Mahabharata · Book 12 · Shanti Parva
Mahabharata, Book 12, Section XCIVशान्तिपर्व
Kisari Mohan Ganguli’s English prose (1883–96), beside the Sanskrit of adhyāya 12.94.
Sanskrit
अयुद्धेनैव विजयं वर्धयेद्वसुधाधिपः।
जघन्यमाहुर्विजयं युद्धेन च नराधिप।।
न चाप्यलब्धं लिप्सेत मूले नातिदृढे सति।
न हि दुर्बलमूलस्य राज्ञो लाभो विवर्धते।।
यस्य स्फीतो जनपदः संपन्नप्रियराजकः।
संतुष्टः पुष्टसचिवो दृढमूलः स पार्थिवः।।
यस्य योधाः सुसंतुष्टाः स्वनुरक्ताः सुपूजिताः।
अल्पेनापि स दण्डेन महीं जयति पार्थिवः।।
`दण्डो हि बलवान्यत्र तत्र साम प्रयुज्यते।
प्रदानं सामपूर्वं च भेदमूलं प्रशस्यते।।
त्रयाणां विफलं कर्म यदा पश्येत भूमिपः।
रन्ध्रं ज्ञात्वा ततो दण्डं प्रयुञ्जीताविचारयन्।।
अभिभूतो यदा शत्रुः शत्रुभिर्बलवत्तरैः।
उपेक्षा तत्र कर्तव्या वध्यता बलिनां बलम्।।
दुर्बलो हि महीपालो यदा भवति भारत।
उपेक्षा तत्र कर्तव्या चतुर्णामविरोधीनि।
उपायः पञ्चमः सोऽपि सर्वेषां बलवत्तरः।।
भार्गवेण च गीतानां श्लोकानां कोसलाधिप।
विज्ञाय तत्वं तत्वज्ञ तत्वतस्तत्करिष्यति।।
यदि रक्षःपिशाचेन हन्यते यत्रकुत्रचित्।
उपेक्षा तत्र कर्तव्या वाच्यतां बलिनां बलम्।।
दुर्बलोऽपि महीपाल शत्रूणां शत्रुमुद्धरेत्।
पादलग्नं करस्थेन कण्टकेनैव कण्टकम्।।
शठानां उचिवानां च म्लेच्छानां च महीपते।
एष उक्त उपायानामुपेक्षा बलवत्तम।।
अश्मना नाशयेल्लोहं लोहेनाश्मानमेव तु।
बिल्वानि वा परैर्बिल्वैर्म्लेच्छैर्म्लेच्छान्प्रसादयेत्।।
दासानां च प्रदृप्तानामेतदेव हि कारयेत्।
चण्डालम्लेच्छजातीनां दण्डेनैव निवारणम्।
शठानां दुर्विनीतैश्च पूर्वमुक्तं समाचरेत्।।
अन्त्याः शठाश्च सचिवास्तथा कुब्राह्मणादयः।
उपायैः पञ्चभिः साध्याश्चतुर्वर्गविरोधिनः।।
पौरजानपदा यस्य स्वनुरक्ता अपीडिताः।
राष्ट्रकर्मकरा ह्येते राष्ट्रस्य च विरोधिनः।।
दुर्विनीता विनीताश्च सर्वे साध्याः प्रयत्नतः।
चण्डालम्लेच्छजात्याश्च पाषण्डाश्च विकर्मिणः।
बलिनश्चाश्रमाश्चैव तथा गायकनर्तकाः।।'
पौरजानपदा यस्य भूतेषु च दयालवः।
सधना धान्यवन्तश्च दृढमूलः स पार्थिवः।।
प्रतापकालमधिकं यदा मन्येत चात्मनः।
तदा लिप्सेत मेधावी परभूमिधनान्युत।।
भोगेषूदयमानस्य भूतेषु च दयावतः।
वर्धते त्वरमाणस्य विषयो रक्षितात्मनः।।
तक्षेदात्मानमेवं स वनं परशुना यथा।
यः सम्यग्वर्तमानेषु स्वेषु मिथ्या प्रवर्तते।।
नैव द्विषन्तो हीयन्ते राज्ञो नित्यमनिघ्नतः।
क्रोधं निहन्तुं यो वेद तस्य द्वेष्टा न विद्यते।।
यदार्यजनविद्विष्टं कर्म तन्नाचरेद्बुधः।
यत्कल्याणमभिध्यायेत्तत्रात्मानं नियोजयेत्।।
नैवमन्येऽवजानन्ति नात्मना परितप्यते।
कृत्यशेषेण यो राजा सुखान्यनुबुभूषति।।
इदं वृत्तं मनुष्येषु वर्तते यो महीपतिः।
उभौ लोकौ विनिर्जित्य विजये संप्रतिष्ठते।।
भीष्म उवाच।
इत्युक्तो वामदेवेन सर्वं तत्कृतवान्नृपः।
तथा कुर्वंस्त्वमप्येतौ लोकौजेता न संशयः।।
।। इति श्रीमन्महाभारते शान्तिपर्वणि
राजधर्मपर्वणि चतुर्नवतितमोऽध्यायः।। 94।।
English Ganguli
"'"Vamadeva said, 'The king should win victories without battles. Victories achieved by battles are not spoken of highly, O monarch, by the wise. When the sovereign's own power has not been confirmed, he should not seek to make new acquisitions. It is not proper that a king whose power has not been consolidated should seek to make such acquisitions. The power of that king whose dominions are wide and abound with wealth, whose subjects are loyal and contented, and who has a large number of officers, is said to be confirmed. That king whose soldiery are contented, gratified (with pay and prize), and competent to deceive foes can with even a small force subjugate the whole earth. The power of that king whose subjects, whether belonging to the cities or the provinces, have compassion for all creatures, and possessed of wealth and grain, is said to be confirmed. When the king thinks that his power is greater than that of a foe, he should then, aided by his intelligence, seek to acquire the latter's territories and wealth. A king whose resources are increasing, who is compassionate unto all creatures, who never loses any time by procrastination, and who is careful in protecting his own self, succeeds in earning advancement. That king who behaves deceitfully towards his own people that have not been guilty of any fault, shears his own self like a person cutting down a forest with an axe. If the king does not always attend to the task of slaying his foes, the latter do not diminish. That king, again, who knows how to kill his own temper finds no enemies. If the king be possessed of wisdom, he would never do any act that is disapproved by good men. He would, on the other hand, always engage himself in such acts as would lead to his own benefit and that of others. That king who, having accomplished all his duties, becomes happy in the approbation of his own conscience, has never to incur the reproach of others and indulge in regrets. That king who observes such conduct towards men succeeds in subjugating both the worlds and enjoy the fruits of victory.'"
"'Bhishma continued, "Thus addressed by Vamadeva, king Vasumana did as he was directed. Without doubt, thyself also, following these counsels, shalt succeed in conquering both the worlds."'"