Rajadharmanushasana Parva — Royal duties

'Protection of the subjects, O Yudhishthira, is the quintessence of duties. the divine Brihaspati does not speak so highly of any other duty.

The divine Kavi (Ushanas) of large eyes and austere penances, the thousand-eyed Indra, and Manu, the son of Prachetas, the divine Bharadwaja, and the sage Gaurasiras all devoted to Brahma and utterers of Brahma, have composed works on the duties of kings.

All of them speak highly of the duty of protection, O foremost of virtuous persons regarding the kings. O you having eyes like lotus petals and copper-coloured, listen to the means by which protection may be obtained.

They consist of the employment of spies and servants, paying them their just dues without pride, the realisation of taxes with mercy, never taking anything whimsically and unjustifiably. O Yudhishthira, the selection of honest men, heroism, skill and cleverness, truth, seeking the good of the people, creating discord and disunion among the enemy by fair or unfair means, the repair of old and dilapedated buildings, the infliction of corporal punishments and imposition of just fines, never abandoning the honest, giving employment and protection to respectable persons, the keeping in reserve of what should be kept, living in the company of intelligent persons, always gratifying the soldiers, supervision over the subjects, steadiness in the transaction of business, filling the treasury, absence of blind confidence on the guards of the city, creating disloyalty among the citizens of a hostile town, carefully looking after the friends and allies living in the midst of the enemy's country, keeping a strict eye on the servants and officers of the state, personal supervision of the city, distrust of servants, comforting the enemy with assurance, steadily following the settled policy, readiness for action, never disregarding an enemy, and driving away the wicked.

Readiness for action in kings is the root of royal duties. This has been said by Brihaspati. Listen to the verses recited by him.

By exertion the ambrosia was obtained; by exertion the Asuras were killed; by exertion Indra himself acquired sovereignty in heaven and on earth.

The hero who works is superior to one who speaks. The heroes who speak, gratify and worship the heroes who work.

The king, who is shorn of exertion, even if endued with intelligence, is always defeated by foes like a snake that is shorn of poison.

The king, even if very powerful, should not neglect a foe however weak. A scintillation of fire can produce a conflagration and a particle of Poison can kill.

With only one kind of force, an enemy, from within a fort, can assail the whole country of even a powerful and prosperous king.

The secret speeches of a king, the collecting of troops for the purposes of victory, the wily purposes in his heart, desires for accomplishing particular objects, and the wrong acts he does or intends to do, should be concealed by assuming a bold appearance. He should act righteously for keeping his people under control.

Wily persons can not govern an extensive empire, A king who is mild cannot acquire superior rank the acquisition of which depends upon exertion.

A kingdom, which is sought for by all like meat can never be protected by candour and simplicity. A king, O Yudhishthira, should, therefore, always resort to both candour and wiliness.

Even while protecting his subjects a king is beset with danger, he earns great merit. Such should be the conduct of kings.

I have now told you a part only of the duties of kings. Tell me, O best of Kurus, what more you wish to know.

Vaishampayana said The illustrious Vyasa, Devasthana, Ashva, Vasudeva, Kripa, Satyaki and Sanjaya, filled with joy, and with faces resembling full-blown flowers, said,-Excellent! Excellent!' and sang the praises of that best of men, viz., Bhishma, that foremost of virtuous persons.

Then Yudhishthira, that chief of Kuru's race, with a depressed heart and eyes bathed in tears, gently touched Bhishma's feet and said,—'O grandsire, I shall tomorrow enquire after those points about which I have my doubts, for today the sun, having sucked the moisture of the earth, is about to set.

Then Keshava, Kripa, Yudhishthira and others, saluting the Brahmanas and circumambulating Bhishma, gladly got on their cars.

All of them, observant of excellent vows, then bathed in the river Drishadvati-Having offered oblations of water to their departed manes and silently recited the sacred mantras and performed other auspicious rites, and having adored the evening twilight with due rites, those scorchers of enemies entered the city of Hastinapur.