नित्यमुद्यतदण्डाद्धि भऋशमुद्विजते जनः। तस्मात्सर्वाणि कार्याणि दण्डेनैव विधारयेत्
People greatly fear constant readiness for punishment; therefore, all affairs should be regulated by punishment alone.
नास्य च्छिद्रं परः पश्येच्छिद्रेण परमन्वियात्। गूहेत्कूर्म इवाङ्गानि रक्षेद्विवरमात्मनः
Let no one see his flaw, nor pursue him through a flaw; he should conceal his limbs like a tortoise and guard his own vulnerabilities.
नित्यं च ब्राह्मणाः पूज्या नृपेण हितमिच्छता। सृष्टो नृपो हि विप्रामां पालने दुष्टनिग्रहे
A king who desires benefit should always honor Brahmins; for the king was created for protecting Brahmins and restraining the wicked.
उभाब्यां वर्धते धर्मो धर्मवृद्ध्या जितावुभौ। लोकश्चायं परश्चैव ततो धर्मं समाचरेत्
By both, righteousness grows; with the growth of righteousness, both are victorious—the world and the other realm; therefore, one should practice righteousness.
कृतापराधं पुरुषं दृष्ट्वा यः क्षमते नृपः। तेनावमानमाप्नोति पापं चेह परत्र च
A king who, seeing a man guilty of offense, forgives him, thereby incurs disrespect and sin in this world and the next.
यो विभूतिमवाप्योच्चै राज्ञो विकुरुतेऽधमः। तमानयित्वा हत्वा च दद्याद्धीनाय तद्धनम्
If a wicked person, having attained wealth, acts against the king, he should be brought, killed, and his wealth given to the needy.
नो चेद्धुरि नियुक्ता ये स्थास्यन्ति वशमात्मनः। राजा नियुञ्ज्यात्पुरुषानाप्तान्धर्मार्थकोविदान्
If those appointed to duty do not remain under control, the king should appoint trustworthy men skilled in righteousness and wealth.
ये नियुक्तास्तथा केचिद्राष्ट्रं वा यदि वा पुरम्। ग्रामं जनपदं वापि बाधेयुर्यदि वा न वा
Those appointed, whether over a kingdom, city, village, or district, may restrain or may not restrain; so be it.
परीक्षणार्थं विसृजेदानतांश्छन्नरूपिणः। परीक्ष्य पापकं जह्याद्धनमादाय सर्वशः
For the purpose of investigation, he should send disguised agents; after examining the wicked, he should dismiss them, taking all their wealth.
नासम्यक्कृत्यकारी स्यादुपक्रम्य कदाचन। कण्टको ह्यपि दुश्छिन्न आस्रावं जनयेच्चिरम्
He should never act improperly, even when beginning a task; for even a thorn, badly cut, can cause prolonged bleeding.
वधमेव प्रशंसन्ति शत्रूणामपकारिणाम्। सुविदीर्णं सुविक्रान्तं सुयुद्धं सुपलायितम्
They praise only the killing of enemies who cause harm—well executed, well undertaken, well fought, and well pursued.
आपद्यापदि काले कुर्वीत न विचारयेत्। नावज्ञेयो रिपुस्तात दुर्बलोऽपि कथं चन
In times of crisis, one should act without hesitation; O father, never despise an enemy, however weak he may be.
अल्पोऽप्यग्निर्वनं कृत्स्नं दहत्याश्रयसंश्रयात्। अन्धः स्यादन्धवेलायां बाधिर्यमपि चाश्रयेत्
Even a small fire can burn an entire forest if it finds shelter; one may become blind in a time of blindness, and even deafness may befall one.
कुर्यात्तृणमयं चापं शयीत मृगशायिकाम्। सान्त्वादिभिरुपायैस्तु हन्याच्छत्रुं वशे स्थितं
He should make a bow of grass, sleep on a deer’s bed, and, by means such as conciliation, slay an enemy who is under his control.
दया न तस्मिन्कर्तव्या शरणागत इत्युत। निरुद्विग्नो हि भवति न हताज्जायते भयम्
One should not show compassion to him who has sought refuge; for he becomes fearless, and from the unharmed arises no fear.
हन्यादमित्रं दानेन तथा पूर्वापकारिणम्। हन्यात्त्रीन्पञ्च सप्तेति परपक्षस्य सर्वशः
An enemy should be destroyed by gifts, and likewise one who has previously caused harm; three, five, or seven of the opposing side should be destroyed entirely.
मूलमेवादितश्छिन्द्यात्परपक्षस्य नित्यशः। ततः सहायांस्तत्पक्षान्सर्वांश्च तदनन्तरम्
One should always cut off the very root of the opposing side; then, afterwards, all their allies and supporters.
छिन्नमूले ह्यधिष्ठाने सर्वे तज्जीविनो हताः। कथं नु शाखास्तिष्ठेरंश्छिन्नमूले वनस्पतौ
When the root, the foundation, is cut, all who live by it are destroyed; how could the branches remain when the root of the tree is severed?
एकाग्रः स्यादविवृतो नित्यं विवरदर्शकः। राजन्नित्यं सपत्नेषु नित्योद्विग्नः समाचरेत्
A king should always be single-minded, discreet, ever watchful for openings, and ever act with anxiety regarding his rivals.
अग्न्याधानेन यज्ञेन काषायेण जटाजिनैः। लोकान्विश्वासयित्वैव ततो लुम्पेद्यथा वृकः
By establishing sacred fires, by sacrifice, by wearing ochre robes and matted hair and deer skin, one should win the trust of the people, and then plunder like a wolf.
अङ्कुशं शोचमित्याहुरर्थानामुपधारणे। आनाम्य फलितां शाखां पक्वं पक्वं प्रशातयेत्
They say a goad is sorrow in the pursuit of wealth; bending down a fruitful branch, one should pluck the ripe fruit again and again.
फलार्थोऽयं समारम्भो लोके पुंसां विपश्चिताम्। वहेदमित्रं स्कन्धेन यावत्कालस्य पर्ययः
For the wise in this world, all undertakings are for the sake of fruit; one should bear an enemy on one's shoulder until the time is ripe.
ततः प्रत्यागते काले भिन्द्याद्धृटमिवाश्मनि। अमित्रो न विमोक्तव्यः कृपणं बह्वपि ब्रुवन्
Then, when the time returns, one should break him as one would an object upon a stone; an enemy should not be released, even if he pleads much in misery.
कृपा न तस्मिन्कर्तव्या हन्यादेवापकारिणम्। हन्यादमित्रं सान्त्वेन तथा दानेन वा पुनः
No pity should be shown to him; one should indeed slay the wrongdoer. One should destroy an enemy by conciliation or again by gifts.
तथैव भेददण्डाभ्यां सर्वोपायैः प्रशातयेत्
Likewise, by division and punishment, and by all means, one should subdue him.
अमित्रः शक्यते हन्तुं तन्मे ब्रूहि यथातथम्
An enemy can be slain—tell me, then, the exact means for this.
जम्बुकस्य महाराज नीतिशास्त्रार्थदर्शिनः। अथ कश्चित्कृतप्रज्ञः शृगालः स्वार्थपण्डितः
O King, there was a jackal, expert in the meaning of the science of policy; and there was a certain wise fox, skilled in his own interest.
सखिभिर्न्यवसत्सार्धं व्याघ्राखुवृकबभ्रुभिः। तेऽपश्यन्विपिने तस्मिन्बलिनं मृगयूथपम्
He dwelt with his companions—the tiger, the mouse, the wolf, and the bear; they saw in that forest a mighty leader of deer.
असकृद्यतितो ह्येष हन्तुं व्याघ्र वने त्वया
This one has often tried to be slain by you, O tiger, in the forest.
युवा वै जवसंपन्नो बुद्धिशाली न शक्यते। मूषिकोऽस्य शयानस्य चरणौ भक्षयत्वयम्
He is young, swift, and intelligent; he cannot be overcome. Let the mouse eat his feet while he sleeps.