चत्वारि राज्ञा तु महाबलेन वर्ज्यान्याहुः पण्डितस्तानि विद्यात्। अल्पप्रज्ञैः सह मन्त्रं न कुर्या- न्न दीर्घसूत्रैरलसैश्चारणैश्च
The learned declare that a king of great power should avoid four types; he should not hold counsel with those of little intelligence, with procrastinators, with the lazy, or with those who are careless in their actions.
चतवारि ते तात गृहे वसन्तु श्रियाऽभिजुष्टस्य गृहस्थधर्मे। वृद्धो ज्ञातिरवसन्नः कुलीनः सखा दरिद्रो भगिनी चानपत्या
Let these four, O dear one, dwell in the house of a householder endowed with prosperity: an aged relative, one fallen from fortune though of good family, a poor friend, and a sister without children.
चत्वार्याह महाराज साद्यस्कानि बृहस्पतिः। पृच्छते त्रिदशेन्द्राय तानीमानि निबोध मे
Brihaspati has spoken of four things to be known at the outset, O great king; listen as I recount them to you, as he told them to the lord of the gods when asked.
देवतानां च सङ्कल्पमनुभावं च धीमताम्। विनयं कृतविद्यानां विनाशं पापकर्मणाम्
The resolve of the gods, the influence of the wise, the humility of the learned, and the destruction of those who commit evil deeds.
चत्वारि कर्माण्यभयंकराणि भयं प्रयच्छन्त्ययथाकृतानि । मानाग्निहोत्रमुत मानमौनं मानेनाधीतमुत मानयज्ञः
There are four acts which, if performed with pride, become dangerous and bring fear if done improperly: the agnihotra sacrifice, the vow of silence, the study of the Vedas, and the performance of sacrifice.
पञ्चाग्नयो मनुष्येण परिचर्याः प्रयत्नतः। पिता माताग्निरात्मा च गुरुश्च भरतर्षभ
A man must diligently serve five fires: his father, his mother, fire itself, his own self, and his teacher, O bull among the Bharatas.
पञ्चैव पूजयँल्लोके यशः प्राप्नोति केवलम्। देवान्पितॄन्मनुष्यांश्च भिक्षूनतिथिपञ्चमान्
By honoring these five in the world, one attains pure fame: the gods, the ancestors, humans, mendicants, and guests as the fifth.
पञ्च त्वाऽनुगमिष्यन्ति यत्र यत्र गमिष्यसि। मित्राण्यमित्रा मध्यस्था उपजीव्योपजीविनः
Wherever you go, five will follow you: friends, enemies, those who are neutral, dependents, and those on whom you depend.
पञ्चेन्द्रियस्य मर्त्यस्य छिद्रं चेदेकमिन्द्रियम्। ततोऽस्य स्रवति प्रज्ञा दृतेः पात्रादिवोदकम्
If even one of the five senses of a mortal has a defect, then his wisdom leaks away, just as water from a vessel with a hole.
षड्दोषाः पुरुषेणेह हातव्या भूतिमिच्छता। निद्रा तन्द्री भयं क्रोध आलस्यं दीर्घसूत्रता
A man who desires prosperity must abandon these six faults: sleep, lethargy, fear, anger, laziness, and procrastination.
षडिमान्पुरुषो जह्याद्भिन्नां नावमिवार्णवे। अप्रवक्तारमाचार्यमनधीयानमृत्विजम्
A man should cast off these six, as one would a broken boat in the sea: a teacher who does not instruct, a priest who does not study, a king who does not protect, a wife who speaks unpleasantly, a cowherd who desires village life, and a barber who desires the forest.
अरक्षितारं राजानं भार्यां चाप्रियवादिनीम् । ग्रामकामं च गोपालं वनकामं च नापितम्
A king who does not protect, a wife who speaks harshly, a cowherd who longs for the town, and a barber who longs for the forest.
षडेव तु गुणाः पुंसा न हातव्याः कदाचन। सत्यं दानमनालस्यमनसूया क्षमा धृतिः
There are six virtues that a man should never abandon: truthfulness, generosity, diligence, absence of envy, forgiveness, and steadfastness.
अर्थागमो नित्यमरोगिता च प्रिया च भार्या प्रियवादिनी च। वश्यश्च पुत्रोऽर्थकरी च विद्या षड्जीवलोकस्य सुखानि राजन्
The acquisition of wealth, constant good health, a beloved wife who speaks kindly, an obedient son, and knowledge that brings prosperity—these are the six sources of happiness in the world, O king.
षण्णामात्मनि नित्यानामैश्वर्यं योऽधिगच्छति। न स पापैः कुतोऽनर्थैर्युज्यते विजितेन्द्रियः
He who attains mastery over these six ever-present qualities within himself, and has conquered his senses, is never afflicted by sins or misfortunes.
षडिमे षट्सु जीवन्ति सप्तमो नोपलभ्यते। चोराः प्रमत्ते जीवन्ति व्याधितेषु चिकित्सकाः
These six live upon six others, but the seventh is not found: thieves live upon the careless, physicians upon the sick,
प्रमदाः कामयानेषु यजमानेषु याजकाः । राजा विवदमानेषु नित्यं मूर्खेषु पण्डिताः
Women live upon those who desire them, priests upon those who perform sacrifices, kings upon those who quarrel, and the learned upon the foolish.
षडिमानि विनश्यन्ति मुहूर्तमनवेक्षणात्। गावः सेवा कृषिर्भार्या विद्या वृषलसङ्गतिः
These six are destroyed in a moment if not attended to: cows, service, agriculture, a wife, learning, and association with the low.
षडेते ह्यवमन्यन्ते नित्यं पूर्वोपकारिणम् । आचार्यं शिक्षिताः शिष्याः कृतदाराश्च मातरं
These six always look down upon those who have previously benefited them: disciples who have completed their studies disregard their teacher, and those who have married neglect their mother.
नारीं विगतकामास्तु कृतार्थाश्च प्रयोजकम् । नावं निस्तीर्णकान्तारा नातुराश्च चिकित्सकं
Women who have lost desire, those who have achieved their aims disregard their benefactor; those who have crossed a river ignore the boat, and the cured patient forgets the physician.
आरोग्यमानृण्यमविप्रवासः सद्भिर्मनुष्यैः सह संप्रयोगः। स्वप्रत्यया वृत्तिरभीतवासः षट् जीवलोकस्य सुखानि राजन्
O King, these six are the true joys of living beings: health, freedom from debt, not living in exile, association with virtuous people, earning by one's own effort, and dwelling without fear.
ईर्षुर्धृणी नसन्तुष्टः क्रोधनो नित्यशङ्कितः। परभाग्योपजीवी च षडेते नित्यदुःखिताः
The envious, the malicious, the never-content, the angry, the ever-suspicious, and one who lives off others' fortune—these six are always unhappy.
सप्त दोषाः सदा राज्ञा हातव्या व्यसनोदयाः। प्रायशो यैर्विनश्यन्ति कृतमूला अपीश्वराः
There are seven faults that a king must always abandon, for they lead to ruin; even those firmly established in power are often destroyed by these.
स्त्रियोऽक्षा मृगया पानं वाक्पारुष्यं च पञ्चमम्। महच्च दण्डपारुष्यमर्थदूषणमेव च
Women, gambling, hunting, drinking, harsh speech as the fifth, excessive severity in punishment, and misuse of wealth—these are the seven.
अष्टौ पूर्वनिमित्तानि नरस्य विनशिष्यतः। ब्राह्मणान्प्रथमं द्वेष्टि ब्राह्मणैश्च विरुध्यते
There are eight early signs for a man who is about to perish: he first hates Brahmins, opposes Brahmins,
ब्राह्मणस्वानि चादत्ते ब्राह्मणांश्च जिघांसति। रमते निन्दया चैषां प्रशंसां नाभिनन्दति
He seizes the property of Brahmins, seeks to harm Brahmins, delights in slandering them, and does not rejoice in their praise.
नैनान्स्मरति कृत्येषु याचितश्चाभ्यसूयति। एतान्दोषान्नरः प्राज्ञो बुद्ध्या बुध्वा विसर्जयेत्
He does not remember them in important matters, and when asked for help, he is resentful; a wise person, understanding these faults, should abandon them.
अष्टाविमानि हर्षस्य नवनीतानि भारत। वर्तमानानि दृश्यन्ते तान्येव स्वसुखान्यपि
O Bharata, there are eight sources of joy and nine of delight; these are seen in the world, and they are also the means of one's own happiness.
समागमश्च सखिभिर्महांश्चैव धनागमः । पुत्रेण च परिष्वङ्गः सन्निपातश्च मैथुने
Meeting with friends, great gain of wealth, embracing one's son, union in sexual pleasure,
समये च प्रियालापः स्वयूथ्येषु समुन्नतिः । अभिप्रेतस्य लाभश्च पूजा च जनसंसदि
Pleasant conversation at the right time, advancement among one's peers, obtaining what is desired, and honor in public assembly.