Chapter 77

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Of whose wealth, O bull of Bharata’s race, is theking regarded to be the lord? And what conduct also should the kingadopt? Discourse to me on this, O grandsire.’

“Bhishma said, ‘The Vedas declare that the king is the lord of the wealththat belongs to all persons except Brahmanas, as also of those Brahmanasthat are not observant of their proper duties. The king should not sparethose Brahmanas that are not observant of their duties. The righteous saythat this is the ancient custom of kings. That king, O monarch, in whosedominion a Brahmana becomes a thief, is regarded to be the author of thatmisdeed. It is the king that becomes sinful on that account. Inconsequence of such a circumstance, kings regard themselves to be worthyof reproach. All righteous kings, therefore, provide Brahmanas with themeans of support. In this connection is cited the old narrative of thespeech made by the king of the Kaikeyas unto a Rakshasa while the latterwas about to abduct him away. Of rigid vows and possessed of Vedic lore,the king of the Kaikeyas, O monarch, while living in the woods, wasforcibly seized on a certain occasion by a Rakshasa.’

“The king said, ‘There is no thief in my territories, nor any person ofwicked behaviour, nor any one that drinks alcohol. There is no one in mydominions who has not his sacred fire or who does not perform sacrifices.How then hast thou been able to possess my heart? There is no Brahmana inmy dominions who is not possessed of learning or who is not observant ofvows or who has not drunk Soma. There is no one who has not his sacredfire or who does not perform sacrifices. How then hast thou been able topossess my soul? In my dominions no sacrifice has been performed withoutcompleting it by Dakshina. No one in my dominions studies the Vedas whois not observant of vows. How then hast thou been able to possess mysoul? The Brahmanas in my kingdom teach, study, sacrifice, officiate atother’s sacrifices, give, and receive gifts. All of them are observant ofthose six acts. The Brahmanas in my kingdom are all devoted to theperformance of the duties of their order. Worshipped and provided for,they are mild, and truthful in speech. How then hast thou been able topossess my soul? The Kshatriyas in my kingdom are all devoted to theduties or their order. They never beg but give, and are conversant withtruth and virtue. They never teach but study, and perform sacrifices butnever officiate at the sacrifices of others. They protect the Brahmanasand never fly from battle. How then hast thou been able to possess mysoul? The Vaisyas in my dominion are all observant of the duties of theirorder. With simplicity and without deceit they derive their sustenancefrom agriculture, cattle-keeping, and trade. They are all heedful,observant of religious rites and excellent vows, and truthful in speech.They give to guests what is their due, and self-restrained, and pure, andattached to their relative and kinsmen. How then hast thou been able topossess my heart? The Sudras in my kingdom, observant of the duties oftheir order, humbly and duly serve and wait upon the other three orderswithout entertaining any malice towards them. How then hast thou beenable to possess my heart? I support the helpless and the old, the weak,the ill, and women (without guardians), by supplying them with all theirnecessaries. How then hast thou been able to possess my heart? I am neveran exterminator of the special customs of families and of countriesexisting duly from days of old. How then hast thou been able to possessmy heart? The ascetics in my kingdom are protected and worshipped. Theyare always honoured and entertained with food. How then hast thou beenable to possess my heart? I never eat without feeding others from mydishes. I never go to other people’s wives. I never sport or recreatealone. How then hast thou been able to possess my heart? No one in mykingdom who is not a Brahmacharin begs his food, and no one who leads theBhikshu mode of life desires to be a Brahmacharin. No one who is not aRitwij pours libations (of clarified butter) upon the sacrificial fire.How then hast thou been able to possess my soul? I never disregard thelearned or the old or those that are engaged in penances. When the wholepopulation sleeps, I keep myself awake (for watching and protecting). Howthen hast thou been able to possess my heart? My priest possessesknowledge of self. He is given to penances, and is conversant with allduties. Possessed of great intelligence, he has the fullest power over mykingdom. By gifts I desire to acquire knowledge, and by truth and theprotection of Brahmanas, I desire to attain regions of blessedness inheaven. By service I attach myself to my preceptors, I have no fear ofRakshasas. In my kingdom there are no widows, no wicked Brahmanas, noBrahmana that has fallen away from his duties, no deceitful person, nothief, no Brahmana that officiates in the sacrifices of people for whomhe should never officiate, and no perpetrator of sinful deeds. I have nofear of Rakshasas. There is no space in my body, of even two fingers’breadth, that does not bear the scar of a weapon-wound. I always fightfor the sake of righteousness. How hast thou been able to possess myheart? The people of my kingdom always invoke blessings upon me in orderthat I may always be able to protect kine and Brahmanas and performsacrifices. How then hast thou been able to possess me?’

“The Rakshasa said, ‘Since thou art observant of the duties under allcircumstances, therefore, O king of the Kaikeyas, go back to thy abode.Blessed be thou, I leave thee. They, O king of the Kaikeyas, who protectkine and Brahmanas and all their subjects, have nothing to fear fromRakshasas, and much less from sinful persons. Those kings that give thelead to Brahmanas and whose might depends upon that of the Brahmanas, andwhose subjects discharge the duties of hospitality, always succeeds inacquiring heaven.’

“Bhishma continued, ‘Thou shouldst, therefore, protect the Brahmanas.Protected by thee, they will protect thee in return. Their blessings, Oking, would surely descend upon kings of righteous behaviour. For thesake of righteousness, those Brahmanas that are not observant of theduties of their order should be chastised and separated (into a distinctclass) from their superiors. A king who conducts himself in this waytowards the people of his city and the provinces, obtains prosperity hereand residence in heaven with Indra.'”