Chapter 235 - The daily duties of a king

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Puṣkara said:

1-2. I shall describe the perpetual daily duties of the king. The king should put an end to his sleep with the songs and music of the panegyrists when two muhūrtas (fortyeight minutes) are still left in the night. He should then see spies in such a way that they are not known as his own men by anybody.

3. He should then hear the report about the income and expenditure as laid down. After having eased, the king should go to the bath-room.

4. The king should then bathe preceded by cleansing the teeth. After having done the twilight worship and the repetition (of the sacred syllables) (the king) should worship lord Vāsudeva (Viṣṇu’s manifestation as Kṛṣṇa).

5. He should then offer unto the fire holy (twigs). Libations should be offered to the ancestors. Accompanied by the blessings of brahmins, he should then give a cow (as gift) together with gold.

6. He should then see his face in the mirror after having adorned himself and besmeared (his body with sandal-paste). (He should also then see his face in clarified butter kept together with gold. The king should then hear about (the nature of) the day etc.

7. (He should then take) medicines prescribed by the physicians. He should then touch the auspicious things. He should then see the preceptor and go to the court after having been blessed by him.

8. O Fortunate one! He should then see brahmins, ministers, counsellors and others presented by the door-keeper.

9-13. After having heard the traditional history and things to be done, he should determine the business (to be done). He should then look into civil disputes and have counsel with the counsellors. He should not have the counsel with a single person or with many or ignorant men or untrustworthy men. He should also not make public the secret (counsel). The counsel he had should be given effect to promptly so that the state may not get affected. The secret counsel is considered to be guarded well by a king by his postures. Wise men gather secrets from the postures of others. A king gets prosperity by following the words of astrologers, physicians and counsellors, because they sustain the king. After having had the counsel (he should do) physical exercises with discs, chariot and weapon.

14. He should then bathe in tanks not inhabited by living creatures and see lord Viṣṇu that has already been worshipped. He should then see fire into which oblations have been made and also see brahmins that have been worshipped well.

15-17. After having adorned himself he should take food after having fed beings and after having tested the food duly. After having taken food, he should chew betels and rest lying on the left. He should then have inquiry in the sacred texts. After having met the warriors and seen the granary and the armoury he should do the evening twilight worship. He should then think of the tasks to be done, send spies, eat food and spend time in the harem with instrumental music and being guarded by others. A king should do thus daily.