हुल्योपस्थितयोः पश्य मम चान्यस्य चोभयोः । अन्यं पुष्णाति मद्धीनमिति धीरो न मुह्यति
When offerings are present for both myself and another, the steadfast man is not confused, thinking, 'He supports another, not me, who am in need.'
श्रेयांसं हि परित्यज्य वैद्यं कर्मणिकर्मणि । पापीयांसं प्रकुर्वीरञ्शीलमेषां तथाविधम्
Abandoning a better and proper task for a lesser and improper one, and doing what is worse, such is their character.
नैषां दारेषु कुर्वीत प्राज्ञो मैत्रीं कथंचन । रक्षणं तु न सेवेत यो राजवसतिं वसेत्
A wise man should never form friendship with their wives in any way; nor should he serve as their protector, if he dwells in the king's residence.
यदा ह्यभिसमीक्षेत प्रेष्यं स्त्रीभिः समागतम् । बुद्धिः परिभवेत्तस्य राजा शङ्केत वा पुनः
Whenever he observes a servant associating with women, the king's mind suspects him, or his judgment is diminished.
शङ्कितस्य पुनः स्त्रीषु कस्य भृत्यस्य भूमिपः। जीवितं साधु मन्येत प्रकृतिस्थो बलात्कृतः
Who among servants, when suspected by the king regarding women, can rightly consider his life secure, if he remains in his natural state or is forced?
हर्षवस्तुषु चाप्यत्र वर्तमानेषु केषु चित्। नातिगाढं प्रहृष्येत तान्येवास्यानुपूजयेत् ।। 47
Even when there are occasions for joy here, one should not rejoice excessively; he should honor those very things in moderation.
हर्षाद्धि मन्दः पुरुषः स्वैरं कुर्वीत वैकृतम् । तदस्यान्तःपुरे वृत्तमीक्षां कुर्वीत भूमिपः
Indeed, a foolish man, overcome by joy, may act recklessly; the king should observe his conduct within the inner quarters.
अन्तःपुरगतं ह्येनं स्त्रियः क्लीबाश्च सर्वतः । वर्तमानं यथावच्च कुत्सयेयुरसंशयम्
Within the inner quarters, women and eunuchs everywhere will certainly disparage him if he behaves improperly.
तस्माद्गम्भीरमात्मानं कृत्वा हर्षं नियम्य च। नित्यमन्तःपुरे राज्ञो न वृत्तं कीर्तयेद्बहिः
Therefore, having made oneself composed and restraining joy, one should never speak of the king's inner affairs outside.
यथा हि सुमहामन्त्रो भिद्यमानो हरेत्सुखम्। एवमन्तःपुरे वृत्तं श्रूयमाणं बहिर्भवेत्
Just as a great secret, when revealed, destroys happiness, so too, when the inner affairs are heard outside, trouble arises.
या तु वृत्तिरबाह्यानां बाह्यानामपि केवलम्। उभयेषां समस्तानां शृणु राजोपजीविनाम्
Now hear about the conduct of those who are not outsiders, and also of outsiders alone, and of all those who serve the king.
न स्त्रियो जातु मन्येत बाह्ये वाभ्यन्तरेऽपि वा । अनुजीविनां नरेन्द्रस्तु सृजेद्धि सुमहद्भयम्
Women should never be considered either outsiders or insiders among the king's dependents; for the king, releasing them, causes great fear.
मत्वाऽस्य प्रियमात्मानं राजरत्नानि राजवत्। अराजा राजयोग्यानि नोपयुञ्जीत पण्डितः
Thinking himself favored, a wise man should not use royal jewels or things fit for a king as if he were a king, when he is not.
अराजानं हि रत्नानि राजकान्तानि राजवत्। भुञ्जानं तं नरं राजा न तितिक्षेत जीवितम्
If a man who is not a king enjoys royal jewels and objects beloved by kings as a king does, the king will not tolerate his life.
तस्मादव्यक्तभोगेन भोक्तव्यं भूतिमिच्छता । तुल्यभोगं हि राजा तु भृत्यं कोपेन योजयेत्
Therefore, one who desires prosperity should enjoy in an unobtrusive manner; for the king will punish a servant who enjoys equally with him.
न चापत्येन संप्रीतिं राज्ञः कुर्वीत केनचित् । अधिक्षिप्तमनर्थं च द्वेष्यं च परिवर्जयेत्
No one should ever seek the king's favor through offspring; one should avoid what is insulted, useless, or hated.
एतां हि सेवमानस्य नरसीमां चतुर्विधाम्। द्विधा विच्छिद्यते मूलं राजमूलोपसेविनः
For one who serves the king, this fourfold boundary of conduct, when violated in two ways, destroys the root of his position.
एतैस्तु विपरीता या नरसीमा नराधमैः । तथा कुर्वीत संसर्गं न विरोधं कथंचन
If this boundary of conduct is transgressed by base men, one should associate with them, but never engage in conflict.
बन्धुभिश्च नरेन्द्रस्य बलवद्भिश्च मानवैः । साधु मन्येत संसर्गं न विरोधं कथंचन
Association with the king's relatives and powerful men should be considered proper, but never conflict with them.
ताभ्यां तु नरसीमाभ्यां विरुद्धस्याल्पतेजसः । प्रथमं छिद्यते मूलं द्वितीयं जायते भयम्
For one opposed to these two boundaries of conduct, whose power is small, first his root is cut off, and then fear arises.
उद्धतानां च यो वेषः कुहकानां च यो भवेत् । राजवेषं च विस्पष्टं सेवमानो न वर्धते। इतराभ्यां तु वेषाभ्यां परिहास्येत बान्धवैः
He who adopts the attire of the arrogant or the deceitful, or wears the clear royal dress, does not prosper in service; but with the other two types of attire, he is ridiculed by relatives.
अपुंभिश्चैव पुंभिश्च स्त्रीभिः स्त्रीदर्शिभिर्नरैः । शक्ये सति न संभाषां जातु कुर्वीत कर्हिचित्
Whether with men or women, or with men who observe women, one should never engage in conversation, if it can be avoided.
प्रतिसंभाषमाणो हि त्रिभिरेतैरचेतनः। श्येनः पेशीमिवादत्ते पुरुषो भूतिमात्मनः
Indeed, when a person converses with these three who lack awareness, he seizes prosperity for himself, just as a hawk snatches a piece of meat.
ये च राज्ञाऽभिसत्कारं लभेरन्कारणादिव। तैश्च सामन्तदूतैश्च न संसज्येत कर्हिचित्
And those who receive honor from the king, for whatever reason, one should never associate with them, nor with the king’s border messengers.
न चान्याचरितां भूमिमसंदिष्टो महीपतेः। उपसेवेत मेधावी यो राजवसतिं वसेत्
Nor should a wise man, unless instructed by the king, serve in a place where others have acted; he should reside only in the king’s household.
न च संदर्शने राज्ञां प्रबन्धमभिसंजपेत् । अपि चैतद्दरिद्राणां व्यलीकस्थानमुत्तमम्
Nor should one ever recite a tale in the presence of kings; moreover, this is the best safeguard for those who are poor and vulnerable.
अर्थकामा च या नारी राजानं स्यादुपस्थिता। अनुजीवी तथायुक्तां निध्यायन्दुष्यते च सः
If a woman, desiring wealth, approaches the king, and a dependent contemplates such a woman, he becomes corrupted.
तस्मान्नारीं न निध्यायेत्तथायुक्तां विचक्षणः। तथा क्षुतं च वातं च निष्ठीवं चाचरेच्छनैः
Therefore, a discerning person should not contemplate such a woman; likewise, he should suppress sneezing, yawning, and spitting.
न नर्मसु हसेज्जातु मूढवृत्तिर्हि सा स्मृता । स्मितं तु मृदुपूर्वेण दर्शयीत प्रसादजम्
One should never laugh in jest, for such conduct is considered foolish; but a gentle smile, preceded by mildness and arising from goodwill, may be shown.
न चाक्षौ न भुजौ जातु न च वाक्यं समाक्षिपेत्। न च तिर्यगवेक्षेत चक्षुर्भ्यां सम्यगाचरेत्
One should never cast dice, nor wrestle, nor interrupt speech; nor should one glance sideways, but act properly with the eyes.