Agni Purana

एवं कुर्य्यात् सदा स्त्रीणं रक्षणं पृथिवीपतिः । न चासां विश्वसेज्जातु पुत्रमातुर्विशेषतः ।। २२४.

In this way, the king should always protect women, and never trust them completely, especially regarding their sons and mothers.

पुष्कर उवाच राजपुत्रस्य रक्षा च कर्त्तव्या पृथिवीक्षिता । धर्मार्थ्कामशास्त्राणि धनुर्वेदञ्च शिक्षयेत् ।। २२५.

Puṣkara said: The ruler must ensure the protection of the prince, and instruct him in the scriptures of dharma, artha, and kāma, as well as in the science of archery.

शिल्पानि शिक्षयेच्चैवमाप्तैर्मिथ्याप्रियंवदैः । शरीररक्षाव्याजेन रक्षिणोऽस्य नियोजयेत् ।। २२५.

He should also have him learn the arts from trustworthy teachers, not from those who speak falsely or flatter, and assign guardians under the pretext of bodily protection.

न चास्य सङ्गो दातव्यः क्रुद्धलुब्धविमानितैः । अशक्यन्तु गुणाधानं कर्त्तु तं बन्धयेत् सुखैः ।। २२५.

He should not allow association with the angry, greedy, or arrogant; but one who is endowed with virtues yet difficult to control should be bound with comforts.

अधिकारेषु सर्वेषु विनीतं विनियोजयेत् । मृगयां पानमक्षांश्च राज्यनाशं स्त्यजेन्नृपः ।। २२५.

He should appoint the disciplined prince to all offices, and the king should avoid hunting, drinking, gambling, and actions that destroy the kingdom.

दिवास्वप्नं वृथाट्याञ्च वाक्पारुष्यं विवर्जयेत् । निन्दाञ्च दण्डपारुष्यमर्थदूषणमुत्सृजेत् ।। २२५.

He should avoid sleeping during the day, aimless wandering, harsh speech, slander, cruel punishments, and the misuse of wealth.

आकाराणां समुच्छेदो दुर्गादीनामसत्क्रिया । अर्थानां दूषणं प्रोक्तं विप्रकीर्णत्वमेव च ।। २२५.

The destruction of fortifications, neglect of strongholds, misuse of wealth, and disorder are declared to be the ruin of prosperity.

अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रे दानमेव च । अर्थेषु दूषणं प्रोक्तमसत्कर्मप्रवर्त्तनं ।। २२५.

Giving at the wrong place or time, giving to an unworthy recipient, and giving for selfish reasons are declared to be corrupt acts, leading to unrighteous conduct.

कामं क्रोधं मदं मानं लोभं दर्पञ्च वर्जयेत् । ततो भृत्यजयङ्‌कृत्वा पौरजानपदं जयेत् ।। २२५.

One should abandon desire, anger, intoxication, pride, greed, and arrogance; then, after mastering one’s servants, one should conquer the citizens and the country people.

जयेद्‌बाह्यानरीन् पश्चाद्वाह्याश्च त्रिविधारयः । गुरवस्ते यथा पूर्वं कुल्यानन्तरकृत्रिमाः ।। २२६.

One should first conquer external enemies, then internal ones, and the three kinds of adversaries; as for elders, relatives, and artificial kin, they should be honored as before.

पितृपैतामद्दं मित्रं सामन्तञ्च तथा रिपोः । कृत्रिमञ्च महाभागा मित्रन्त्रिविधमुच्यते ।। २२६.

The friend of one’s father or grandfather, a companion, a border chief, or even an enemy, and an artificial friend—these are said to be the three kinds of friends, O noble one.

स्वाम्यमात्यञ्जनपदा दुर्गं दण्डस्तथैव च। कोपो मित्रञ्च धर्मज्ञ सप्ताङ्गं राज्यमुच्यते ।। २२५.

The king, his ministers, the country, the fortress, the treasury, the army, and the ally—these seven are known as the limbs of the kingdom, O knower of righteousness.

मूलं स्वामी स वै रक्ष्यस्तस्माद्राज्यं१ बिशेषतः । राज्याङ्गद्रोहिणं हन्यात्काले तीक्ष्णो मृदुर्भवेत् ।। २२५.

The king is the root and must be protected; therefore, the kingdom especially depends on him. One who betrays the limbs of the kingdom should be slain at the proper time, being harsh or gentle as needed.

एवं लोकद्वयं राज्ञो भृत्यैर्हासं विवर्जयेत् । भृत्याः परिभवन्तीह नृपं हर्षणसत्कथं ।। २२५.

Thus, the king should avoid being mocked by his servants in both worlds; for here, servants who scorn the king destroy his joy and good reputation.

लोकसङ्‌ग्रहणार्थाय कृतकव्यसनो भवेत् । स्मितपूर्वाभिभाषी स्यात् लोकानां रञ्जनं चरेत् ।। २२५.

For the sake of winning over the people, he should cultivate the habit of making gifts; he should speak with a gentle smile and act to delight the people.

दीर्घसूत्रस्य नृपतेः कर्महानिर्ध्रुवं भवेत् । रागे दर्पे च माने च द्रोहे पापे च कर्मणि ।। २२५.

For a king who is slow to act, his work is surely destroyed; through passion, arrogance, pride, enmity, and evil deeds, his actions perish.

अप्रिये चैव बक्तव्ये दीर्घ्सूत्रः प्रशस्यते। गुप्तमन्त्रो भवेद्राजा नापदो गुप्तमन्त्रतः ।। २२५.

When something unpleasant must be said, slowness is praised; the king should keep his counsel secret, for a king with secret plans does not meet with disaster.

आकारैरिङ्गितैर्गत्या चैष्टया भाषितेन च ।। २२५.

By means of appearance, gestures, movement, actions, and speech—

नेत्रवक्त्रविकाराभ्यां गृह्यतेऽन्तर्गतं पुनः । नैकस्तु मन्त्रयेनुमन्त्रं न राजा बहुभिः सह ।। २२५.

And by changes in the eyes and face, what is hidden within is grasped; but one should not consult alone, nor should the king deliberate with many.

बहुभिर्मन्त्रयेत् कामं राजा मन्त्रान् पृथक् पृथक्। मन्त्रिणामपिनो कुर्यान्मन्त्री मन्त्रप्रकाशनं ।। २२५.

The king may consult with many, if he wishes, but should consider each counsel separately; even among ministers, a minister should not reveal the counsel.

क्वापि कस्यापि३ विश्वासो बवतीहसदा नृणां । निश्चयश्च तथा मन्त्रे कार्य्य एकेन सूरिणा ।। २२५.

Trust is always found somewhere in someone among men; but the decision regarding counsel should be made by one wise person.

नश्येदविनयाद्राजाराज्यञ्च विनयाल्लभेत् । त्रैविद्येभ्यस्त्रयीं विद्यां दण्डनीतिञ्च शाश्वतीं ।। २२५.

A king perishes through lack of discipline, but gains his kingdom through discipline; from the three Vedas, he should learn the triple knowledge and the eternal science of punishment.

आन्वीक्षिकीञ्चार्थविद्यां वार्त्तारम्भांश्च लोकतः । जितेन्द्रियो हिशक्रोति वशे स्थापयितुं प्रजाः ।। २२५.

He should also learn the science of inquiry, the knowledge of wealth, and the means of livelihood from the world; for one who has conquered his senses is able to keep his subjects under control.

पूज्या देवा द्विजाः सर्वे दद्याद्दानानि तेषु च । द्विजे दानञ्चक्षयोऽयं निधिः कैश्चिन्नि नाश्यते ।। २२५.

All the gods and twice-born should be honored, and gifts should be given to them; gifts to the twice-born are an inexhaustible treasure, which, according to some, is never destroyed.

सङ्‌ग्रामेष्वनिवर्त्तित्वं प्रजानां परिपालनं । दानानि ब्राह्मणानाञ्च राज्ञो निः श्रेयसम्परं ।। २२५.

Not turning back in battle, protecting the people, and giving gifts to the Brahmins—these are the highest good for a king.

कृपणानाथवृद्धानां विधवानाञ्च योषितां । योगक्षेमञ्च वृत्तिञ्च तथैव परिकल्पयेत् ।। २२५.

He should likewise provide for the welfare and livelihood of the destitute, the helpless, the elderly, and widowed women.

वर्णाश्रमव्यवस्थानां कार्यन्तापसपूजनं । न विश्वसेच्च सर्वत्र तापसेषु च विश्वसेत् ।। २२५.

He should uphold the established order of the classes and stages of life, and honor ascetics; but he should not trust everyone, though he may trust ascetics.

विश्वासयेच्चापि परन्तत्त्वभूतेन हेतुना । वककवच्चिन्तयेदर्थं सिंहवच्च पराक्रमेत् ।। २२५.

He should inspire trust only with a reason grounded in the highest reality; he should consider matters as a crane does, and act with the courage of a lion.

वृकवच्चावलुम्पेत् शशवच्च विनिष्पतेत् । दृढप्रहारी च भवेत् तथा शूकरवन्नृपः ।। २२५.

He should seize like a wolf, withdraw like a hare, and strike firmly like a boar, O king.