अद्भ्योऽग्निर्ब्रह्मतः क्षत्रमश्मनो लोहमुत्थितम्। तेषां सर्वत्रगं तेजः स्वासु योनिषु शाम्यति
Fire arises from water, the warrior class from the priestly, and iron from stone; the energy of each, though present everywhere, subsides in its own source.
नित्यं सन्तं कुले जाताः पावकोपमतेजसः। क्षमावन्तो निराकाराः काष्ठेऽग्निरिव शेरते
Those born in noble families are always present, possessing the brilliance of fire; patient and without arrogance, they lie dormant like fire in wood.
यस्य मन्त्रं न जानन्ति बाह्याश्चाभ्यन्तराश्च ये। स राजा सर्वतश्चक्षुश्चिरमैश्वर्यमश्नुते
The king whose secrets are unknown to both outsiders and insiders enjoys sovereignty for a long time, seeing all with his eyes.
करिष्यन्न प्रभाषेत कृतान्येव तु दर्शयेत्। धर्मकामार्थकार्याणि तथा मन्त्रो न भिद्यते
One should not speak of what is to be done, but show only what has been accomplished; thus, matters of righteousness, desire, and wealth, as well as counsel, are not divulged.
गिरिपृष्ठमुपारुह्य प्रासादं वा रहोगतः। अरण्ये निःशलाके वा तत्र मन्त्रोऽभिधीयते
Ascending a mountain slope, or in a secluded palace, or in a forest without huts—there, counsel is to be discussed.
नासुहृत्परमं मन्त्रं भारतार्हति वेदितुम्। अपण्डितो वापि सुहृत्पण्डितो वाप्यनात्मवान्
O Bharata, a true friend does not deserve to know the highest counsel, nor does an unlearned friend, nor a learned one who lacks self-control.
नापरीक्ष्य महीपालः कुर्यात्सचिवमात्मनः। अमात्ये ह्यर्थलिप्सा च मन्त्ररक्षणमेव च
A ruler should not appoint a minister without examination; for in a minister, both desire for gain and the protection of counsel exist.
कृतानि सर्वकार्याणि यस्य पारिषदा विदुः। धर्मे चार्थे च कामे च स राजा राजसत्तमः
He whose counselors know all his affairs—concerning righteousness, wealth, and desire—he is the foremost among kings.
गूढमन्त्रस्य नृपतेस्तस्य सिद्धिरसंशयम् ।। अप्रशस्तानि कार्याणि यो मोहादनुतिष्ठति
There is no doubt that the king whose counsel is secret attains success. One who, out of delusion, undertakes unworthy actions—
स तेषां विपरिभ्रंशाद्भ्रश्यते जीवितादपि ।। कर्मणां तु प्रशस्तानामनुष्ठानं सुखावहम्
He, by deviating from them, falls even from life itself. But the performance of worthy deeds brings happiness.
तेषामेवाननुष्ठानं पश्चात्तापकरं मतम्।। अनधीत्य यथा वेदान्न विप्रः श्राद्धमर्हति
The non-performance of those very deeds is considered to bring later regret. Just as a Brahmin who has not studied the Vedas is not fit to perform the śrāddha—
एवमश्रुतषाङ्गुण्यो न मन्त्रं श्रोतुमर्हति ।। स्थानवृद्धिक्षयज्ञस्य षाङ्गुण्यविदितात्मनः
So one who has not heard the sixfold qualities is not fit to hear counsel. The increase, decrease, and sacrifice of position are for one who knows the sixfold qualities.
अनवज्ञातशीलस्य स्वाधीना पृथिवी नृप ।। अमोघक्रोधहर्षस्य स्वयं कृत्वान्ववेक्षिणः
For a king whose character is not despised, the earth is subject to his will; who is not overcome by anger or delight, and who examines matters himself.
आत्मप्रत्ययकोशस्य वसुदैव वसुन्धरा ।। नाममात्रेणा तुष्येत छत्रेण च महीपतिः
For one whose treasury is based on self-confidence, the earth indeed belongs to him. But the king should be satisfied only with the name and the umbrella.
भृत्येभ्यो विसृजेदर्थान्नैकः सर्वहरो भवेत् ।। ब्राह्मणं ब्राह्मणो वेद भर्ता वेद स्त्रियं तथा
One should distribute wealth to servants, not seize everything for oneself. A Brahmin knows a Brahmin, and a husband knows his wife likewise.
अमात्यं नृपतिर्वेद राजा राजानमेव च ।। न शत्रुर्वशमापन्नो मोक्तव्यो वध्यतां गतः
A king knows his minister, and a king knows another king as well. An enemy who has fallen under control and is condemned to death should not be released.
न्यग्भूत्वा पर्युपासीत वध्वं हन्याद्बले सति ।। अहताद्धि भयं तस्माज्जायते नचिरादिव
One should humble oneself and serve; if one has the strength, one may strike down an enemy. For from an unstruck foe, fear arises quickly.
दैवतेषु प्रयत्नेन राजसु ब्राह्मणेषु च। नियन्तव्यः सदा क्रोधो वृद्धबालातुरेषु च
Anger must always be restrained with effort towards the gods, kings, Brahmins, the elderly, children, and the afflicted.
निरर्थं कलहं प्राज्ञो वर्जयेन्मूढसेवितम्। कीर्ति च लभते लोके न चानर्थेन युज्यते
A wise person should avoid pointless quarrels, which are pursued by fools; he gains reputation in the world and does not become entangled in misfortune.
प्रसादो निष्फलो यस्य क्रोधश्चापि निरर्थकः। न तं भर्तारमिच्छन्ति षण्ढं पतिमिव स्त्रियः
He whose favor is fruitless and whose anger is meaningless—women do not desire such a husband, just as they do not desire an impotent man.
न बुद्धिर्धनलाभाय न जाड्यमसमृद्धये। लोकपर्यायवृत्तान्तं प्राज्ञो जानाति नेतरः
Intelligence is not for gaining wealth, nor is dullness the cause of failure; the wise understand the workings of the world, but others do not.
विद्याशीलवयोवृद्धान्बुद्धिवृद्धांश्च भारत। धनाभिजातवृद्धांश्च नित्यं मूढोऽवमन्यते
O Bharata, the fool always disrespects those advanced in learning, conduct, age, wisdom, wealth, or noble birth.
अनार्यवृत्तमप्राज्ञमसूयकमधार्मिकम्। अनर्थाः क्षिप्रमायान्ति वाग्दुष्टं क्रोधनं तथा
Misfortune quickly befalls one who acts ignobly, unwisely, with envy, unrighteously, who speaks harshly, or is prone to anger.
अविसंवादनं दानं समयस्याव्यतिक्रमः । आवर्तयन्ति भूतानि सम्यक्प्रणिहिता च वाक्
Truthfulness, generosity, keeping agreements, and well-directed speech—these cause beings to flourish.
अविसंवादको दक्षः कृतज्ञो मतिमानृजुः । अपि संक्षीणकोशोऽपि लभते परिवारणम्
One who is truthful, capable, grateful, intelligent, and upright—even if his treasury is depleted—still gains support.
धृतिः शमो दमः शौचं कारुण्यं वागनिष्ठुरा। मित्राणां चानभिद्रोहः सप्तैताः समिधः श्रियः
Steadfastness, tranquility, self-control, purity, compassion, gentle speech, and non-betrayal of friends—these seven are the fuels of prosperity.
असंविभागी दुष्टात्मा कृतघ्नो निरपत्रपः । तादृङ्वराधिपो लोके वर्जनीयो नराधिप
A king who is selfish, wicked, ungrateful, and shameless—such a ruler should be avoided by men.
न च रात्रौ सुखं शेते ससर्प इव वेश्मनि। यः कोपयति निर्दोषं सदोषोऽभ्यन्तरं जनम्
He who, though guilty, angers innocent people within his house, sleeps uneasily at night, like a man with a snake in his dwelling.
येषु दुष्टेषु दोषः स्याद्योगक्षेमस्य भारत। सदा प्रसादनं तेषां देवतानामिवाचरेत्
O Bharata, when there is fault among the wicked regarding security and welfare, one should always act to please them, as one would the gods.
येऽर्थाः स्त्रीषु समायुक्ताः प्रमत्तपतितेषु च। ये चानार्ये समासक्ताः सर्वे ते संशयं गताः
All those possessions bound up with women, with the reckless and the fallen, and those attached to the ignoble—all these are subject to doubt.