यस्मिन्यथा वर्तते यो मनुष्य- स्तस्मिंस्तथा वर्तितव्यं स धर्मः। मायाचारो मायया वर्तितव्यः साध्वाचारः साधुना प्रत्युपेयः
A person should behave towards others as they behave towards him; that is righteousness. One who is deceitful should be met with deceit, but the virtuous should be approached with virtue.
जरा रूपं हरति हि धैर्यमाशा मृत्युः प्राणान्धर्मचर्यामसूया कामो ह्रियं वृत्तमनार्यसेवा क्रोधः श्रियं सर्वमेवाभिमानः
Old age takes away beauty, hope takes away resolve, death takes away life, envy destroys the practice of righteousness, desire removes modesty, serving the unworthy ruins conduct, anger destroys prosperity, and pride destroys everything.
शतायुरुक्तः पुरुषः सर्ववेदेषु वै यदा। नाप्नोत्यथ च तत्सर्वमायुः केनेह हेतुना
Though the Vedas declare a man's lifespan to be a hundred years, if he does not attain it, by what cause is that lifespan diminished here?
अतिमानोऽतिवादश्च तथाऽत्यागो नराधिप। क्रोधश्चात्मविधित्सा च मित्रद्रोहश्च तानि षट्
Excessive pride, harsh speech, lack of generosity, anger, self-harm, and betrayal of friends—these six, O king—
एत एवासयस्तीक्ष्णाः कृन्तन्त्यायूंषि देहिनाम्। एतानि मानवान्ध्नन्ति न मृत्युर्भद्रमस्तु ते
These very sharp faults cut down the lifespans of embodied beings; these destroy men, not death. May good befall you.
विश्वस्तस्यैति यो दारान्यश्चापि गुरुतल्पगः। वृषलीपतिर्द्विजो यश्च पानपश्चैव भारत
He who approaches the wife of one who trusts him, who goes to his teacher's bed, a twice-born who marries a woman of low caste, or who drinks liquor, O descendant of Bharata—
आदेशकृद्वृत्तिहन्ता द्विजानां प्रेषकश्च यः। शरणागतहा चैव सर्वे ब्रह्महणः समाः। एतैः समेत्य कर्तव्यं प्रायश्चित्तमिति श्रुतिः
He who gives wrongful orders, destroys the livelihood of Brahmins, sends Brahmins on errands, or kills one who has sought refuge—all these are equal to slayers of Brahmins. For these, expiation must be performed, so declares scripture.
गृहीतवाक्यो नयविद्वदान्यः शेषान्नभोक्ता ह्यविहिंसकश्च। नानर्थकृत्याकुलितः कृतज्ञः सत्यो मृदुः स्वर्गमुपैति विद्वान्
He who follows the words of the wise, does not eat others' leftovers, does no harm, is not troubled by useless actions, is grateful, truthful, gentle—such a learned man attains heaven.
सुलभाः पुरुषा राजन्सततं प्रियवादिनः। अप्रियस्य तु पथ्यस्य वक्ता श्रोता च दुर्लभः
O king, men who always speak pleasant words are easy to find; but one who speaks or listens to what is unpleasant yet beneficial is rare.
यो हि धर्मं समाश्रित्य हित्वा भर्तुः प्रियाप्रिये। अप्रियाण्याह पथ्यानि तेन राजा सहायवान्
He who, relying on righteousness, sets aside what is pleasing or displeasing to his master and speaks what is unpleasant but beneficial—such a king has a true ally.
त्यजेत्कुलार्थे पुरुषं ग्रामस्यार्थे कुलं त्यजेत्। ग्रामं जनपदस्यार्थे आत्मार्थे पृथिवीं त्यजेत्
For the sake of the family, one should abandon an individual; for the sake of the village, the family; for the sake of the country, the village; and for the sake of the self, the earth.
आपदर्थे धनं रक्षेद्दारान्रक्षेद्धनैरपि । आत्मानं सततं रक्षेद्दारैरपि धनैरपि
In times of danger, one should protect wealth; with wealth, protect one's wife; but always protect oneself, even at the cost of wife and wealth.
द्यूतमेतत्पुरा कल्पे दृष्टं वैरकरं नृणाम्। तस्माद्द्यूतं न सेवेत हास्यार्थमपि बुद्धिमान्
In ancient times, gambling was seen to cause enmity among men; therefore, a wise person should not engage in gambling, even in jest.
उक्तं मया द्यूतकालेऽपि राज- न्नेदं युक्तं वचनं प्रातिपेय। तदौषधं पथ्यमिवातुरस्य न रोचते तव वैचित्रवीर्य
Even at the time of gambling, I said, O king, that this was not proper advice, O son of Pratipa. That was like medicine, beneficial but unpalatable to the sick, and did not please you, O Vaicitravīrya.
काकैरिमांश्चित्रबर्हान्मयूरान् पराजयेथाः पाण्डवान्धार्तराष्ट्रैः । हित्वा सिंहान्क्रोष्टुकान्गूहमानः प्राप्ते काले शोचिता त्वं नरेन्द्रः
You would sooner defeat crows and peacocks with their splendid feathers than Pandavas with the sons of Dhritarashtra; abandoning lions and hiding among jackals, when the time comes, O king, you will regret it.
यस्तात न क्रुध्यति सर्वकालं भृत्यस्य भक्तस्य हिते रतस्य। तस्मिन्भृत्या भर्तरि विश्वसन्ति न चैनमापत्सु परित्यजन्ति
He who never becomes angry at any time with a devoted servant who is intent on his welfare, in such a master the servants place their trust and do not abandon him in adversity.
न भृत्यानां वृत्तिसंरोधनेन राज्यं धनं सञ्जिघृक्षेदपूर्वम्। त्यजन्ति ह्येनं वञ्चिता वै विरुद्धाः स्निग्धा ह्यमात्या परिहीनभोगाः
By restricting the livelihood of servants, one should not seek to acquire new wealth or kingdom; for those deceived and opposed will abandon him, and even affectionate ministers, deprived of their due, will turn away.
कृत्यानि पूर्वं परिसङ्ख्याय सर्वा- ण्यायव्यये चानुरूपां च वृत्तिम्। सङ्गृह्णीयादनुरूपान्सहायान् सहायसाध्यानि हि दुष्कराणि
Having first considered all tasks and their proper expenditure, and providing appropriate maintenance, one should gather suitable allies; for difficult tasks are accomplished through the help of companions.
अभिप्रायं यो विदित्वा तु भर्तुः सर्वाणि कार्याणि करोत्यतन्द्री। वक्ता हितानामनुरक्त आर्यः शक्तिज्ञ आत्मेव हि सोऽनुकम्प्यः
He who, understanding his master's intent, performs all duties diligently, who speaks beneficial words, is devoted, noble, and knows his own abilities, such a one deserves compassion as if he were oneself.
वाक्यं तु यो नाद्रियतेऽनुशिष्टः प्रत्याह यश्चापि नियुज्यमानः। प्रज्ञाभिमानी प्रतिकूलवादी त्याज्यः स तादृक् त्वरयैव भृत्यः
But he who does not heed instructions, who answers back when commanded, who is proud of his intellect and speaks opposition, such a servant should be dismissed promptly.
अस्तब्धमक्लीबमदीर्घसूत्रं सानुक्रोशं श्लक्ष्णमहार्यमन्यैः। अरोगजातीयमुदारवाक्यं दूतं वदन्त्यष्टगुणोपपन्नम्
They say a messenger should possess eight qualities: firmness, masculinity, promptness, compassion, gentleness, nobility, good health, and noble speech.
न विश्वासाञ्जातु परस्य गेहे गच्छेन्नरश्चेतयानो विकाले। न चत्वरे निशि तिष्ठेन्निगूढो न राजकाम्यां योषितं प्रार्थयीत
A man should never trust another's house, nor enter it at improper times; he should not stand in the square at night in concealment, nor desire a woman sought by the king.
न निह्नवं मन्त्रगतस्य गच्छे- त्संसृष्टमन्त्रस्य कुसङ्गतस्य। न च ब्रूयान्नाश्वसिमि त्वयीति सकारणं व्यपदेशं तु कुर्यात्
He should not go to a place where secret counsel is held, nor to where counsel is mingled with bad company; nor should he say, 'I trust you,' but should give a reasoned explanation.
घृणी राजा पुंश्चली राजभृत्यः पुत्रो भ्राता विधवा बालपुत्रा। सेनाजीवी चोद्धृतभूरिरेव व्यवहारेषु वर्जनीयाः स्युरेते
A king who is compassionate, a wanton woman, a royal servant, a son, a brother, a widow with young children, a soldier, and one who has lost much land—these should be avoided in legal dealings.
अष्टौ गुणाः पुरुषं दीपयन्ति प्रज्ञा च कौल्यं च श्रुतं दमश्च। पराक्रमश्चाबहुभाषिता च दानं यथाशक्ति कृतज्ञता च
Eight qualities illuminate a person: wisdom, noble birth, learning, self-control, valor, restraint in speech, generosity according to ability, and gratitude.
एतान्गुणांस्तात महानुभावा- नेको गुणः संश्रयते प्रसह्य। राजा यदा सत्कुरुते मनुष्यं सर्वान्गुणनेष गुणो बिभर्ति
These qualities, O father, belong to great souls; one virtue draws others to itself. When a king honors a person, that virtue brings all other virtues together.
गुणा दश स्नानशीलं भजन्ते बलं रूपं स्वरवर्णप्रशुद्धिः। स्पर्शश्च गन्धश्च विशुद्धता च श्रीः सौकुमार्यं प्रवराश्च नार्यः
Ten qualities belong to one who is clean: strength, beauty, purity of voice, touch, and scent, cleanliness, prosperity, delicacy, and the best women.
गुणाश्च षण्मितभुक्तं भजन्ते आरोग्यमायुश्च बलं सुखं च। अनाविलं चास्य भवत्यपत्यं न चैनमाद्यून इति क्षिपन्ति
Six qualities belong to one who eats moderately: health, long life, strength, happiness, untroubled offspring, and he is not quickly diminished.
अकर्मशीलं च महाशनं च लोकद्विष्टं बहुमायं नृशंसम्। अदेशकालज्ञममिष्टवेष- मेतान्गृहे न प्रतिवासयेत
One should not allow in one's house those who are lazy, gluttonous, hated by people, deceitful, cruel, ignorant of proper time and place, or of disagreeable appearance.
कदर्यमाक्रोशकमश्रुतं च वनौकसं धूर्तममान्यमानिनम्। निष्ठूरिणं कृतवैरं कृतघ्न- मेतान्भृशार्तोपि न जातु याचेत्
Even in great distress, one should never beg from the miserly, the abusive, the ignorant, the forest-dweller, the cunning, the disrespectful, the arrogant, the harsh, the hostile, or the ungrateful.