भीष्म उवाच यानङ्गिराः क्षत्रधर्मानुतथ्यो ब्रह्मवित्तमः। मान्धात्रे यौवनाश्वाय प्रीतिमानभ्यभाषत॥
Bhishma said That best of all persons conversant with the Vedas, viz., Utatthya of Angirasa's family, discoursed gladly to Yuvanashva's son Mandhatri.
स यथानुशशासैनमुतथ्यो ब्रह्मवित्तमः। तत् ते सर्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि निखिलेन युधिष्ठिर॥
I shall now, O Yudhishthira, relate to you every thing that Utatthya, that foremost of all perscns conversant with the Vedas, had said to that king.
उतथ्य उवाच धर्माय राजा भवति न कामकरणाय तु। मान्धातरिति जानीहि राजा लोकस्य रक्षिता॥
Utatthya said One becomes a king for advancing the cause of virtue and not for acting capriciously. Know this, O Mandhatri; the king is, indeed, the protector of the world.
राजा चरति चेद् धर्मं देवत्वायैव कल्पते। स चेदधर्मं चरति नरकायैव गच्छति॥
If the king acts piously, he attains to the dignity of a god. If, however, he acts unrighteously, he sinks into hell.
धर्मे तिष्ठन्ति भूतानि धर्मो राजनि तिष्ठति। तं राजा साधु यः शास्ति स राजा पृथिवीपतिः॥ राजा परमधर्मात्मा लक्ष्मीवान् धर्म उच्यते। देवाश्च नहीं गच्छन्ति धर्मो नास्तीति चोच्यते॥
All cri itures depends upon righteousness. Righteousness again depends upon the king. men That king, therefore, who maintains righteousness, is truly a king, that king who has a pious soul and posseses every kind of accomplishments is said to be an embodiment of virtue. If a king fails to punish iniquity, the god leave his palace and he incurs disreputation among men.
स्वधर्मे वर्तमानानामर्थसिद्धिः प्रदृश्यते। तदेव मङ्गलं लोकः सर्वः समनुवर्तते॥
The endeavours of men who observe their own duties are always successful. Therefore all try to obey the injunctions of righteousness which yield prosperity.
उच्छिद्यते धर्मवृत्तमधर्मो वर्तते महान्। भयमाहुर्दिवारानं यदा पापो न वार्यते॥
When sin is not restrained righteousness disappears and unrighteousness multiplies itself.
ममेदमिति नैवैतत् साधूनां तात धर्मतः। वै व्यवस्था भवति यदा पापो न वार्यते॥
When sin is not restrained, no one can, in view of the rights of property as sanctioned by the scriptures, say,-This thing is mine and this is not mine.
नैव भार्या न पशवो न क्षेत्रं न निवेशनम्। संदृश्येत मनुष्याणां यदा पापबलं भवेत्॥
When sinfulness reigns rampant in the world, men cannot own and enjoy their own wives and animals and fields and houses.
देवा: पूजां न जानन्ति न स्वधां पितरस्तदा। न पूज्यन्ते ह्यतिथयो यदा पापो न वार्यते॥
When sin is not restrained the deities get no adorations, the Pitris no offerings in Shraddhas, and guests no hospitality.
न वेदानधिगच्छन्ति व्रतवन्तो द्विजातयः। न यज्ञांस्तन्वते विप्रा यदा पापो न वार्यते॥
When sinfulness is not restrained, the twice-born ones do not study the Vedas, or practise high vows, or perform sacrifices.
वृद्धानामिव सत्त्वानां मनो भवति विह्वलम्। मनुष्याणां महाराज यदा पापो न वार्यते॥
When sin is not restrained, the minds of men, O king, become weak and bewildered like those of persons wounded with weapons.
उभौ लोकावभिप्रेक्ष्य राजानमृषयः स्वयम्। असृजन् सुमहद् भूतमयं धर्मो भविष्यति॥
Looking on both the worlds, the Rishis made the king, that best of men, with a view that he should be righteousness incarnate on Earth.
यस्मिन् धर्मो विराजेत तं राजानं प्रचक्षते। यस्मिन् विलीयते धर्मस्तं देवा वृषलं विदुः॥
He is called Rajan in whom righteousness predominates. That king, again, in whom there is no righteousness, is called a Vrishala.
वृषो हि भगवान् धर्मो यस्तस्य कुरुते ह्यलम्। वृषं तं विदुर्देवास्तस्माद्धर्मं विवर्धयेत्॥
Righteousness has another name, viz., Vrisha. He who weakens Vrisha passes by the name of Vrishala. A king should, therefore, further the cause of Righteousness.
धर्मे वर्धति वर्धन्ति सर्वभूतानि सर्वदा। तस्मिन् ह्रसति ह्रीयन्ते तस्माद् धर्मं न लोपयेत्॥
All creatures prosper by the growth of righteousness and deteriorate with its decay. Righteousness, therefore, should never be suffered to decay.
धनात् स्त्रवति धर्मो हि धारणाद् वेति निश्चयः। अकार्याणां मनुष्येन्द्र स सीमान्तकरः स्मृतः॥
Righteousness is called Dharma, because it helps the acquisition and preservation of wealth. The sages, O king, have declared that the Dharma restrains and limits all evils acts of men.
प्रभवार्थं हि भूतानां धर्मः सृष्टः स्वयम्भुवा। तस्मात् प्रवर्तयेद् धर्म प्रजानुग्रहकारणात्॥
The Self-create created Dharma for the aggrandisement and growth of creatures. Therefore, a king should follow the dictates of Dharma for benefiting his people.
तस्माद्धि राजशार्दूल धर्मः श्रेष्ठतरः स्मृतः। स राजा यः प्रजाः शास्ति साधुकृत् पुरुषर्षभ॥
Therefore also, O foremost of kings' Dharma has been said to be the highest of all things. That best of men who governs his subjects righteously is called a king.
कामक्रोधावनादृत्य धर्ममेवानुपालय। धर्मः श्रेयस्करतमो राज्ञां भरतसत्तम॥
Disregarding lust and anger follow the dictates of righteousness. Of all things, O chief of Bharata's race, which secure the prosperity of kings, righteousness is the foremost.
धर्मस्य ब्राह्मणो योनिस्तस्मात् पूजयेत् सदा। ब्राह्मणानां च मान्धातः कुर्यात् कामानमत्सरी॥
Dharma, again, has originated from the Brahmana. Therefore, the Brahmana should always be adored. You, should, O Mandhatri, satisfy humbly the wishes of Brahmanas.
तेषां ह्यकामकरणाद् राज्ञः संजायते भयम्। मित्राणि न च वर्धन्ते तथामित्रीभवन्त्यपि॥
Neglecting to please Brahmanas the king brings danger on himself, for such neglect, he cannot acquire friends while his enemies multiply.
ब्राह्मणानां सदासूयाद् बाल्याद् वैरोचनो बलिः। अथास्माच्छीरपाक्रामद् यास्मिन्नासीत् प्रतापिनी॥
For entertaining malice out of folly towards the Brahmanas, the goddess of prosperity who had formerly lived with him became irate and deserted the Asura Vali the son of Virochana.
ततस्तस्मादपाक्रम्य सागच्छत् पाकशासनम्। अथ सोऽन्वतपत् पश्चाच्छ्रियं दृष्ट्वा पुरन्दरे॥
Deserting the Asura she went to Indra the king of gods. Seeing the goddess living with Purandara, Vali regretted idly.
एतत् फलमसूयाया अभिमानस्य वा विभो। तस्माद् बुध्यस्व मान्धातर्मा त्वां जह्यात् प्रतापिनी॥
This, O powerful one, is the outcome of malice and pride. Be you awakened, O Mandhatri, so that the goddess of prosperity ! may not in anger desert you.
दर्पो नाम श्रियः पुत्रो जज्ञेऽधर्मादिति श्रुतिः। तेन देवासुरा राजन् नीता: सुबहवो व्ययम्॥
The Shrutis say that unrighteousness beget a son named Pride upon the goddess of prosperity. This Pride, O king, brought ruin upon many among the gods and the Asuras.
राजर्षयश्च बहवस्तथा बुध्यस्व पार्थिव। राजा भवति तं जित्वा दासस्तेन पराजितः॥
Many royal sages were ruined for him. Do you, therefore, awaken, O king, He who can conquer him becomes a king. He, however, who suffers himself to be conquered by him, becomes a slave.
स यथा दर्पसहितमधर्मं नानुसेवते। तथा वर्तस्व मान्धातश्चिरं चेत् स्थातुमिच्छसि॥
If, O Mandhatri, you wish to enjoy a life of perpetual happiness, live as a king should who does not indulge these two, viz., Pride and Unrighteousness.
मत्तात्प्रमत्तात् पौगण्डादुन्मत्ताच्च विशेषतः। तदभ्यासादुपावर्त संहितानां च सेवनात्॥
Do not associate with him,—who is intoxicated with pride, who does not follow honesty, who scoffs at religion, who is insensate and negligent in paying homage to all of them even when united.
निगृहीतादमात्याच्च स्त्रीभ्यश्चैव विशेषतः। पर्वताद् विषमाद् दुर्गाद्धस्तिनोऽश्वात् सरीसृपात्॥ एतेभ्यो नित्ययत्तः स्यान्नक्तंचर्यां च वर्जयेत्। अत्यागं चाभिमानं च दम्भं क्रोधं च वर्जयेत्॥
Keep yourself aloof from the company of ministers whom you have once punished and especially of women, as also from mountains and uneven lands and inaccessible forts and elephants and horses and reptiles. You should never wander in the night, and avoid stinginess, vanity, boastfulness, and anger.
अविज्ञातासु च स्त्रीषु क्लीबासु स्वैरिणीषु च। परभार्यासु कन्यासु नाचरेन्मैथुनं नृपः॥
You should never know unknown women, or the eunuchs, or those who are lewd, or those who are the wives of other men, or those who are unmarried.
कुलेषु पापरक्षांसि जायन्ते वर्णसंकरात्। अपुमांसोऽङ्गहीनाश्च स्थूलजिह्वा विचेतसः॥
When the king does not restrain vice, an intermixture of castes follows, and sinful Rakshasas, eunuchs, children destitute of limbs or possessed of thick tongues, and idiots, begin to take birth in even respectable families,
एते चान्ये च जायन्ते यदा राजा प्रमाद्यति। तस्माद् राज्ञा विशेषेण वर्तितव्यं प्रजाहिते॥
Therefore, the king should take particular care to act righteously for the behoof of his people.
क्षत्रियस्य प्रमत्तस्य दोषः संजायते महान्। अधर्माः सम्प्रवर्धन्ते प्रजासंकरकारकाः॥
If a king acts heedlessly, it produces a great evil. Unrighteousness multiplies causing an intermixture of castes.
अशीते विद्यते शीतं शीते शीतं न विद्यते। अवृष्टिरतिवृष्टिश्च व्याधिश्चाप्याविशेत् प्रजाः॥
Cold appears during the summer months, and disappears in its proper season. Drought and flood and pestilence attack the people.
नक्षत्राण्युपतिष्ठन्ति ग्रहा घोरास्तथागते। उत्पाताश्चात्र दृश्यन्ते बहवो राजनाशनाः॥
Evil stars arise and dreadful comets appear on such occasions. Various other portents, presaging destruction of the kingdom, appear.
अरक्षितात्मा यो राजा प्रजाश्चापि न रक्षति। प्रजाश्च तस्य क्षीयन्ते ततः सोऽनुविनश्यति॥
If the king does not take steps for his own safety and does not protect his subjects, the latter first meet with destruction which ultimately overtakes the king himself.
द्वावाददाते ह्येकस्य द्वयोः सुबहवोऽपरे। कुमार्यः सम्प्रलुप्यन्ते तदाहुपदूषणम्॥
Two persons in unision take away the wealth of one, and many acting together rob the two. The virginity of maidens is destroyed. Such a state of things originate from the king's faults.
ममेदमिति नैकस्य मनुष्येष्ववतिष्ठति। त्यक्त्वा धर्मं यदा राजा प्रमादमनुतिष्ठति॥
All rights of property are destroyed among men, when the king, forsaking righteousness, acts heedlessly.