12. SANTI PARVA (369)

“Vaisampayana said, ‘At the time the Parthas entered the city, thousandsupon thousands of the citizens came out to behold the sight.

“Narada said, ‘Having thus obtained weapons from him of Bhrigu’s race,Karna began to pass his days in great joy, in the company of Duryodhana,O bull of Bharata’s race!

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then Devaki’s son Janardana of universal knowledgeaddressed king Yudhishthira who stood there with his brothers, saying,’In this world, O sire, Brahmanas are always the objects of worship withme.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘The royal son of Kunti, freed from grief and thefever of his heart, took his seat, with face eastwards, on excellent seatmade of gold.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Having heard those words, suitable to time andplace, of his subjects, king Yudhishthira answered them in the followingwords, ‘Great must be the sons of Pandu, in sooth, whose merits, true orfalse, are thus recited by such foremost of Brahmanas assembled together.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘After this king Yudhishthira of magnanimous soulcaused the Sraddha rites to be performed of every one of his kinsmenslain in battle.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Having got back the kingdom, king Yudhishthira ofgreat wisdom and purity, after the ceremony of installation had beenover, joining his hands together, addressed the lotus-eyed Krishna ofDasarha’s race, saying,

“Vaisampayana said, ‘The king dismissed all his subjects, who, commandedby the monarch, returned to their respective homes.

“Janamejaya said, ‘It behoveth thee, O learned Brahmana, to tell me whatwas next done by Yudhishthira the mighty-armed son of Dharma after he hadregained his kingdom. It behoveth thee to tell me also, O Rishi, what theheroic Hrishikesa, the supreme master of the three worlds did after this.’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘How wonderful is this, O thou of immeasurableprowess, that thou art rapt in meditation! O great refuge of theuniverse, is it all right with the three worlds?

“Janamejaya said, ‘How did the grandsire of the Bharatas, who lay on abed of arrows, cast off his body and what kind of Yoga did he adopt?’

Vaisampayana said, “Then Hrishikesa and king Yudhishthira, and all thosepersons headed by Kripa, and the four Pandavas, riding on those carslooking like fortified cities and decked with standards and banners,speedily proceeded to Kurukshetra with the aid of their fleet steeds.

“Narada said, ‘Hearing of the fame of Karna’s might, the ruler of theMagadhas, king Jarasandha, challenged him to a single combat.

“Vasudeva said, ‘Listen, O son of Kunti, to the story of Rama’s energyand powers and birth as heard by me from great Rishis discoursing uponthe subject.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘King Yudhishthira, hearing of those feats of Rama,became filled with wonder and said unto Janardana, O thou of Vrishni’srace, the prowess of the high-souled Rama, who in wrath had freed theearth of Kshatriyas, was like that of Sakra himself.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hearing these words of Krishna fraught with Moralityand profit, Santanu’s Bhishma, answered him in the following words.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hearing these words of Krishna fraught with Moralityand profit, Santanu’s Bhishma, answered him in the following words.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘The slayer of Madhu, retiring to his bed, slepthappily. Awaking when half a Yama was wanting to usher in the day, headdressed himself to contemplation. Fixing all his senses, he meditatedon the eternal Brahma.

“Janamejaya said, ‘When that tiger among men, of righteous soul and greatenergy, firmly adhering to truth and with passions under completecontrol, viz., the son of Santanu and Ganga, named Devavrata or Bhishmaof unfading glory, lay on a hero’s bed with the sons of Pandu sittingaround him,

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Endued with great energy, the delighter of the Kurus(viz., Bhishma), said, ‘I shall discourse on the subject of duty.

Vaisampayana said, ‘Having bowed unto Hrishikesa, and saluted Bhishma,and taken the permission of all the seniors assembled there, Yudhishthirabegan to put questions unto Bhishma.’

“Bhishma said, ‘The king, O Yudhishthira, should always be ready foraction. That king is not worth of praise who, like a woman, is destituteof exertion.

“Bhishma said, ‘Protection of the subject, O Yudhishthira, is the verycheese of kingly duties. The divine Vrihaspati does not applaud any otherduty (so much as this one).

Vaisampayana said, “Rising from their beds the next day and performingthe morning rites laid down in the scriptures, the Pandavas and theYadavas set out (for the spot where Bhishma lay) on their cars resemblingfortified towns.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Having said these words, the celestial Rishi Naradabecame silent. The royal sage Yudhishthira, filled with grief, becameplunged in meditation.

Vaisampayana said, “After this, Yudhishthira, saluted his grandsire, viz.the son of Ganga, and with joined hands and concentrated attention, oncemore asked him, saying, ‘What are the general duties of the four ordersof men, and what the special duties of each order?

“Bhishma said, ‘O mighty-armed one, listen now to me, O thou of prowessincapable of being baffled, as I mention the names of the four modes oflife and the duties in respect of each.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Tell his those duties in respect of persons likeourselves which are auspicious, productive of happiness in the future,benevolent, approved by all, pleasant, and agreeable.’

“Bhishma said, ‘Drawing the bow-string, destruction of foes, agriculture,trade, tending cattle, and serving others for wealth, these are improperfor a Brahmana.

“Bhishma said, ‘The duties in respect of all the four modes of life,those of yatis, O son of Pandu, and the customs relating to the conductof men in general, are all included in kingly duties.

“Indra said, ‘Kshatriya duties, O king, which are possessed of suchenergy, which include in their exercise all other duties, and which arethe foremost of all duties, should be observed by persons that are, likethee, so high-souled and so employed in seeking the good of the world.

“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.’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Thou hast said what the duties are of the four modesof the life and the four orders. Tell me now, O grandsire, what are theprincipal duties of a kingdom.’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Why, O bull of Bharata’s race, have the Brahmanassaid that the king, that ruler of men, is a god?’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘What other special duties remain for the king todischarge? How should he protect his kingdom and how subdue his foes? Howshould he employ his spies? How should he inspire confidence in the fourorders of his subjects, his own servants, wives, and sons, O Bharata?’

Vaisampayana said, “The righteous-souled Yudhishthira, with an agitatedheart and burning with sorrow, began to grieve for that mightycar-warrior Karna.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘By adopting that conduct, O thou that art conversantwith every kind of behaviour, can a king succeed in easily acquiring,both here and hereafter, objects productive of happiness in the end?’

Yudhishthira said, ‘Tell me, O grand sire, in what way should the kingprotect his subjects so as to be able to avoid grief and so as not tooffend against righteousness?’

“Bhishma said, ‘That person, O king, who would protect the good andpunish the wicked, should be appointed as his priest by the king. In thisconnection is cited the old story about the discourse between Pururavas,the son of Aila and Matariswan.’

“Bhishma said, ‘The king, with an eye to both religious merit and profitwhose considerations are often very intricate, should, without delay,appoint a priest possessed of learning and intimate acquaintance with theVedas and the (other) scriptures.

“Bhishma said, ‘It is said that the preservation and growth of thekingdom rest upon the king. The preservation and growth of the king restupon the king’s priest.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Tell me, O grandsire, that conduct by which a kingsucceeds in aggrandising his subjects and earning regions of felicity inthe other world.’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘O grandsire, amongst Brahmanas some are engaged inthe duties proper to their order, while others are engaged in otherduties. Tell me the difference between these two classes!’

“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.’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘It has been said that in seasons of distress aBrahmana may support himself by the practice of Kshatriya duties. Can he,however, at any time, support himself by the practice of the duties laiddown for the Vaisyas?’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘What, O grandsire, should be the acts and what thebehaviour of persons employed as priests in our sacrifices? What sort ofpersons should they be, O king? Tell me all this, O foremost of speakers.’

Vaisampayana said, “Like a person unwilling to forgive an insult, Arjunaof keen speech and prowess, and possessed of energy, betraying greatfierceness and licking the Corners of his mouth, said these words ofgrave import, smiling the while: ‘Oh, how painful, how distressing!

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Who are deserving of worship? Who are they unto whomone may bow? Who are they, O Bharata, unto whom thou wouldst bend thyhead?

“Yudhishthira said, ‘The most trifling act, O grandsire, cannot beaccomplished by any man if unaided. What then need be said of the king(who has to govern a kingdom)? What should be the behaviour and what theacts of the king’s minister? Upon whom should the king repose confidenceand upon whom should he not?’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘If one does not succeed in winning over one’skinsmen and relatives (by this course), they that are intended forbecoming friends become foes. How should one, then, conduct one’s self sothat the hearts of both friends and foes may be won?’

“Bhishma said, ‘This that I have told thee constitutes the first means.Listen now, O Bharata to the second means.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘What should be the characteristics, O grandsire, ofthe legislators, the ministers of war, the courtiers, the generalissimos,and the counsellors of a king!’

“‘Bhishma said, ‘In this connection, O Yudhishthira, the old account of aconversation between Vrihaspati and Sakra is cited.’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘O foremost of kings, what is that method by which aking ruling his subjects may, in consequence of it, obtain greatblessedness and eternal fame?’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘What should be the kind of city within which theking should himself dwell? Should he select one already made or should hecause one to be especially constructed? Tell me this O grandsire!’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘How, O king, may a kingdom be consolidated, and howshould it be protected? I desire to know this. Tell me all this, O bullof Bharata’s race!’

“Yudhishthira said: ‘Tell me, O grandsire, how should the king shouldbehave if, notwithstanding his great wealth, he desires for more.’

“Bhishma said, ‘Let not such trees as yield edible fruits be cut down inthy dominions. Fruits and roots constitute the property of the Brahmanas.The sages have declared this to be an ordinance of religion.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘For a little while, O Arjuna, concentrate thyattention and fix thy mind and hearing on thy inner soul. If thoulistenest to my words in such a frame of mind, they will meet with thyapprobation.

“Bhishma said, ‘That foremost of all persons conversant with the Vedas,viz., Utathya of Angirasa’s race, discoursed cheerfully (on formeroccasion) unto Yuvanaswa’s son Mandhatri. I shall now, O Yudhishthira,recite to thee everything that Utathya, that foremost of all personsconversant with the Vedas, had said unto that king.’

“Utathya said, ‘If the deity of the clouds pours rain seasonably and theking acts virtuously, the prosperity that ensues maintain the subjects infelicity.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘How should a righteous king, who is desirous ofadhering to a course of righteousness, behave? I ask thee this, Oforemost of men! Answer me, O Grandsire!’

“Vamadeva continued, ‘When the king, who is powerful, acts unrighteouslytowards the weak, they who take their birth in his race imitate the sameconduct.

“Vamadeva said, ‘The king should win victories without battles. Victoriesachieved by battles are not spoken of highly. O monarch, by the wise.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘If a Kshatriya desires to subjugate anotherKshatriya in battle, how should the former act in the matter of thatvictory? Questioned by me, do thou answer it.’

“Bhishma said, ‘A king should never desire to subjugate the earth byunrighteous means, even if such subjugation would make him the sovereignof the whole earth.

“Yudhishthira said. ‘There are no practices, O king, more sinful thanthose of the Kshatriyas. In marching or in battle, the king slays largemultitudes.[287] By what acts then does the king win regions of felicity?O bull of Bharata’s race, tell this, O learned one, unto me that desireto know.’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Tell me, O grand-sire, what regions are earned byunreturning heroes by encountering death in battle.”

“Bhishma said, ‘In this connection is cited the old story of the battlebetween Pratardana and the ruler of Mithila.