Mahabharata — Volume VII (Dutt edition) — Chapter 107
MBh 7 107.1
युधिष्ठिर उवाच ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्राणां च परंतप। धर्मवृत्तं च वित्तं च वृत्त्युपायाः फलानि च॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca brāhmaṇakṣatriyaviśāṃ śūdrāṇāṃ ca paraṃtapa| dharmavṛttaṃ ca vittaṃ ca vṛttyupāyāḥ phalāni ca||
Yudhishthira said You have, O scorcher of foes, described the duties, the general conduct, the means of sustenance, with their results, of Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.2
राज्ञां वित्तं च कोशं च कोशसंचयनं जयः। अमात्यगुणवृत्तिश्च प्रकृतीनां च वर्धनम्॥ पाड्गुण्यगुणकल्पश्च सेनावृत्तिस्तथैव च। परिज्ञानं च दुष्टस्य लक्षणं च सतामपि॥ समहीनाधिकानां च यथावल्लक्षणं च यत्। मध्यमस्य च तुष्ट्यर्थं यथा स्थेयं विवर्धता॥ क्षीणग्रहणवृत्तिश्च यथाधर्मं प्रकीर्तितम्। लघुना देशरूपेण ग्रन्थयोगेन भारत॥
rājñāṃ vittaṃ ca kośaṃ ca kośasaṃcayanaṃ jayaḥ| amātyaguṇavṛttiśca prakṛtīnāṃ ca vardhanam|| pāḍguṇyaguṇakalpaśca senāvṛttistathaiva ca| parijñānaṃ ca duṣṭasya lakṣaṇaṃ ca satāmapi|| samahīnādhikānāṃ ca yathāvallakṣaṇaṃ ca yat| madhyamasya ca tuṣṭyarthaṃ yathā stheyaṃ vivardhatā|| kṣīṇagrahaṇavṛttiśca yathādharmaṃ prakīrtitam| laghunā deśarūpeṇa granthayogena bhārata||
You have described also the duties of kings, and discoursed on their treasures, the means of filling them, and on the subject of conquest and victory. You have also described the characteristics of ministers, the measures that secure the prosperity of the subjects, the characteristics of the six limbs of a kingdom, the qualities of armies, the means of marking out the wicked, and the marks of the good, the attributes of those that are equal, those that are inferior, and those that are superior, the conduct which a king seeking selfaggrandisement should follow towards the masses, and the manner in which the weak should be protected and cherished. You have described all these subjects, O Bharata, delivering instructions sanctioned by the scriptures.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.3
विजिगीषोस्तथा वृत्तमुक्तं चैव तथैव ते। गणानां वृत्तिमिच्छामि श्रोतुं मतिमतां वर॥
vijigīṣostathā vṛttamuktaṃ caiva tathaiva te| gaṇānāṃ vṛttimicchāmi śrotuṃ matimatāṃ vara||
You have also described the conduct that should be followed by kings desirous of conquering their enemies. I desire now, O foremost of intelligent men, to hear how should a person treat the number of brave men (vassals) that gather round a king.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.4
यथा गणाः प्रवर्धन्ते न भिद्यन्ते च भारत। अरींश्च विजिगीषन्ते सुहृदः प्राप्नुवन्ति च।॥
yathā gaṇāḥ pravardhante na bhidyante ca bhārata| arīṃśca vijigīṣante suhṛdaḥ prāpnuvanti ca|||
I wish to hear how they may advance, how they may be attached to the person of the king, and how, O Bharata, they may subduing foes gain friends.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.5
भेदमूलो विनाशो हि गणानामुपलक्षये। मन्त्रसंवरणं दुःखं बहूनामिति मे मतिः॥
bhedamūlo vināśo hi gaṇānāmupalakṣaye| mantrasaṃvaraṇaṃ duḥkhaṃ bahūnāmiti me matiḥ||
It appears to me that disunion alone can encompass their destruction. I think it is always difficult to keep counsels close when there are many in the assemblage.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.6
एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं निखिलेन परंतप। यथा च ते न भिद्येरंस्तच्च मे वद पार्थिव॥
etadicchāmyahaṃ śrotuṃ nikhilena paraṃtapa| yathā ca te na bhidyeraṃstacca me vada pārthiva||
I desire to hear ail this fully, O scorcher of foes. Tell me also, O king, the means by which they may not happen to quarrel with the king."
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.7
भीष्म उवाच गणानां च कुलानां च राज्ञां भरतसत्तम। वैरसंदीपनावेतौ लोभामर्षी नराधिप।॥
bhīṣma uvāca gaṇānāṃ ca kulānāṃ ca rājñāṃ bharatasattama| vairasaṃdīpanāvetau lobhāmarṣī narādhipa|||
Bhishma said "O king, avarice and anger between nobles and the kings create enmity.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.8
लोभमेको हि वृणुते ततोऽमर्षमनन्तरम्। तौ क्षयव्ययसंयुक्तावन्योन्यं च विनाशिनौ॥
lobhameko hi vṛṇute tato'marṣamanantaram| tau kṣayavyayasaṃyuktāvanyonyaṃ ca vināśinau||
The king yields to avarice. And, therefore, anger takes possession of the other. Each bent upon weakening and wasting the other, they both meet with destruction.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.9
चारमन्त्रबलादानैः सामदानविभेदनैः। क्षयव्ययभयोपायैः प्रकर्षन्तीतरेतरम्॥
cāramantrabalādānaiḥ sāmadānavibhedanaiḥ| kṣayavyayabhayopāyaiḥ prakarṣantītaretaram||
By engaging spies, instruments of policy, and physical force, and adopting the means of conciliation, gifts, and dissension, and applying other methods for producing weakness, waste, and fear, the parties attack each other.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.10
तत्रादानेन भिद्यन्ते गणाः संघातवृत्तयः। भिन्ना विमनसः सर्वे गच्छन्त्यरिवशं भयात्॥
tatrādānena bhidyante gaṇāḥ saṃghātavṛttayaḥ| bhinnā vimanasaḥ sarve gacchantyarivaśaṃ bhayāt||
The aristocracy of a kingdom in a body becoine alienated from the king, if the latter seeks to exact too much from them. Alienated from the king, all of them become dissatisfied, and from fear join the enemies of the king.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.11
भेदे गणा विनेशुर्हि भिन्नास्तु सुजयाः परैः। तस्मात् संघातयोगेन प्रयतेरन् गणा: सदा॥
bhede gaṇā vineśurhi bhinnāstu sujayāḥ paraiḥ| tasmāt saṃghātayogena prayateran gaṇā: sadā||
If again the aristocracy of a kingdom are divided, they meet with destruction. Disunited, they are easily ruined by their foes. The nobles, therefore, should always act unitedly.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.12
अर्थाश्चैवाधिगम्यन्ते संघातबलपौरुषैः। बाह्याश्च मैत्री कुर्वन्ति तेषु संघातवृत्तिषु॥
arthāścaivādhigamyante saṃghātabalapauruṣaiḥ| bāhyāśca maitrī kurvanti teṣu saṃghātavṛttiṣu||
If they be united together, they may acquire valuable properties by means of their strength and prowess. When they are thus united, many people from outside seek their alliance.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.13
ज्ञानवृद्धाः प्रशंसन्ति शुश्रूषन्तः परस्परम्। विनिवृत्ताभि संधानाः संखमेधन्ति सर्वशः॥
jñānavṛddhāḥ praśaṃsanti śuśrūṣantaḥ parasparam| vinivṛttābhi saṃdhānāḥ saṃkhamedhanti sarvaśaḥ||
Wise people speak highly of those nobles who are united with one another in ties of love. If of one purpose, all of them can be happy.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.14
धर्मिष्ठान् व्यवहारांश्च स्थापयन्तश्च शास्त्रतः। यथावत् प्रतिपश्यन्तो विवर्धन्ते गणोत्तमाः॥
dharmiṣṭhān vyavahārāṃśca sthāpayantaśca śāstrataḥ| yathāvat pratipaśyanto vivardhante gaṇottamāḥ||
They can establish fairness of conduct. By behaving properly, they grow prosperous.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.15
पुत्रान् भ्रातृन् निगृह्णन्तो विनयन्तश्च तान् सदा। विनीतांश्च प्रगृह्णन्तो विवर्धन्ते गणोत्तमाः॥
putrān bhrātṛn nigṛhṇanto vinayantaśca tān sadā| vinītāṃśca pragṛhṇanto vivardhante gaṇottamāḥ||
By restraining their sons and brothers and instructing them in their duties, and treating all persons kindly whose pridc has been subdued by knowledge, the aristocracy grow prosperous.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.16
चारमन्त्रविधानेषु कोशसंनिचयेषु च। नित्ययुक्ता महाबाहो वर्धन्ते सर्वतो गणाः॥
cāramantravidhāneṣu kośasaṃnicayeṣu ca| nityayuktā mahābāho vardhante sarvato gaṇāḥ||
By always engaging spies and concerting measures of policy, and filling up their treasuries, the aristocracy, O you of mighty arms, grow prosperous.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.17
प्राज्ञाशूरान् महोत्साहान् कर्मसु स्थिरपौरुषान्। मानयन्तः सदा युक्ता विवर्धन्ते गणा नृप॥
prājñāśūrān mahotsāhān karmasu sthirapauruṣān| mānayantaḥ sadā yuktā vivardhante gaṇā nṛpa||
By receiving properly those who are endued with wisdom, courage and perseverance and who show steady prowess in all kinds of work, the aristocracy grow prosperous.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.18
द्रव्यवन्तश्च शूराश्च शस्त्रज्ञाः शास्त्रपारगाः। कृच्छ्रास्वापत्सु सम्मूढान् गणाः संतारयन्ति ते॥
dravyavantaśca śūrāśca śastrajñāḥ śāstrapāragāḥ| kṛcchrāsvāpatsu sammūḍhān gaṇāḥ saṃtārayanti te||
Having wealth and resources, and mastcred the scriptures and all the arts and sciences, the aristocracy rescue the ignorant masses from all sorts of distress and danger,
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.19
क्रोधो भेदो भयं दण्डः कर्षणं निग्रहो वधः। नयत्यरिवशं सद्यो गणान् भरतसत्तम॥
krodho bhedo bhayaṃ daṇḍaḥ karṣaṇaṃ nigraho vadhaḥ| nayatyarivaśaṃ sadyo gaṇān bharatasattama||
King's anger, disunion with him, terror, punishment, persecution, oppression, and executions, O chief of the Bharatas, quickly alienate the aristocracy from the king and make them side with kings' enemies.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.20
तस्मान्मानयितव्यास्ते गणमुख्याः प्रधानतः । लोकयात्रा समायत्ता भूयसी तेषु पार्थिव॥
tasmānmānayitavyāste gaṇamukhyāḥ pradhānataḥ | lokayātrā samāyattā bhūyasī teṣu pārthiva||
Therefore, the leaders of the aristocracy should be honoured by the king. The affairs of the kingdom, o king, depend greatly upon them.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.21
मन्त्रगुप्तिः प्रधानेषु चारश्चामित्रकर्षण। न गणाः कृत्स्नशो मन्त्रं श्रोतुमर्हन्ति भारत॥
mantraguptiḥ pradhāneṣu cāraścāmitrakarṣaṇa| na gaṇāḥ kṛtsnaśo mantraṃ śrotumarhanti bhārata||
Consultations should be held with the leaders of the aristocracy, and secret agents should be engaged, O crusher of foes, to watch them. The king should not, O Bharata, consult with every member of the aristocracy.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.22
गणमुख्यैस्तु सम्भूय कार्यं गणहितं मिथः! पृथग्गणस्य भिन्नस्य विततस्य ततोऽन्यथा॥
gaṇamukhyaistu sambhūya kāryaṃ gaṇahitaṃ mithaḥ! pṛthaggaṇasya bhinnasya vitatasya tato'nyathā||
Acting jointly with the leaders, the king, should do what is for the behoof of the whole order. When, however, the aristocracy are divided and disunited and have no leaders, other courses of action should be followed,
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.23
अर्थाः प्रत्यवसीदन्ति तथाना भवन्ति च। तेषामन्योन्यभिन्नानां स्वशक्तिमनुतिष्ठताम्॥
arthāḥ pratyavasīdanti tathānā bhavanti ca| teṣāmanyonyabhinnānāṃ svaśaktimanutiṣṭhatām||
If the members of the aristocracy fall out with one another and act, each according to his means, without unity, their prosperity disappears and diverse sorts of evil occur.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.24
निग्रहः पण्डितैः कार्यः क्षिप्रमेव प्रधानतः। कुलेषु कलहा जाताः कुलवृद्धैरुपेक्षिताः॥ गोत्रस्य नाशं कुर्वन्ति गणभेदस्य कारकम्।
nigrahaḥ paṇḍitaiḥ kāryaḥ kṣiprameva pradhānataḥ| kuleṣu kalahā jātāḥ kulavṛddhairupekṣitāḥ|| gotrasya nāśaṃ kurvanti gaṇabhedasya kārakam|
The leaned and wise amongst them should put down a dispute as soon as it takes place. Indeed, if the elders of a family grow indifferent, quarrels break out amongst the members. Such quarrels bring about the ruin of a family and create disunion among the nobles.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.25
आभ्यन्तरं भयं रक्ष्यमसारं बाह्यतो भयम्॥ आभ्यन्तरं भयं राजन् सद्यो मूलानि कृन्तति।
ābhyantaraṃ bhayaṃ rakṣyamasāraṃ bāhyato bhayam|| ābhyantaraṃ bhayaṃ rājan sadyo mūlāni kṛntati|
Protect yourself, O king, from all internal fears. External fears, however, are not very important. The first kind of fear, O king, may cut your roots in a single day.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 107.26
अकस्मात् क्रोधमोहाभ्यां लोभाद् वापि स्वभावजात्।। अन्योन्यं नाभिभाषन्ते तत्पराभवलक्षणम्। जात्या च सदृशाः सर्वे कुलेन सदृशास्तथा॥ न चोद्योगेन बुद्ध्या वा रूपद्रव्येण वा पुनः। तस्मात् संघातमेबाहुर्गणानां शरणं महत्॥
akasmāt krodhamohābhyāṃ lobhād vāpi svabhāvajāt|| anyonyaṃ nābhibhāṣante tatparābhavalakṣaṇam| jātyā ca sadṛśāḥ sarve kulena sadṛśāstathā|| na codyogena buddhyā vā rūpadravyeṇa vā punaḥ| tasmāt saṃghātamebāhurgaṇānāṃ śaraṇaṃ mahat||
Persons who are equal in family and blood, under the influence of anger, folly and covetousness cease to speak with one another. This is an indication of defeat. It is not by courage, nor intelligence, nor by beauty, nor by riding, that enemies can destroy the aristocracy. It is only by disunion and gifts that it can be brought to subjugation. Therefore, union is the greatest refuge of the aristocracy.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)