James Gray

“ A rampant elephant, powerful and possessed of noble qualities, although alone, destroys a whole army: a king, victorious among elephants, is like the driver's hook; therefore is he known to be stronger than an elephant.
135.
A wise king should acquire knowledge for the purpose of keeping control; he should practise restraint for virtue's sake: to attain Nibbân he should follow the precepts, and for almsgiving and personal sustenance he should accumulate wealth. ”

“ It is not the characteristic of a king not giving punishment while thinking to himself, "I am replete with forbearance;" [28] by doing so a good king is looked upon as bad. This reflection on the part of others is the occasion for the infliction of punishment.
83.
The pride of low people increases by the display of too much forbearance; by the chastisement of a bad person others should be deterred from acting like him; by chastisement he is made to desist from evil; by chastisement the king bestows happiness. ”

“ A king should honour one of conspicuous merit who has nobody to depend upon; he should likewise honour abrave man and a righteous man belonging to a foreign country, saying for the information of all, "This man has come into my kingdom." ”

“ A ruler of men should avoid a servant who is indolent, harsh in his actions, severe in his mind, rough and harmful, dissatisfied and lacking strength.
5.
The king should not appoint him a minister who is rough and harmful, who takes bribes, is ignorant of books, [2] looks after his own interests, and is ungrateful and given to falsehood.
6.
If foolish persons be appointed ministers, a king suffers three disadvantages: these three without doubt are—loss of fame, loss of prosperity, and falling into hell. ”

“ He should be appointed commander-in-chief who is experienced in the subjugation of others, who knows to choose a victory-giving battlefield, who does not abandon his forces in misfortune, who remains the same in adversity or prosperity, who is strong, of irreproachable character, skilled in the use of weapons, who can bear the fatigues of riding, and is replete with diligence and bravery. ”

“ Until food is settled, one, having eaten, should sit like a king; till then, after walking a hundred paces, he should lie on his left side.
59.
Wishing for long life, one should eat facing the east; wishing for wealth, he should face the south; if he desire prosperity, he should eat facing the west; one should not eat facing the north.
60.
He who sleeps after eating gets his body bloated; he who stands grows strong; he who walks up and down prolongs life; and as for a person who runs, death follows him. ”

“ Kings who do the things stated above, having conquered their enemies, will enjoy sovereignty for a longtime over the earth, even to the verge of the ocean. Happy in their prosperity, there will be the advancement of religion. Having great happiness by being established in the Scriptures, they will attain the eternal rest.
93.
Just as a gardener always waters a good fruit-bearing tree and cuts down one having branches old or overgrown, crooked, dry, and trailing, so should a king, who resembles a gardener, ever bear this in mind. ”

“ The king who puts no faith in the words of his councillors acquainted with the Vedas, but acts up to the wisdom of his own inclinations, he, like a blind man without a guide, will, on account of enemies, ere longcome to destruction.
76–77.
"Who am I? what is the time and place? who are my enemies having advantages equal to or superior to my own? who my friend? what strength have I? what straagem should I use? what is the benefit of my industry? what the good results of my merit? who inimical to my prosperity? what the best reply to an opponent's speech?" ”

“ A king desiring to fight with another king should not go to war with a soldier who is covetous and evil-minded, cowardly, devoid of strength, and having no virtue.
121–122.
Being properly cognisant of the enemy's strength and the strength of his own army, the Sâmya, Bheda, and Dâna stratagems, and the circumstances of the country, a king should employ the Sâmya [39] stratagem against one on an equality with himself, the Bheda [40] against a brave warrior, and the Dâna stratagem [41] against one who is covetous; all others he should overcome by fighting. ”

“ He is no man who overcomes the vile; he is not called a man who is assiduous in a trifle; he who achieves something great is a man. Who scandalises a king, although he conquers, is not a conqueror; he is not noble who suppresses the conquered. [11]
25–26.
A king, a minister who attends upon him, a country inhabited by good people, a fortress difficult to be taken, punishment in keeping with crime, a granary always filled with corn, a friend devoted to the king in danger—these are seven elements spoken of in connection with royalty by wise men versed in the Nîti. ”

“ People with large stomachs, hands, and feet, being afraid of punishment, pay great honour to a king; being punished severely, they hate him. Awarding punishment compatible with a crime is a means of securing peace. ”

“ The king who always decides well is a perfect ruler; he is more powerful than his enemies; he never suffers ruin.
101.
One who ministers to a king should prevent him from the commission of evil, should advance his prosperity, and should not reveal what ought to be concealed; he should show forth his good qualities; in an emergency he should not forsake him ”

“ Let them think about their duty in the morning—about the people in an enemy's country, the army, resources, and the land, those who are allies, the present and the future life, and what should and should not be done. ”

“ He who has employment, although he have much power and reputation, should not deceive the king; he should be able to disclose what is good or what is bad. It is a difficult matter to point out what is for the king's advantage or agreeable to his mind. ”

“ One should strive to conquer enemies, not by war, because the victory between two combatants is seen to be uncertain. By conciliation by bribes, by dissension—by these means, either combined or separately, one should strive to overcome enemies ”

“ Here is recited the Râjanîti, for the accomplishment of a king's present prosperity, and the acquirement of experience for subjugation of the kingdoms of others.
2.
I shall set forth the meritorious characteristics of kings and ministers. A noble ruler should always carefully scrutinise the actions of his subjects.
3.
A man is known to be wise by his speech—his conduct, good or bad, by the company he keeps; by his general behaviour he is known to be pure; in time of danger, whether he is a man or not. ”

“ He who, having elephants, horses, wealth, and forces, is satisfied, does not engage in war, another subjugates him.
113.
Those on the border having raised a rebellion, plunder the wealth of the country. One acquainted with the Nîti causes them to come into his territory.
114.
A crow coining at night to an owl's habitation, dies; an owl coming during the day to the crow's, also dies; a crocodile dies coming on land, a tiger coming into the water.
115.
Thus a king, not knowing the country and the proper time for battle, makes war. ”

“ A king, comporting himself suitably, holding up his right hand and appearing thoughtful, remaining gracefully seated and in a good position, and forgetful in his decision whether one is a friend or an enemy, should give a legal judgment. ”

“ He who sleeps with his head to the east becomes wise; who sleeps with his head to the south prolongs his life; if one sleeps with his head towards the west, his mind grows perturbed; who sleeps with his head to the north dies soon. ”

“ Many people, although they strive much, are not successful in obtaining unripe fruits placed in an inaccessible place; when the fruit falls of itself and is got without trouble, it is full of juice and is eaten with pleasure. ”

“ When a man, for instance, is very sick and his death is anticipated, his friends and relatives try to ward it off by finding a substitute in a dummy formed from a plantain tree or otherwise, shaped as much as possible like a human being. ”

“ Diseases arise by too much drinking, by gratifying the passions inordinately, by constipation and by constriction, [22] by sleeping in the day, and by keeping up at night: from these six diseases arise. ”

“ Extreme cases of such artificial structures are those in the examples given above, and the discovery of the meaning of the verses is only possible with the help of a native commentary. ↑ The seven constituent elements of state as given by Vishṇu are: 'The monarch, his council, a fortress, treasure, the army, the realm, and an ally." —Institutes, iii, 33. ↑ The king (naâsabho) . ↑ Sambandhâdisakayutto. ↑ Apariggaho. ↑ Nîtisatthaṁ. This may be a particular Nîti, or it may refer to any treatise which serves as a guide to conduct. ↑ "He is fire and wind ”