Translated from Sri Pilaka Ganapathi Sastry's Sri Mahabharatam, a Telugu translation of Krishna Dwaipayana muni's Jayam in Sanskrit.
Needless to say I am solely responsible for any mistakes and mis-translations.
Sabha Parvam - Prathama Khandam (The Court - Chapter 1)
Arrival of Narada Mahamuni
A radiant ball of light appeared one day in the skies of Indraprastha. The people of the city wondering at that incredible sight assumed it was the Sun God descending to earth and debated the reason for it. Resembling the rays of light on a high peak the radiance entered the great court of Dharmaputra , which competed with the splendour of Indra's court. It was then that everyone realised it to be Narada Mahamuni.
The Brahmarshi bade farewell to the celestial beings and divine sages who were following him listening to his discourses on Dharma. He entered Dharmaraja's court along with sages Parvatha, Parijatha, Raivatha and Samukha. Having realised this from a distance Yudhisthira accompanied by his brothers received him with great devotion and respect. He gave all the sages a befitting seat and respected them with love and devotion.
Narada muni's Raja Dharmopadesa (discourse on the duties of a king)
Narada muni was elated at the unmatched devotion and reception. He enquired the well being of Dharmaraja and granted him the following Raja Dharmopadesa.
"O king! Your ancestors of the Kourava dynasty have earned the fame of always traversing the path of Dharma. Are you following in the righteous path of those great souls? Experts in the worldly ways are unanimous in declaring that Dharma, Artha and Kama are the Maha Purusharthas (human pursuits). Are you savouring those without any prejudice and at the right time and right way? You already know that it is paramount to have unwavering commitment to Dharma for this!
I don't have to tell you specially that early morning is the best time for looking after the affairs of the government. I hope you are considering and deciding on the various issues with utmost care during that peaceful time. Are you appointing the people with the right skills and ability for the different posts of government. Are you using the services of people born in the families of minsters who have served your forefathers and who are experts in law and jurisprudence? Maintain great secrecy in your deliberations and decision making. This is critical to win over enemies. You are treating this with utmost importance right?
Your priest is revered as brave, discern-er of right and wrong, consummate scholar and has an unflinching mind. Are the people appointed to perform yagnas doing their duties with care? Only those who are experts in the various forms of warfare and are strong and brave qualify to be military commanders. Are you appointing such loyal soldiers to those posts? Hope some talented and able ministers are not taking partial and unfair decisions after bribing your relatives with wealth. Even great men are blinded by arrogance and pride when they get a lot of money. Hence you have to keep a very close watch on such corruption.
O King of Kings! Are astronomers using their scientific insights to predict natural calamities occurring on land and sky? Honouring people who can mitigate these disasters will ensure that your people will not come in harms way. You should respect and reward such great souls. Apart from all this kings should take the appropriate medicines in a timely way to keep physical and mental illnesses at bay. In pursuance of this you should follow the dictum of Ashtanga Ayurveda scholars and take care of your diet and fasting. Are such expert physicians in your service? In the affairs of the treasury and implementation of king's writ only trusted officials should be appointed. They should be impartial, righteous and treat all citizens fairly. Are you appointing such people for the various posts of government?
Recognise the best, mediocre and worst of your employees. Understand their abilities and then assign the correct responsibilities. Grade them and pay accordingly. The sorrow of employees who haven't received their salary on time is dangerous even to Indra. If you reward and respect officials of good lineage they will protect you on the battlefield and from dangers even at the risk of their own lives. You should take care of the families of soldiers who sacrifice their lives for you in war. Are you following these precepts of good governance?
The greedy, thieves, bombastic speakers and enemy sympathisers are ineligible for royal duties. Such people should never be appointed to these posts. Are you protecting your subjects from the depravities of bandits? Hope your soldiers are not traitors who take bribes from robbers and protect them!
Needless to say I am solely responsible for any mistakes and mis-translations.
Sabha Parvam - Prathama Khandam (The Court - Chapter 1)
Arrival of Narada Mahamuni
A radiant ball of light appeared one day in the skies of Indraprastha. The people of the city wondering at that incredible sight assumed it was the Sun God descending to earth and debated the reason for it. Resembling the rays of light on a high peak the radiance entered the great court of Dharmaputra , which competed with the splendour of Indra's court. It was then that everyone realised it to be Narada Mahamuni.
The Brahmarshi bade farewell to the celestial beings and divine sages who were following him listening to his discourses on Dharma. He entered Dharmaraja's court along with sages Parvatha, Parijatha, Raivatha and Samukha. Having realised this from a distance Yudhisthira accompanied by his brothers received him with great devotion and respect. He gave all the sages a befitting seat and respected them with love and devotion.
Narada muni's Raja Dharmopadesa (discourse on the duties of a king)
Narada muni was elated at the unmatched devotion and reception. He enquired the well being of Dharmaraja and granted him the following Raja Dharmopadesa.
"O king! Your ancestors of the Kourava dynasty have earned the fame of always traversing the path of Dharma. Are you following in the righteous path of those great souls? Experts in the worldly ways are unanimous in declaring that Dharma, Artha and Kama are the Maha Purusharthas (human pursuits). Are you savouring those without any prejudice and at the right time and right way? You already know that it is paramount to have unwavering commitment to Dharma for this!
I don't have to tell you specially that early morning is the best time for looking after the affairs of the government. I hope you are considering and deciding on the various issues with utmost care during that peaceful time. Are you appointing the people with the right skills and ability for the different posts of government. Are you using the services of people born in the families of minsters who have served your forefathers and who are experts in law and jurisprudence? Maintain great secrecy in your deliberations and decision making. This is critical to win over enemies. You are treating this with utmost importance right?
Your priest is revered as brave, discern-er of right and wrong, consummate scholar and has an unflinching mind. Are the people appointed to perform yagnas doing their duties with care? Only those who are experts in the various forms of warfare and are strong and brave qualify to be military commanders. Are you appointing such loyal soldiers to those posts? Hope some talented and able ministers are not taking partial and unfair decisions after bribing your relatives with wealth. Even great men are blinded by arrogance and pride when they get a lot of money. Hence you have to keep a very close watch on such corruption.
O King of Kings! Are astronomers using their scientific insights to predict natural calamities occurring on land and sky? Honouring people who can mitigate these disasters will ensure that your people will not come in harms way. You should respect and reward such great souls. Apart from all this kings should take the appropriate medicines in a timely way to keep physical and mental illnesses at bay. In pursuance of this you should follow the dictum of Ashtanga Ayurveda scholars and take care of your diet and fasting. Are such expert physicians in your service? In the affairs of the treasury and implementation of king's writ only trusted officials should be appointed. They should be impartial, righteous and treat all citizens fairly. Are you appointing such people for the various posts of government?
Recognise the best, mediocre and worst of your employees. Understand their abilities and then assign the correct responsibilities. Grade them and pay accordingly. The sorrow of employees who haven't received their salary on time is dangerous even to Indra. If you reward and respect officials of good lineage they will protect you on the battlefield and from dangers even at the risk of their own lives. You should take care of the families of soldiers who sacrifice their lives for you in war. Are you following these precepts of good governance?
The greedy, thieves, bombastic speakers and enemy sympathisers are ineligible for royal duties. Such people should never be appointed to these posts. Are you protecting your subjects from the depravities of bandits? Hope your soldiers are not traitors who take bribes from robbers and protect them!
Do you realise that tanks and ponds
are critical for good agricultural production?Are all the tanks brimming with
water?Are you providing loans in the form of the grains and seeds to poor
farmers and merchants? There is no more apt Dharma than providing for the lame,
blind, dumb and handicapped people. Are you following that precept and acting
towards them as a loving parent would?Even a staunch enemy should be sheltered
when they seek protection from you. Are you adhering to this rules of
engagement?
The deeds of loyal subjects who
sacrifice their everything for the kingdom should be recounted and praised in
public. Only a grateful ruler shall receive the fulsome praise of his subjects.
A fourth, third or half of your total income should be used as expenditure.
Never break this policy. Only appoint trusted employees in your arms depot,
horse and elephant stables, treasury and granaries. Teachers, elderly,
relatives, needy and good people should always be protected from the pangs of
poverty. Are you following all these precepts? Surrounded by staff, relations,
wise and valorous subjects are you attending to the affairs of the state,
winning the plaudits of one and all?
A king should always be in the know
of the affairs of other states by using a vast network of spies. Keep a close
eye on the affairs of your inner circle and others. People in the world make
both ends meet through farming, commerce and animal husbandry. If these are
disrupted darkness descends destroying lives. Hence a ruler should protect
these occupations with all his skill.Companionship and progeny are the gift of
marriage. Good behaviour and Dharma are the wealth of education. Sharing is the essence of having wealth. Keeping the sacrificial fire burning is the goal of learning Vedas. Do you recognise all these and act accordingly?
Dharmaraja! One should with utmost care collect and store wealth and grains in the treasury and granary of the fort. Armed and brave soldiers should be appointed to guard these. Machinery that uses straw, water and fire should be built and used for protecting the fort. I assume such impenetrable forts full of treasures and food dot your kingdom of Khandavaprastha. A ruler should first win over the six enemies of the mind (Arishadvarga): Kama (desire), Krodha (anger), Lobha (greed), Moha (attachment), Mada (pride), Matsarya(envy). Only after that should he put to sword those who are: drunk with power, enslaved by senses and blinded by pride. Before waging war (Danda) against enemy kings their strength, wealth and courage should be mitigated by employing Sama (negotiation/reconciliation), Dana (gift/compensation), Bheda (divide). Are you following these principles of statecraft with utmost skill? Rulers should steer clear of the following fourteen defects: non-belief, untruth, accidents, tardiness, discussion with financial illiterates, anger, despondency, laziness, inability to identify the learned, seeing gains as losses, inability to follow through on plans, lack of secrecy, abandoning good efforts, excessive sensual pleasures. Giving into these has been the downfall of many a ruler. Are you mastering these with single minded determination?"
On receiving this divine words of advice, Yudhishtira saluted Narada with utmost devotion and replied thus : "Celestial sage! Having sacrificed unjust means and reposing the teachings of great men, to the best of my abilities I am ruling over this kingdom as per your precepts".
1 comment:
Good job
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