Verse 7.142

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

एवं सर्वं विधायैदमितिकर्तव्यमात्मनः ।
युक्तश्चैवाप्रमत्तश्च परिरक्षेदिमाः प्रजाः ॥ १४२ ॥

evaṃ sarvaṃ vidhāyaidamitikartavyamātmanaḥ |
yuktaścaivāpramattaśca parirakṣedimāḥ prajāḥ || 142 ||

Having thus arranged all his business, he shall protect his people, ever intent and watchful.—(142)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

‘Thus’—refers to the appointing of assistants and all the rest that has been described above.

‘Arranged’— accomplished.

‘Business’—all that is useful is called ‘business’.

‘Intent’—engrossed; hence ‘watchful’ or ‘watchfulness’ may stand for infallibility of intellect. In this way shall he protect his people.—(142)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Parāśaramādhava (Ācāra, p. 414).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Gautama (10.7.8).—‘To protect all created beings is the additional duty of the king;—and to inflict lawful punishments.’

Baudhāyana (1.18.1).—‘The king shall protect his subjects, receiving as his pay a sixth part of their incomes.’

Āpastamba (2.10.6).—‘The lawful occupations of a Kṣatriya are the same (as the Brāhmaṇa’s),—with the exception of teaching, officiating as priests and accepting gifts. But governing and fighting should he added to them.’

Vaśiṣṭha (19.1).—‘The particular duty of the king is to protect all beings; by fulfilling it he obtains success in this world and in the next.’

Viṣṇu (3.2).—‘The duties of the king are—to protect his people, etc., etc.’

Yājñavalkya (1.334).—‘He shall protect the people harassed by back-biters, thieves, wicked men and criminals and by Kāyasthas.’

Rāmāyaṇa (Parāśaramādhava, p. 415).—‘The Kṣatriya, who governs the world in accordance with law, obtains power and fame in the world and also a happy state after death.’

Arthaśāstra (p. 94).—‘During the first eighth part of the day he shall listen to reports relating to defence and income and expenditure; during the second part he shall look into the suits of the citizens and villages; during the third part he shall take his hath and food, and also carry on Vedic Studies; during the fourth part he shall receive monies and appoint officers; during the fifth part he shall hold counsel with the cabinet of ministers regarding the despatches to be sent, and hear reports from spies; during the sixth part he shall either hold council or amuse himself as he likes; during the seventh part, he shall inspect elephants, horses, chariots and arms; during the eighth part, accompanied by the commander-in-chief, he shall discuss military operations.—During the first part of the night, he shall see his confidential officers; during the second part, he shall bathe and take food and also carry on Vedic Studies; during the third part, he shall he down to the accompaniment of music and sleep during the fourth and fifth parts; during the sixth part, he shall rise to the accompaniment of music, and ponder over the scriptures and the processes of business; during the seventh part, he shall hold council and despatch spies; during the eighth part, accompanied by the domestic priest, the sacrificing priests and the Ācārya, he shall receive benedictions, see the physician, the cook and the astrologer, and go out after having circumambulated the cow with the calf and the bull.’

Arthaśāstra (p. 103).—‘On rising from the bed, he shall he attended by women-archers; in the second apartment by eunuchs armoured and turbaned; in the third, by hump-hacks dwarfs and foresters, and in the fourth, by ministers, relatives and porters with spears.’