The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa | Page 6

Arghya including
honey and the other ingredients. Conversant with every duty the
monarch also worshipped the Rishi with gems and jewels with a whole
heart. Receiving that worship from Yudhishthira in proper form, the
Rishi became gratified. Thus worshipped by the Pandavas and the great
Rishis, Narada possessing a complete mastery over the Vedas, said
unto Yudhishthira the following words bearing upon religion, wealth,
pleasures and salvation.
"Narada said--'Is the wealth thou art earning being spent on proper
objects? Doth thy mind take pleasure in virtue? Art thou enjoying the
pleasures of life? Doth not thy mind sink under their weight? O chief of
men, continuest thou in the noble conduct consistent with religion and
wealth practised by thy ancestors towards the three classes of subjects,
(viz., good, indifferent, and bad)? Never injurest thou religion for the
sake of wealth, or both religion and wealth for the sake of pleasure that
easily seduces? O thou foremost of victorious men ever devoted to the
good of all, conversant as thou art with the timeliness of everything,
followest thou religion, wealth, pleasure and salvation dividing thy
time judiciously? O sinless one, with the six attributes of kings (viz.,
cleverness of speech, readiness in providing means, intelligence in
dealing with the foe, memory, and acquaintance with morals and
politics), dost thou attend to the seven means (viz., sowing dissensions,
chastisement, conciliation, gifts, incantations, medicine and magic)?
Examinest thou also, after a survey of thy own strength and weakness,
the fourteen possessions of thy foes? These are the country, forts, cars,
elephants, cavalry, foot-soldiers, the principal officials of state, the
zenana, food supply, computations of the army and income, the
religious treatises in force, the accounts of state, the revenue,
wine-shops and other secret enemies. Attendest thou to the eight
occupations (of agriculture, trade, &c), having examined, O thou
foremost of victorious monarchs, thy own and thy enemy's means, and

having made peace with thy enemies? O bull of the Bharata race, thy
seven principal officers of state (viz., the governor of the citadel, the
commander of forces, the chief judge, the general in interior command,
the chief priest, the chief physician, and the chief astrologer), have not,
I hope, succumbed to the influence of thy foes, nor have they, I hope,
become idle in consequence of the wealth they have earned? They are, I
hope, all obedient to thee. Thy counsels, I hope, are never divulged by
thy trusted spies in disguise, by thyself or by thy ministers? Thou
ascertainest, I hope, what thy friends, foes and strangers are about?
Makest thou peace and makest thou war at proper times? Observest
thou neutrality towards strangers and persons that are neutral towards
thee? And, O hero, hast thou made persons like thyself, persons that are
old, continent in behaviour, capable of understanding what should be
done and what should not, pure as regards birth and blood, and devoted
to thee, thy ministers? O Bharata, the victories of kings can be
attributed to good counsels. O child, is thy kingdom protected by
ministers learned in Sastras, keeping their counsels close? Are thy foes
unable to injure it? Thou hast not become the slave of sleep? Wakest
thou at the proper time? Conversant with pursuits yielding profit,
thinkest thou, during the small hours of night, as to what thou shouldst
do and what thou shouldst not do the next day? Thou settlest nothing
alone, nor takest counsels with many? The counsels thou hast resolved
upon, do not become known all over thy kingdom? Commencest thou
soon to accomplish measures of great utility that are easy of
accomplishment? Such measures are never obstructed? Keepest thou
the agriculturists not out of thy sight? They do not fear to approach thee?
Achievest thou thy measures through persons that are trusted
incorruptible, and possessed of practical experience? And, O brave king,
I hope, people only know the measures already accomplished by thee
and those that have been partially accomplished and are awaiting
completion, but not those that are only in contemplation and
uncommenced? Have experienced teachers capable of explaining the
causes of things and learned in the science of morals and every branch
of learning, been appointed to instruct the princes and the chiefs of the
army? Buyest thou a single learned man by giving in exchange a
thousand ignorant individuals? The man that is learned conferreth the
greatest benefit in seasons of distress. Are thy forts always filled with

treasure, food, weapons, water, engines and instruments, as also with
engineers and bowmen? Even a single minister that is intelligent, brave,
with his passions under complete control, and possessed of wisdom and
judgment, is capable of conferring the highest prosperity on a king or a
king's son. I ask thee, therefore, whether there is even one such minister
with thee? Seekest thou