राजधर्मानुशासन पर्व — राजधर्म का वर्णन

Bhishma said “Let not fruit growing trees be cut down in your dominions. Fruits and roots are the property of the Brahmanas. The sages have declared this as an injunction of religion.

The residue, after supporting the Brahmanas, should be devoted to the support of other people, Nobody should take by inuring the Brahmanas.

If a Brahmana, for want of support, wishes to leave a kingdom for securing maintenance elsewhere, the king, O monarch, should, with love and respect, give him the means of sustenance.

If he does not still abstain from leaving the kingdom, the king should repair to a concourse of Brahmanas and say-Such a Brahmana is leaving the kingdom. In whom shall my subjects then find an authority for guiding them?

If alter this, he does not renounce his intention of leaving, and does not say anything, the king should say to him-Forget the past!—This, O son of Kunti, is the eternal way of the royal duty.

The king should further say to him,-Indeed, O Brahmana, people say that only that which is sufficient should be assigned to a Brahmana to maintain him. I, however, do not hold that opinion. On the other hand, I think that if a Brahmana seeks to abandon a kingdom for the king neglecting to provide him with means of support, such means should be assigned to him, and, further, if he wishes to take that step for procuring the means of luxury, he should still be requested to stay and supplied with those luxuries.

Agriculture, cattle-tending, and trade, suppiy all men with the means of subsistence. A knowledge of the Vedas, however, supply them with the means of acquiring heaven.

They, therefore, that impede the study of the Vedas and the Vedic practices, are known as enemies of society. For exterminating these that Brahman created Kshatriyas.

Subdue your foes, protect your subjects, adore the gods in sacrifices, and fight battles bravely, O delighter of the Kurus!

A king should protect those who are worthy of protection. The king who does this is the best of rulers. Those kings who do not perform the duty of protection live uselessly.

For the behoof of all his subjects the king should always seek to learn the acts and thoughts of all, O Yudhishthira; and for the reason he should engage spies and secret agents.

Protecting others from your own, and your own from others, as also others from others, and your own from your own, do you always maintain your subjects.

Guarding his own self first from every one, the king should protect the Earth. Men of knowledge have said that everything originate from self.

The king should always think of these, viz.,-What are his shortcomings to what evil habits he is addicted, what are the sources of his weakness, and what are the sources of his follies.

The king should make secret and trusted agents travel through the kingdom for ascertaining whether his conduct of the previous day has, or has not, met with the approbation of the subjects.

Indeed, he should know whether his conduct is or is not, generally applauded, or is, or is not, liked by the people of the provinces, and whether he has, or has not, succeeded in gaining a good name in his kingdom.

Amongst the virtuous and wise, amongst those who never retreat from battle, and those who do not live in your kingdom, those who depend on you, and those who are your ministers, as well as those who do not follow party, they who praise or blame you should never be disregarded by you, O Yudhishthira!

No man, O sire, can acquire the golden opinion of all persons in the world. All persons have friends, foes, and indifferent ones, O Bharata.

Yudhishthira said Of persons all of whom are equal in strength of arms and accomplishments' how does one reign supreme over all the others, and how does he succeed in lording over them all.

Bhishma said The mobile creatures devour things that are immobile; animals having teeth devour those that have none; angry snakes of dreadful venom devour smaller ones of their own species.

The king, O Yudhishthira, should always be careful of his subjects as also of his eremies. If he becomes careless, they attack him like vultures.

Take care, O king, that the traders in your kingdom, who purchase articles for purposes of trade at prices high and low, and who while itenerating have to sleep or take rest in forests and inaccessible regions, may not suffer from the imposition of heavy taxes.

Let not the agriculturists in your kingdom leave it through oppression; they, who bear the burden of the king, support the other residents also of the kingdom.

The gifts made by you in this world support the gods, Pitris, men, Nagas, Rakshasas, birds, and animals.

These, O Bharata, are the instruments of governing a kingdom and protecting its king. I shall again talk to you on the subject, son of Pandu."