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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 138

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 138

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 138

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 138 of the classical Mahābhārata with 71 verses.

Total: 71 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.138.1–71 • 250 Lexicon Terms • Page 1 of 3 (Verses 30 shown)
युगक्षयात्परिक्षीणे धर्मे लोके च भारत । दस्युभिः पीड्यमाने च कथं स्थेयं पितामह ॥
English Translation
Yudhishthira said When both virtue and men, O Bharata, suffer for the gradual lapse of a cycle and when the world is assailed by robbers, how, O Grandfather should a king then behave.
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि नीतिमापत्सु भारत । उत्सृज्यापि घृणां काले यथा वर्तेत भूमिपः ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said 'I shall tell you, O Bharata, the policy the king should pursue amid such distress. I shall tell you how he should behave himself at such a time, casting off mercy.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । भरद्वाजस्य संवादं राज्ञः शत्रुंतपस्य च ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said “Regarding it is cited the old discourse between Gotama ard the illustrious Yama.
राजा शत्रुंतपो नाम सौवीराणां महारथः । कणिङ्कमुपसंगम्य पप्रच्छार्थविनिश्चयम् ॥
अलब्धस्य कथं लिप्सा लब्धं केन विवर्धते । वर्धितं पालयेत्केन पालितं प्रणयेत्कथम् ॥
English Translation
There was a king name Shatrunjaya among the Sauviras. He was a great car-warrior. Going to Bharadwaja, he asked the Rishi about the truths of the science of Profit, saying,-How can an unattained object be attained. How, again, when acquired, can it be multiplied? How also, when increased, can it be protected? And how, when protected, should it be used.
तस्मै विनिश्चयार्थं स परिपृष्टार्थनिश्चयः । उवाच ब्राह्मणो वाक्यमिदं हेतुमदुत्तरम् ॥
English Translation
Thus accosted about the truths of the science of Profit, the twice-born one said the following reasonable words to that king for explaining those truths.
नित्यमुद्यतदण्डः स्यान्नित्यं विवृतपौरुषः । अच्छिद्रश्छिद्रदर्शी च परेषां विवरानुगः ॥
English Translation
The king should always remain with the rod of punishment in his hand. He should always show his prowess. Himself without shortcomings, he should mark those of his enemies. Indeed, his eye should always be used for that object.
नित्यमुद्यतदण्डस्य भृशमुद्विजते जनः । तस्मात्सर्वाणि भूतानि दण्डेनैव प्ररोधयेत् ॥
English Translation
On seeing a king who has the rod of punishment ever uplifted in his hand, every one is filled with fear. Therefore, the king should rule all creatures with the rod of punishment.
एवमेव प्रशंसन्ति पण्डितास्तत्त्वदर्शिनः । तस्माच्चतुष्टये तस्मिन्प्रधानो दण्ड उच्यते ॥
English Translation
Men endued with learning and knowledge of truth speak high of Punishment. Hence, of the four-fold means, viz., Conciliation, Gift, Dissension and Punishment, Punishment is said to be the foremost.
छिन्नमूले ह्यधिष्ठाने सर्वे तज्जीविनो हताः । कथं हि शाखास्तिष्ठेयुश्छिन्नमूले वनस्पतौ ॥
English Translation
When the root of a refuge is cut off, all the refugees die. When the root of a tree cut off, how would the branches live?
मूलमेवादितश्छिन्द्यात्परपक्षस्य पण्डितः । ततः सहायान्पक्षं च सर्वमेवानुसारयेत् ॥
English Translation
A wise king should cut off the very roots of his enemy. He should then win over and bring under his control the allies and partisans of that enemy.
सुमन्त्रितं सुविक्रान्तं सुयुद्धं सुपलायितम् । आपदां पदकालेषु कुर्वीत न विचारयेत् ॥
English Translation
When calamities befall the king, he should advise wisely, show his prowess properly, fight with ability, and even retreat with wisdom.
वाङ्मात्रेण विनीतः स्याद्धृदयेन यथा क्षुरः । श्लक्ष्णपूर्वाभिभाषी च कामक्रोधौ विवर्जयेत् ॥
English Translation
In words only should the king show his humility, but at heart he should be sharp as a razol. He should renounce lust and anger, and speak sweetly and mildly.
सपत्नसहिते कार्ये कृत्वा संधिं न विश्वसेत् । अपक्रामेत्ततः क्षिप्रं कृतकार्यो विचक्षणः ॥
English Translation
When the time for cominunication with an enemy arrives, a far-sighted king should make peace, without tn.sting hirr blindly. When thi: transaction is finished. he should speedily renounce the new ally.
शत्रुं च मित्ररूपेण सान्त्वेनैवाभिसान्त्वयेत् । नित्यशश्चोद्विजेत्तस्मात्सर्पाद्वेश्मगतादिव ॥
English Translation
One should conciliate an enemy with sweet assurances as if he were a friend. One, however, should always fear that enemy like a room within which there is a snake.
यस्य बुद्धिं परिभवेत्तमतीतेन सान्त्वयेत् । अनागतेन दुष्प्रज्ञं प्रत्युत्पन्नेन पण्डितम् ॥
English Translation
You should assure him with references to the past whose sense you want to control. A wicked man should be assured by promises of future well-being.
अञ्जलिं शपथं सान्त्वं प्रणम्य शिरसा वदेत् । अश्रुप्रपातनं चैव कर्तव्यं भूतिमिच्छता ॥
English Translation
The wise person should be assured by present services. The person who is desirous of acquiring prosperity should join hands, swear, use sweet words, adore by bending down his head, and shed tears.
वहेदमित्रं स्कन्धेन यावत्कालविपर्ययः । अथैनमागते काले भिन्द्याद्घटमिवाश्मनि ॥
English Translation
one should carry his enemy, on his shoulders as long as time is unfavourable. When, however, the opportunity presents itself, one should break him into pieces like an earthcn jar on a stone.
मुहूर्तमपि राजेन्द्र तिन्दुकालातवज्ज्वलेत् । न तुषाग्निरिवानर्चिर्धूमायेत नरश्चिरम् ॥
English Translation
It is better, O monarch, that a king should burn up for the time being like charcoal of ebony-wood than that he should smoulder and sinoke like chaff for many years.
नानर्थकेनार्थवत्त्वं कृतघ्नेन समाचरेत् । अर्थे तु शक्यते भोक्तुं कृतकार्योऽवमन्यते । तस्मात्सर्वाणि कार्याणि सावशेषाणि कारयेत् ॥
English Translation
A man who has many things to do, should not hesitatu to deal with even an ungrateful person. If successful, one can enjoy happiness. If unsuccessful, one loses respect.
कोकिलस्य वराहस्य मेरोः शून्यस्य वेश्मनः । व्याडस्य भक्तिचित्रस्य यच्छ्रेष्ठं तत्समाचरेत् ॥
English Translation
Therefore, in doing the work of such persons, one should, without finishing them completely, always keep something undone. A king should do what is for his well-being, imitating a kokila, a boar, the mountains of Meru, and empty chamber, an actor, and a devoted friend.
उत्थायोत्थाय गच्छेच्च नित्ययुक्तो रिपोर्गृहान् । कुशलं चापि पृच्छेत यद्यप्यकुशलं भवेत् ॥
English Translation
The king should, always, with careful application, go to the houses of his enemies, and even if calamities overtake them, ask them about their well-being.
नालसाः प्राप्नुवन्त्यर्थान्न क्लीबा न च मानिनः । न च लोकरवाद्भीता न च शश्वत्प्रतीक्षिणः ॥
English Translation
Those who are idle never acquire ricnes; nor those who are shorn of manliness and exertion; nor those who are vain; nor those who fear unpopularity; nor those who arc always dilatory.
नास्य छिद्रं परो विद्याद्विद्याच्छिद्रं परस्य तु । गूहेत्कूर्म इवाङ्गानि रक्षेद्विवरमात्मनः ॥
English Translation
The king should act in such way that his foe may not see his shortcomings. He should, however, himself notice the weak points of his enemy. He should imitate the tortoise which conceals its limbs. He should always keep hidden his own holes.
बकवच्चिन्तयेदर्थान्सिंहवच्च पराक्रमेत् । वृकवच्चावलुम्पेत शशवच्च विनिष्पतेत् ॥
English Translation
He should think of all financial matters like a crane. He should show his prowess like a lion. He should lie in ambush like a wolf and attack and pierce his foes like an arrow.
पानमक्षास्तथा नार्यो मृगया गीतवादितम् । एतानि युक्त्या सेवेत प्रसङ्गो ह्यत्र दोषवान् ॥
English Translation
He should be careful in his enjoyments regarding drink, dice, women, hunting, and music. Addiction to these produces evil.
कुर्यात्तृणमयं चापं शयीत मृगशायिकाम् । अन्धः स्यादन्धवेलायां बाधिर्यमपि संश्रयेत् ॥
English Translation
He should make his bow of bamboos; he should sleep like the deer; he should be blind when it is necessary for him to be so, or he should even be deaf when it is necessary to be deaf.
देशं कालं समासाद्य विक्रमेत विचक्षणः । देशकालाभ्यतीतो हि विक्रमो निष्फलो भवेत् ॥
English Translation
The wise king should display his prowess, considering time and place. If these are not favourable, prowess becomes useless.
कालाकालौ संप्रधार्य बलाबलमथात्मनः । परस्परबलं ज्ञात्वा तथात्मानं नियोजयेत् ॥
English Translation
Noting the opportune and inopportune moment, reflecting upon his own strength by comparing it with that of the enemy, the king should take up his work.
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