The following text occurs in the सभापर्व of the महाभारत. The पांडव were staying at इंद्रप्रस्थ in their own kingdom. नारद visits them once and raises multiple questions that sum up the idea of governance of a kingdom in that era. Taking aside aspect which change with time, the underlying principles can be applied today also. Below is thus an extract from the सभापर्व where an English translation has been provided with the संस्कृत text for the benefit of readers. Enjoy
नारद उवाच
कच्चिदर्थाश्च कल्पन्ते धर्मे च रमते मनः । सुखानि चानुभूयन्ते मनश्च न विहन्यते ।। १७ ।।
Asks नारद — O राजन्! Is your wealth adequately available to meet all the duties you need to perform (यज्ञ, दान, taking care of one’s कुटुम्ब, etc)? Is your mind happy while discharging activities aligned to धर्म?? Are you able to obtain सुख and objects of भोग that you are seeking? Is your mind getting wounded or disturbed (driven by confusing or divisive thoughts)?
कच्चिदाचरितं पूर्वैर्नरदेव पितामहैः । वर्तसे वृत्तिमक्षुद्रां धर्मार्थसहितां त्रिषु ।। १८ ।।
O नरदेव! Is your conduct with the public who are ब्राह्मण, वैश्य और शूद्र suitably aligned to the highest and generous disposition in sync with धर्म as displayed by your own ancestors against all such people?
कच्चिदर्थेन वा धर्मं धर्मेणार्थमथापि वा । उभौ वा प्रीतिसारेण न कामेन प्रबाधसे ।। १९ ।।
By becoming greedy towards acquiring धन, are you straying away from धर्म or being focussed excessively on धर्म actions, are you straying from working towards enhancing धन? Or are you getting intoxicated by काम and thereby ignoring both ations aligned to both धर्म and अर्थ?
कच्चिदर्थं च धर्मं च कामं च जयतां वर । विभज्य काले कालज्ञः सदा वरद सेवसे ।। २० ।।
O नरेश! Are you acting as per how actions need to be undertaken at three times of the day – are you thereby segregating the day into three parts and daily undertaking appropriate actions relating to धर्म, अर्थ and काम?
Note: It is understood that acts relating to धर्म must be done at the start of the day, acts relating to अर्थ during the course of the day and acts relating to काम towards the last part of the day.
कच्चिद् राजगुणैः षड्भिः सप्तोपायांस्तथानघ । बलाबलं तथा सम्यक् चतुर्दश परीक्षसे ।। २१ ।।
O युधिष्ठिर! Are you using the six गुण that a king must possess (
- ability to elaborate thoroughly on any issue,
- maturity,
- ability to navigate discussions on logic,
- good memory of past events,
- vision of the future and
- good understanding of justice/ good conduct)
to identify at seven means (
- मंत्र,
- medicine,
- magic or sorcery,
- साम,
- दान,
- दण्ड &
- भेद)
to cognize strengths of yourself as well as those of the enemy as well as to manage people in charge of 14 (
- internal security,
- forts,
- chariots,
- elephants,
- horses,
- strong army,
- administrators,
- inner palace,
- food,
- mathematics,
- sacred texts,
- other writings,
- wealth and
- armaments)?
कच्चिदात्मानमन्वीक्ष्य परांश्च जयतां वर । तथा संधाय कर्माणि अष्टौ भारत सेवसे ।। २२ ।।
O युधिष्ठिर! Are you familiar with strengths of yourself and those of your enemies and if the enemy is more powerful, then are you working to build friendly relations with such an enemy? Are you protecting and growing the wealth and treasury of your kingdom by doing eight actions?
(
- spread of farming,
- protection of ability of people to do business,
- construction of forts and their protection,
- building bridges and their protection,
- controlling elephants,
- taking charges of mines where gold & diamonds are mined,
- administration of taxes and
- establishing residential townships at sparsely populated areas)
कच्चित् प्रकृतयः सप्त न लुप्ता भरतर्षभ । आढ्यास्तथा व्यसनिनः स्वनुरक्ताश्च सर्वशः ।। २३ ।।
O भरतश्रेष्ठ! Have the seven प्रकृतिs or limbs of your kingdom come under the control of your enemy kingdoms (
- your गुरुs,
- ministers,
- friends,
- treasury,
- forts,
- army and
- internal citizens)?
Are the rich & prosperous keeping themselves away from negative engagements and always inclined favourably with you at all times?
कच्चिन्न कृतकैर्दूतैर्ये चाप्यपरिशङ्किताः । त्वत्तो वा तव चामात्यैर्भिद्यते मन्त्रितं तथा ।। २४ ।।
Are those people, on whom you have thus far harboured no suspicion, not operating as a spy (belonging to enemy countries) and while acting as your best friend, drawing out State secrets from your ministers and sharing such secrets (or make them public)?
मित्रोदासीनशत्रूणां कच्चिद् वेत्सि चिकीर्षितम् । कच्चित् संधिं यथाकालं विग्रहं चोपसेवसे ।। २५ ।।
Are you keeping yourself updated with the actions as well as timing of such actions being contemplated for conduct by those whom you see as a friend, as an enemy or as an indifferent person? Contemplating on appropriateness of timing, are you discharging strategies of conciliation or strategies of enmity (against all these persons).
कच्चिद् वृत्तिमुदासीने मध्यमे चानुमन्यसे । कच्चिदात्मसमा वृद्धाः शुद्धाः सम्बोधनक्षमाः ।। २६ ।।
कुलीनाश्चानुरक्ताश्च कृतास्ते वीर मन्त्रिणः । विजयो मन्त्रमूलो हि राज्ञो भवति भारत ।। २७ ।।
Are you aware of how to engage with those who are either indifferent as well as those who are moderately interested in your affairs? O वीर! Hope your advisors are those who are similar to you and may be relied upon just as trustworthy elders, those having a pure हृदय, those who possess capability to absorb/ understand the meaning of any expressions/ statements, those who belong to a good family and those who are very favourably disposed to you? O भारत! This (meaning having good advisors) is essential for a king who wants to gain victory in all dealings and this is only possible by following good advice (given by good advisors) and being secure (with such advisors).
कच्चित् संवृतमन्त्रैस्तैरमात्यैः शास्त्रकोविदैः । राष्ट्रं सुरक्षितं तात शत्रुभिर्न विलुप्यते ।। २८ ।।
O तात! Is your nation secure owing to the presence of knowers of शास्त्र who keep the मंत्रs secure? Are enemies taking any actions to destroy such knowers of शास्त्र?
कच्चिन्निद्रावशं नैषि कच्चित् काले विबुद्धयसे । कच्चिच्चापररात्रेषु चिन्तयस्यर्थमर्थवित् ।। २९ ।।
Are you succumbing to (or being over-powered by) sleep at the inappropriate times (of the day)? You are fully familiar with the अर्थशास्त्रक – getting up after रात्रि (night), are you contemplating on अर्थ (actions that are your duties and aligned to your welfare)?
कच्चिन्मन्त्रयसे नैकः कच्चिन्न बहुभिः सह । कच्चित् ते मन्त्रितो मन्त्रो न राष्ट्रं परिधावति ।। ३० ।।
On any topic that deserves secrecy (being a sensitive topic), (I hope) you are not contemplating on such a topic either alone or taking advice on such a topic by putting this across too many people. Could your enemy nation get access to such a secret topic (owing to the indiscretions conveyed here)?
कच्चिदर्थान् विनिश्चित्य लघुमूलान् महोदयान् । क्षिप्रमारभसे कर्तुं न विघ्नयसि तादृशान् ।। ३१ ।।
For increasing the wealth of the nation, as you engage in evaluation of opportunities, hope you are quickly deploying capital in ventures that seek lesser capital but give a higher return in a speedy manner. In such (favourable) domains, hope you are not creating impediments in the conduct of such activities or in the lives of people performing such activities.
कच्चिन्न सर्वे कर्मान्ताः परोक्षास्ते विशङ्किताः । सर्वे वा पुनरुत्सृष्टाः संसृष्टं चात्र कारणम् ।। ३२ ।।
In your kingdom, are you disconnected with people who are into farming or undertake manual labour? Do you have adequate oversight over their activities and their specific work conditions? Do such people harbour any mistrust against you and do you keep taking such people back to work after releasing them (from previous assignments)? Note that no great prosperity and progress is possible without their joyful participation in all endeavours.
आप्तैरलुब्धैः क्रमिकैस्ते च कच्चिदनुष्ठिताः । कच्चिद् राजन् कृतान्येव कृतप्रायाणि वा पुनः ।। ३३ ।। विदुस्ते वीर कर्माणि नानवाप्तानि कानिचित् ।
Are you making sure that activities like farming, etc are being undertaken by trustworthy, generous (non-greedy) experienced practitioners who come from families performing such activities for multiple generations? O राजन्! O वीरशिरोमणे! Are your activities become known to public once they are successfully concluded or when they have reached close to conclusion? Is there a possibility that people become aware of about your activities before they are successfully concluded?
कच्चित् कारणिका धर्मे सर्वशास्त्रेषु कोविदाः । कारयन्ति कुमारांश्च योधमुख्यांश्च सर्वशः ।। ३४ ।।
With respect to education in your kingdom, are the royal family and key warriors getting all types of necessary education from those who are fully well-versed in धर्म and all other sacred scriptures?
कच्चित् सहस्रैर्मूर्खाणामेकं क्रीणासि पण्डितम् । पण्डितो ह्यर्थकृच्छ्रेषु कुर्यान्निःश्रेयसं परम् ।। ३५ ।।
Are you buying (or using services of) one पण्डित only against (employing) thousands of ignorant ones? This is because in difficult times, only an intelligent (and knowledgeable) person will perform acts that bring great benefits.
कच्चिद् दुर्गाणि सर्वाणि धनधान्यायुधोदकैः । यन्त्रैश्च परिपूर्णानि तथा शिल्पिधनुर्धरैः ।। ३६ ।।
Are all your forts fully filled with wealth, weapons, water, machines, builders (or construction experts) and capable soldiers?
एकोऽप्यमात्यो मेधावी शूरो दान्तो विचक्षणः । राजानं राजपुत्रं वा प्रापयेन्महतीं श्रियम् ।। ३७ ।।
Even if you have one minister who is intelligent, courageous, patient and smart, such a one will ensure that the king and the royal family will earn plentiful prosperity.
कच्चिदष्टादशान्येषु स्वपक्षे दश पञ्च च । त्रिभिस्त्रिभिरविज्ञातैर्वेत्सि तीर्थानि चारकैः ।। ३८ ।।
Using your spies, are you keeping watch of eighteen belonging to the enemy kingdom (
- ministers,
- पुरोहितs,
- prince who will succeed the current king,
- army general,
- the main security chief,
- internal security chief of the palace,
- chief jailor,
- one in charge of royal treasury,
- chief approver of kingdom’s expenses,
- one who directs the arrangements relating to palace guards,
- chief police officer,
- one who instructs the works relating to construction within the palace,
- chief officer overseeing conduct of धर्म by all within the kingdom (or one in charge of justice),
- chief palace-in-charge or palace administrator,
- one who gives punishments,
- one who is in charge of managing all forts,
- chief responsible for border security and
- chief in charge of forests)
and fifteen belonging to your own (excluding the first three shared earlier) using three spies each to track their whereabouts?
कच्चिद् द्विषामविदितः प्रतिपन्नश्च सर्वदा । नित्ययुक्तो रिपून् सर्वान् वीक्षसे रिपुसूदन ।। ३९ ।।
O शत्रुसूदन! Are you keeping track of the activities of the enemy kings with due secrecy, complete alertness and in a pro-active manner?
कच्चिद् विनयसम्पन्नः कुलपुत्रो बहुश्रुतः । अनसूयुरनुप्रष्टा सत्कृतस्ते पुरोहितः ।। ४० ।।
Does your पुरोहित have a humble disposition, belongs to a noble family, is a polymath, scholar, does not have a distorted world-view and highly capable during discussions on the (ideas contained within) the शास्त्रs? Are you giving complete care to this पुरोहित?
कच्चिदग्निषु ते युक्तो विधिज्ञो मतिमानृजुः । हुतं च होष्यमाणं च काले वेदयते सदा ।। ४१ ।।
Have you ensured that the ब्राह्मण appointed by you for performance of अग्निहोत्र are deeply learned in performing the अग्निहोत्र, intelligent and possess a simple disposition. Are they giving due update to you whenever the perform or about to perform an अग्निहोत्र क्रिया?
कच्चिदङ्गेषु निष्णातो ज्योतिषः प्रतिपादकः । उत्पातेषु च सर्वेषु दैवज्ञः कुशलस्तव ।। ४२ ।।
Do you have ज्योतिषीs who are proficient in analysis of हस्त, पाद, etc., aspects (of ज्योतिषी विद्या), movement of the bodies in the sky (stars, planets, etc) and their positive and negative impacts on our lives and lastly the challenges that may be experienced in divine, earthly and physical bodies as a result of such movements?
कच्चिन्मुख्या महत्स्वेव मध्यमेषु च मध्यमाः । जघन्याश्च जघन्येषु भृत्याः कर्मसु योजिताः ।। ४३ ।।
Have you ensured that the most proficient people are engaged in great activities, moderate proficiency people in activities requiring moderate proficiency and the least proficient people as per their capabilities in least complex activities?
अमात्यानुपधातीतान् पितृपैतामहाञ्छुचीन् । श्रेष्ठाञ्छ्रेष्ठेषु कच्चित् त्वं नियोजयसि कर्मसु ।। ४४ ।।
Have you ensured that the best ministers who are loyal, belong to families following noble/ pure behaviour across generations, are given the most important work within your kingdom?
कच्चिन्नोग्रेण दण्डेन भृशमुद्विजसे प्रजाः । राष्ट्रं तवानुशासन्ति मन्त्रिणो भरतर्षभ ।। ४५ ।।
O भरतश्रेष्ठ! Are you putting your citizens to excessive misery by doling out excessive punishments? Are the ministers governing your kingdom in a just manner?
कच्चित् त्वां नावजानन्ति याजकाः पतितं यथा । उग्रप्रतिग्रहीतारं कामयानमिव स्त्रियः ।। ४६ ।।
Just like a pure one who conducts यज्ञs avoids (or looks down upon) यजमान who have fallen (in character/ conduct) or just as women avoid (or look down upon) men who are lecherous, do your citizens disrespect you owing to excessive taxation that you may be levying?
कच्चिद्धृष्टश्च शूरश्च मतिमान् धृतिमाञ्छुचिः । कुलीनश्चानुरक्तश्च दक्षः सेनापतिस्तथा ।। ४७ ।।
Is your army commander filled with enthusiasm, courageous, intelligent, pure/ noble, belongs to a noble family, loyal to the king and capable in the work being discharged by him?
कच्चिद् बलस्य ते मुख्याः सर्वयुद्धविशारदाः । धृष्टावदाता विक्रान्तास्त्वया सत्कृत्य मानिताः ।। ४८ ।।
Are the people working within various critical divisions of your army, smart, without fear, without a deviant disposition and display courage in all the wars? Are you taking good care of them and giving them suitable respect?
कच्चिद् बलस्य भक्तं च वेतनं च यथोचितम् । सम्प्राप्तकाले दातव्यं ददासि न विकर्षसि ।। ४९ ।।
Are you paying adequate salary and giving adequate food to your army? Are you ensuring that there is no cut made to the amounts due to them nor any delays are made in discharging payments to them?
कालातिक्रमणादेते भक्तवेतनयोर्भृताः । भर्तुः कुप्यन्ति यद्भृत्याः सोऽनर्थः सुमहान् स्मृतः ।। ५० ।।
If food and wages are delayed excessively, then those who depend on such wages will get angry on their paymasters and this anger of theirs will be unforeseen outcomes.
कच्चित् सर्वेऽनुरक्तास्त्वां कुलपुत्राः प्रधानतः । कच्चित् प्राणांस्तवार्थेषु संत्यजन्ति सदा युधि ।। ५१ ।।
Are those ministers and those working on important positions and born in noble families suitably attached to you? In any future wars, will they be ready and willing to give up their own lives to keep you safe?
कच्चिनैको बहूनर्थान् सर्वशः साम्परायिकान् । अनुशास्ति यथाकामं कामात्मा शासनातिगः ।। ५२ ।।
From among the people employed by you, are there present any employees who do work as per their individual whim, willing to not follow your mandate and even fight wars as per their own individual inclinations?
कच्चित् पुरुषकारेण पुरुषः कर्म शोभयन् । लभते मानमधिकं भूयो वा भक्तवेतनम् ।। ५३ ।।
When any person (in your list of employees) who is able to discharge their work using their own capabilities in an effective manner, are they able to obtain even more respect than you and are they rewarded with a greater amount of wages and allowances?
कच्चिद् विद्याविनीतांश्च नराञ्ज्ञानविशारदान् । यथार्हं गुणतश्चैव दानेनाभ्युपपद्यसे ।। ५४ ।।
Are you identifying those who humble owing to their education and imbued with knowledge and respecting such people as well as rewarding them with wealth, etc as per their गुण (or conduct) displayed by them?
कच्चिद् दारान्मनुष्याणां तवार्थे मृत्युमीयुषाम् । व्यसनं चाभ्युपेतानां बिभर्षि भरतर्षभ ।। ५५ ।।
O भरतश्रेष्ठ! To those who give up lives fighting while keeping you safe and thereby their families fall into difficulties, are you taking suitable care of their families in such a situation?
कच्चिद् भयादुपगतं क्षीणं वा रिपुमागतम् । युद्धे वा विजितं पार्थ पुत्रवत् परिरक्षसि ।। ५६ ।।
O कुन्तीनन्दन! Those who have taken recourse to you out of fear or because they have lost their entire wealth or because they have been defeated by you in a battle, are you taking care of such an enemy as your own child?
कच्चित् त्वमेव सर्वस्याः पृथिव्याः पृथिवीपते । समश्चानभिशङ्क्यश्च यथा माता यथा पिता ।। ५७ ।।
O पृथ्वीपते! Do all the citizens of the land perceive you as one having vision of equanimity and as trustworthy as their own mother & father?
कच्चिद् व्यसनिनं शत्रुं निशम्य भरतर्षभ । अभियासि जवेनैव समीक्ष्य त्रिविधं बलम् ।। ५८ ।।
O भरतकुलभूषण! When you see your enemy as engaged in poor addictions (obsession for sex, gambling, etc), do you contemplate on the enemy’s tri-fold strength (i.e., मंत्र, treasury wealth and size of employee support as well as their loyalty, the strength of मंत्रs that protect them as well as their enthusiasm to defend their own nation) to attack the enemy swiftly if the enemy is perceived as weak?
यात्रामारभसे दिष्ट्या प्राप्तकालमरिंदम । पार्ष्णिमूलं च विज्ञाय व्यवसायं पराजयम् । बलस्य च महाराज दत्त्वा वेतनमग्रतः ।। ५९ ।।
O शत्रुदमन! Have you developed familiarity with पार्ष्णिग्राह, etc and then developing clarity (or deciding) on the nature of action that you must do (for victory), knowing risks from one’s own and enemy’s exposure to दैवी & मानुषी dangers ***? And having developed such familiarity, choosing appropriate time and keeping belief in benediction of one’s दैव, do you order attacking the enemy after doing advance payment of wages to your own army?
Notes:
- *There is a combination of twelve persons referred to as पार्ष्णिग्राह, etc., here – these are:
- Enemy and enemy of the enemy – 2
- Enemy and friend of the enemy – 2
- Friend and friend of a friend – 2
- Two Bodyguards – 2
- Two persons whose role is to keep up enthusiasm during the war – 2
- Further to the side are two more – one who is moderate and one who is indifferent
All the above are collectively referred to as पार्ष्णिमूल and the king desirous of victory must be familiar with this combination of twelve on both sides – king & the enemy
- **As per नीतिशास्त्र, a king seeking victory must be familiar with four relating to those who are part of the army of the enemy – those who are greedy but have not received their wages, those who have a lot of self-pride but have been insulted, those who have an anger disposition and have been angered and one who has a fearful disposition and has been exposed to fear. Such persons may potentially be attempted to be won over by giving them respectfully whatever they may be seeking.
- *** There are two types of व्यसन (dangers) – divine (दैवी) and human (मानुषी). दैवी means dangers from exposure to fire, water, diseases, famines and pandemic. मानुषी means dangers from exposure to idiots, thieves, enemies, one who is close to the king and the fear that citizens develop owing to greed displayed by the king.
कच्चिच्च बलमुख्येभ्यः परराष्ट्रे परंतप । उपच्छन्नानि रत्नानि प्रयच्छसि यथार्हतः ।। ६० ।।
O परंतप! Are you secretively sending from time to time, appropriate precious gifts like pearls, etc to the key warriors of the enemy kingdoms?
कच्चिदात्मानमेवाग्रे विजित्य विजितेन्द्रियः । परान् जिगीषसे पार्थ प्रमत्तानजितेन्द्रियान् ।। ६१ ।।
O कुन्तीनन्दन! Before wishing to defeat powerful but careless (or intoxicated) enemy king, are you first winning over your own senses and mind?
कच्चित् ते यास्यतः शत्रून् पूर्वं यान्ति स्वनुष्ठिताः । साम दानं च भेदश्च दण्डश्च विधिवद् गुणाः ।। ६२ ।।
Before taking resort to a physical attack on the enemy kings, are you first taking resort to appropriately applying four गुण viz साम, दान, भेद और दण्ड on the enemy?
Note: Physical war is always to be seen as a last resort and must be undertaken only after all other options to prevent a physical war have failed.
कच्चिन्मूलं दृढं कृत्वा परान् यासि विशाम्पते । तांश्च विक्रमसे जेतुं जित्वा च परिरक्षसि ।। ६३ ।।
O महाराज! Are you ensuring that the foundation of your own kingdom is strong before attacking an enemy country? And when fighting the enemy, are you applying (or displaying) full force during such an attack? And once you win the battle, are you ensuring that you protect the enemy kingdom completely?
कच्चिदष्टाङ्गसंयुक्ता चतुर्विधबला चमूः । बलमुख्यैः सुनीता ते द्विषतां प्रतिवर्धिनी ।। ६४ ।।
Are your Chief of Treasury, Chief of purchasing, Chief of medicine, Chief of spy team, Chief cook, Chief caretaker of employees, Chief of Press (one who is in charge of official announcements) and Chief of Security; these eight wings together with four strengths viz elephants, horses, chariots and foot-soldiers – whether your appropriate Chiefs of army are capable of managing all of these collectively to defeat the enemies?
कच्चिल्लवं च मुष्टिं च परराष्ट्रे परंतप । अविहाय महाराज निहंसि समरे रिपून् ।। ६५ ।।
O महाराज who is capable of defeating the enemies! While you are attacking the enemy, are you mindful of whether the enemy country is going through a famine or whether it is the time when grains are being harvested?
Note: This may probably suggest that at times of famine or when grains are being harvested in the enemy kingdom, do not attack the enemy kingdom since wars at such a time will put the normal people of the enemy kingdom at undue difficulty and this must be avoided.
कच्चित् स्वपरराष्ट्रेषु बहवोऽधिकृतास्तव । अर्थान् समधितिष्ठन्ति रक्षन्ति च परस्परम् ।। ६६ ।।
Do your administrators keep travelling across own country as well as that of the enemy to align the people towards their kingdom as well as determine the quantum of taxes that need to be levied? Do these administrators meet periodically to discuss their findings to ensure that they are protecting their nation and the people living within the nation?
कच्चिदभ्यवहार्याणि गात्रसंस्पर्शनानि च । घ्रेयाणि च महाराज रक्षन्त्यनुमतास्तव ।। ६७ ।।
O महाराज! Is the person in charge of the food that you eat, the dress that your wear and the perfumes/ fragrances that are used, are trustworthy?
कच्चित् कोषश्च कोष्ठं च वाहनं द्वारमायुधम् । आयश्च कृतकल्याणैस्तव भक्तैरनुष्ठितः ।। ६८ ।।
Are you taking suitable care of those active, enthusiastic and loyal employees who are managing your treasury, your food stocks, your vehicles, your key doors, your weapons and the ingredients used to enhance the income of your kingdom?
कच्चिदाभ्यन्तरेभ्यश्च बाह्येभ्यश्च विशाम्पते । रक्षस्यात्मानमेवाग्रे तांश्च स्वेभ्यो मिथश्च तान् ।। ६९ ।।
O प्रजापालक नरेश! With respect to employees working inside the palace, e.g., cook, etc and those working outside the palace, e.g., the army, are you taking suitable steps to protect yourself from them and using the help of trustworthy people, are you taking due care to protect such employees too?
कच्चिन्न पाने द्यूते वा क्रीडासु प्रमदासु च । प्रतिजानन्ति पूर्वाह्णे व्ययं व्यसनजं तव ।। ७० ।।
Do the people employed by you encourage you to pursue addictions like drinking liquor, gambling, fun-games and chasing young women, etc in the morning (pre-noon time) which leads to wastage of time and reduction of prosperity?
कच्चिदायस्य चार्धेन चतुर्भागेन वा पुनः । पादभागैस्त्रिभिर्वापि व्ययः संशुद्धयते तव ।। ७१ ।।
Is your expenditure being managed within 1/4th or ½ or 3/4th of income earned by you?
कच्चिज्ज्ञातीन् गुरून् वृद्धान् वणिजः शिल्पिनः श्रितान् । अभीक्ष्णमनुगृह्णासि धनधान्येन दुर्गतान् ।। ७२ ।।
Are you always taking care of your wealth by taking due care of dependent family members, your गुरुs, the elders in the society, those engaged in businesses, the builders and those who are poor and needy?
कच्चिच्चायव्यये युक्ताः सर्वे गणकलेखकाः । अनुतिष्ठन्ति पूर्वाह्णे नित्यमायं व्ययं तव ।। ७३ ।।
Are those responsible for keeping accounts and tracking both income and expenditure giving a daily update to you in the morning?
कच्चिदर्थेषु सम्प्रौढान् हितकामाननुप्रियान् । नापकर्षसि कर्मभ्यः पूर्वमप्राप्य किल्बिषम् ।। ७४ ।।
Are you sacking employees working for you who are experienced, focussed on your welfare and loving without adequate and due investigation of any inappropriate action alleged to have been done by such persons?
कच्चिद् विदित्वा पुरुषानुत्तमाधममध्यमान् । त्वं कर्मस्वनुरूपेषु नियोजयसि भारत ।। ७५ ।।
O भारत! Are you making suitable distinction between people possessing superior, moderate and low work ethic before determining appropriate work that they may be put into?
कच्चिन्न लुब्धाश्चौरा वा वैरिणो वा विशाम्पते । अप्राप्तव्यवहारा वा तव कर्मस्वनुष्ठिताः ।। ७६ ।।
O राजन्! Have you appointed people to work for you who are greedy, thieves, enemy or have limited practical experience in doing the work offered to them?
कच्चिन्न चौरैर्लुब्धैर्वा कुमारैः स्त्रीबलेन वा । त्वया वा पीड्यते राष्ट्रं कच्चित् तुष्टाः कृषीवलाः ।। ७७ ।।
Is your nation experiencing pain from the actions of thieves, greedy people, men and women of the royal family and even your own actions? Are the farmers living within your kingdom happy and satisfied?
कच्चिद् राष्ट्रे तडागानि पूर्णानि च बृहन्ति च । भागशो विनिविष्टानि न कृषिर्देवमातृका ।। ७८ ।।
Does your kingdom constructed adequate number of ponds that are filled with water? Is farming being done in your kingdom by being dependent only on rains?
कच्चिन्न भक्तं बीजं च कर्षकस्यावसीदति । प्रत्येकं च शतं वृद्धया ददास्यृणमनुग्रहम् ।। ७९ ।।
Are the grains and seeds belonging to the farmers getting destroyed? Are you encouraging your farmers to depend on loans but charge a high rate of interest?
कच्चित् स्वनुष्ठिता तात वार्ता ते साधुभिर्जनैः । वार्तायां संश्रितस्तात लोकोऽयं सुखमेधते ।। ८० ।।
O तात! Is your economic welfare – agriculture, protection of cows (or live-stock in expanded meaning) and banking being well-managed by efficient persons? This world flourishes with happiness; if it is based on economic welfare.
कच्चिच्छूराः कृतप्रज्ञाः पञ्च पञ्च स्वनुष्ठिताः । क्षेमं कुर्वन्ति संहत्य राजञ्जनपदे तव ।। ८१ ।।
O राजन्! Do courageous, intelligent and capable five-five पञ्च meet and work for the welfare of people in every village (or town) across your kingdom?
कच्चिन्नगरगुप्त्यर्थं ग्रामा नगरवत् कृताः । ग्रामवच्च कृताः प्रान्तास्ते च सर्वे त्वदर्पणाः ।। ८२ ।।
Do villages in your kingdom get the same level of protection from strong protectors as the towns? Also, are the border villages getting the same level of facilities as other villages within your kingdom? And whichever location people live in, whether in towns or villages, they are collecting taxes and paying these to the kingdom?
कच्चिद् बलेनानुगताः समानि विषमाणि च । पुराणि चौरान् निघ्नन्तश्चरन्ति विषये तव ।। ८३ ।।
Whether in your kingdom, there are protectors move around in easy and/or difficult towns/ cities and take army with them to quell attacks from thieves and robbers?
कच्चित् स्त्रियः सान्त्वयसि कच्चित् ताश्च सुरक्षिताः । कच्चिन्न श्रद्दधास्यासां कच्चिद् गुह्यं न भाषसे ।। ८४ ।।
Do you take care of women in your kingdom by assuring them about the safety of your kingdom? Are they living with safety in your kingdom? Do you fully trust the women in your kingdom? And trusting them, are you sharing the State secrets with them?
कच्चिदात्ययिकं श्रुत्वा तदर्थमनुचिन्त्य च । प्रियाण्यनुभवञ्छेषे न त्वमन्तःपुरे नृप ।। ८५ ।।
O राजन्! Do you partake in favourite enjoyments and engagements and remain in such a place even after conveying bad news and thinking about such news to the people?
कच्चिद् द्वौ प्रथमौ यामौ रात्रेः सुप्त्वा विशाम्पते । संचिन्तयसि धर्मार्थौ याम उत्थाय पश्चिमे ।। ८६ ।।
O प्रजानाथ! Do you wake up early in the morning to think about धर्म and अर्थ after sleeping in the second and third part of the night that follow the first part of the night?
कच्चिदर्थयसे नित्यं मनुष्यान् समलंकृतः । उत्थाय काले कालज्ञैः सह पाण्डव मन्त्रिभिः ।। ८७ ।।
O पाण्डुनन्दन! After getting up daily on time, having bath and wearing proper clothing with ornaments, do you satisfy the needs of your citizens by discussing their issues with your ministers who are fully aware of knowledge of time and place?
Note: Knowledge of time and place may be seen as understanding of the appropriateness of the needs of the citizens and ensure that only such demands that are valid and appropriate are met.
कच्चिद् रक्ताम्बरधराः खड्गहस्ताः स्वलंकृताः । उपासते त्वामभितो रक्षणार्थमरिंदम ।। ८८ ।।
O शत्रुदमन! Do your warriors come over daily at your service to protect you after wearing red colour clothing, decorate themselves appropriately and holding a sword in their hands?
कच्चिद् दण्ड्येषु यमवत्पूज्येषु च विशाम्पते । परीक्ष्य वर्तसे सम्यगप्रियेषु प्रियेषु च ।। ८९ ।।
O महाराज! Is your conduct like यम against people who deserve to the punished and धर्मराज against people who are praiseworthy? Are you doing appropriate diligence before favouring or not favouring persons?
कच्चिच्छारीरमाबाधमौषधैर्नियमेन वा । मानसं वृद्धसेवाभिः सदा पार्थापकर्षसि ।। ९० ।।
O कुन्तीकुमार! Do you reduce the pains experienced by your body by taking adequate care of the body by administering appropriate medicines and following appropriate diet regimen? Do you serve the elderly as a means to reduce any mental angst that you may be experiencing?
कच्चिद् वैद्याश्चिकित्सायामष्टाङ्गायां विशारदाः । सुहृदश्चानुरक्ताश्च शरीरे ते हिताः सदा ।। ९१ ।।
Are your doctors familiar with eight limbed medicinal treatment process, capable, interested in your welfare, loving and always focussed on keeping you healthy at all times?
Note: the eight limbed treatment process as per Ayurveda means knowing the diseases of the patient by examining eight aspects – नाड़ी (pulse), stool, urine, tongue, eyes, body form, speech and (reaction to) touch.
कच्चिन्न लोभान्मोहाद् वा मानाद् वापि विशाम्पते । अर्थिप्रत्यर्थिनः प्राप्तान् न पश्यसि कथंचन ।। ९२ ।।
O नरेश्वर! Has there been a situation where, triggered by greed, delusion or ego, you have not even listened to the request of an अर्थी (someone in need of money) and a प्रत्यर्थी (someone who used to get funds from you but the funds-flow was stopped leading to sorrow for such a person)?
कच्चिन्न लोभान्मोहाद् वा विश्रम्भात् प्रणयेन वा । आश्रितानां मनुष्याणां वृत्तिं त्वं संरुणत्सि वै ।। ९३ ।।
Have you even turned down the earning vocation of those whose income is dependent on you owing to greed, delusion, self-pride and attachment?
कच्चित् पौरा न सहिता ये च ते राष्ट्रवासिन । त्वया सह विरुध्यन्ते परैः क्रीताः कथंचन ।। ९४ ।।
Are the citizens of your towns or the entire nation collectively rebelling against you? Could it be that the enemy kingdom may have brought these people via corruption?
कच्चिन्न दुर्बलः शत्रुर्बलेन परिपीडितः । मन्त्रेण बलवान् कश्चिदुभाभ्यां च कथंचन ।। ९५ ।।
Could it be that a weak enemy you may have defeated/ crushed in the past using your full strength, is now rearing its head (to attack you) by acquiring strength using deliberation and raising an army?
कच्चित् सर्वेऽनुरक्तास्त्वां भूमिपालाः प्रधानतः । कच्चित् प्राणांस्त्वदर्थेषु संत्यजन्ति त्वयाऽऽदृताः ।। ९६ ।।
Do the significant rulers of other kingdoms bear an affection towards you? And will they be willing to fight and give up their lives for you once you give your respects to them?
कच्चित् ते सर्वविद्यासु गुणतोऽर्चा प्रवर्तते । ब्राह्मणानां च साधूनां तव नैःश्रेयसी शुभा । दक्षिणास्त्वं ददास्येषां नित्यं स्वर्गापवर्गदाः ।। ९७ ।।
With respect to all types of विद्या, do you respect these in your mind as per the गुण of each such विद्या? Do you serve the ब्राह्मणs and saints? As you know, such an action is sacred and beneficial to you. Are you always giving दक्षिणा to the ब्राह्मणs? The reason to do so is because such an actions will enable you to attain स्वर्ग and मोक्ष.
कच्चिद् धर्मे त्रयीमूले पूर्वैराचरिते जनैः । यतमानस्तथा कर्तुं तस्मिन् कर्मणि वर्तसे ।। ९८ ।।
Are you as engaged as your ancestors were with respect to following the discipline of धर्म which stands at the root of the three वेद and was adhered to by all the ancient people? Are you fully inclined mentally to pursue the various actions that are aligned to धर्म?
कच्चित्तव गृहेऽन्नानि स्वादून्यश्नन्ति वै द्विजाः । गुणवन्ति गुणोपेतास्तवाध्यक्षं सदक्षिणम् ।। ९९ ।।
Whether the ब्राह्मणs who are fully endowed with सत्गुण administered food to you in front of your own eyes within your palace? And after eating is concluded, is (suitable) दक्षिणा being given to them?
कच्चित् क्रतूनेकचित्तो वाजपेयांश्च सर्वशः । पुण्डरीकांश्च कार्त्स्न्येन यतसे कर्तुमात्मवान् ।। १०० ।।
Are you making effort to fully adhere to the disciplines that are required to be done while performing यज्ञs like वाजपेय, पुण्डरीक, etc by controlling your mind and becoming fully focussed?
कच्चिज्ज्ञातीन् गुरून् वृद्धान् दैवतांस्तापसानपि । चैत्यांश्च वृक्षान् कल्याणान् ब्राह्मणांश्च नमस्यसि ।। १०१ ।।
Are you paying homage to your relatives, गुरुs, aged ones, देवताs, ascetics, चैत्यवृक्ष (पीपल tree), etc and praiseworthy ब्राह्मणs?
कच्चिच्छोको न मन्युर्वा त्वया प्रोत्पाद्यतेऽनघ । अपि मङ्गलहस्तश्च जनः पार्श्वे नु तिष्ठति ।। १०२ ।।
O निष्पाप नरेश! Do you ensure that you do not generate sorrow and anger in the minds of others? Do you always have someone handy (or close to you) who carry मंगल सामग्री (for use by you, when needed)?
कच्चिदेषा च ते बुद्धिर्वृत्तिरेषा च तेऽनघ । आयुष्या च यशस्या च धर्मकामार्थदर्शिनी ।। १०३ ।।
O पापरहित युधिष्ठिर! Is your intellect and inclinations aligned to whatever I have spoken so far? Such an intellect and inclination that is aligned to धर्म is helpful in living a long life and enhances fame and further, helps fully attaining (the objectives of) धर्म, अर्थ and काम?
एतया वर्तमानस्य बुद्धया राष्ट्रं न सीदति । विजित्य च महीं राजा सोऽत्यन्तसुखमेधते ।। १०४ ।।
One’s nation will never face any difficulty if one’s intellect is aligned to the wisdom shared thus far. Such a king (who follows this wisdom) will win dominion over the Earth and prospers day after day with happiness.
कच्चिदार्यो विशुद्धात्मा क्षारितश्चौरकर्मणि । अदृष्टशास्त्रकुशलैर्न लोभाद् वध्यते शुचिः ।। १०५ ।।
Has there been any instance where your foolish ministers have stolen the wealth of scholars deeply well-versed in scriptures, possess greatness and a pure and sacred हृदय, by implicating them in theft? And desiring more wealth, have such (foolish ministers) even punished them with a death sentence?
दुष्टो गृहीतस्तत्कारी तज्ज्ञैर्दृष्टः सकारणः । कच्चिन्न मुच्यते स्तेनो द्रव्यलोभान्नरर्षभ ।। १०६ ।।
O नरश्रेष्ठ! Has it ever happened that your internal security has witnessed bad-minded thieves who have been caught with the objects of theft but have been released/ freed owing to greed?
उत्पन्नान् कच्चिदाढ्यस्य दरिद्रस्य च भारत । अर्थान् न मिथ्या पश्यन्ति तवामात्या हृता जनैः ।। १०७ ।।
O भारत! Do your ministers, working under the influence of people who have misled them and thereby lose their alertness and ignore situations where either a rich or a poor person attract sudden wealth in a short period of time? Or whether they (mistakenly) believe that such increased wealth may have been an outcome of theft, etc?
नास्तिक्यमनृतं क्रोधं प्रमादं दीर्घसूत्रताम् । अदर्शनं ज्ञानवतामालस्यं पञ्चवृत्तिताम् । एकचिन्तनमर्थानामनर्थज्ञैश्च चिन्तनम् ।। १०८ ।।
निश्चितानामनारम्भं मन्त्रस्यापरिरक्षणम् । मङ्गलाद्यप्रयोगं च प्रत्युत्थानं च सर्वतः ।। १०९ ।।
कच्चित्वं वर्जयस्येतान् राजदोषांश्चतुर्दश । प्रायशो यैर्विनश्यन्ति कृतमूलापि पार्थिवाः ।। ११० ।।
O युधिष्ठिर! Are you keeping away from fourteen दोष relating to governance; these being
- Being a नास्तिक (meaning not aligned to the wisdom of the वेद)
- Lies
- Anger
- Negligence
- Procrastination
- Keeping away from people who are ज्ञानी
- Laziness
- (excessively) attached to the demands of पञ्च इंद्रिय
- Contemplating on issues of citizens alone (instead of following a consultative approach)
- Doing consultations/ deliberations with those who do not know अर्थशास्त्र
- Delaying actions or procrastinating decisioning with respect to commence pre-decided events
- Not being secretive about things which are meant to be secretive
- Not undertaking मांगलिक उत्सव
- Attacking all (or multiple) enemies at the same time
If a king does not keep away from the above, even though the foundation of such a kingdom may be strong, such a kingdom will certainly get destroyed (by resorting to any of the above).
कच्चित् ते सफला वेदाः कच्चित् ते सफलं धनम् । कच्चित् ते सफला दाराः कच्चित् ते सफलं श्रुतम् ।। १११ ।।
Is your वेद successful? Is your wealth successful? Is the woman (in your kingdom) successful? Is your knowledge of the scriptures successful?
युधिष्ठिर उवाच
कथं वै सफला वेदाः कथं वै सफलं धनम् । कथं वै सफला दाराः कथं वै सफलं श्रुतम् ।। ११२ ।।
युधिष्ठिर asked – Oदेवर्षे! How does वेद attain success? How does success of wealth look like? How is success of a woman looked life? And how does knowledge of scriptures attain success?
अग्निहोत्रफला वेदा दत्तभुक्तफलं धनम् । रतिपुत्रफला दाराः शीलवृत्तफलं श्रुतम् ।। ११३ ।।
Says नारद – O राजन्! Success of वेद is attained by अग्निहोत्र, success of wealth is by दान and भोग (enjoyment of such a wealth), success of a woman is conjugal bliss and birth of a child and success of reading of scriptures is good character and good conduct.
वैशम्पायन उवाच एतदाख्याय स मुनिर्नारदो वै महातपाः । पप्रच्छानन्तरमिदं धर्मात्मानं युधिष्ठिरम् ।। ११४ ।।
Says वैशम्पायन – after saying this, the great मुनि & तपस्वी नारद again asked धर्मात्मा युधिष्ठिर this question.
नारद उवाच
कच्चिदभ्यागता दूराद् वणिजो लाभकारणात् । यथोक्तमवहार्यन्ते शुल्कं शुल्कोपजीविभिः ।। ११५ ।।
Says नारद — O राजन्! Are the people working as a part of your taxation team taxing the business persons who come to your kingdom from faraway places in an appropriate manner?
कच्चित् ते पुरुषा राजन् पुरे राष्ट्रे च मानिताः । उपानयन्ति पण्यानि उपधाभिरवञ्चिताः ।। ११६ ।।
O महाराज! Are the business persons who come over to your city and nation and being received in a respectful manner are bringing useful products for selling here? And your taxation people are not fooling them through deceit?
कच्चिच्छृणोषि वृद्धानां धर्मार्थसहिता गिरः । नित्यमर्थविदां तात यथाधर्मार्थदर्शिनाम् ।। ११७ ।।
O तात! Are you continually listening to the पण्डित who are well-versed in धर्म and अर्थ and are knowers of अर्थशास्त्र about wisdom relating to how the elders had followed धर्म and अर्थ in their lives?
कच्चित् ते कृषितन्त्रेषु गोषु पुष्पफलेषु च । धर्मार्थं च द्विजातिभ्यो दीयेते मधुसर्पिषी ।। ११८ ।।
For the purpose of धर्म, are the ब्राह्मणs being given honey, ghee, grains, milk, flowers & fruits, etc that are derived from farming activities and rearing of cows?
द्रव्योपकरणं किंचित् सर्वदा सर्वशिल्पिनाम् । चातुर्मास्यावरं सम्यङ् नियतं सम्प्रयच्छसि ।। ११९ ।।
O नरेश्वर! Are you providing raw materials that can last for at least four months to the architects / builders that they can use these materials for carrying out their building (or manufacturing) activities?
कच्चित् कृतं विजानीषे कर्तारं च प्रशंससि । सतां मध्ये महाराज सत्करोषि च पूजयन् ।। १२० ।।
O महाराज! Do you keep track of all people who help you (or benevolent to you)? Do you publicly praise such help received in front of an influential audience and express gratitude towards such helpers respectfully?
कच्चित् सूत्राणि सर्वाणि गृह्णासि भरतर्षभ । हस्तिसूत्राश्वसूत्राणि रथसूत्राणि वा विभो ।। १२१ ।।
O भरतश्रेष्ठ! Do you regularly read texts available in the form of सूत्र – be it elephant सूत्र, horse सूत्र and Chariot सूत्र, etc that provide a summary view of the wisdom.
कच्चिदभ्यस्यते सम्यग् गृहे ते भरतर्षभ । धनुर्वेदस्य सूत्रं वै यन्त्रसूत्रं च नागरम् ।। १२२ ।।
O भरतकुलभूषण! In your place, is reading and practice undertaken of (texts like) धनुर्वेदसूत्र, यन्त्रसूत्र और नागरिकसूत्र?
Note: यन्त्रसूत्र is a summary text that provides how to use machines made out of iron and used to fire bullets made out of glass, stone and glass. नागरिकसूत्र provides a summary view of how to protect towns/ cities and make them prosperous.
कच्चिदस्त्राणि सर्वाणि ब्रह्मदण्डश्च तेऽनघ । विषयोगास्तथा सर्वे विदिताः शत्रुनाशनाः ।। १२३ ।।
O निष्पाप नरेश! Are you fully familiar with the usage of अस्त्र (which are operated through invocation of मंत्र), how to give punishment aligned with wisdom of the वेद and how to destroy enemy kingdoms using all types of poison?
कच्चिदग्निभयाच्चैव सर्वं व्यालभयात् तथा । रोगरक्षोभयाच्चैव राष्ट्रं स्वं परिरक्षसि ।। १२४ ।।
Have you protected from your kingdom/ nation from all sides from the fear of अग्नि (fire), सर्प (snakes), रोग (diseases) and राक्षसs
कच्चिदन्धांश्च मूकांश्च पङ्गून् व्यङ्गानबान्धवान् । पितेव पासि धर्मज्ञ तथा प्रव्रजितानपि ।। १२५ ।।
O धर्मज्ञ! Are you taking care of the blind, deaf, lame and those without limbs, orphans and संन्यासिs as a father?
षडनर्था महाराज कच्चित् ते पृष्ठतः कृताः । निद्राऽऽलस्यं भयं क्रोधोऽमार्दवं दीर्घसूत्रता ।। १२६ ।।
O महाराज! Have you got rid of six दोष – sleep, laziness, fear, anger, indifference & procrastination?
Adhyatma Writings 