। आशीरेषां भवेद् राजन् राज्ञां सम्यक्प्रवर्तताम्॥
Bhishma continued:-You should; therefore, protect the Brahmanas. Protected by you, they will protect you in return. Their blessings, O king, would, forsooth, come upon righteous kings.
तस्माद् राज्ञा विशेषेण विकर्मस्था द्विजातयः। नियम्याः संविभज्याश्च तदनुग्रहकारणात्॥
For the sake of righteousness, those Brahmanas who do not follow the duties of their order should be chastised and separated from their betters.
एवं यो वर्तते राजा पौरजानपदेष्विह। अनुभूयेह भद्राणि प्राप्नोतीन्द्रसलोकताम्॥
A king, who behaves thus towards the people of his city and the provinces, enjoys prosperity here and lives in heaven with Indra.'