When those who are unfortunate or oppressed find themselves suffering, their anger and frustration often turn toward the king, just as reverence is naturally directed toward those worthy among one’s own people. Understanding this, one must act with even greater virtue toward the wicked, always with an auspicious and compassionate intent. Kindness should be shown not only to the good, but even to those who are hostile. For those who speak gentle and kind words are likened to the gods themselves, while those who use harsh speech are no better than beasts. The one whose mind is pure and faithful should ever worship the deities. One should honor the deities, teachers, and friends as oneself, approaching the teacher with reverence and sincerity, never with deceit. Servants are to be met with kindness for their good deeds, friends with affection, and relatives with respect. Toward women and servants, one should show love and generosity; to others, offer courtesy. Never criticize the actions of others, and always uphold your own duty. Be compassionate to the unfortunate, speak sweetly to all, and remain unwaveringly loyal to a friend, even if it costs your own life. When a guest arrives at your home, welcome them warmly, offer gifts according to your ability, and demonstrate patience. Never become arrogant in your own prosperity, nor envious of another’s success. Even without direct opposition, one should be mindful of one’s words, observe the vow of silence when appropriate, maintain unity with relatives, and show cleverness among one’s own people. At this point, Rama spoke, saying: The seven mutually supporting elements that are called the limbs of a kingdom are the master, the minister, the territory, the fortress, the treasury, the army, and the friend. Among these, the territory is considered best, and it should always be maintained with abundant resources. The qualities to be valued in these limbs are family, character, age, strength, generosity, and prompt action; truthfulness, reliability, service to elders, gratitude, possession of divine fortune, intelligence, and freedom from association with the base. Further, foresight, enthusiasm, purity, and the recognition of important matters are essential. Humility and righteousness must be present, as well as the qualities of a virtuous king: a renowned lineage, gentleness, the ability to unite people, and purity of heart. A king who seeks his own welfare should appoint attendants who are eloquent, bold, mindful, free from arrogance, strong, and self-controlled. He should be led by one skilled in righteous punishment, accomplished in arts and acquisitions, able to withstand hostile attacks, and capable of countering all wickedness. Such a leader observes the conduct of others, knows the principles of alliance and conflict, is expert in secret counsel, and understands the distinctions of place and time. He must be a proper collector of wealth, a wise distributor who knows the right recipients, and free from anger, greed, fear, betrayal, deceit, and fickleness. He must not harm others, nor be empty, envious, jealous, false, or transgressive. Endowed with the counsel of elders, he should be capable and pleasant in appearance, firm in attachment to virtues, and possess self-acquired qualities. Gentleness, purity, courage, learning, and affection should mark his character. Those who administer punishment are the king’s ministers; the people themselves should be well-formed, endowed with good family, character, and skill. They should be eloquent, bold, keen-sighted, enthusiastic, perceptive, free from stubbornness and fickleness, friendly, able to endure hardship, and pure in conduct. They should be endowed with truth, strength, firmness, patience, power, and health, accomplished in arts, skilled, wise, and possessing concentration. A minister should be steadfast in devotion, never an instigator of enmity, mindful in matters concerning his purpose, understanding the minds of others, and certain in his knowledge. He should perform rites for appeasement and prosperity as prescribed in the Atharva Veda, together with ministers who are wise and skilled in those disciplines. He should always examine the qualities of keen sight and skill, and discern family and position among his own people. Skill in duties, knowledge, the capacity to retain, the three qualities, boldness, and affection should all be considered. In conversations, one should discern eloquence, truthfulness, enthusiasm, influence, and the ability to endure hardship. Steadfastness, attachment, and stability in adversity should be observed; devotion, friendship, and purity are revealed through conduct. From those who live together, one should discern strength, character, health, good conduct, absence of stubbornness, restraint, and lack of enmity. Both nobility and baseness can be known directly, but hidden qualities and actions are to be inferred from their results. A land is praised that is fertile, virtuous, rich in minerals, beneficial to cows, abundant in water, and inhabited by virtuous people. A delightful land, strong with elephants, possessing water, roads, and boats, and not belonging to others, is said to be fit for great prosperity. Where laborers, artisans, and merchants abound, where there is great enterprise and agricultural strength, where there is affection, enmity toward foes, endurance of hardships, and abundance—such a region is to be cherished. A country filled with people from various lands, righteous, rich in cattle, and strong, led by a ruler who is neither ignorant nor addicted to vice, is highly praised. A city should be established with broad boundaries, great moats, high ramparts and gates, and be situated near mountains, rivers, and forests. A fortress must have water, grain, and wealth, be able to withstand the passage of time, and be of one of six types: aquatic, mountainous, wooded, sandy, marshy, or forested. A treasury should be filled with desired wealth, inherited from ancestors, acquired righteously, able to endure expenditure, and should grow through righteousness and other virtues. The army should be obedient to ancestors, united, paid their wages, renowned for valor, born of good lineage, skilled, and accompanied by auspicious omens. They should be endowed with various weapons, skilled in many kinds of warfare, surrounded by diverse warriors, and honored with horses and elephants. Thus, the wise and virtuous ruler, surrounded by such ministers, people, and resources, establishes a kingdom that is strong, prosperous, and righteous, upholding the welfare of all.