The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 eBook

as impoverish everyone.  What wicked act is there that a person governed by passion would not do?  A person governed by passion indulges in stimulants and meat, and appropriates the wives and the wealth of other people, and sets a bad example (for imitation by others).  They that do not live upon alms may beg in seasons of distress.  The king should, observant of righteousness, make gifts unto them from compassion but not from fear.  Let there be no beggars in thy kingdom, nor robbers.  It is the robbers (and not virtuous men) that give unto beggars.  Such givers are not real benefactors of men.  Let such men reside in thy dominions as advance the interests of others and do them good, but not such as exterminate others.  Those officers, O king, that take from the subjects more than what is due should be punished.  Thou shouldst then appoint others so that these will take only what is due.  Agriculture, rearing of cattle, trade and other acts of a similar nature, should be caused to be carried on by many persons on the principle of division of labour.[255] If a person engaged in agriculture, cattle-rearing, or trade, becomes inspired with a sense of insecurity (in consequence of thieves and tyrannical officers), the king, as a consequence, incurs infamy.  The king should always honour those subjects of his that are rich and should say unto them, ’Do ye, with me, advance the interest of the people.’  In every kingdom, they that are wealthy constitute an estate in the realm.  Without doubt, a wealthy person is the foremost of men.[256] He that is wise, or courageous, or wealthy or influential, or righteous, or engaged in penances, or truthful in speech, or gifted with intelligence, assists in protecting (his fellow subjects).

For these reasons, O monarch, do thou love all creatures, and display the qualities of truth, sincerity, absence of wrath, and abstention from injury!  Thou shouldst thus wield the rod of chastisement, and enhance thy treasury and support thy friends and consolidate thy kingdom thus, practising the qualities of truthfulness and sincerity and supported by thy friends, treasury and forces!’”


“Bhishma said, ’Let not such trees as yield edible fruits be cut down in thy dominions.  Fruits and roots constitute the property of the Brahmanas.  The sages have declared this to be an ordinance of religion.  The surplus, after supporting the Brahmanas, should go to the support of other people.  Nobody should take anything by doing an injury to the Brahmanas.[257] If a Brahmana, afflicted for want of support, desires to abandon a kingdom for obtaining livelihood (elsewhere), the king, O monarch, should, with affection and respect, assign unto him the means of sustenance.  If he does not still abstain (from leaving the kingdom), the king should repair to an assembly of Brahmanas and say, ’Such a Brahmana is leaving the kingdom.  In whom shall my people then find an authority for

Project Gutenberg
Follow Us on Facebook