The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa | Page 9

down their lives for thy sake, commanded by thee? Dost
thou worship Brahmanas and wise men according to their merits in
respect of various branches of learning? I tell thee, such worship is
without doubt, highly beneficial to thee. Hast thou faith in the religion
based on the three Vedas and practised by men who have gone before
thee? Dost thou carefully follow the practices that were followed by

them? Are accomplished Brahmanas entertained in thy house and in thy
presence with nutritive and excellent food, and do they also obtain
pecuniary gifts at the conclusion of those feasts? Dost thou, with
passions under complete control and with singleness of mind, strive to
perform the sacrifices called Vajapeya and Pundarika with their full
complement of rites? Bowest thou unto thy relatives and superiors, the
aged, the gods, the ascetics, the Brahmanas, and the tall trees (banian)
in villages, that are of so much benefit to people? O sinless one, causest
thou ever grief or anger in any one? Do priests capable of granting thee
auspicious fruits ever stand by thy side? O sinless one, are thy
inclinations and practices such as I have described them, and as always
enhance the duration of life and spread one's renown and as always
help the cause of religion, pleasure, and profit? He who conducteth
himself according to this way, never findeth his kingdom distressed or
afflicted; and that monarch, subjugating the whole earth, enjoyeth a
high degree of felicity. O monarch, I hope, no well- behaved,
pure-souled, and respected person is ever ruined and his life taken, on a
false charge or theft, by thy ministers ignorant of Sastras and acting
from greed? And, O bull among men, I hope thy ministers never from
covetousness set free a real thief, knowing him to be such and having
apprehended him with the booty about him? O Bharata, I hope, thy
ministers are never won over by bribes, nor do they wrongly decide the
disputes that arise between the rich and the poor. Dost thou keep
thyself free from the fourteen vices of kings, viz., atheism,
untruthfulness, anger, incautiousness, procrastination, non-visit to the
wise, idleness, restlessness of mind, taking counsels with only one man,
consultation with persons unacquainted with the science of profit,
abandonment of a settled plan, divulgence of counsels,
non-accomplishment of beneficial projects, and undertaking everything
without reflection? By these, O king, even monarchs firmly seated on
their thrones are ruined. Hath thy study of the Vedas, thy wealth and
knowledge of the Sastras and marriage been fruitful?'"
Vaisampayana continued,--"After the Rishi had finished, Yudhishthira
asked,--'How, O Rishi, do the Vedas, wealth, wife, and knowledge of
the Sastras bear fruit?'
"The Rishi answered,--'The Vedas are said to bear fruit when he that
hath studied them performeth the Agnihotra and other sacrifices.

Wealth is said to bear fruit when he that hath it enjoyeth it himself and
giveth it away in charity. A wife is said to bear fruit when she is useful
and when she beareth children. Knowledge of the Sastras is said to bear
fruit when it resulteth in humility and good behaviour.'"
Vaisampayana continued,--"The great ascetic Narada, having answered
Yudhishthira thus, again asked that just ruler,--'Do the officers of thy
government, O king, that are paid from the taxes levied on the
community, take only their just dues from the merchants that come to
thy territories from distant lands impelled by the desire of gain? Are the
merchants, O king, treated with consideration in thy capital and
kingdom, capable of bringing their goods thither without being
deceived by the false pretexts of (both the buyers and the officers of
government)?
"'Listenest thou always, O monarch, to the words, fraught with
instructions in religion and wealth, of old men acquainted with
economic doctrines? Are gifts of honey and clarified butter made to the
Brahmanas intended for the increase of agricultural produce, of kine, of
fruits and flowers, and for the sake of virtue? Givest thou always, O
king, regularly unto all the artisans and artists employed by thee the
materials of their works and their wages for periods not more than four
months? Examinest thou the works executed by those that are
employed by thee, and applaudest thou them before good men, and
rewardest thou them, having shewn them proper respect? O bull of the
Bharata race, followest thou the aphorisms (of the sage) in respect of
every concern particularly those relating to elephants, horses, and cars?
O bull of the Bharata race, are the aphorisms relating to the science of
arms, as also those that relate to the practice of engines in warfare--so
useful to towns and fortified places, studied in thy court? O sinless one,
art thou acquainted with all mysterious incantations, and with the
secrets of poisons destructive of all foes?