Chapter 66

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Thou hast spoken to me about the four modes of humanlife. I desire to know more of-them. Do thou discourse on them in detail.’

“Bhishma said, ‘O Yudhishthira of mighty arms, all the duties that arepractised in this world by the righteous are known to thee as they areknown to me. O foremost of virtuous persons, listen now to me about whatthou askest, viz. the merit (that a king acquires) in consequence of theduties practised by others leading other modes of life.[206] All themerits, O son of Kunti, that belong to persons practising the duties ofthe four modes of life, attach, O foremost of men, to righteous kings. Aking who is not governed by lust and hate, who rules with the aid of thescience of chastisement, and who looks equally on all creatures, OYudhishthira, attains to the object of the Bhaikshya mode of life.[207]That king who is possessed of knowledge, who makes gifts to deservingpersons on proper occasions, who knows how to favour and punish, whoconducts himself in all things according to the injunctions of thescriptures, and who has tranquillity of soul, attains to the object ofthe Garhasthya mode of life. That king who always worships those that aredeserving of worship by giving them their due, completely attains, O sonof Kunti, to the object of the Bhaikshya mode of life. That king, OYudhishthira, who rescues from distress, to the best of his power, hiskinsmen and relatives and friends, attains to the object of theVanaprashtha mode of life. That king who on every occasion honours thosethat are foremost among men and those that are foremost among Yatis,attains, O son of Kunti, to the object of the Vanaprashtha mode of life.That king, O Partha, who daily makes offerings unto the Pitris and largeofferings unto all living creatures including men, attains to the objectof the same mode of life. That king, O tiger among men, who grinds thekingdoms of others for protecting the righteous, attains to the object ofthe same mode of life. In consequence of the protection of all creaturesas also of the proper protection of his own kingdom, a king earns themerit of as many sacrifices as the number of creatures protected, andaccordingly attains to the object of the Sannyasa mode of life. Study ofthe Vedas every day, forgiveness, and worship of preceptors, and servicesrendered to one’s own teacher, lead to the attainment of the object ofBrahmacharya. That king who silently recites his mantras every day andwho always worships the gods according to the ordinance, attains, O tigeramong men, to the object of the Garhasthya mode of life. That king whoengages in battle with the resolve of protecting his kingdom or meetingwith death, attains to the object of the Vanaprastha mode of life. Thatking who gives unto persons leading a Vanaprastha mode of life and untoBrahmanas versed in the three Vedas attains to the object of theVanaprastha mode of life. That king who displays compassion towards allcreatures and abstains entirely from cruelty, attains to the objects ofall the modes of life. That king, O Yudhishthira, who shows compassion tothe young and the old, O son of Kunti, under every circumstance, attainsto the objects of every mode of life. That king, O perpetuator of Kuru’srace, who affords relief to all oppressed people that seek hisprotection, attains to the object of the Garhasthya mode of life. Thatking who protects all creatures mobile and immobile, and honours them isthey deserve, attains to the object of the Garhasthya mode of life.Bestowing favours and inflicting punishments upon the wives and brothers,elder and younger, and upon their sons and grandsons, are the domesticduties of a king and these constitute his best penances. By honouringthose that are righteous and deserving of worship and protecting thosethat have (by their penances) acquired it knowledge of self, a king, Otiger among men, attains to the object of the Garhasthya mode of life.Inviting to this home, O Bharata, persons that have betaken themselves tothat Vanaprastha and other modes of life, and treating them with food,constitute the domestic duties of a king. That king who duly adheres tothe duties laid down by the Creator, obtains the blessed merits of allthe modes of life. That king, O son of Kunti, in whom no virtue iswanting, that foremost of men, O Yudhishthira, is said by the learned tobe a person in the observance of the Vanaprastha and all the other modesof life. That king who duly honours the office or rank which deserveshonour, the race or family which deserves honour, and those old men thatdeserve honour is said, O Yudhishthira, to live in all the modes oflife.[208] A king, O son of Kunti, by observing the duties of his countryand those of his family, acquires, O tiger among men, the merits of allthe modes of life. That king who at proper seasons bestows upon righteouspersons affluence or gifts of value, earns the merits, O king, of all themodes of life. That king, O son of Kunti, who while overcome with dangerand fear still keeps his eye on the duties of all men,[209] earns themerits of all the modes of life. The king obtains a share of the meritsearned under his protection by righteous people in his dominions. On theother hand, if kings, O tiger among men, do not protect the righteouspeople within their dominions, they then take the sins of the latter (ofomission and commission). Those men also, O Yudhishthira. who assistkings (in protecting their subjects), become equally entitled, O sinlessone, to a share of the merits earned by others (in consequence of thatprotection). The learned say that the Garhasthya, which we have adopted,is superior to all the other modes of life. The conclusions in respect ofit are very clear. It is certainly sacred, O tiger among men. That manwho regards all creatures to be like his own self, who never does anyharm and has his wrath under control, obtains great happiness both hereand hereafter.[210] A king can easily cross the ocean of the world, withkingly duties as his boat passed of great speed, urged on by the breezeof gifts, having the scriptures for its tackle and intelligence for thestrength of its helmsman, and kept afloat by the power of righteousness.When the principle of desire in his heart is withdrawn from every earthlyobject, he is then regarded as one resting on his understanding alone. Inthis state he soon attains to Brahma.[211] Becoming cheerful bymeditation and by restraining desire and other passions of the heart, Otiger among men, it king, engaged in discharging the dully of protection,succeeds in obtaining great merit. Do thou, therefore, O Yudhishthira,exert thyself carefully in protecting Brahmanas of pious deeds anddevoted to the study of the Vedas, as also all other men. By exercisingthe duty of protection only, O Bharata, the king earns merit that is ahundred times greater than what is earned by recluses in their asylumswithin the wood.’

“I have now described, O eldest son of Pandu, the diverse duties of men.Do thou adhere to kingly duties that are eternal and that have beenpractised by great men since days of old. If thou employest thyself withconcentrated attention to the duty of protecting (thy subjects), O tigeramong men, thou mayst then, O son of Pandu, obtain the merits of all thefour modes of life and of all the four orders of men!”