The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Sabha Parva
Religion
The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose: Sabha Parva
Epic literature, Sanskrit
jewels, unto the principal officers of enemy, as they deserve, without
thy enemy's knowledge? O son of Pritha, seekest thou to conquer thy
incensed foes that are slaves to their passions, having first conquered
thy own soul and obtained the mastery over thy own senses? Before thou
marchest out against thy foes, dost thou properly employ the four arts
of reconciliation, gift (of wealth) producing disunion, and application
of force? O monarch, goest thou out against thy enemies, having first
strengthened thy own kingdom? And having gone out against them,
exertest thou to the utmost to obtain victory over them? And having
conquered them, seekest thou to protect them with care? Are thy army
consisting of four kinds of forces, viz., the regular troops, the
allies, the mercenaries, and the irregulars, each furnished with the
eight ingredients, viz., cars, elephants, horses, offices, infantry,
camp-followers, spies possessing a thorough knowledge of the country,
and ensigns led out against thy enemies after having been well trained
by superior officers? O oppressor of all foes, O great king, I hope
thou slayest thy foes without regarding their seasons of reaping and of
famine? O king, I hope thy servants and agents in thy own kingdom and
in the kingdoms of thy foes continue to look after their respective
duties and to protect one another. O monarch, I hope trusted servants
have been employed by thee to look after thy food, the robes thou
wearest and the perfumes thou usest. I hope, O king, thy treasury,
barns, stables arsenals, and women's apartments, are all protected by
servants devoted to thee and ever seeking thy welfare. I hope, O
monarch, thou protectest first thyself from thy domestic and public
servants, then from those servants of thy relatives and from one
another. Do thy servants, O king, ever speak to thee in the forenoon
regarding thy extravagant expenditure in respect of thy drinks, sports,
and women? Is thy expenditure always covered by a fourth, a third or a
half of thy income? Cherishest thou always, with food and wealth,
relatives, superiors, merchants, the aged, and other proteges, and the
distressed? Do the accountants and clerks employed by thee in looking
after thy income and expenditure, always appraise thee every day in the
forenoon of thy income and expenditure? Dismissest thou without fault
servants accomplished in business and popular and devoted to thy
welfare? O Bharata, dost thou employ superior, indifferent, and low
men, after examining them well in offices they deserve? O monarch,
employest thou in thy business persons that are thievish or open to
temptation, or hostile, or minors? Persecutest thou thy kingdom by the
help of thievish or covetous men, or minors, or women? Are the
agriculturists in thy kingdom contented. Are large tanks and lakes
constructed all over thy kingdom at proper distances, without
agriculture being in thy realm entirely dependent on the showers of
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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