आत्मनो बलमाज्ञाय धर्मार्थपरिवर्जितम्। अलभ्यमिच्छन्नैष्कर्म्यान्मूढबुद्धिरिहोच्यते
Knowing his own strength, yet disregarding dharma and wealth, desiring what cannot be gained—such a person is called foolish-minded here.
अशिष्यं शास्ति यो राजन्यश्च शिष्यं न शास्ति च । कदर्यं भजते यश्च तमाहुर्मूढचेतसम्
He instructs the unteachable, and a king who does not instruct the teachable, and he who associates with the miser—they call him one of deluded mind.
एकः संपन्नमाश्नाति वस्ते वासश्च शोभनम् । योऽसंविभज्य भृत्येभ्यः को नृशंसतरस्ततः
He alone eats the abundant food and wears fine clothing, without sharing with his servants—who is more cruel than that?
एकः पापानि कुरुते फलं भुङ्क्ते महाजनः। भोक्तारो विप्रमुच्यन्ते कर्ता दोषेण लिप्यते
One alone commits sins, but the great person enjoys the result; the enjoyers are freed, but the doer is stained by fault.
एकं हन्यान्न वा हन्यादिषुर्मुक्तो धनुष्मता। बुद्धिर्बुद्धिमतोत्सृष्टा हन्याद्राष्ट्रं सराजकम्
One may kill or not kill, the arrow released by the archer; but wisdom abandoned by the wise can destroy a kingdom with its king.
एकया द्वे विनिश्चित्य त्रींश्चतुर्भिर्वशे कुरु। पञ्च जित्वा विदित्वा षट् सप्त हित्वा सुखी भवा
By one, decide two; with three or four, bring under control; having conquered five, knowing six, and abandoning seven, be happy.
एकं विषरसो हन्ति शस्त्रेणैकश्च वध्यते। सराष्ट्रं सप्रजं हन्ति राजानं मन्त्रपिप्लवः
One poison kills, one is slain by a weapon; but a king destroyed by a corrupt counsel kills the whole kingdom with its people.
एकः स्वादु न भुञ्जीत एकश्चार्थान्न चिन्तयेत्। एको न गच्छेदध्वानं नैकः सुप्तेषु जागृयात्
One should not eat sweet food alone, nor think of wealth alone; one should not travel alone, nor stay awake when others sleep.
एकमेवाद्वितीयं तद्यद्राजन्नावबुध्यसे। सत्यं स्वगस्य सोपानं पारावारस्य नौरिव
That one alone, without a second, O king, if you do not understand—truth is the stairway for one's own, like a boat for crossing the ocean.
एकः क्षमावतां दोषो द्वितीयो नोपपद्यते। यदेनं क्षमया युक्तमशक्तं मन्यते जनः
Among those who are patient, there is only one fault, not a second: when people think the patient one is powerless because of patience.
सोऽस्य दोषो न मन्तव्यः क्षमा हि परमं बलम्। क्षमा गुणो ह्यशक्तानां शक्तानां भूषणं क्षमा
This fault should not be considered, for patience is the highest strength; patience is a virtue for the powerless, and an ornament for the powerful.
क्षमा वशीकृतीर्लोके क्षमया किं न साध्यते। शान्तिखङ्गः करे यस्य किं करिष्यति दुर्जनः
Patience brings mastery in the world; what cannot be accomplished by patience? For one whose hand holds the sword of peace, what can the wicked do?
अतृणे पतितो वह्निः स्वयमेवोपशाम्यति। अक्षमावान्परं दोषैरात्मानं चैव योजयेत्
A fire that falls where there is no grass extinguishes itself; likewise, a patient person should attribute faults to himself.
एको धर्मः परं श्रेयः क्षमैका शान्तिरुत्तमा । विद्यैका परमा तृप्तिरहिंसैका सुखावहा
There is one supreme virtue—righteousness; one highest peace—patience; one greatest satisfaction—knowledge; and one source of happiness—nonviolence.
द्वाविमौ ग्रसते भूमिः सर्पो बलिशयानिव। राजानं चाविरोद्धारं ब्राह्मणं चाप्रवासिनम्
The earth swallows up two, just as a snake swallows those who lie on its path: a king who is not resisted, and a Brahmin who does not travel.
द्वे कर्मणी नरः कुर्वन्नस्मिँल्लोके विरोचते । अब्रुवन्परुषं किंचिदसतोऽनर्चयंस्तथा
A man shines in this world by doing two things: not speaking harsh or false words, and not honoring the unworthy.
द्वाविमौ पुरुषव्याघ्र परप्रत्ययकारिणौ । स्त्रियः कामितकामिन्यो मूर्खाः पूजितपूजकाः
There are two types of men, O tiger among men, who act contrary to others’ expectations: women who desire those who desire them, and fools who honor those who honor them.
द्वाविमौ कण्टकौ तीक्ष्णौ शरीरपरिशोषिणौ। यश्चाधनः कामयते यश्च कुप्यत्यनीश्वरः
There are two sharp thorns that dry up the body: a poor man who desires, and a powerless man who becomes angry.
द्वावेव न विराजेते विपरीतेन कर्मणा । गृहस्थश्च निरारम्भः कार्यवांश्चैव भिक्षुकः
Two do not shine by acting contrary to their nature: a householder who does not undertake action, and a mendicant who is engaged in works.
द्वाविमौ पुरुषौ राजन्स्वर्गस्योपरि तिष्ठतः। प्रभुश्च क्षमया युक्तो दरिद्रश्च प्रदानवान्
Two men, O king, stand above heaven: a powerful man who is patient, and a poor man who is generous.
न्यायागतस्य द्रव्यस्य बोद्धव्यौ द्वावतिक्रमौ । अपात्रे प्रतिपत्तिश्च पात्रे चात्प्रतिपादनम्
There are two transgressions regarding wealth acquired by just means: giving to the unworthy, and not giving to the worthy.
द्वावभ्यसि निवेष्टव्यौ गले बध्वा दृढां शिलाम् । धनवन्तमदातारं दरिद्रं चातपस्विनम्
Two should be bound with a heavy stone and cast into deep water: a wealthy man who does not give, and a poor man who is not diligent.
द्वाविमौ पुरुषव्याघ्र सूर्यमण्डलभेदिनौ। परिव्राड्योगयुक्तश्च रणे चाभिमुखो हतः
There are two, O tiger among men, who pierce the solar orb: a wandering ascetic devoted to yoga, and one who is slain facing the foe in battle.
त्रयो न्याया मनुष्याणां श्रूयन्ते भरतर्षभ । कनीयान्मध्यमः श्रेष्ठ इति वेदविदो विदुः
Three types of justice among men are heard of, O bull of the Bharatas: lesser, middling, and best—so say the knowers of the Veda.
त्रिविधाः पुरुषा राजन्नुत्तमाधममध्यमाः । नियोजयेद्यथावत्तांस्त्रिविधेष्वेव कर्मसु
Men are of three kinds, O king: superior, inferior, and middling; one should assign them to tasks according to their type.
त्रय एवाधना राजन्भार्या दासस्तथा सुतः। यत्ते समधिगच्छन्ति यस्यैते तस्य तद्धनम्
There are three who are not wealthy, O king: a wife, a servant, and a son; whatever they acquire belongs to the one to whom they belong.
हरणं च परस्वानां परदाराभिमर्शनम् । सुहृदश्च परित्यागस्त्रयो दोषाः क्षयावहाः
Theft of another’s property, violation of another’s wife, and abandonment of a friend—these three faults lead to ruin.
त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः । कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्रयं त्यजेत्
There are three gates to hell, destructive of the self: desire, anger, and greed; therefore, one should abandon these three.
वरप्रदानं राज्यं च पुत्रजन्म च भारत। शत्रोश्च मोक्षणं कृच्छ्रात्रीणि चैकं च तत्समम्
Granting a boon, sovereignty, the birth of a son, and releasing an enemy—these four, O Bharata, are equally difficult.
भक्तं च भजमानं च तवास्मीति च वादिनम् । त्रीनेताञ्छरणं प्राप्तान्विषमेऽपि कन सन्त्यजेत्
One should abandon, even in adversity, these three who seek refuge: one who has eaten with you, one who serves you, and one who says 'I am yours.'