Chapter 88
“Yudhishthira said: ‘Tell me, O grandsire, how should the king shouldbehave if, notwithstanding his great wealth, he desires for more.’
Chapter 89
“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.
Chapter 90
“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.’
Chapter 91
“Utathya said, ‘If the deity of the clouds pours rain seasonably and theking acts virtuously, the prosperity that ensues maintain the subjects infelicity.
Chapter 92
“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!’
Chapter 93
“Vamadeva continued, ‘When the king, who is powerful, acts unrighteouslytowards the weak, they who take their birth in his race imitate the sameconduct.
Chapter 94
“Vamadeva said, ‘The king should win victories without battles. Victoriesachieved by battles are not spoken of highly. O monarch, by the wise.
Chapter 95
“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.’
Chapter 96
“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.
Chapter 97
“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.’