Mahabharata — Volume VII (Dutt edition) — Chapter 67

MBh 7 67.1

युधिष्ठिर उवाच चातुराश्रम्यमुक्तं ते चातुर्वर्यं तथैव च। राष्ट्रस्य यत् कृत्यतमं ततो ब्रूहि पितामह॥

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca cāturāśramyamuktaṃ te cāturvaryaṃ tathaiva ca| rāṣṭrasya yat kṛtyatamaṃ tato brūhi pitāmaha||

Yudhishthira said You have described what the duties are of the four modes of life and of the four orders. Tell me now, O grandfather, what are the principal duties of a kingdom.'

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.2

भीष्म उवाच राष्ट्रस्यैतत् कृत्यतमं राज्ञ एवाभिषेचनम्। अनिन्द्रमबलं राष्ट्रं दस्यवोऽभिभवन्त्युत॥

bhīṣma uvāca rāṣṭrasyaitat kṛtyatamaṃ rājña evābhiṣecanam| anindramabalaṃ rāṣṭraṃ dasyavo'bhibhavantyuta||

The (election and) coronation of a king is the first duty of kingdom. A kingdom in which anarchy reigns becomes weak and is soon attacked by robbers.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.3

अराजकेषु राष्ट्रेषु धर्मो न व्यवतिष्ठते। परस्परं च खादन्ति सर्वथा धिगराजकम्॥

arājakeṣu rāṣṭreṣu dharmo na vyavatiṣṭhate| parasparaṃ ca khādanti sarvathā dhigarājakam||

In kingdoms torn by anarchy, righteousness cannot live. The denizens devour one another. An anarchy is the worst of all conditions.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.4

इन्द्रमेव प्रवृणुते यद्राजानमिति श्रुतिः। यथैवेन्द्रस्तथा राजा सम्पूज्यो भूतिमिच्छता॥

indrameva pravṛṇute yadrājānamiti śrutiḥ| yathaivendrastathā rājā sampūjyo bhūtimicchatā||

The Shrutis say that in crowning a king, it is Indra that is crowned in the person of the king. A person, who seeks his own prosperity, should adore the king as he should adore Indra himself.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.5

नाराजकेषु राष्ट्रेषु वस्तव्यमिति रोचये। नाराजकेषु राष्ट्रेषु हव्यमग्निर्वहत्युत॥

nārājakeṣu rāṣṭreṣu vastavyamiti rocaye| nārājakeṣu rāṣṭreṣu havyamagnirvahatyuta||

No one should live in kingdoms torn by anarchy. Agni does not carry the libations that are poured upon him in kingdoms where anarchy reigns.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.6

अथ चेदाभिवर्तेत राज्यार्थी बलवत्तरः। अराजकाणि राष्ट्राणि हतवीर्याणि वा पुनः॥ प्रत्युद्गम्याभिपूज्यः स्यादेतदत्र सुमन्त्रितम्। न हि पापात् परतरमस्ति किञ्चिदराजकात्॥

atha cedābhivarteta rājyārthī balavattaraḥ| arājakāṇi rāṣṭrāṇi hatavīryāṇi vā punaḥ|| pratyudgamyābhipūjyaḥ syādetadatra sumantritam| na hi pāpāt parataramasti kiñcidarājakāt||

If a powerful king approaches kingdoms weakened by anarchy, with a view to annex them to his dominions, the people should go forward and receive the invader with honour. Such conduct would be quite of a piece with wise counsels. There is no evil greater than anarchy.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.7

स चेत् समनुपश्येत समग्रं कुशलं भवेत्। बलवान् हि प्रकुपितः कुर्यान्निःशेषतामपि॥

sa cet samanupaśyeta samagraṃ kuśalaṃ bhavet| balavān hi prakupitaḥ kuryānniḥśeṣatāmapi||

If the powerful invader be a little just, everything will be right. If however, he be exercised with may exterminate all.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.8

भूयांसं लभते क्लेशं या गौर्भवति दुर्दुहा। अथ या सुदुहा राजन् नैव तां वितुदन्त्यपि॥

bhūyāṃsaṃ labhate kleśaṃ yā gaurbhavati durduhā| atha yā suduhā rājan naiva tāṃ vitudantyapi||

That cow which cannot be easily milked suffer much pain. On the other hand, that cow which is easily milked, has not to suffer any pain whatever.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.9

यदतप्तं प्रणमते नैतत् संतापमर्हति। यत् स्वयं नमते दारु न तत् संनामयन्त्यपि॥

yadataptaṃ praṇamate naitat saṃtāpamarhati| yat svayaṃ namate dāru na tat saṃnāmayantyapi||

The wood that bends easily need not be heated. The tree that bends easily, is not required to suffer any torture. anger he

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.10

एतयोपमया वीर संनमेत बलीयसे। इन्द्राय स प्रणमते नमते यो बलीयसे॥

etayopamayā vīra saṃnameta balīyase| indrāya sa praṇamate namate yo balīyase||

Guided by these examples, O hero, men should bend before those that are powerful. The man who bends his head to a powerful person really bends his head to Indra.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.11

तस्माद् राजैव कर्तव्यः सततं भूतिमिच्छता। न धनार्थो न दारार्थस्तेषां येषामराजकम्॥

tasmād rājaiva kartavyaḥ satataṃ bhūtimicchatā| na dhanārtho na dārārthasteṣāṃ yeṣāmarājakam||

For these reasons, men, seeking prosperity, should (elect and) crown some person as their king. They who live in countries where anarchy reigns cannot enjoy there wealth and wives.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.12

प्रीयते हि हरन् पापः परवित्तमराजके। यदास्य उद्धरन्त्यन्ये तदा राजानमिच्छति॥

prīyate hi haran pāpaḥ paravittamarājake| yadāsya uddharantyanye tadā rājānamicchati||

During times of anarchy, the sinful man enjoys by robbing the wealth of other people. When however, his ill acquired riches are taken away by others, he wishes for a king.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.13

पापा ह्यपि तदा क्षेमं न लभन्ते कदाचन। एकस्य हि द्वौ हरतो द्वयोश्च बहवोऽपरे॥

pāpā hyapi tadā kṣemaṃ na labhante kadācana| ekasya hi dvau harato dvayośca bahavo'pare||

It is clear therefore, that in times of anarchy the very wicked even cannot be happy. The wealth of one is taken away by two. That of those two is taken away by many acting in concert.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.14

अदासः क्रियते दासो ह्रियन्ते च बलात् स्त्रियः। एतस्मात् कारणाद् देवाः प्रजापालान् प्रचक्रिरे॥

adāsaḥ kriyate dāso hriyante ca balāt striyaḥ| etasmāt kāraṇād devāḥ prajāpālān pracakrire||

He who is not a slave is made a slave. Women, again, are forcibly carried away. For these reasons the gods created kings for protecting the people.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.15

राजा चेन्न भवेल्लोके पृथिव्यां दण्डधारकः। जले मत्स्यानिवाभक्ष्यन् दुर्बलं बलवत्तराः॥

rājā cenna bhavelloke pṛthivyāṃ daṇḍadhārakaḥ| jale matsyānivābhakṣyan durbalaṃ balavattarāḥ||

If there were no king on Earth for holding the rod of punishment, the strong would then have oppressed the weak after the manner of fishes in the water.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.16

अराजका: प्रजाः पूर्वं विनेशुरिति नः श्रुतम्। परस्परं भक्षयन्तो मत्स्या इव जले कृशान्॥ समेत्य तास्ततश्चक्रुः समयानिति नः श्रुतम्। वाक्शूरो दण्डपरुषो यश्च स्यात् पारजायिकः॥ यः परस्वमथादद्यात् त्याज्या नस्तादृशा इति।

arājakā: prajāḥ pūrvaṃ vineśuriti naḥ śrutam| parasparaṃ bhakṣayanto matsyā iva jale kṛśān|| sametya tāstataścakruḥ samayāniti naḥ śrutam| vākśūro daṇḍaparuṣo yaśca syāt pārajāyikaḥ|| yaḥ parasvamathādadyāt tyājyā nastādṛśā iti|

We have heard that men, in days of yore, in consequence of anarchy, were ruined, devouring one another like stronger fishes devouring the weaker ones in the water. We have heard that a few amongst them then, assembling together, made certain agreements saying,-He who becomes harsh in speech, or violent in temper, he who seduces other people's wives or robs other's wealth should be renounced by us.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.17

विश्वासार्थं च सर्वेषां वर्णानामविशेषतः। तास्तथा समयं कृत्वा समयेनावतस्थिरे॥

viśvāsārthaṃ ca sarveṣāṃ varṇānāmaviśeṣataḥ| tāstathā samayaṃ kṛtvā samayenāvatasthire||

For inspiring confidence among all classes of the people, they made such an agreement and lived for some time.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.18

सहितास्तास्तदा जग्मुरसुखार्ताः पितामहम्। अनीश्वरा विनश्यामो भगवनीश्वरं दिश॥

sahitāstāstadā jagmurasukhārtāḥ pitāmaham| anīśvarā vinaśyāmo bhagavanīśvaraṃ diśa||

Assembling after some time they proceeded in great miseries to the Grandfather, saying, Without a king, O divine lord, we are meeting with ruin. Appoint some one as our king.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.19

यं पूजयेम सम्भूय यश्च नः प्रतिपालयेत्। ततो मनुं व्यादिदेश मनुर्नाभिननन्द ताः॥

yaṃ pūjayema sambhūya yaśca naḥ pratipālayet| tato manuṃ vyādideśa manurnābhinananda tāḥ||

All of us shall adore him and he shall protect us. Thus prayed for the Grandfather asked Manu. Manu, however, did not agree to the proposal.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.20

मनुरुवाच बिभेमि कर्मणः पापाद् राज्यं हि भृशदुस्तरम्। विशेषतो मनुष्येषु मिथ्यावृत्तेषु नित्यदा॥

manuruvāca bibhemi karmaṇaḥ pāpād rājyaṃ hi bhṛśadustaram| viśeṣato manuṣyeṣu mithyāvṛtteṣu nityadā||

Manu said 'I fear all sinful deeds. To govern a kingdom is highly difficult, especially among men who are always false and deceitful in their conduct.'

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.21

भीष्म उवाच तमब्रुवन् प्रजा मा भैः कर्तृनेनो गमिष्यति। पशूनामधिपञ्चाशद्धिरण्यस्य तथैव च।॥ धान्यस्य दशमं भागं दास्यामः कोशवर्धनम्। कन्यां शुल्के चारुरूपां विवाहेषूद्यतासु च॥

bhīṣma uvāca tamabruvan prajā mā bhaiḥ kartṛneno gamiṣyati| paśūnāmadhipañcāśaddhiraṇyasya tathaiva ca||| dhānyasya daśamaṃ bhāgaṃ dāsyāmaḥ kośavardhanam| kanyāṃ śulke cārurūpāṃ vivāheṣūdyatāsu ca||

Bhishma said The denizens of the Earth then said to him.-Do not fear. The sins that men commit will affect those only that commit them. For the increase of your wealth, we will give you a fiftieth part of our animals and precious metals and a tenth part of our gain. When our maidens also will become desirous of marrying we shall, when the question of marriage comes up, give you the most beautiful ones among them.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.22

मुखेन शस्त्रपत्रेण ये मनुष्या: प्रधानतः। भवन्तं तेऽनुयास्यन्ति महेन्द्रमिव देवताः॥

mukhena śastrapatreṇa ye manuṣyā: pradhānataḥ| bhavantaṃ te'nuyāsyanti mahendramiva devatāḥ||

Those amongst men who will become the foremost of all in the use of weapons and in riding animals, and other conveyances, shall go behind you like the deities behind Indra.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.23

स त्वं जातबलो राजा दुष्प्रधर्षः प्रतापवान्। सुखे धास्यसि नः सर्वान् कुबेर इव नैर्ऋतान्॥

sa tvaṃ jātabalo rājā duṣpradharṣaḥ pratāpavān| sukhe dhāsyasi naḥ sarvān kubera iva nairṛtān||

With your strength increased in this way, and becoming invincible and endued with great power, you will be our king and protect us happily like Kuvera protecting the Yakshas and the Rakshasas.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.24

यं च धर्मं चरिष्यन्ति प्रजा राज्ञा सुरक्षिताः। चतुर्थं तस्य धर्मस्य त्वत्संस्थं वै भविष्यति॥

yaṃ ca dharmaṃ cariṣyanti prajā rājñā surakṣitāḥ| caturthaṃ tasya dharmasya tvatsaṃsthaṃ vai bhaviṣyati||

A fourth part of the merit which men will acquire under your protection will belong to you.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.25

तेन धर्मेण महता सुखं लब्धेन भावितः। पाह्यस्मान् सर्वतो राजन् देवानिव शतक्रतुः॥

tena dharmeṇa mahatā sukhaṃ labdhena bhāvitaḥ| pāhyasmān sarvato rājan devāniva śatakratuḥ||

Strengthened by that merit so easily acquired by you do you protect us, o king, like Indra of a hundred sacrifices protecting the gods.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.26

विजयाय हि निर्याहि प्रतपन् रश्मिवानिव। मानं विधम शत्रूणां जयोऽस्तु तव सर्वदा॥

vijayāya hi niryāhi pratapan raśmivāniva| mānaṃ vidhama śatrūṇāṃ jayo'stu tava sarvadā||

Like the Sun burning down everything with his rays, do you set out acquiring victories. Crush the pride of enemies and let righteousness always be victorious (in the world).

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.27

स निर्ययौ महातेजा बलेन महता वृतः। महाभिजनसम्पन्नस्तेजसा प्रज्वलनिव॥

sa niryayau mahātejā balena mahatā vṛtaḥ| mahābhijanasampannastejasā prajvalaniva||

Thus addressed by those denizens of the Earth, Manu, endued with great energy, proceeded, accompanied by a large army-Born of a great family he seemed then to shine with power.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.28

तस्य दृष्ट्वा महत्त्वं ते महेन्द्रस्येव देवताः। अपतत्रसिरे सर्वे स्वधर्मे च ददुर्मनः॥ ततो महीं परिययौ पर्जन्य इव वृष्टिमान्। शमयन् सर्वतः पापान् स्वकर्मसु च योजयन्॥

tasya dṛṣṭvā mahattvaṃ te mahendrasyeva devatāḥ| apatatrasire sarve svadharme ca dadurmanaḥ|| tato mahīṃ pariyayau parjanya iva vṛṣṭimān| śamayan sarvataḥ pāpān svakarmasu ca yojayan||

Seeing the power of Manu, like the gods seeing the might of Indra, the inhabitants of the Earth became stricken with fear and began to follow their respective duties. Manu then went round the world suppressing everywhere all acts of wickedness and compelling all men to follow their respective duties, like a cloud surcharged with rain.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.29

एवं ये भूतिमिच्छेयुः पृथिव्यां मानवाः क्वचित्। कुर्दू राजानमेवाग्रे प्रजानुग्रहकारणात्॥

evaṃ ye bhūtimiccheyuḥ pṛthivyāṃ mānavāḥ kvacit| kurdū rājānamevāgre prajānugrahakāraṇāt||

'Thus, O Yudhishthira, men on Earth seeking prosperity should first elect and crown a king for the protection of all.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.30

नमस्येरंश्च तं भक्त्या शिष्या इव गुरुं सदा। देवा इव च देवेन्द्रं तत्र राजानमन्तिके॥

namasyeraṃśca taṃ bhaktyā śiṣyā iva guruṃ sadā| devā iva ca devendraṃ tatra rājānamantike||

Like disciples bowing themselves down before their preceptors or the gods before Indra, all men should humble themselves before the king.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.31

सत्कृतं स्वजनेनेह परोऽपि बहु मन्यते। स्वजनेन त्ववज्ञातं परे परिभवन्त्युत॥

satkṛtaṃ svajaneneha paro'pi bahu manyate| svajanena tvavajñātaṃ pare paribhavantyuta||

One who is respected by his own people becomes an object of esteem with his enemies also, while one who is disregarded by his own is set at naught by enemies.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.32

राज्ञः परैः परिभवः सर्वेषामसुखावहः। तस्माच्छत्रं च पत्रं च वासांस्याभरणानि च॥ भोजनान्यथ पानानि राज्ञे दधुर्गृहाणि च। आसनानि च शय्याश्च सर्वोपकरणानि च॥

rājñaḥ paraiḥ paribhavaḥ sarveṣāmasukhāvahaḥ| tasmācchatraṃ ca patraṃ ca vāsāṃsyābharaṇāni ca|| bhojanānyatha pānāni rājñe dadhurgṛhāṇi ca| āsanāni ca śayyāśca sarvopakaraṇāni ca||

If the king be disregarded by his enemies, all his subjects become unhappy. Therefore, umbrellas, vehicles, external ornaments, foods, drinks, palaces, seats, beds, and all utensils for use and show, should be dedicated to the king.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.33

गोप्ता तस्माद् दुराधर्षः स्मितपूर्वाभिभाषिता। आभाषितश्च मधुरं प्रत्याभाषेत मानवान्॥

goptā tasmād durādharṣaḥ smitapūrvābhibhāṣitā| ābhāṣitaśca madhuraṃ pratyābhāṣeta mānavān||

By such means, the king will better discharge his duties of protection and become irresistible. He should always smilingly be spoken to by others and he should speak to others sweetly.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 67.34

कृतज्ञो दृढभक्तिः स्यात् संविभागी जितेन्द्रियः। ईक्षितः प्रतिवीक्षेत मृदु वल्गु च सुष्ठु च॥

kṛtajño dṛḍhabhaktiḥ syāt saṃvibhāgī jitendriyaḥ| īkṣitaḥ prativīkṣeta mṛdu valgu ca suṣṭhu ca||

Grateful, firmly devoted, and with subdued passions, he should give to others their due. Eyed by others, he should look at them mildly, sweetly, and beautifully.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)