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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 103

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 103

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 103

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 103 of the classical Mahābhārata with 42 verses.

Total: 42 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.103.1–42 • 250 Lexicon Terms • Page 2 of 2 (Verses 12 shown)
विजित्य क्षममाणस्य यशो राज्ञोऽभिवर्धते । महापराधा ह्यप्यस्मिन्विश्वसन्ति हि शत्रवः ॥
English Translation
The fame of a king who shows forgiveness after conquest spreads more widely. The very enemies of a forgiving person trust him even when he becomes guilty of a heinous crime.
मन्यते कर्शयित्वा तु क्षमा साध्विति शम्बरः । असंतप्तं तु यद्दारु प्रत्येति प्रकृतिं पुनः ॥
English Translation
Shamvara has said that having assailed an enemy, forgiveness should be shown afterwards, for a wooden pole, if made straight without heat, very soon assumes its former state.
नैतत्प्रशंसन्त्याचार्या न च साधु निदर्शनम् । अक्लेशेनाविनाशेन नियन्तव्याः स्वपुत्रवत् ॥
English Translation
Persons conversant with the scriptures do not, however, praise this. Nor do they consider this a characteristic of a good king. On the other hand, they say that an enemy should be subdued and restrained like a father subduing and checking a son, without anger and without killing him.
द्वेष्यो भवति भूतानामुग्रो राजा युधिष्ठिर । मृदुमप्यवमन्यन्ते तस्मादुभयभाग्भवेत् ॥
English Translation
If, O Yudhishthira, a king becomes severe, he is hated of all creatures. If, on the other hand, he becomes mild, he is disregarded by all. Do you, therefore, practise both severity and mildness.
प्रहरिष्यन्प्रियं ब्रूयात्प्रहरन्नपि भारत । प्रहृत्य च कृपायेत शोचन्निव रुदन्निव ॥
English Translation
Before striking, O Bharata, and while sticking, utter sweet words; and while striking, utter sweet words; and after having beaten them, show them mercy and let them understand that you are grieving and weeping for them.
न मे प्रियं यत्स हतः संप्राहैवं पुरो वचः । न चकर्थ च मे वाक्यमुच्यमानः पुनः पुनः ॥
English Translation
Having defeated an army, the king should address the survivors saying-I am not at all glad that so many have been killed by my men. Alas, the latter, through repeatedly dissuaded by me, have not obeyed my orders.
अहो जीवितमाकाङ्क्षे नेदृशो वधमर्हति । सुदुर्लभाः सुपुरुषाः संग्रामेष्वपलायिनः ॥
English Translation
I wish they were all alive. They do not deserve such death. They were all good and sincere men, and unretreating from battle. Such inan, indeed, are rare.
कृतं ममाप्रियं तेन येनायं निहतो मृधे । इति वाचा वदन्हन्तॄन्पूजयेत रहोगतः ॥
English Translation
He that has killed such a hero in battle, has surely done that which I do not like.-Having said so before the survivors of the defeated enemy, the king should in secret honour those amongst his own troops that have bravely killed the foe.
हन्तॄणां चाहतानां च यत्कुर्युरपराधिनः । क्रोशेद्बाहुं प्रगृह्यापि चिकीर्षञ्जनसंग्रहम् ॥
English Translation
For comforting the wounded slayers for their sufferings at the hand of enemy, the king, desirous of securing their devotion to himself, should even weep, catching their hands affectionately.
एवं सर्वास्ववस्थासु सान्त्वपूर्वं समाचरन् । प्रियो भवति भूतानां धर्मज्ञो वीतभीर्नृपः ॥
English Translation
The king should thus, under all circumstances, behave with conciliation. A fearless and virtuous king, is loved by all creatures.
विश्वासं चात्र गच्छन्ति सर्वभूतानि भारत । विश्वस्तः शक्यते भोक्तुं यथाकाममुपस्थितः ॥
English Translation
All creatures also, O Bharata, trust such a king. Winning their confidence, he succeeds in enjoying the Earth as he pleases.
तस्माद्विश्वासयेद्राजा सर्वभूतान्यमायया । सर्वतः परिरक्षेच्च यो महीं भोक्तुमिच्छति ॥
English Translation
The king should, therefore, by casting off deceitfulness, seek to secure the confidence of all creatures. He should also try to protect his subjects from all fears if he seeks to enjoy the Earth.
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