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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 67

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 67

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 67

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 67 of the classical Mahābhārata with 39 verses.

Total: 39 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.67.1–39 • 250 Lexicon Terms
चातुराश्रम्य उक्तोऽत्र चातुर्वर्ण्यस्तथैव च । राष्ट्रस्य यत्कृत्यतमं तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥
English Translation
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.'
राष्ट्रस्यैतत्कृत्यतमं राज्ञ एवाभिषेचनम् । अनिन्द्रमबलं राष्ट्रं दस्यवोऽभिभवन्ति च ॥
English Translation
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.
अराजकेषु राष्ट्रेषु धर्मो न व्यवतिष्ठते । परस्परं च खादन्ति सर्वथा धिगराजकम् ॥
English Translation
In kingdoms torn by anarchy, righteousness cannot live. The denizens devour one another. An anarchy is the worst of all conditions.
इन्द्रमेनं प्रवृणुते यद्राजानमिति श्रुतिः । यथैवेन्द्रस्तथा राजा संपूज्यो भूतिमिच्छता ॥
English Translation
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.
नाराजकेषु राष्ट्रेषु वस्तव्यमिति वैदिकम् । नाराजकेषु राष्ट्रेषु हव्यमग्निर्वहत्यपि ॥
English Translation
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.
अथ चेदभिवर्तेत राज्यार्थी बलवत्तरः । अराजकानि राष्ट्राणि हतराजानि वा पुनः ॥
प्रत्युद्गम्याभिपूज्यः स्यादेतदत्र सुमन्त्रितम् । न हि पापात्पापतरमस्ति किंचिदराजकात् ॥
English Translation
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.
स चेत्समनुपश्येत समग्रं कुशलं भवेत् । बलवान्हि प्रकुपितः कुर्यान्निःशेषतामपि ॥
English Translation
If the powerful invader be a little just, everything will be right. If however, he be exercised with may exterminate all.
भूयांसं लभते क्लेशं या गौर्भवति दुर्दुहा । सुदुहा या तु भवति नैव तां क्लेशयन्त्युत ॥
English Translation
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.
यदतप्तं प्रणमति न तत्संतापयन्त्युत । यच्च स्वयं नतं दारु न तत्संनामयन्त्यपि ॥
English Translation
The wood that bends easily need not be heated. The tree that bends easily, is not required to suffer any torture. anger he
एतयोपमया धीरः संनमेत बलीयसे । इन्द्राय स प्रणमते नमते यो बलीयसे ॥
English Translation
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.
तस्माद्राजैव कर्तव्यः सततं भूतिमिच्छता । न धनार्थो न दारार्थस्तेषां येषामराजकम् ॥
English Translation
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.
प्रीयते हि हरन्पापः परवित्तमराजके । यदास्य उद्धरन्त्यन्ये तदा राजानमिच्छति ॥
English Translation
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.
पापा अपि तदा क्षेमं न लभन्ते कदाचन । एकस्य हि द्वौ हरतो द्वयोश्च बहवोऽपरे ॥
English Translation
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.
अदासः क्रियते दासो ह्रियन्ते च बलात्स्त्रियः । एतस्मात्कारणाद्देवाः प्रजापालान्प्रचक्रिरे ॥
English Translation
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.
राजा चेन्न भवेल्लोके पृथिव्यां दण्डधारकः । शूले मत्स्यानिवापक्ष्यन्दुर्बलान्बलवत्तराः ॥
English Translation
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.
अराजकाः प्रजाः पूर्वं विनेशुरिति नः श्रुतम् । परस्परं भक्षयन्तो मत्स्या इव जले कृशान् ॥
ताः समेत्य ततश्चक्रुः समयानिति नः श्रुतम् । वाक्क्रूरो दण्डपुरुषो यश्च स्यात्पारदारिकः । यश्च न स्वमथादद्यात्त्याज्या नस्तादृशा इति ॥
विश्वासनार्थं वर्णानां सर्वेषामविशेषतः । तास्तथा समयं कृत्वा समये नावतस्थिरे ॥
English Translation
For inspiring confidence among all classes of the people, they made such an agreement and lived for some time.
सहितास्तास्तदा जग्मुरसुखार्ताः पितामहम् । अनीश्वरा विनश्यामो भगवन्नीश्वरं दिश ॥
English Translation
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.
यं पूजयेम संभूय यश्च नः परिपालयेत् । ताभ्यो मनुं व्यादिदेश मनुर्नाभिननन्द ताः ॥
English Translation
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.
बिभेमि कर्मणः क्रूराद्राज्यं हि भृशदुष्करम् । विशेषतो मनुष्येषु मिथ्यावृत्तिषु नित्यदा ॥
English Translation
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.'
तमब्रुवन्प्रजा मा भैः कर्मणैनो गमिष्यति । पशूनामधिपञ्चाशद्धिरण्यस्य तथैव च । धान्यस्य दशमं भागं दास्यामः कोशवर्धनम् ॥
English Translation
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.
मुख्येन शस्त्रपत्रेण ये मनुष्याः प्रधानतः । भवन्तं तेऽनुयास्यन्ति महेन्द्रमिव देवताः ॥
English Translation
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.
स त्वं जातबलो राजन्दुष्प्रधर्षः प्रतापवान् । सुखे धास्यसि नः सर्वान्कुबेर इव नैरृतान् ॥
English Translation
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.
यं च धर्मं चरिष्यन्ति प्रजा राज्ञा सुरक्षिताः । चतुर्थं तस्य धर्मस्य त्वत्संस्थं नो भविष्यति ॥
English Translation
A fourth part of the merit which men will acquire under your protection will belong to you.
तेन धर्मेण महता सुखलब्धेन भावितः । पाह्यस्मान्सर्वतो राजन्देवानिव शतक्रतुः ॥
English Translation
Strengthened by that merit so easily acquired by you do you protect us, o king, like Indra of a hundred sacrifices protecting the gods.
विजयायाशु निर्याहि प्रतपन्रश्मिमानिव । मानं विधम शत्रूणां धर्मो जयतु नः सदा ॥
English Translation
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).
स निर्ययौ महातेजा बलेन महता वृतः । महाभिजनसंपन्नस्तेजसा प्रज्वलन्निव ॥
English Translation
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.
तस्य तां महिमां दृष्ट्वा महेन्द्रस्येव देवताः । अपतत्रसिरे सर्वे स्वधर्मे च दधुर्मनः ॥
ततो महीं परिययौ पर्जन्य इव वृष्टिमान् । शमयन्सर्वतः पापान्स्वकर्मसु च योजयन् ॥
English Translation
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.
एवं ये भूतिमिच्छेयुः पृथिव्यां मानवाः क्वचित् । कुर्यू राजानमेवाग्रे प्रजानुग्रहकारणात् ॥
English Translation
'Thus, O Yudhishthira, men on Earth seeking prosperity should first elect and crown a king for the protection of all.
नमस्येयुश्च तं भक्त्या शिष्या इव गुरुं सदा । देवा इव सहस्राक्षं प्रजा राजानमन्तिके ॥
English Translation
Like disciples bowing themselves down before their preceptors or the gods before Indra, all men should humble themselves before the king.
सत्कृतं स्वजनेनेह परोऽपि बहु मन्यते । स्वजनेन त्ववज्ञातं परे परिभवन्त्युत ॥
English Translation
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.
राज्ञः परैः परिभवः सर्वेषामसुखावहः । तस्माच्छत्रं च पत्रं च वासांस्याभरणानि च ॥
English Translation
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.
भोजनान्यथ पानानि राज्ञे दद्युर्गृहाणि च । आसनानि च शय्याश्च सर्वोपकरणानि च ॥
English Translation
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.
गुप्तात्मा स्याद्दुराधर्षः स्मितपूर्वाभिभाषिता । आभाषितश्च मधुरं प्रतिभाषेत मानवान् ॥
English Translation
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.
कृतज्ञो दृढभक्तिः स्यात्संविभागी जितेन्द्रियः । ईक्षितः प्रतिवीक्षेत मृदु चर्जु च वल्गु च ॥
English Translation
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.
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