Chapter 129
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Like one that drinks nectar I am never satiated withlistening to thee as thou speakest. As a person possessing a knowledge ofself is never satiated with meditation, even so I am never satiated withhearing thee.
Chapter 130
“Yudhishthira said, ‘What course of conduct should be adopted by a kingshorn of friends, having many enemies, possessed of an exhaustedtreasury, and destitute of troops, O Bharata!
Chapter 131
“Yudhishthira said, ‘What, besides this, should be done by a king that isweak and procrastinating, that does not engage in battle from anxiety forthe lives of his friends, that is always under the influence of fear, andthat cannot keep his counsels secret?
Chapter 132
“Yudhishthira said, ‘When practices fraught with high morality andbeneficial to the world, (viz., those that appertain to righteous rule)disappear, when all the means and resources for the support of life fallinto the hands of robbers, when, indeed, such a calamitous time sets in,by what means should a Brahmana, O grandsire, who from affection isunable to desert his sons and grandsons, subsist?’
Chapter 133
“Bhishma said, ‘The king should, by drawing wealth from his own kingdomas also from the kingdoms of his foes, fill his treasury. From thetreasury springs his religious merit,
Chapter 134
“Bhishma said, ‘In this connection, persons acquainted with thescriptures declare this text in respect of duty, viz., for a Kshatriyapossessed of intelligence and knowledge, (the earning of) religious meritand (the acquisition of) wealth, constitute his obvious duties.
Chapter 135
“Bhishma said, ‘In this connection is cited the old story of a robber whohaving in this would been observant of restraints did not meet withdestruction in the next.
Chapter 136
“Bhishma said, ‘In this connection, viz., the method by which a kingshould fill his treasury, persons acquainted with the scriptures of oldendays cite the following verses sung by Brahman himself.
Chapter 137
“Bhishma said, ‘These two, viz., one that provides for the future, andone possessed of presence of mind, always enjoy happiness.
Chapter 138
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Thou hast, O bull of Bharata’s race, said that thatintelligence which provides against the future, as well as that which canmeet present emergencies, is everywhere superior, while procrastinationbrings about destruction.