Mahabharata — Volume VII (Dutt edition) — Chapter 86
MBh 7 86.1
युधिष्ठिर उवाच कथंविधं पुरं राजा स्वयमावस्तुमर्हति। कृतं वा कारयित्वा वा तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca kathaṃvidhaṃ puraṃ rājā svayamāvastumarhati| kṛtaṃ vā kārayitvā vā tanme brūhi pitāmaha||
Yudhishthira said What should be the kind of city within which the king should himself live? Should he select one already made, or should he cause one to be especially made? Tell me this, O grand-father!
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.2
भीष्म उवाच वस्तव्यं यत्र कौन्तेय सपुत्रज्ञातिबन्धुना। न्याय्यं तत्र परिप्रष्टुं वृत्तिं गुप्तिं च भारत॥
bhīṣma uvāca vastavyaṃ yatra kaunteya saputrajñātibandhunā| nyāyyaṃ tatra paripraṣṭuṃ vṛttiṃ guptiṃ ca bhārata||
Bhishma said “It is proper, O Bharata, to enquire about how should a king live on a city, and how should he defend it, O son of Kunti.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.3
तस्मात् ते वर्तयिष्यामि दुर्गकर्म विशेषतः। श्रुत्वा तथा विधातव्यमनुष्ठेयं च यत्नतः॥
tasmāt te vartayiṣyāmi durgakarma viśeṣataḥ| śrutvā tathā vidhātavyamanuṣṭheyaṃ ca yatnataḥ||
I shall, therefore, describe to you this subject, referring especially to the defences of forts. Having heard me, you should make the arrangements required and conduct yourself attentively as directed.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.4
षड्विधं दुर्गमास्थाय पुराण्यथ निवेशयेत्। सर्वसम्पत्प्रधानं यद् बाहुल्यं चापि सम्भवेत्॥
ṣaḍvidhaṃ durgamāsthāya purāṇyatha niveśayet| sarvasampatpradhānaṃ yad bāhulyaṃ cāpi sambhavet||
Keeping his eye on the six different sorts of forts the king should build his cities containing every kind of riches and every article of use in profusion.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.5
धन्वदुर्गं महीदुर्गं गिरिदुर्गं तथैव च। मनुष्यदुर्ग अब्दुर्गं वनदुर्गं च तानि षट्॥
dhanvadurgaṃ mahīdurgaṃ giridurgaṃ tathaiva ca| manuṣyadurga abdurgaṃ vanadurgaṃ ca tāni ṣaṭ||
Those six kinds are water-citadels, earthcitadels, hill-citadels, human-citadels, mud citadels, and forest-citadels.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.6
यत्पुरं दुर्गसम्पन्नं धान्यायुधसमन्वितम्। दृढप्राकारपरिखं हस्त्यश्वरथसंकुलम्॥ विद्वांसः शिल्पिनो यत्र निचयाश्च सुसंचिताः। धार्मिकश्च जनो यत्र दाक्ष्यमुत्तममास्थितः॥ ऊर्जस्विनरनागाश्वं चत्वरापणशोभितम्। प्रसिद्धव्यवहारं च प्रशान्तमकुतोभयम्॥ सुप्रभं सानुनादं च सुप्रशस्तनिवेशनम्। शूराढ्यजनसम्पन्नं ब्रह्मघोषानुनादितम्॥ समाजोत्सवसम्पन्नं सदा पूजितदैवतम्। वश्यामात्यबलो राजा तत्पुरं स्वयमाविशेत्॥
yatpuraṃ durgasampannaṃ dhānyāyudhasamanvitam| dṛḍhaprākāraparikhaṃ hastyaśvarathasaṃkulam|| vidvāṃsaḥ śilpino yatra nicayāśca susaṃcitāḥ| dhārmikaśca jano yatra dākṣyamuttamamāsthitaḥ|| ūrjasvinaranāgāśvaṃ catvarāpaṇaśobhitam| prasiddhavyavahāraṃ ca praśāntamakutobhayam|| suprabhaṃ sānunādaṃ ca supraśastaniveśanam| śūrāḍhyajanasampannaṃ brahmaghoṣānunāditam|| samājotsavasampannaṃ sadā pūjitadaivatam| vaśyāmātyabalo rājā tatpuraṃ svayamāviśet||
The king, with his ministers and the army perfectly loyal to him, should live in that city which is defended by a fort, which contains profuse rice and weapons, which is protected with impenetrable walls and a trench, which has a sufficient number of elephants, horses and cars, which is inhabited by learned men and well-versed in the mechanical arts, where storage of provisions of every sort has been made, whose inhabitants are virtuous and clear in business, strong-bodied and energetic and as also its animals, which has many open squares and rows of shops, where all persons are righteous, where peace reigns where no danger exists, which shines with beauty and resounds with music and songs, where the houses are all spacious, where the residents have among them many brave and rich persons, which echoes with the chanting of Vedic hymns, where festivities and rejoicings frequently take place, and where the deities are always adored.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.7
तत्र कोशं बलं मित्रं व्यवहारं च वर्धयेत्। पुरे जनपदे चैव सर्वदोषान् निवर्तयेत्॥
tatra kośaṃ balaṃ mitraṃ vyavahāraṃ ca vardhayet| pure janapade caiva sarvadoṣān nivartayet||
Living there, the king should always try to fill his treasury, to increase his army, multiply the number of his friends, and establish courts of justice. He should suppress all abuses and evils in both his cities and provinces.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.8
भाण्डागारायुधागारं प्रयत्नेनाभिवर्धयेत्। निचयान् वर्धयेत् सर्वांस्तथा यन्त्रायुधालयान्॥
bhāṇḍāgārāyudhāgāraṃ prayatnenābhivardhayet| nicayān vardhayet sarvāṃstathā yantrāyudhālayān||
He should collect provisions of all sorts and replenish his arsenals carefully. He should also increase his storage of rice and other grain, and strengthen his counsels.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.9
काष्ठलोहतुषाङ्गारदारू शृङ्गास्थिवैणवान्। मज्जा स्नेहवसा क्षौद्रमौषधग्राममेव च॥ शणं सर्जरसं धान्यमायुधानि शरांस्तथा। चर्म स्नायुं तथा वेत्रं मुञ्जबल्वजबन्धनान्॥
kāṣṭhalohatuṣāṅgāradārū śṛṅgāsthivaiṇavān| majjā snehavasā kṣaudramauṣadhagrāmameva ca|| śaṇaṃ sarjarasaṃ dhānyamāyudhāni śarāṃstathā| carma snāyuṃ tathā vetraṃ muñjabalvajabandhanān||
He should, increase his stores of fuel, iron, chaff, charcoal, timber, horns, bones, bamboos, marrow, oils, clarified butter, fat, honey, medicines, flax, resin, rice, weapons, arrows, leather, catgut, canes, and strings and cords made of Munja grass and other plants and creepers.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.10
आशयाचोदपानाश्च प्रभूतसलिलाकराः। निरोद्धव्याः सदा राज्ञा क्षीरिणश्च महीरुहाः॥
āśayācodapānāśca prabhūtasalilākarāḥ| niroddhavyāḥ sadā rājñā kṣīriṇaśca mahīruhāḥ||
He should multiply the number of tanks and wells containing large quantities of water, and should protect all shady trees.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.11
सत्कृताश्च प्रयत्नेन आचार्यद्विकपुरोहिताः। महेष्वासाः स्थपतयः सांवत्सरचिकित्सकाः॥ प्राज्ञा मेधाविनो दान्ता दक्षाः शूरा बहुश्रुताः। कुलीनाः सत्त्वसम्पन्ना युक्ताः सर्वेषु कर्मसु॥
satkṛtāśca prayatnena ācāryadvikapurohitāḥ| maheṣvāsāḥ sthapatayaḥ sāṃvatsaracikitsakāḥ|| prājñā medhāvino dāntā dakṣāḥ śūrā bahuśrutāḥ| kulīnāḥ sattvasampannā yuktāḥ sarveṣu karmasu||
He should entertain with honour the teachers of various sciences, Ritwijas, priests, powerful bowmen, persons skilled in architecture, astronomers, astrologers, physicians, as well as all men endued with wisdom, intelligence, self-control, cleverness, courage, learning, high-descent and energy, and competent to do all work.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.12
पूजयेद् धार्मिकान् राजा निगृह्णीयादधार्मिकान्। नियुज्याच्च प्रयत्नेन सर्ववर्णान् स्वकर्मसु॥
pūjayed dhārmikān rājā nigṛhṇīyādadhārmikān| niyujyācca prayatnena sarvavarṇān svakarmasu||
The king should honour the righteous and punish the unrighteous. He should, acting with resolution, compell the several castes follow their respective duties,
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.13
बाह्ममाभ्यन्तरं चैव पौरजानपदं तथा। चारैः सुविदितं कृत्वा ततः कर्म प्रयोजयेत्॥
bāhmamābhyantaraṃ caiva paurajānapadaṃ tathā| cāraiḥ suviditaṃ kṛtvā tataḥ karma prayojayet||
Knowing properly, through spies, the external conduct and the state of mind of the inhabitants of his city and provinces, he should take the necessary steps.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.14
चरान्मन्त्रं च कोशं च दण्डं चैव विशेषतः। अनुतिष्ठेत् स्वयं राजा सर्वं ह्यत्र प्रतिष्ठितम्॥
carānmantraṃ ca kośaṃ ca daṇḍaṃ caiva viśeṣataḥ| anutiṣṭhet svayaṃ rājā sarvaṃ hyatra pratiṣṭhitam||
The king should himself look after his spies and counsels, his treasury, and the instrument for inflicting punishments. Everything depends upon these.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.15
उदासीनारिमित्राणां सर्वमेव चिकीर्षितम्। पुरे जनपदे चैव ज्ञातव्यं चारचक्षुषा॥
udāsīnārimitrāṇāṃ sarvameva cikīrṣitam| pure janapade caiva jñātavyaṃ cāracakṣuṣā||
Having spies for his eyes, the king should learn all the acts and intentions of his foes, friends, and neutrals.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.16
ततस्तेषां विधातव्यं सर्वमेवाप्रमादतः। भक्तान् पूजयता नित्यं द्विषतश्च निगृह्णता॥
tatasteṣāṃ vidhātavyaṃ sarvamevāpramādataḥ| bhaktān pūjayatā nityaṃ dviṣataśca nigṛhṇatā||
He should then, carefully, concert his own measures, honouring those that are loyal to him and chastising those that are hostile.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.17
यष्टव्यं क्रतुभिर्नित्यं दातव्यं चाप्यपीडया। प्रजानां रक्षणं कार्यं न कार्यं धर्मबाधकम्॥
yaṣṭavyaṃ kratubhirnityaṃ dātavyaṃ cāpyapīḍayā| prajānāṃ rakṣaṇaṃ kāryaṃ na kāryaṃ dharmabādhakam||
The king should always worship the gods in sacrifices and make gifts without giving pain to anybody. He should protect his subjects, never doing anything that may stand in the way of righteousness.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.18
कृपणानाथवृद्धानां विधवानां च योषिताम्। योगक्षेमं च वृत्तिं च नित्यमेव प्रकल्पयेत्॥
kṛpaṇānāthavṛddhānāṃ vidhavānāṃ ca yoṣitām| yogakṣemaṃ ca vṛttiṃ ca nityameva prakalpayet||
He should always support and protect the helpless, the lordless, the aged, and widows.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.19
आश्रमेषु यथाकालं चैलभाजनभोजनम्। सदैवोपहरेद् राजा सत्कृत्याभ्यर्च्य मान्य च॥
āśrameṣu yathākālaṃ cailabhājanabhojanam| sadaivopahared rājā satkṛtyābhyarcya mānya ca||
The king should always honour the ascetics and present them, at proper times, with clothes, vessels and food.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.20
आत्मानं सर्वकार्याणि तापसे राष्ट्रमेव च। निवेदयेत् प्रयत्नेन तिष्ठेत् प्रहश्च सर्वदा॥
ātmānaṃ sarvakāryāṇi tāpase rāṣṭrameva ca| nivedayet prayatnena tiṣṭhet prahaśca sarvadā||
The king should, with sufficient care, inform the ascetics of the state of his own self, of all his measures, and of the kingdom, and should always behave humbly in their presence.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.21
सर्वार्थत्यागिनं राजा कुले जातं बहुश्रुतम्। पूजयेत् तादृशं दृष्ट्वा शयनासनभोजनैः॥
sarvārthatyāginaṃ rājā kule jātaṃ bahuśrutam| pūjayet tādṛśaṃ dṛṣṭvā śayanāsanabhojanaiḥ||
When he beholds anchorites of high descent and great learning that have forsaken all earthly objects, he should honour them with presents of beds and seats and food.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.22
तस्मिन् कुर्वीत विश्वासं राजा कस्याञ्चिदापदि। तापसेषु हि विश्वासमपि कुर्वन्ति दस्यवः॥
tasmin kurvīta viśvāsaṃ rājā kasyāñcidāpadi| tāpaseṣu hi viśvāsamapi kurvanti dasyavaḥ||
Whatever the distress which he befalls him, he should confide in an anchorite. The very ribbers place confidence upon persons of that character.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.23
तस्मिन् निधीनादधीत प्रज्ञां पर्याददीत च। न चाप्यभीक्ष्णं सेवेत भृशं वा प्रतिपूजयेत्॥
tasmin nidhīnādadhīta prajñāṃ paryādadīta ca| na cāpyabhīkṣṇaṃ seveta bhṛśaṃ vā pratipūjayet||
The king should keep his wealth in charge of an ascetic and should take wise counsels from him. He should not, however, always wait upon them or adore them at all times.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.24
अन्यः कार्यः स्वराष्ट्रेषु परराष्ट्रेषु चापरः। अटवीषु परः कार्यः सामन्तनगरेष्वपि॥
anyaḥ kāryaḥ svarāṣṭreṣu pararāṣṭreṣu cāparaḥ| aṭavīṣu paraḥ kāryaḥ sāmantanagareṣvapi||
From among those living in his own kingdom, he should select one for friendship. Likewise, he should select another from among those that live in the kingdom of his enemy. He should select a third from among recluses in the forests, and a fourth from among those living in his tributary kingdoms.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.25
तेषु सत्कारमानाभ्यां संविभागांश्च कारयेत्। परराष्ट्राटवीस्थेषु यथा स्वविषये तथा॥
teṣu satkāramānābhyāṃ saṃvibhāgāṃśca kārayet| pararāṣṭrāṭavīstheṣu yathā svaviṣaye tathā||
He should treat them hospitably and honour them and assign them the means of maintenance. He should treat the ascetics living in the kingdoms of enemies in the forests in the same way as those that live in his own kingdom.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.26
ते कस्याञ्चिदवस्थायां शरणं शरणार्थिने। राज्ञे दधुर्यथाकामं तापसाः संशितव्रताः॥
te kasyāñcidavasthāyāṃ śaraṇaṃ śaraṇārthine| rājñe dadhuryathākāmaṃ tāpasāḥ saṃśitavratāḥ||
Engaged in penances and of rigid vows, they would, if calamity befalls the king and if he prays for protection, grant him what he wants.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 7 86.27
एष ते लक्षणोद्देशः संक्षेपेण प्रकीर्तितः। यादृशे नगरे राजा स्वयमावस्तुमर्हति॥
eṣa te lakṣaṇoddeśaḥ saṃkṣepeṇa prakīrtitaḥ| yādṛśe nagare rājā svayamāvastumarhati||
I have now told you briefly the characteristics of the city in which the king should live.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)