मा तात साहसं कार्षीः स्वधर्मं परिपालय। स्वधर्मस्थापनं धर्मं बुध्यस्वागमयस्व च
Do not act rashly, dear son; uphold your own duty. Understand and establish righteousness through your own duty, and let it be assimilated.
न हि धर्ममविज्ञाय वृद्धाननुपसेव्य च। धर्मो वै वेदितुं शक्यो बृहस्पतिसमैरपि
For without understanding righteousness, and without serving the elders, even those equal to Brihaspati cannot truly know dharma.
अधर्मो यत्र धर्माख्यो धर्मश्चाधर्मसंज्ञितः। स विज्ञेयो विभागेन यत्रमुह्यन्त्यबुद्धयः
Where unrighteousness is called righteousness, and righteousness is designated as unrighteousness, that must be discerned carefully, for there the unwise are deluded.
आचारसंभवो धर्मो धर्माद्वेदाः समुत्थिताः। वेदैर्यज्ञाः समुत्पन्ना यज्ञैर्देवाः प्रतिष्ठिताः
Righteousness arises from proper conduct; from righteousness the Vedas have arisen; from the Vedas, sacrifices are produced; and by sacrifices, the gods are established.
बल्याकरवणिज्याभिः कृष्यर्थैर्योनिपोषणैः। वार्तया धार्यते सर्वं धर्मैरेतैर्द्विजातिभिः
By offerings, trade, agriculture, and the nourishment of offspring, all is sustained through livelihood by the twice-born, by means of these duties.
त्रयी वार्ता दण्डनीतिस्तिस्रो विद्या विजानताम्। ताभिः सम्यक्प्रवृत्ताभिर्लोकयात्रा विधीयते
The threefold Veda, livelihood, and the science of governance are the three branches of knowledge for the wise; by their proper practice, the course of the world is maintained.
सा चेद्धर्मकृता न स्यात्रयीधर्ममृते भुवि। दण्डनीतिमृतेचापि निर्मर्यादमिदं भवेत्
If these are not performed according to righteousness, and if the threefold Veda and righteous conduct are absent from the earth, and if the science of governance is lacking, then this world would be without order.
वार्ताधर्मे ह्यवर्तिन्यो विनश्येयुरिमाः प्रजाः। सुप्रवृत्तैस्त्रिभिर्ह्येतैर्धर्मैः सूयन्ति वै प्रजाः
Indeed, if people do not act according to the dharma of livelihood, these beings would perish; but when these three dharmas are properly practiced, beings are indeed born.
द्विजानाममृतं धर्मो ह्येकश्चैवैकवर्णकः। यज्ञाध्ययनदानानि त्रयः साधारणाः स्मृताः
For the twice-born, righteousness is like nectar, while for those of a single class, it is one alone; sacrifice, study, and charity are declared to be common to all.
याजनाध्यापने चोभे ब्राह्मणानां परिग्रहः। पालनं क्षत्रियाणां वै वैश्यधर्मश्च पोषणम्
For Brahmanas, both officiating at sacrifices and teaching are proper, as is accepting gifts; for Kshatriyas, protection is their duty, and for Vaishyas, it is nourishment.
शुश्रूषा च द्विजातीनां शूद्राणआं धर्म उच्यते। भैक्षहोमव्रतैर्हीनास्तथैव गुरुवासिताः
Service to the twice-born is declared to be the duty of Shudras; those who lack alms, oblations, vows, and residence with a teacher.
क्षत्रधर्मोऽत्रकौन्तेय तव धर्मोऽत्र रक्षणम्। स्वधर्मं प्रतिपद्यस्व विनीतो नियतेन्द्रियः
The duty of the Kshatriya here, O son of Kunti, is protection; adhere to your own duty, disciplined and with controlled senses.
वृद्धैः संमन्त्र्य सद्भिश्च बुद्धिमद्भिः श्रुतान्वितैः। आस्थितः शास्तिदण्डेन व्यसनी परिभूयते
Having consulted with elders, the virtuous, the wise, and those learned in the scriptures, one who is established in the science of governance, if afflicted, is not overcome.
निग्रहानुग्रहैः सम्यग्यदा नेता प्रवर्तते। तदा भवन्ति लोकस्य मर्यादाः सुव्यवस्थिताः
When a leader acts properly with both restraint and favor, then the order of the people becomes well established.
तस्माद्देशे च दुर्गे च शत्रुमित्रबलेषु च। नित्यं चारेण बोद्धव्यं स्थानं वृद्धिः क्षयस्तथा
Therefore, by means of intelligence, one must always ascertain the position, growth, and decline in regions, fortresses, and among the forces of friend and foe.
राज्ञामुपायश्चारश्च बुद्धिमन्त्रपराक्रमाः। निग्रहप्रग्रहौ चैव दाक्ष्यं वै कार्यसाधकम्
The strategies of kings, intelligence gathering, wise counsel, and valor, as well as restraint and release, and skill are all essential for accomplishing tasks.
साम्ना दानेन भेदेन दण्डेनोपेक्षणेन च। साधनीयानि कार्याणि समासव्यासयोगतः
Tasks must be accomplished by conciliation, gifts, division, punishment, and neglect, employing both concise and detailed methods.
मन्त्रमूला नयाः सर्वेचाराश्च भरतर्षभ। सुमन्त्रितनयैः सद्भिस्तद्विधैः सह मन्त्रयेत्
All policies and intelligence have their foundation in counsel, O best of Bharatas; one should deliberate with good counselors, those skilled in policy, and those of similar expertise.
स्त्रिया मूढेन बालेन लुब्धेन लघुनाऽपि वा। न मन्त्रयीत गुह्यानि येषु चास्पनदलक्षणम्
One should not deliberate on secrets with a woman, a fool, a child, a greedy person, or one of weak character, nor with those who lack discernment.
मन्त्रयेत्सह विद्वद्भिः शक्तैः कर्माणि कारयेत्। स्निग्धैश्च नीतिविन्यासैर्मूर्खान्सर्वत्र वर्जयेत्
One should deliberate with learned and capable people, employ the able in tasks, rely on affectionate and skilled strategists, and avoid fools in every matter.
धार्मिकान्धर्मकार्येषु अर्थकार्येषु पण्डितान्। स्त्रीषु क्लीबान्नियुञ्जीत क्रूरान्क्रूरेषु कर्मसु
Assign the righteous to righteous tasks, the learned to matters of wealth, the effeminate to women, and the cruel to cruel deeds.
स्वेभ्यश्चैव परेभ्यश्च कार्याकार्यसमुद्भवा। बुद्धिः कर्मसु विज्ञेया रिपूणां च बलाबलम्
In one's own and others' affairs, whether proper or improper, intelligence must discern the nature of actions and the strength and weakness of enemies.
बुद्ध्या स्वप्रतिपन्नेषु कुर्यात्साधुष्वनुग्रहम्। निग्रहं चाप्यशिष्टेषु निर्मर्यादेषु कारयेत्
With discernment, one should show favor to the virtuous among one's own, and enforce restraint upon the unruly and those who transgress boundaries.
निग्रहे प्रग्रहे सम्यग्यदा राजा प्रवर्तते। तदा भवति लोकस्य मर्यादा सुव्यवस्थिता
When a king properly applies restraint and release, then the order of the people becomes well established.
एष तेऽभिहितः पार्थ घोरो धर्मो दुरन्वयः। तं स्वधर्मविभागेन विनयस्थोऽनुपालय
This harsh and difficult law has been explained to you, O Partha; uphold it, grounded in discipline, according to your own duty.
तपोधर्मदमेज्याभिर्विप्रा यान्ति यथा दिवम्। दानातिथ्यक्रियाधर्मैर्यान्ति वैश्याश्च सद्गतिम्
Just as Brahmins attain heaven through austerity, righteousness, self-control, and sacrifices, so do Vaishyas reach a good path through charity, hospitality, and righteous acts.
द्विजशुश्रूषया शूद्रा लभन्ते गतिमुत्तमाम्'। क्षत्रं याति तथा स्वर्गं भुवि निग्रहपालनैः
Shudras attain the highest path through service to the twice-born; likewise, the Kshatriya reaches heaven on earth by enforcing restraint.
सम्यक्प्रणीतदण्डा हि कामद्वेपविवर्जिताः। अलुब्धा विगतक्रोधाः सतां यान्ति सलोकतां
Those who administer punishment properly, free from desire and anger, not greedy, and devoid of wrath, attain the same world as the virtuous.
ततः संहृत्य विपुलं तद्वपुः कामवर्धितम्। भीमसेनं पुनर्दोर्भ्यां पर्यष्वजत वानरः
Then, withdrawing his vast, desire-enhanced form, the monkey embraced Bhimasena again with his arms.
परिष्वक्तस्य तस्याशु भ्रात्रा भीमस्य भारत। श्रमो नाशमुपागच्छत्सर्वं चासीत्प्रदक्षिणम्
As Bhima was swiftly embraced by his brother, O Bharata, his fatigue vanished, and everything became auspicious.