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.
यत्र स्त्री यत्र कितवो बालो यत्रानुशासिता। मञ्जन्ति तेऽवशा राजन्नद्यामश्मप्लवा इव
Where there is a woman, a gambler, a child, or one who is ruled over, O King, they are helpless and sink like stones in a river.
प्रयोजनेषु ये सक्ता न विशेषेषु भारत। तानहं पण्डितान्मन्ये विशेषा हि प्रसङ्गिनः
Those who are attached to purposes, not to distinctions, O Bharata—I consider them wise, for distinctions lead to entanglement.
यं प्रशंसन्ति कितवा यं प्रशंसन्ति चारणाः । यं प्रशंसन्ति बन्धक्यो न स जीवति मानवः
He whom gamblers praise, whom minstrels praise, whom prostitutes praise—that man does not truly live.
हित्वा तान्परमेष्वासान्पाण्डवानमितौजसः। आहितं भारतैश्वर्यं त्वया दुर्योधने महत्
Abandoning those supremely powerful Pandavas, you have placed the great burden of the Bharata kingdom upon Duryodhana.
तं द्रक्ष्यसि परिभ्रष्टं तस्मात्त्वमचिरादिव। ऐश्वर्यमदसंमूढं बलिं लोकत्रयादिव
You will see him fallen from that state, bewildered by the pride of power, like Bali cast down from the three worlds.
योऽभ्यर्चितः मद्भिरसञ्जमानः करोत्यर्थं शक्तिमहापयित्वा। क्षिप्रं यशस्तं समुपैति मन्त- मलं प्रसन्ना हि सुखाय सन्तः
He who is worshipped by us, yet acts without restraint, abandoning his strength for the sake of gain—such a person quickly acquires fame, for the virtuous, being pleased, bring happiness.
महान्तमप्यर्थमधर्मयुक्तं यः मन्त्यजत्यनपाकृष्ट एव। सुखं सुदुःखान्यवमुच्य शेते जीर्णां त्वचं सर्प इवावमुच्य
He who considers even great wealth, if gained unrighteously, as unworthy and untouched, sleeps peacefully, having cast off severe sorrows as a snake sheds its worn-out skin.
अनृते च समुत्कर्पो राजगामि च पैशुनम् । गुरोश्चालीकनिर्बन्धः समानि ब्रह्महत्यया
Falsehood, excessive pride, slander directed at kings, and persistent enmity toward one's teacher—these are equal to the sin of killing a Brahmin.
असूयैकपदं मृत्युरतिवादः श्रियो वधः। अशुश्रूषा त्वरा श्लाघा विद्यायाः शत्रवस्त्रः
Envy is the very abode of death; harsh speech is the destruction of prosperity; disobedience, haste, and boasting are the enemies of knowledge.
आलस्यं मदमोहौ च चापलं गोष्ठिरेव च। स्तब्धता चाभिमानित्वं तथा त्यागित्वमेव च । एते वै सप्त दोषाः स्युः सदा विद्यार्थिनां मताः
Laziness, intoxication, delusion, restlessness in assemblies, arrogance, pride, and also fickleness—these seven are always considered faults in those who seek knowledge.