राजधर्मानुशासन पर्व — यवन आदि अन्य जातियों के धर्म का वर्णन

Indra said Kshatriya duties, O king, which are so very potent, which embrace the exercise of all other duties, and which are the highest of all duties, should be observed by persons that are like you so high-souled and seek the well-being of the world. If those duties are not properly satisfied all creatures would be ruined.

The king, cherishing mercy for all creatures, should consider these as the highest of his duties, viz., reclaiming the land for cultivation and fertilizing it, celebration of great sacrifices for purifying himself, aversion for begging, and protection of subjects.

Making gifts is said by the sages to be the greatest of virtues. Of all kinds of gifts again, that of the body in battle, is the highest. You have seen with your own eyes how the kings, ever following Kshatriya duties, having duly waited upon their preceptors and acquired great learning, at last sacrifice their bodies, while fighting with one another. The Kshatriya, desirous of earning religious merit, should after following the Brahmacharya mode, live like a house-holder which is always meritorious.

While settling the question of right (between) his subjects, he should be perfectly impartial. For making the various orders follow their respective duties, for the protection they give to all, for the various contrivances and means and the prowess and exertion Kshatriya duties, which embrace all other duties, are said to be the highest. The other orders are able to follow their respective duties for kingly duties. Therefore the former depend upon the latter regarding the merit they produce.

Those men, who disobey all healthy checks and who are too much attached to the worldly objects, are regarded as brutes. They are constrained to act justly by the exercise of kingly duties. Those duties, therefore, are said to be the highest of all.

That course of conduct which has been laid down for Brahmanas who follow the three Vedas, and those modes of life that have been laid down for Brahmanas, should, first, of all be observed by every Brahmana. If a Brahmana acts otherwise, he should be punished like a Shudra,

The duties of the four modes of life and the rituals laid down in the Vedas, O king, should always be followed by a Brahmana; he has no other duties.

A Kshatriya should never maintain a Brahmana acting otherwise. His religious merit increases for his acts. A Brahmana, indeed, is like Dharma.

That Brahmana who does works that are not sanctioned for him, deserves no respect. If not engaged in his proper acts, he should not be trusted.

These are the duties of the various orders. Kshatriyas should look after them so that their observance may be improved. These are the duties of Kshatriyas. For these reasons also, kingly duties and no others, are the highest of all. They are, as I believe, the duties of heroes, and the heroes are foremost in following them.

What duties should be practised by the Yavanas, the Kiratas, the Gandharas, the Chinas, the Shavaras, the Barbaras, the Shakas, the Tusharas, the Kankas, the Palhavas, the Andhras, the Madrakas, the Paundras, the Pulindas, the Ramathas, the Kambojas, the several castes that have originated from Brahmanas and Kshatriyas, the Vaishyas, and the Shudras, that live in the dominions of Aryan kings? What are those duties again which kings like ourselves should compel the iribes living by robbery to follow.

I wish to hear all this, O illustrious god, instruct me. O chief of all the gods, you are the friend of us Kshatriyas.

Indra said All the robber tribes should serve their parents, their preceptors and other elders and hermits living in the forest.

All the robber tribes should also serve their kings. The duties and rites laid down in the Vedas should also be followed by them.

They should celebrate sacrifices in honour of the departed manes, dig wells, for the public give water to thirsty travellers, distribute beds and other presents amongst Brahmanas.

Abstention from injury, truth, control of anger, supporting Brahmanas and relatives by giving them their dues, maintenance of wives and children, purity, peacefulness, making presents to Brahmanas at all sorts of sacrifices are duties to be followed by every person of this tribe who seeks his own prosperity. Such a person should also celebrate all kinds of Pakayajnas with rich presents of food and wealth.

These and similar duties, O sinless one, were laid down in days of yore for person of this class. All these acts, which have been laid down for all others, should be done by the robbers also, O king.

Mandhatri said In this world, such wicked men may be seen living in disguise among all the four castes and in all the four modes of life.

Indra said When the kingly duties are lost as well as the science of punishment, all creatures become exceedingly exercised, O sinless one, for the oppression of kings.

After the termination of the Krita age, a confusion will set in regarding the various modes of life, and numberless mendicants will appear with sectarial marks of various sorts.

Disregarding the Puranas and the great truths of religion, men, urged by lust and anger, will wend wrong ways.

When sinful men are restrained by highsouled persons with the help of the science of punishment, then religion, which reigns supreme over everything and is eternal and which is the source of all good, becomes firmly established.

The gifts, and libations, and offerings to the departed manes of the man who disregards the king who is superior to every one, become useless.

The very gods do not disobey a virtuous king who is truly a personification of god.

Having created the universe, the divine Lord of all creatures meant the Kshatriya to rule men making them follow their duties.

I respect and worship that person who hclped by his understanding, watches the course of the duties performed by men. Upon such supervision depend Kshatriya duties.

Bhishma continued 'Having said these words, the divine and powerful Narayana, in the forın of Indra, accompanied by the Maruts, repaired to his eternal abode of endless felicity.

When, O sinless one, duties were thus followed in days of yore what man of cleansed soul and learning is there that would disregard the Kshatriya?

Like blind men lost on the way creatures, acting unrighteously, meet with ruin.

O foremost of men, do you follow those duties which were first promulgated and which the ancients had followed. I know, O sinless one, that you are quite competent to do this.'