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महाभारतः       mahābhārataḥ - book-15, chapter-12

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धृतराष्ट्र उवाच ।
संधिविग्रहमप्यत्र पश्येथा राजसत्तम ।
द्वियोनिं त्रिविधोपायं बहुकल्पं युधिष्ठिर ॥१॥
1. dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca ,
saṁdhivigrahamapyatra paśyethā rājasattama ,
dviyoniṁ trividhopāyaṁ bahukalpaṁ yudhiṣṭhira.
1. dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ uvāca saṃdhivigraham api atra paśyethāḥ
rājasattama dviyonim trividhopāyam bahukalpam yudhiṣṭhira
1. dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ uvāca he rājasattama he yudhiṣṭhira atra dviyonim
trividhopāyam bahukalpam saṃdhivigraham api paśyethāḥ
1. Dhritarashtra said: 'O best of kings, Yudhishthira, you should also consider here the policies of alliance and separation, which have two origins, three types of means, and many alternatives.'
राजेन्द्र पर्युपासीथाश्छित्त्वा द्वैविध्यमात्मनः ।
तुष्टपुष्टबलः शत्रुरात्मवानिति च स्मरेत् ॥२॥
2. rājendra paryupāsīthāśchittvā dvaividhyamātmanaḥ ,
tuṣṭapuṣṭabalaḥ śatrurātmavāniti ca smaret.
2. rājendra paryupāsīthāḥ chittvā dvaividhyam ātmanaḥ
tuṣṭapuṣṭabalaḥ śatruḥ ātmavān iti ca smaret
2. he rājendra ātmanaḥ dvaividhyam chittvā paryupāsīthāḥ
ca tuṣṭapuṣṭabalaḥ śatruḥ ātmavān iti smaret
2. O king of kings, you should diligently consider, having abandoned any inner indecision. And one should remember that an enemy who has a contented and well-nourished army is also self-possessed (ātmavān).
पर्युपासनकाले तु विपरीतं विधीयते ।
आमर्दकाले राजेन्द्र व्यपसर्पस्ततो वरः ॥३॥
3. paryupāsanakāle tu viparītaṁ vidhīyate ,
āmardakāle rājendra vyapasarpastato varaḥ.
3. paryupāsanakāle tu viparītam vidhīyate
āmardakāle rājendra vyapasarpaḥ tataḥ varaḥ
3. rājendra paryupāsanakāle tu viparītam
vidhīyate āmardakāle tataḥ vyapasarpaḥ varaḥ
3. However, during a siege, a contrasting approach is prescribed. O best of kings, during a direct assault, it is better to retreat from that position.
व्यसनं भेदनं चैव शत्रूणां कारयेत्ततः ।
कर्शनं भीषणं चैव युद्धे चापि बहुक्षयम् ॥४॥
4. vyasanaṁ bhedanaṁ caiva śatrūṇāṁ kārayettataḥ ,
karśanaṁ bhīṣaṇaṁ caiva yuddhe cāpi bahukṣayam.
4. vyasanam bhedanam ca eva śatrūṇām kārayet tataḥ
karśanam bhīṣaṇam ca eva yuddhe ca api bahukṣayam
4. tataḥ śatrūṇām vyasanam bhedanam ca eva kārayet
yuddhe ca api karśanam bhīṣaṇam bahukṣayam ca eva
4. Thereafter, one should cause distress and division among the enemies. And also harassment, terror, and great destruction in battle.
प्रयास्यमानो नृपतिस्त्रिविधं परिचिन्तयेत् ।
आत्मनश्चैव शत्रोश्च शक्तिं शास्त्रविशारदः ॥५॥
5. prayāsyamāno nṛpatistrividhaṁ paricintayet ,
ātmanaścaiva śatrośca śaktiṁ śāstraviśāradaḥ.
5. prayāsyamānaḥ nṛpatiḥ trividham paricintayet
ātmanaḥ ca eva śatroḥ ca śaktim śāstraviśāradaḥ
5. śāstraviśāradaḥ nṛpatiḥ prayāsyamānaḥ ātmanaḥ
śatroḥ ca trividham śaktim eva paricintayet
5. A king, expert in strategic texts, who is about to embark on an expedition, should consider the three types of power (śakti), both his own and his enemy's.
उत्साहप्रभुशक्तिभ्यां मन्त्रशक्त्या च भारत ।
उपपन्नो नरो यायाद्विपरीतमतोऽन्यथा ॥६॥
6. utsāhaprabhuśaktibhyāṁ mantraśaktyā ca bhārata ,
upapanno naro yāyādviparītamato'nyathā.
6. utsāhaprabhuśaktibhyām mantraśaktyā ca bhārata
upapannaḥ naraḥ yāyāt viparītam ataḥ anyathā
6. bhārata utsāhaprabhuśaktibhyām mantraśaktyā ca
upapannaḥ naraḥ yāyāt ataḥ anyathā viparītam (kuryāt)
6. O Bhārata, a man endowed with the power of energy (utsāhaśakti), sovereign power (prabhuśakti), and the power of counsel (mantraśakti) should undertake the expedition. Otherwise, the opposite of this is to be done.
आददीत बलं राजा मौलं मित्रबलं तथा ।
अटवीबलं भृतं चैव तथा श्रेणीबलं च यत् ॥७॥
7. ādadīta balaṁ rājā maulaṁ mitrabalaṁ tathā ,
aṭavībalaṁ bhṛtaṁ caiva tathā śreṇībalaṁ ca yat.
7. ādādīta balam rājā maulam mitrabalam tathā
aṭavībalam bhṛtam ca eva tathā śreṇībalam ca yat
7. rājā maulam balam tathā mitrabalam aṭavībalam
bhṛtam ca eva tathā yat śreṇībalam ca ādādīta
7. A king should gather his hereditary army, as well as forces from allies, forest dwellers, hired mercenaries, and any guild-based troops.
तत्र मित्रबलं राजन्मौलेन न विशिष्यते ।
श्रेणीबलं भृतं चैव तुल्य एवेति मे मतिः ॥८॥
8. tatra mitrabalaṁ rājanmaulena na viśiṣyate ,
śreṇībalaṁ bhṛtaṁ caiva tulya eveti me matiḥ.
8. tatra mitrabalam rājan maulena na viśiṣyate
śreṇībalam bhṛtam ca eva tulyaḥ eva iti me matiḥ
8. rājan tatra mitrabalam maulena na viśiṣyate
śreṇībalam bhṛtam ca eva tulyaḥ eva iti me matiḥ
8. O King, among these, an allied army is not considered superior to the hereditary army. My opinion is that the guild army and the hired army are indeed equal.
तथा चारबलं चैव परस्परसमं नृप ।
विज्ञेयं बलकालेषु राज्ञा काल उपस्थिते ॥९॥
9. tathā cārabalaṁ caiva parasparasamaṁ nṛpa ,
vijñeyaṁ balakāleṣu rājñā kāla upasthite.
9. tathā cārabalam ca eva parasparasamam nṛpa
vijñeyam balakāleṣu rājñā kāle upasthite
9. nṛpa tathā cārabalam ca eva parasparasamam
rājñā balakāleṣu kāle upasthite vijñeyam
9. Similarly, O King, the spy force should also be considered equally important. This must be recognized by the king during times of war when the moment is at hand.
आपदश्चापि बोद्धव्या बहुरूपा नराधिप ।
भवन्ति राज्ञां कौरव्य यास्ताः पृथगतः शृणु ॥१०॥
10. āpadaścāpi boddhavyā bahurūpā narādhipa ,
bhavanti rājñāṁ kauravya yāstāḥ pṛthagataḥ śṛṇu.
10. āpadaḥ ca api boddhavyāḥ bahurūpāḥ narādhipa
bhavanti rājñām kauravya yāḥ tāḥ pṛthak ataḥ śṛṇu
10. narādhipa rājñām bahurūpāḥ yāḥ āpadaḥ bhavanti tāḥ
ca api boddhavyāḥ kauravya ataḥ tāḥ pṛthak śṛṇu
10. O ruler of men (narādhipa), the numerous forms of dangers that befall kings should also be understood. Therefore, O descendant of Kuru (kauravya), listen to them individually.
विकल्पा बहवो राजन्नापदां पाण्डुनन्दन ।
सामादिभिरुपन्यस्य शमयेत्तान्नृपः सदा ॥११॥
11. vikalpā bahavo rājannāpadāṁ pāṇḍunandana ,
sāmādibhirupanyasya śamayettānnṛpaḥ sadā.
11. vikalpā bahavaḥ rājan āpadām pāṇḍunandana
sāmādibhiḥ upanyasya śamayet tān nṛpaḥ sadā
11. rājan pāṇḍunandana āpadām bahavaḥ vikalpā (santi)
nṛpaḥ sāmādibhiḥ upanyasya tān sadā śamayet
11. O King, son of Pāṇḍu, there are many alternatives for facing calamities. The ruler should always mitigate them by employing strategies like conciliation (sāma) and others.
यात्रां यायाद्बलैर्युक्तो राजा षड्भिः परंतप ।
संयुक्तो देशकालाभ्यां बलैरात्मगुणैस्तथा ॥१२॥
12. yātrāṁ yāyādbalairyukto rājā ṣaḍbhiḥ paraṁtapa ,
saṁyukto deśakālābhyāṁ balairātmaguṇaistathā.
12. yātrām yāyāt balaiḥ yuktaḥ rājā ṣaḍbhiḥ paraṃtapa
saṃyuktaḥ deśakālābhyām balaiḥ ātmaguṇaiḥ tathā
12. paraṃtapa rājā ṣaḍbhiḥ balaiḥ yuktaḥ deśakālābhyām
tathā ātmaguṇaiḥ saṃyuktaḥ (san) yātrām yāyāt
12. O scorcher of foes, a king should undertake an expedition, equipped with his sixfold resources, and aligned with appropriate place and time, as well as his own intrinsic qualities.
तुष्टपुष्टबलो यायाद्राजा वृद्ध्युदये रतः ।
आहूतश्चाप्यथो यायादनृतावपि पार्थिवः ॥१३॥
13. tuṣṭapuṣṭabalo yāyādrājā vṛddhyudaye rataḥ ,
āhūtaścāpyatho yāyādanṛtāvapi pārthivaḥ.
13. tuṣṭapuṣṭabalaḥ yāyāt rājā vṛddhyudaye rataḥ
āhūtaḥ ca api atho yāyāt anṛtau api pārthivaḥ
13. rājā tuṣṭapuṣṭabalaḥ vṛddhyudaye rataḥ (san) yāyāt
atho āhūtaḥ ca api pārthivaḥ anṛtau api yāyāt
13. A king whose army is content and well-nourished, and who is intent on achieving growth and prosperity, should undertake an expedition. Moreover, a ruler should set out even in an unfavorable season if he is summoned.
स्थूणाश्मानं वाजिरथप्रधानां ध्वजद्रुमैः संवृतकूलरोधसम् ।
पदातिनागैर्बहुकर्दमां नदीं सपत्ननाशे नृपतिः प्रयायात् ॥१४॥
14. sthūṇāśmānaṁ vājirathapradhānāṁ; dhvajadrumaiḥ saṁvṛtakūlarodhasam ,
padātināgairbahukardamāṁ nadīṁ; sapatnanāśe nṛpatiḥ prayāyāt.
14. sthūṇāśmānam vājirathapradhānām
dhvajadrumaiḥ saṃvṛtakūlarodhasam
padātināgaiḥ bahukardamām
nadīm sapatnanāśe nṛpatiḥ prayāyāt
14. nṛpatiḥ sapatnanāśe sthūṇāśmānam
vājirathapradhānām dhvajadrumaiḥ
saṃvṛtakūlarodhasam padātināgaiḥ
bahukardamām nadīm prayāyāt
14. For the destruction of his enemies, a king should cross a river that has pillars and stones as obstacles, where horses and chariots are prominent (as features or impediments), whose banks and obstacles are covered with flags and trees, and which is very muddy from infantry and elephants.
अथोपपत्त्या शकटं पद्मं वज्रं च भारत ।
उशना वेद यच्छास्त्रं तत्रैतद्विहितं विभो ॥१५॥
15. athopapattyā śakaṭaṁ padmaṁ vajraṁ ca bhārata ,
uśanā veda yacchāstraṁ tatraitadvihitaṁ vibho.
15. atha upapattyā śakaṭam padmam vajram ca bhārata
uśanā veda yat śāstram tatra etat vihitam vibho
15. bhārata vibho atha śakaṭam padmam vajram ca
upapattyā yat śāstram uśanā veda tatra etat vihitam
15. Now, O Bhārata, O mighty lord, the formations of Śakaṭa (cart), Padma (lotus), and Vajra (thunderbolt) are prescribed by means of arrangement in that very treatise which Uśanā knows.
सादयित्वा परबलं कृत्वा च बलहर्षणम् ।
स्वभूमौ योजयेद्युद्धं परभूमौ तथैव च ॥१६॥
16. sādayitvā parabalaṁ kṛtvā ca balaharṣaṇam ,
svabhūmau yojayedyuddhaṁ parabhūmau tathaiva ca.
16. sādayitvā parabalum kṛtvā ca balaharṣaṇam
svabhūmau yojayet yuddham parabhūmau tathā eva ca
16. parabalum sādayitvā ca balaharṣaṇam kṛtvā
svabhūmau yuddham yojayet tathā eva ca parabhūmau
16. Having overcome the enemy forces and having caused their demoralization, one should engage in battle both in one's own territory and similarly in enemy territory.
लब्धं प्रशमयेद्राजा निक्षिपेद्धनिनो नरान् ।
ज्ञात्वा स्वविषयं तं च सामादिभिरुपक्रमेत् ॥१७॥
17. labdhaṁ praśamayedrājā nikṣipeddhanino narān ,
jñātvā svaviṣayaṁ taṁ ca sāmādibhirupakramet.
17. labdham praśamayet rājā nikṣipet dhaninaḥ narān
jñātvā svaviṣayam tam ca sāma ādibhiḥ upakramet
17. rājā labdham praśamayet dhaninaḥ narān nikṣipet
ca svaviṣayam tam jñātvā sāma ādibhiḥ upakramet
17. The king should pacify any acquired territory and assign wealthy individuals (to administer it). Having understood his own region and the acquired one, he should then proceed using conciliation (sāma) and other diplomatic strategies.
सर्वथैव महाराज शरीरं धारयेदिह ।
प्रेत्येह चैव कर्तव्यमात्मनिःश्रेयसं परम् ॥१८॥
18. sarvathaiva mahārāja śarīraṁ dhārayediha ,
pretyeha caiva kartavyamātmaniḥśreyasaṁ param.
18. sarvathā eva mahārāja śarīram dhārayet iha pretya
iha ca eva kartavyam ātmaniḥśreyasam param
18. mahārāja iha sarvathā eva śarīram dhārayet ca
iha pretya eva param ātmaniḥśreyasam kartavyam
18. O great king, one should certainly sustain the body in this world. Both in this life and after death, the ultimate well-being (ātmaniḥśreyasa) of the self (ātman) must be achieved.
एवं कुर्वञ्शुभा वाचो लोकेऽस्मिञ्शृणुते नृपः ।
प्रेत्य स्वर्गं तथाप्नोति प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन् ॥१९॥
19. evaṁ kurvañśubhā vāco loke'smiñśṛṇute nṛpaḥ ,
pretya svargaṁ tathāpnoti prajā dharmeṇa pālayan.
19. evam kurvan śubhāḥ vācaḥ loke asmin śṛṇute nṛpaḥ
pretya svargaṃ tathā āpnoti prajāḥ dharmeṇa pālayan
19. nṛpaḥ evam kurvan asmin loke śubhāḥ vācaḥ śṛṇute
pretya dharmeṇa prajāḥ pālayan tathā svargaṃ āpnoti
19. Acting in this way, a king hears auspicious words in this world; and, after death, he attains heaven by protecting his subjects according to natural law (dharma).
एवं त्वया कुरुश्रेष्ठ वर्तितव्यं प्रजाहितम् ।
उभयोर्लोकयोस्तात प्राप्तये नित्यमेव च ॥२०॥
20. evaṁ tvayā kuruśreṣṭha vartitavyaṁ prajāhitam ,
ubhayorlokayostāta prāptaye nityameva ca.
20. evam tvayā kuruśreṣṭha vartitavyam prajāhitam
ubhayoḥ lokayoḥ tāta prāptaye nityam eva ca
20. kuruśreṣṭha tāta evam tvayā prajāhitam
vartitavyam nityam eva ca ubhayoḥ lokayoḥ prāptaye
20. O best among the Kurus, you should always act in this way for the welfare of the subjects, so that you may attain both worlds, O father.
भीष्मेण पूर्वमुक्तोऽसि कृष्णेन विदुरेण च ।
मयाप्यवश्यं वक्तव्यं प्रीत्या ते नृपसत्तम ॥२१॥
21. bhīṣmeṇa pūrvamukto'si kṛṣṇena vidureṇa ca ,
mayāpyavaśyaṁ vaktavyaṁ prītyā te nṛpasattama.
21. bhīṣmeṇa pūrvam uktaḥ asi kṛṣṇena vidureṇa ca
mayā api avaśyam vaktavyam prītyā te nṛpasattama
21. nṛpasattama bhīṣmeṇa kṛṣṇena vidureṇa ca pūrvam
uktaḥ asi mayā api avaśyam prītyā te vaktavyam
21. You have already been instructed by Bhishma, by Krishna, and by Vidura. Now, O best of kings, I too must certainly speak to you with affection.
एतत्सर्वं यथान्यायं कुर्वीथा भूरिदक्षिण ।
प्रियस्तथा प्रजानां त्वं स्वर्गे सुखमवाप्स्यसि ॥२२॥
22. etatsarvaṁ yathānyāyaṁ kurvīthā bhūridakṣiṇa ,
priyastathā prajānāṁ tvaṁ svarge sukhamavāpsyasi.
22. etat sarvam yathā nyāyam kurvīthā bhūridakṣiṇa
priyaḥ tathā prajānām tvam svarge sukham avāpsyasi
22. bhūridakṣiṇa etat sarvam yathā nyāyam kurvīthā.
tathā tvam prajānām priyaḥ svarge sukham avāpsyasi
22. O munificent one, perform all this righteously. Then you will be dear to your subjects and attain happiness in heaven.
अश्वमेधसहस्रेण यो यजेत्पृथिवीपतिः ।
पालयेद्वापि धर्मेण प्रजास्तुल्यं फलं लभेत् ॥२३॥
23. aśvamedhasahasreṇa yo yajetpṛthivīpatiḥ ,
pālayedvāpi dharmeṇa prajāstulyaṁ phalaṁ labhet.
23. aśvamedhasahasreṇa yaḥ yajet pṛthivīpatiḥ pālayet
vā api dharmeṇa prajāḥ tulyam phalam labhet
23. yaḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ aśvamedhasahasreṇa yajet vā
api dharmeṇa prajāḥ pālayet tulyam phalam labhet
23. The king who performs a thousand horse-rituals (aśvamedha yajña) or protects his subjects according to natural law (dharma) obtains an equal reward.