Chapter 225 - The duties of a King (continued)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Puṣkara said:

1-2. A king should protect the princess. He should instruct them in the sciences of virtue, polity, erotics, archery and fine arts through reliable persons. In the guise of protecting the body of the prince, guardians should be engaged (to guard from) those feigning to speak pleasant.

3. He should not be given (an opportunity) to associate with angry, greedy and dishonoured persons. If not able to inculcate virtue (in the prince, the king) should bind him with pleasures.

4. An obedient prince should be engaged in all posts of authority. The king should avoid hunting, drinking and dice (playing) that destroys the kingdom.

5-7. (He) should also avoid sleeping during the day-time, strolling about idly and scurrilous laṅguage. He should also leave off censuring, cruel infliction of punishment and extravagance. The destruction of mines, neglecting the care of the fort etc. and scattering wealth are said to be extravagance. A gift that is made to an unworthy person at an inappropriate place and time and engaging in unworthy acts are said to be extravagance.

8. One should avoid passion, anger, haughtiness, pride, greed and arrogance. Then one should win (the love of) citizens after having controlled the servants.

9. Then (he) should subjugate his external enemies. The external enemies are of three kinds—those belonging to the same clan, those having enmity from the period of the ancestors and those who have enmity on account of some particular reason. Among these three each preceding one is greater than the succeeding one.

10. O Fortunate one! Friends are of three kinds—friend of the father and grandfather, feudatory under the enemy and artificial.

11. O Knower of virtue! An empire is said to possess seven constituents—king, minister, subjects, fort, punishment, treasury and allies.

12-16. The central figure is the king. He should be protected and the kingdom is especially dependent on him. One who rebels against any of the above constituents of the kingdom should be killed. The king should be firm and liberal at (the appropriate) time. Thus there are two worlds (to be conquered by the king. The king should not cut jokes with the servants. The servants soon get an upper hand of the king whom they can persuade to laugh. In order to control people he should feign grief (in their misery). He should speak preceded by a gentle smile. He should make them feel delighted. It would certainly be detrimental to the work if the king is procrastinating. Procrastination is commended in the (following) acts—passion, arrogance, pride, quarrel, sinful acts and unpleasant things to be told. The king should hold secret counsel. There is no danger from secret counselling.

17-20. The acts relating to the state done (by a king holding such a counsel) is known from the deeds done and begun to be done. One’s mind is known from the postures, gestures, gaits, action, speech and the changes in the eye and face. The king, should not keep his own counsel, nor consult a large number (of his ministers). The king may have the counsel with many (ministers). But it (should be had) separately. (He should see that) none of his ministers would disclose his secret counsels. Men will always have trust in some one somewhere. In counsel decision must be made by one wise man.

21-22. A king would perish on account of immodesty and would acquire a kingdom on account of modesty. (A king should learn) the three sciences, the science of administration, metaphysics, science of wealth and business from the world. Only a person that has conquered his senses would be able to keep his subjects under his control.

23. The gods and all brahmins should always be worshipped and gifts should be given to them (brahmins). Gift made to a brahmin (would be) imperishable and the treasury cannot be destroyed by any of these.

24. Not retreating in the battle, protecting the subjects and giving gifts to the brahmins are the supreme good for a king.

25. (The king) should likewise arrange for the welfare and livelihood of the poor, destitute and old people, widows and women whose husbands have gone abroad.

26-33. (The king) should arrange for (the proper pursuit of) the orders of the varṇa (castes) and āśrama (stages of life). (He should) worship the ascetics. He should not trust everyone and trust only the ascetics. He should make (others) trust him adducing reason (to show that his words) are not impeachable. The king should think about the wealth like a crane, conquer like a lion, pounce (on the enemies) like a wolf, dart forth like a hare and strike firmly like a boar. The king should also be showing vanity like a peacock, faithful as a horse and be speaking pleasantly like a cuckoo. A king should always be suspicious as a crow while living in the residence of a stranger. A king should not partake of the food and touch a bed not tested before. He should not visit a woman whom he had not known before and not board an unfamiliar boat. One who oppresses his subjects would be deprived of the position and comforts of a sovereign. Just as a nourished bull gains strength and becomes fit for work, so also O Fortunate one! the nourished sovereignty becomes fit for work. All these works are dependent on the providence and on one’s efforts. Out of these two the providence is unthinkable and one’s accomplishments depend on his effort. The kingdom and the wealth of the earth of a king belong to him by the good-will of the people.