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.
चित्राकारश्च शिखिवद् दृढभक्तिस्तथा श्ववत् । भवेच्च मधुराभाषी तथा कोकिलवन्नृपः ।। २२६.
He should be as skillful as a peacock in appearance, as steadfast in devotion as a dog, and as sweet-spoken as a cuckoo, O king.
काकशङ्की भवेन्नित्यमज्ञातां वसतिं वसेत्। नापरीक्षितपूर्वञ्च भोजनं शयनं स्पृशेत् ।। २२५.
He should always be as wary as a crow, dwell in unknown places, and never touch food or a bed that has not been previously examined.
नाविज्ञातां स्त्रियं गच्छेन्नाज्ञातां नावमारुहेत् । राष्ट्रकर्षी भ्रस्यते चराज्यार्थाच्चैव जीवितात् ।। २२५.
He should not approach a woman he does not know, nor board a boat that is unfamiliar; a king who acts recklessly loses both his kingdom and his life.
भृतो वत्सो जातबलः कर्मयोग्यो यथा भवेत् । तथा राष्ट्रं महाभाग भृतं कर्मसहं भवेत् ।। २२५.
Just as a calf, once grown, becomes fit for work, so too, O great one, a well-supported kingdom becomes capable of action.
सर्वं कर्मेदमायत्तं विधाने दैवपौरुषे । तयोर्दैवचचिन्त्यं हि पौरुषे विद्यते क्रिया ।। २२५.
All action depends on both destiny and human effort; of these, destiny is to be contemplated, but action lies in human effort.
पुष्कर उवाच स्वमेव कर्म दैवाख्यं विद्धि देहान्तराजितं । तस्मात् पौरुषमेवेह श्रेष्ठमाहुर्मनीषिणः ।। २२६.
Pushkara said: Know that what is called destiny is simply one's own karma carried over from another body; therefore, wise men say that human effort is supreme in this world.
प्रतिकूलं तथा दैवं पौरुषेण विहन्यते । सात्त्विकात् कर्म्मणः पूर्वात् सिद्धिः स्यात्पौरुषं विना ।। २२६.
Even adverse destiny is overcome by human effort; but success from virtuous deeds in the past can occur even without present effort.
पौरुषं दैवसम्पत्त्या काले फलति भार्गव । दैवं पुरुषकारश्च द्वयं पुंसः फलावहं ।। २२६.
Human effort bears fruit when joined with the wealth of destiny, O Bhargava; both destiny and personal endeavor bring results for a person.
कृषेर्वृष्टिसमायोगात् काले स्युः फलसिद्धयः । सधर्म्मं पौरुषं कुर्यान्नालसो न च दैववान् ।। २२६.
Just as crops yield fruit at the right time through the union of rain, so one should act in accordance with duty, being neither lazy nor relying solely on destiny.
सामादिभिरुपायैस्तु सर्वे सिद्ध्यन्त्युपक्रमाः । साम चोपप्रदानञ्च चभेददण्डौ तथापरौ ।। २२६.
All undertakings succeed through means such as conciliation and others; conciliation, giving gifts, sowing dissension, and punishment are the four main strategies.