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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 94

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 94

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 94

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 94 of the classical Mahābhārata with 39 verses.

Total: 39 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.94.1–39 • 250 Lexicon Terms
यत्राधर्मं प्रणयते दुर्बले बलवत्तरः । तां वृत्तिमुपजीवन्ति ये भवन्ति तदन्वयाः ॥
English Translation
When the king, who is powerful acts unfairly towards the Weak, persons born in his family imitate the same conduct.
राजानमनुवर्तन्ते तं पापाभिप्रवर्तकम् । अविनीतमनुष्यं तत्क्षिप्रं राष्ट्रं विनश्यति ॥
English Translation
Others, again, imitate that wretch who commits sins. Such imitation of the man who does not care for restraints soon brings destruction upon the kingdom.
यद्वृत्तिमुपजीवन्ति प्रकृतिस्थस्य मानवाः । तदेव विषमस्थस्य स्वजनोऽपि न मृष्यते ॥
English Translation
The conduct of a king, who observes his proper duties, is accepted by men in general as a model for imitation. The conduct, however, of a king, who deviates from his duties, is not tolerated by his very kinsmen.
साहसप्रकृतिर्यत्र कुरुते किंचिदुल्बणम् । अशास्त्रलक्षणो राजा क्षिप्रमेव विनश्यति ॥
English Translation
That rash king, who, neglecting the injunctions laid down in scriptures, acts with high-handedness in his kingdom, very soon meets with fall.
योऽत्यन्ताचरितां वृत्तिं क्षत्रियो नानुवर्तते । जितानामजितानां च क्षत्रधर्मादपैति सः ॥
English Translation
That Kshatriya, who does not follow the conduct observed from days of yore by other Kshatriyas conquered or unconquered, deviates from Kshatriyas duties.
द्विषन्तं कृतकर्माणं गृहीत्वा नृपती रणे । यो न मानयते द्वेषात्क्षत्रधर्मादपैति सः ॥
English Translation
Having captured in battle a royal enemy that did some good to the conqueror on a former occasion, that king, who, does not, out of malice, honour him, is said to deviate from Kshatriya duties.
शक्तः स्यात्सुमुखो राजा कुर्यात्कारुण्यमापदि । प्रियो भवति भूतानां न च विभ्रश्यते श्रियः ॥
English Translation
The king should show his power, live merrily, and do what is necessary in times of danger. Such a king is loved of all creatures and never falls away from prosperity.
अप्रियं यस्य कुर्वीत भूयस्तस्य प्रियं चरेत् । नचिरेण प्रियः स स्याद्योऽप्रियः प्रियमाचरेत् ॥
English Translation
If you do evil to any person, you should, when the times comes, do him good. One who is not loved becomes an object of love if he does what is good.
मृषावादं परिहरेत्कुर्यात्प्रियमयाचितः । न च कामान्न संरम्भान्न द्वेषाद्धर्ममुत्सृजेत् ॥
English Translation
Falsehoods should be avoided. You should do good to others without being asked for the same. You should never abandon righteousness from lust or anger or malice.
नापत्रपेत प्रश्नेषु नाभिभव्यां गिरं सृजेत् । न त्वरेत न चासूयेत्तथा संगृह्यते परः ॥
English Translation
Do not reply harshly when questioned by anybody. Do not utter mean words. Never be in a hurry to do anything. Never cherish malice. By such means an enemy is won over.
प्रिये नातिभृशं हृष्येदप्रिये न च संज्वरेत् । न मुह्येदर्थकृच्छ्रेषु प्रजाहितमनुस्मरन् ॥
English Translation
Do not be overjoyed when anything pleasant occurs, nor give away to sorrow when anything disagreeable occurs. Never grieve when your wealth is exhausted, and always remember the duty of doing good to your subjects.
यः प्रियं कुरुते नित्यं गुणतो वसुधाधिपः । तस्य कर्माणि सिध्यन्ति न च संत्यज्यते श्रिया ॥
English Translation
That king, who always does what is agreeable by natural inclination, acquires success in all his undertakings and is never shorn of prosperity.
निवृत्तं प्रतिकूलेभ्यो वर्तमानमनुप्रिये । भक्तं भजेत नृपतिस्तद्वै वृत्तं सतामिह ॥
English Translation
The king should always, carefully, cherish that devoted servant who abstains from doing injury to his master and who always does what is for his good.
अप्रकीर्णेन्द्रियं प्राज्ञमत्यन्तानुगतं शुचिम् । शक्तं चैवानुरक्तं च युञ्ज्यान्महति कर्मणि ॥
English Translation
He should employ in responsible offices persons who have controlled their senses, who are devotedly loyal and of pure conduct, and who are able.
एवमेव गुणैर्युक्तो यो न रज्यति भूमिपम् । भर्तुरर्थेष्वसूयन्तं न तं युञ्जीत कर्मणि ॥
English Translation
That person, who by possessing such qualifications, pleases the king and who never neglects to take care of the interests of his master, should be appointed by the king in the affairs of his kingdom.
मूढमैन्द्रियकं लुब्धमनार्यचरितं शठम् । अनतीतोपधं हिंस्रं दुर्बुद्धिमबहुश्रुतम् ॥
English Translation
On the other hand, the king becomes shorn of prosperity by appointing to important offices men who are fools and slaves of their senses, who are covetous and of disreputable conduct, who are deceitful and hypocritical, who are minded, and addicted to drink, gambling, women, and hunting.
त्यक्तोपात्तं मद्यरतं द्यूतस्त्रीमृगयापरम् । कार्ये महति यो युञ्ज्याद्धीयते स नृपः श्रियः ॥
रक्षितात्मा तु यो राजा रक्ष्यान्यश्चानुरक्षति । प्रजाश्च तस्य वर्धन्ते ध्रुवं च महदश्नुते ॥
English Translation
That king, who, first protecting his own self, protects others worthy of protection, feels the satisfaction of seeing his subjects prosper. Such a king succeeds also in acquiring greatness.
ये केचिद्भूमिपतयस्तान्सर्वानन्ववेक्षयेत् । सुहृद्भिरनभिख्यातैस्तेन राजा न रिष्यते ॥
English Translation
A king should, by devoted secret agents, watch the conduct and acts of other kings. By such means can he acquire superiority.
अपकृत्य बलस्थस्य दूरस्थोऽस्मीति नाश्वसेत् । श्येनानुचरितैर्ह्येते निपतन्ति प्रमाद्यतः ॥
English Translation
Having injured a powerful king, one should not comfort himself with the idea that the injurer lives at a great distance from the injured. Such kings when injured attack the injurer like the hawk swooping down upon its : prey, in careless moments.
दृढमूलस्त्वदुष्टात्मा विदित्वा बलमात्मनः । अबलानभियुञ्जीत न तु ये बलवत्तराः ॥
English Translation
A king, whose power has been consolidated and who is confident of his own strength, should attack a neighbour who is weaker than himself but never who is stronger.
विक्रमेण महीं लब्ध्वा प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन् । आहवे निधनं कुर्याद्राजा धर्मपरायणः ॥
English Translation
Having acquired the sovereignty of the Earth by prowess, a virtuous king should protect his subjects fairly and kill enemies in battle
मरणान्तमिदं सर्वं नेह किंचिदनामयम् । तस्माद्धर्मे स्थितो राजा प्रजा धर्मेण पालयेत् ॥
English Translation
Everything belonging to this world is liable to destruction. Nothing here is lasting. Therefore, the king, following righteousness, should protect his subjects righteously.
रक्षाधिकरणं युद्धं तथा धर्मानुशासनम् । मन्त्रचिन्त्यं सुखं काले पञ्चभिर्वर्धते मही ॥
English Translation
The defence of forts, battle, administration of justice, consultations on questions of policy, and keeping the subjects of happiness, these five increase the dominions of a king.
एतानि यस्य गुप्तानि स राजा राजसत्तम । सततं वर्तमानोऽत्र राजा भुङ्क्ते महीमिमाम् ॥
English Translation
That king who takes proper care of these is considered to be the best of kings. By always doing these, a king succeeds in protecting his kingdom.
नैतान्येकेन शक्यानि सातत्येनान्ववेक्षितुम् । एतेष्वाप्तान्प्रतिष्ठाप्य राजा भुङ्क्ते महीं चिरम् ॥
English Translation
It is impossible, however, for one man to look after all these matters at all times. Transferring such supervision to his ministers, a king may govern the Earth for ever,
दातारं संविभक्तारं मार्दवोपगतं शुचिम् । असंत्यक्तमनुष्यं च तं जनाः कुर्वते प्रियम् ॥
English Translation
The people select such a person as their king who is liberal, who shares all objects of enjoyment with others, who is mild by nature, who is of pure conduct, and who will never forsake his subjects.
यस्तु निःश्रेयसं ज्ञात्वा ज्ञानं तत्प्रतिपद्यते । आत्मनो मतमुत्सृज्य तं लोकोऽनुविधीयते ॥
English Translation
He is obeyed in the world who, having listened to the advice of the wise, accepts them, leaving aside his own opinions.
योऽर्थकामस्य वचनं प्रातिकूल्यान्न मृष्यते । शृणोति प्रतिकूलानि विमना नचिरादिव ॥
अग्राम्यचरितां बुद्धिमत्यन्तं यो न बुध्यते । जितानामजितानां च क्षत्रधर्मादपैति सः ॥
English Translation
That Kshatriya, who does not follow the conduct observed from days of yore by other Kshatriyas conquered or unconquered, deviates from Kshatriyas duties.
मुख्यानमात्यान्यो हित्वा निहीनान्कुरुते प्रियान् । स वै व्यसनमासाद्य गाधमार्तो न विन्दति ॥
यः कल्याणगुणाञ्ज्ञातीन्द्वेषान्नैवाभिमन्यते । अदृढात्मा दृढक्रोधो नास्यार्थो रमतेऽन्तिके ॥
English Translation
That weak king, who, under the influence of anger and malice, does not love and honour those amongst his kinsmen, who are endued never with good qualities, is said to live on the very brink of destruction.
अथ यो गुणसंपन्नान्हृदयस्याप्रियानपि । प्रियेण कुरुते वश्यांश्चिरं यशसि तिष्ठति ॥
English Translation
That king, who wins over accomplished persons by doing good to them even though he may not like them heartily, succedes in enjoying fame for ever.
नाकाले प्रणयेदर्थान्नाप्रिये जातु संज्वरेत् । प्रिये नातिभृशं हृष्येद्युज्येतारोग्यकर्मणि ॥
English Translation
You should impose taxes unseasonably. You should not be sorry at the occurrence of anything disagreeable, nor rejoice exceedingly at anything agreeable. You should always try to accomplish good acts.
के मानुरक्ता राजानः के भयात्समुपाश्रिताः । मध्यस्थदोषाः के चैषामिति नित्यं विचिन्तयेत् ॥
English Translation
You should always determine who amongst the dependent kings is truly devoted to you, and who is loyal to you from fear, and who amongst them has faults.
न जातु बलवान्भूत्वा दुर्बले विश्वसेत्क्वचित् । भारुण्डसदृशा ह्येते निपतन्ति प्रमाद्यतः ॥
English Translation
The king, even if he be powerful, should trust the weak, for in moments of carelessness the weak may attack the powerful like a flock of vultures seizing their prey.
अपि सर्वैर्गुणैर्युक्तं भर्तारं प्रियवादिनम् । अभिद्रुह्यति पापात्मा तस्माद्धि विभिषेज्जनात् ॥
English Translation
A sinful man seeks to injure his master even if the latter be sweet-speeched and endued with every accomplishment. Do not, therefore, repose confidence in such men.
एतां राजोपनिषदं ययातिः स्माह नाहुषः । मनुष्यविजये युक्तो हन्ति शत्रूननुत्तमान् ॥
English Translation
Nahusha's son Yayati, in describing the mysteries of king-craft, said that a person in ruling men should kill even contemptible foes.
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