राजधर्मानुशासन पर्व — क्षत्रिय-धर्म

Bhishma said The duties of all the four modes of life, those of Yatis, O son of Pandu and the customs followed by men in general, are all comprised in kingly duties.

All these acts, O chief of Bharatas are in Kshatriya duties. If the functions of royalty are disturbed, all creatures meet with evil.

The duties of men are not clear. They have, again, many exceptions. Guided by many (false) systems, their true nature is sometimes spoiled.

Others, who implicitly believe the decisions of men, without really knowing anything about the true nature of duties (as described in the scriptures), are at last constrained to believe in faiths whose ultimate ends are unknown.

The duties of the Kshatriyas are plain, conducive to great happiness, evident in their results, free from deceit, and beneficial to the whole world.

As the duties of the orders, as also of Brahmanas and of those that have retired from the world, O Yudhishthira, have before this been described as being included within those of that sacred mode of life viz., that of a householder so, the whole world, with all actions, is subject to kingly duties.

I have told you, O monarch, how many brave kings had, in days of yore, repaired to lord of all creatures, viz., the divine and powerful Vishnu of great prowess for removing their doubts about the science of punishment.

Those kings, always observant of the injunctions of the scriptures enforced by examples, waited in days of yore, upon Narayana, after having compared their acts with the duties of each of the modes of life.

Those deities, viz., the Saddhyas, the Vasus, the Ashvins, the Rudras, the Vishvas, the Maruts, and the Siddhas, created in days of yore by the first of gods, always practise Kshatriya duties.

I shall now recite to you a history consisting of the conclusions of both religion and profit. In days of yore when the Danavas had multiplied and done away with all impediments and distinctions, the powerful Mandhatri, O monarch, became king. That lord of the Earth, viz., king Mandhatri, celebrated a great sacrifice with a view to see the powerful Narayana, that god of gods, without beginning, middle, and end.

In that sacrifice he adored humbly the great Vishnu, assuming the form of Indra. The supreme Lord appeared before him.

Accompanied by Many good kings he offered his adorations to that powerful god. This high discourse took place between that foremost of kings and that illustrious god in the form of Indra, regarding the highly effulgent Vishnu.

Indra said What is your object, О foremost of virtuous persons, in thus trying to see that Ancient and First of gods, viz., Narayana, of inconceivable power, and numberless illusions.

Neither myself, nor Brahman himself, can acquired a view of that god of universal from. I shall grant you what other objects you may desire to have for you are the foremost of mortals.

Your soul rests on peace; you are devoted to righteousness; you have your senses under control; and you are heroic. You always try your best to do what is agreeable to the gods. For the sake also of your intelligence, devotion, and great faith, I shall grant you whatsoever boons you may with to have.

Mandhatri said I bend my head for pleasing you; forsooth however, I wish to see the first of gods, O divine lord. Renouncing all (earthly) desires, I wish to acquire religious merit, and to lead the foremost mode of life, that path of the good held in highest esteem by all.

By performing the great duties of a Kshatriya, I have acquired many regions of endless merit in the other world, and I have also, through those duties, spread my fame. I do not, however, know how to satisfy those duties the highest in the world emanating from the first of gods.

Indra said Those who are not kings, even if then satisfy their duties, cannot easily attain the highest meed of duty. Kingly duties first emanated from the original god. Other duties sprang afterwards from his body.

Numberless other duties, with those of the Vanaprastha mode of life, were created afterwards. The fruits of all those are endless. Kingly duties however, are superior to them. They include all other duties. Therefore Kshatriya duties are described to be the foremost of all.

In days of yore Vishnu, by acting according to Kshatriya duties, forcibly suppressed and killed his enemies. Accordingly he have relief to the gods and the Rishis of immeasurable power.

If the divine Vishnu of inconceivable energy had not killed all his enemies among the Asuras, then the Brahmanas, and (Brahman) the Creator of the worlds and Kshatriya duties, and the duties that first originated from the Supreme deity, would all have been lost.

If that first and foremost of gods had not, by displaying his prowess, subjugated the Earth with all her Asuras, then all the duties of the four orders and all the duties of the four modes of life would all have been destroyed owing to the destruction of Brahmanas.

The eternal duties (of men) had all been destroyed but by the exercise of Kshatriya duties they were revived. In every cycle of duties of Brahmanas regarding the atainment to Brahma first set in. These however, are all protected by kingly duties. The later, on this account, are regarded as highest.

Casting away life in battle, mercy for all creatures, knowledge of earthly affairs, protection of men, saving them from danger, relieving the distressed and the oppressed,-all these are included in the category of Kshatriya duties. Persons that do not obey healthy restraints and who are under the influence of anger and lust, do not openly sin from fear of kings. Others who are docile and righteous succeed, for the same influence, in satisfying all their duties. Therefore the Kshatriya duties are regarded to be righteous.

Forsooth, all creatures live happily in the world, protected by kings exercising Kshatriya duties like children protected by their parents.

Kshatriya duties are the highest of all duties. Those eternal duties, regarded as the first in the world, include the protection of every creature. Themselves eternal, they bring on liberation.