Hear now the wisdom as it was spoken. It is said that in this world, wealth is the great magnet. The man who possesses wealth is surrounded by friends; his relatives flock to him, and the world holds him in esteem. Even wisdom is attributed to the one who is rich. But should a man lose his wealth, those very friends, sons, wives, and companions who once surrounded him will abandon him. Yet, if he regains his fortune, they return as swiftly as they left, for in this world, wealth alone is a man’s true kin. Yet, above all, knowledge of scripture is the king’s guiding light. A king without the wisdom of the sacred texts is truly blind. For even a man who is physically blind can be led by a guide, but one ignorant of scripture stumbles in darkness without hope. If a king allows his sons, servants, ministers, priests, or even his own senses to slumber in negligence, his kingdom cannot endure for long. A wise ruler acquires loyal sons, faithful servants, and supportive relatives, and by their strength, he holds the earth in equal measure with other kings, ruling through the ages. But should he disregard the ways established by scripture and reason, he brings about his own ruin, losing not only his kingdom but his prospects in this world and the next. In times of adversity, a king must not let his mind be troubled. With an even heart, he should remain steadfast in both joy and sorrow. The truly steadfast do not lose hope when hardship arises. Does not the moon, even after being swallowed by Rāhu, rise again in splendor? Shame on those who pamper the body for fleeting pleasures! Let no one grieve over lack of wealth, for the body itself is frail and impermanent. Even those blessed with wives and children, like the sons of Pāṇḍu, have abandoned suffering and found happiness anew. A wise king, having observed the arts of the Gandharvas, music, and the gatherings of courtesans, must also safeguard the sciences of archery and statecraft. He must never act in anger without cause, for to do so is like unleashing the madness of a black serpent’s poison. The king must restrain his gaze from restlessness and avoid false speech, especially toward men, learned Brahmins, and always toward his servants. If a king, proud of his servants and kin, governs playfully or carelessly, he will soon be overpowered by his enemies. He should never display anger or frown unnecessarily, nor punish his servants without fault, for such a ruler is base. Idle pleasures are to be renounced by the king. Enemies who are steadfast in conflict must be subdued by those who are skilled in enjoyment and success. Diligence, enterprise, courage, intelligence, strength, and valor—these six forms of enthusiasm make even the gods wary of a man. When effort is made and yet success does not come, fate is to be acknowledged as the measure; but one must always act with human effort, never resigning to inaction. At this point, Sūta spoke further: “Servants are of many kinds—superior, inferior, and middling—and each should be assigned tasks according to their merit. I will now explain how servants should be examined and what qualities they must possess, as tradition has taught. Just as gold is tested by rubbing, cutting, heating, and beating, so too must a servant be tested by four means: their conduct, character, the test of time, and the quality of their work. One who is born of noble family, with good character and virtues, devoted to truth and righteousness, handsome and cheerful—such a person is fit to be the treasurer. He who is skilled in judging value and form is suited to be the appraiser of jewels. One who knows strength and weakness should be appointed commander of the army. A doorkeeper must understand gestures and expressions, be strong, pleasant to look at, vigilant, and energetic. The scribe must be intelligent, eloquent, wise, truthful, self-controlled, and learned in all sciences. The messenger should be discerning, able to perceive the thoughts of others, harsh when needed, and always speak as instructed. For the chief of justice, choose one who knows the treatises on memory and law, is learned, self-controlled, courageous, strong, and virtuous. The cook should be skilled by family tradition, learned in scripture, truthful, pure, and strict. The physician must be practiced in Ayurveda, pleasing to all, long-lived, of good character, and virtuous. The royal priest should know the essence of the Veda and its branches, be devoted to recitation and sacrifice, and always intent on blessing. However, the king must avoid servants who are scribes, readers, calculators, objectors, or lazy, for they bring only trouble. The words of a double-tongued, agitating, cruel, and harsh person serve only to harm the innocent. Even if adorned with learning, an evil person must be avoided, for a snake with a jewel on its hood is still terrifying. Who would not fear one who becomes angry without cause? The poison of a great serpent and the harsh words of such a person gather together in the mouth. If a servant equal in wealth, ability, knowledge of secrets, and determination kills another and seizes half the kingdom, he is not slain, for such is the way of power. Brave servants who speak softly, have mastered their senses, and are truly valiant, yet are inconsistent in their loyalty, are not beneficial. Servants who are free from laziness, content, alert, patient in happiness and sorrow, and steadfast are rare in this world. Those lacking patience and modesty, who are cruel, slanderous, deceitful, hypocritical, cunning, greedy, incapable, and fearful should be dismissed by the king. A wise ruler ensures that weapons and arms are well-prepared and stored in the fortress, so the enemy may be struck down when the time is right. He may make a treaty for six months or a year, carefully watching over himself, and then strike his enemy again. Finally, let it be known: he who appoints fools to serve the king brings disgrace, loss of wealth, and a fall into hell. Thus, the wise king governs with discernment, effort, and righteousness, ensuring the prosperity of his kingdom and his own lasting glory.