Garuda Purana

चापलाद्वारयेद्दृष्टिं मिथ्यावाक्यञ्च वारयेत् । मानवे श्रोत्रिये चैव भृत्यवर्गे सदैव हि ॥ १,१११.

One should restrain the gaze from restlessness and avoid false speech, especially towards men, learned Brahmins, and always towards the group of servants.

लीलां करोति यो राजा भृत्यस्वजनगर्वितः । शासने सर्वदा क्षिप्रं रिपुभिः परिभूयते ॥ १,१११.

A king who, proud of his servants and kin, acts playfully in governance is always quickly overpowered by his enemies.

हुङ्कारे भृकुटीं नैव सदा कुर्वीत पार्थिवः । विना दोषेण यो भृत्यान्राजाधमण शास्ति च । लीलासुखानि भोग्यानि त्यजेदिह महीपतिः ॥ १,१११.

A king should never display anger or frown in mere words; he who punishes servants without fault is a base ruler. The enjoyments of idle pleasures should be abandoned by the king here.

सुखप्रवृत्तैः साध्यन्तै शत्रवो विग्रहे स्थितैः ॥ १,१११.

Enemies who are established in conflict are to be subdued by those who are engaged in pleasure and success.

उद्योगः साहसंधैर्यं बुद्धिः शक्तिः पराक्रमः । षड्विधो यस्य उत्साहस्तस्य देवोऽपि शङ्कते ॥ १,१११.

Diligence, enterprise, courage, intelligence, strength, and valor—he who possesses these six kinds of enthusiasm causes even the gods to be wary.

उद्योगेन कृते कार्ये सिद्धर्यस्य न विद्यते । दैवं तस्य प्रमाणं हि कर्तव्यं पौरुषं सदा ॥ १,१११.

When a task is accomplished through effort but success is not attained, then fate is the measure; yet, one must always act with human effort.

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् ११२ सूत उवाच । भृत्या बहुविधा ज्ञेया उत्तमाधममध्यमाः । नियोक्तव्या यथार्हेषु त्रिविधेष्वेव कर्मसु ॥ १,११२.

Sūta said: Servants are of many kinds—superior, inferior, and middling; they should be appointed to tasks according to their merit in these three categories of work.

भृत्ये परिक्षणं वक्ष्ये यस्ययस्य हि यो गुणः । तमिमं संप्रवक्ष्यामि ये यथाकथितं किल ॥ १,११२.

I will explain the examination of servants, and the qualities of each; I will now describe them as they have been traditionally told.

यथा चतुर्भिः कनकं परीक्ष्यते निघर्षणच्छेदनतापताडनैः । तथा चतुर्भिर्भृतकं परीक्षयेद्वतेन शीलेन कलेन कर्मणा ॥ १,११२.

Just as gold is tested by four means—rubbing, cutting, heating, and beating—so too should a servant be tested by four things: conduct, character, time, and work.

कुलशीलगुणोपेतः सत्यधर्मपरायणः । रूपवान्सुप्रसन्नश्च कोशाध्यक्षो विधीयते ॥ १,११२.

One endowed with noble family, good character, and virtues, devoted to truth and righteousness, handsome and cheerful—such a person is appointed as the treasurer.

मूल्यरूपपरीक्षाकृद्भवे द्रत्नपरीक्षकः । बलाबलपरिज्ञाता सेनाध्यक्षो विधीयते ॥ १,११२.

He who is skilled in examining value and form is the appraiser of jewels; one who knows strength and weakness is appointed as the commander of the army.

इङ्गिताकारतत्त्वज्ञो बलवान् प्रियदर्शनः । अप्रमादी प्रमाथी च प्रतीहारः स उच्यते ॥ १,११२.

He who knows the truth of gestures and expressions, is strong and pleasant to look at, vigilant and energetic—he is called the doorkeeper.

मेधावी वाक्पटुः प्राज्ञः सत्यवादी जितेन्द्रियः । सर्वशास्त्रसमालोकी ह्येष साधुः स लेखकः ॥ १,११२.

Intelligent, eloquent, wise, truthful, self-controlled, and versed in all sciences—such a virtuous person is the scribe.

बुद्धिमान्मतिमांश्चैव परचित्तोपलक्षकः । क्रूरो यथोक्तवादी च एष दूतो विधीयते ॥ १,११२.

Intelligent, discerning, able to perceive the thoughts of others, harsh, and one who speaks as instructed—such a person is appointed as a messenger.

समस्तस्मृतिशास्त्रज्ञः पण्डितोऽथ जितेन्द्रियः । शौर्यवीर्यगुणोपेतो धर्माध्यक्षो विधीयते ॥ १,११२.

One who knows all the treatises on memory and law, is learned, has mastered his senses, endowed with courage, strength, and virtue—he is appointed as the chief of justice.

पितृपैतामहो दक्षः शास्त्रज्ञः सत्यवाचकः । शुचिश्च कठिनश्चैव सूपकारः स उच्यते ॥ १,११२.

Skilled through his father and grandfather, learned in the scriptures, a speaker of truth, pure and also strict—such a person is called the cook.

आयुर्वेदकृताभ्यासः सर्वेषां प्रियदर्शनः । आयुः शीलगुणोपेतो वैद्य एव विधीयते ॥ १,११२.

Practiced in Ayurveda, pleasing to all, endowed with long life, good character, and virtues—such a one is appointed as the physician.

वेदवेदाङ्गतत्त्वज्ञो जपहमपरायणः । आशीर्वादपरो नित्यमेष राजपुरोहित ॥ १,११२.

One who knows the essence of the Veda and its branches, devoted to recitation and sacrifice, always intent on blessing—he is the royal priest.

लेखकः पाठकश्चैव गणकः प्रतिरोधकः । आलस्ययुक्तश्चैद्राजा कर्म संवर्जयेत्सदा ॥ १,११२.

A scribe, a reader, a calculator, an objector, and one who is lazy—such a servant should always be avoided by the king.

द्विजिह्वमुद्वेगकरं क्रूरमेकान्तदारुणम् । खलस्याहेश्च वदनमपकाराय केवलम् ॥ १,११२.

The speech of a double-tongued, agitating, extremely cruel, and utterly harsh person is only for causing harm to the innocent.

दुर्जनः परिहर्तव्यो विद्ययालङ्कृतोऽपिसन् । मणिना भूषितः सर्पः किमसौ न भयङ्करः ॥ १,११२.

An evil person should be avoided, even if adorned with learning; is not a snake, adorned with a jewel, still terrifying?

अकारणविष्कृतकोपधारिणः खलाद्भयं कस्य न नाम जायते । विषं महाहेर्विषमस्य दुर्वचः सदुः सहं सन्निपतेत्सदा मुखे ॥ १,११२.

Who would not fear a wicked person who becomes angry without cause? The poison of a great serpent, and the harsh words of such a one, always gather together in the mouth.

तुल्यार्थं तुल्यसामर्थ्यं मर्मज्ञं व्यवसायिनम् । अर्धराज्यहरं भृत्यं यो हन्यात्स न हन्यते ॥ १,११२.

He who kills a servant equal in wealth, ability, knowledge of secrets, and determination, who seizes half the kingdom, is himself not slain.

शूरत्वयुक्ता मृदुमन्दवाक्या जितेन्द्रियाः सत्यपराक्रमाश्च । प्रागेव पश्चाद्विपरी तरुपा ये ते तु भृत्या न हिता भवन्ति ॥ १,११२.

Those who are brave, but speak softly and slowly, have mastered their senses, and are truly valiant—if they are first one way and later the opposite, such servants are not beneficial.

निरालस्याः सुसन्तुष्टाः प्रतिबोधकाः । सुखदुः खसमा धीरा भृत्या लोकेषु दुर्लभाः ॥ १,११२.

Servants who are free from laziness, well content, alert, patient in happiness and sorrow, and steadfast—such servants are rare in the world.

क्षान्तिस्तयविहीनश्च क्रूरबुद्धिश्च निन्दकः । दाम्भिकः कपटी चैव शठश्च स्पृहयान्वितः । अशक्तो भयभीतश्च राज्ञा त्यक्तव्य एव सः ॥ १,११२.

One who lacks patience and modesty, has a cruel mind, is slanderous, deceitful, hypocritical, cunning, greedy, incapable, and fearful—such a person should indeed be dismissed by the king.

सुसन्धानानि चास्त्राणि शस्त्राणि विविधानि च । दुर्गे प्रवेशितव्यानि ततः शत्रुं निपातयेत् ॥ १,११२.

Well-prepared weapons and various arms should be brought into the fortress; then the enemy should be struck down.

षण्मासमथ वर्षं वा सन्धिं कुर्यान्नराधिपः । पश्यन्सञ्चितमात्मानं पुनः शत्रुं निपातयेत् ॥ १,११२.

The king should make a treaty for six months or a year, watching over himself carefully, and then strike down the enemy again.

मूर्खान्नियोजयेद्यस्तु त्रयोऽप्येते महीपतेः । अयशश्चार्थनाशश्च नरके चैव पातनम् ॥ १,११२.

He who appoints fools—any of these three—for the king, brings disgrace, loss of wealth, and a fall into hell.