When there is a great opportunity for benefit, the king should embrace it; but if he is stripped of all power, he must seek shelter and protection. Thus, Puṣkara spoke: “I will explain the daily duties a king must perform. When only two muhūrtas remain before dawn, the king should rise from sleep. Awakened by the sounds of instruments, the praises of bards, and songs, he should observe those men who move unseen, whose loyalty is not known, for vigilance is his shield. He should then attend to reports of income and expenditure, see to urgent matters, and after attending to his bodily needs, proceed to his bath. The king should begin his ablutions by cleaning his teeth, then perform the morning worship at twilight, and offer homage to Vāsudeva through recitation. He must offer purified oblations into the fire, satisfy his ancestors with water, and donate a golden cow, accompanied by the blessings of the twice-born Brāhmaṇas. Having been anointed and adorned, the king should look upon his own face in a golden mirror and listen to the day’s auspicious omens. He should take the prescribed medicine and perform rites that bring good fortune. After seeing his teacher and receiving his blessing, he should enter the assembly. There, the king should meet the Brāhmaṇas, his ministers, counselors, and honored officials as announced by the doorkeeper. He should listen to the histories, the matters at hand, and the decisions on affairs of state. He must then attend to legal cases and deliberate with his counselors. The wise discern counsel not only through words but through expressions and gestures; thus, learned ministers and seasoned physicians understand what is spoken and unspoken. Through their support, the king attains prosperity. Once counsel is established, the king should engage in exercise and practice with vehicles and weapons. At dawn, after bathing, the king should witness the proper worship of Viṣṇu, observe the sacred fire offerings, and see that the Brāhmaṇas are honored as due. Afterwards, he must inspect the treatises, review the warriors, the armory, and the treasury. With the evening rites completed, the king should reflect upon his duties. He should send out spies and taste the food for safety, remaining within the inner quarters. The king should always move about, protected by music, song, and loyal attendants. Then Puṣkara continued: “I shall now explain the proper procedure for a military expedition, when, after seven days, the king is to set out. First, Hari, Śambhu, and Vināyaka are to be worshipped with sweets and other offerings. On the second day, after worshipping the guardians of the directions, the king should rest. Upon his bed or before it, he should worship the gods and remember Manu, offering salutations to Śambhu, the three-eyed, to Rudra, and to the bestower of boons. He should honor Vāmana, the misshapen one, the lord of dreams, the blessed god of gods, bearer of the trident, and rider of the bull. The priest should pray: ‘Reveal to me, O eternal one, in my sleep, what is favorable or unfavorable; what is distant while awake.’ On the third day, the king should sacrifice to the guardians of the directions and to the Rudras, lords of the quarters. On the fourth day he should worship the planets, and on the fifth, the Aśvins. He must worship the deities along the path, the rivers, and all others encountered. Likewise, he should offer oblations to the gods who dwell in the heavens, the midspace, and on earth. At night, worship is due to the hosts of spirits, Vāsudeva, and others; Bhadrākālī and Śrī must be honored, and prayers offered to all deities. He should invoke Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha; Nārāyaṇa, the lotus-born, Viṣṇu, Nṛsiṃha, and Varāha; Sūrya, Soma, Kuja, Candra, Jīva, Śukra, and Śanaiścara; Rāhu, Ketu, Gaṇapati, Senānī, Caṇḍikā, Umā, Lakṣmī, Sarasvatī, Durgā, and the hosts led by Brahmāṇī. He should call upon the Rudras, Indra and others, Agni, the Nāgas, Tārkṣya, and all gods dwelling in heaven, midspace, and earth, praying they grant victory. The king should beseech them to crush his enemies in battle, declaring: ‘With my sons, mother, and servants, I take refuge in you, O gods. Having withdrawn, I will offer a tribute greater than before.’ On the sixth day, a victory bath should be performed, as in an anointing ceremony. On the seventh day, the day of departure, the king should worship Trivikrama. With the prescribed mantras for nīrājana, he should consecrate his weapons and vehicles, reciting auspicious and victory chants. He should pray: ‘May those gods who dwell in heaven, the atmosphere, and the earth grant you long life. May you attain divine success, and may this divine journey be yours.’ Having heard the blessing, ‘May all the deities protect,’ the king should proceed, taking up his bow and arrows, reciting the mantra, ‘O bow of the serpent.’ With the recitation of ‘nadviṇṇor,’ he should place his right foot at the mountain’s mouth, in the thirty-two directions beginning with the east. He should mount the elephant, the chariot, the horse, and the draught animals in due order. Once mounted, he should proceed with music, never looking back. After traveling a krośa’s distance, he should halt to worship the deities and the Brahmins. Then, protecting his own army, he should proceed to foreign lands. The worship of the gods must never be neglected. He must not insult the people of those lands. Upon his victorious return to his own city, the king should worship the gods and give gifts. On the second day, when battle is to occur, he should bathe the elephant, the horse, and others, and worship the god Narasiṃha. At night, the king should worship the royal insignia—such as the umbrella and weapons—and all the groups. In the morning, he should again worship Narasiṃha, as well as all vehicles and others, leaving none unattended. Thus is the path of the righteous and victorious king.