sidhellman/clean_data.txt · Datasets at Hugging Face

text stringlengths 0 182
rites and after gratifying many foremost of Brahmanas he took some food. Gandhari conversant with every duty, as also Kunti
of great intelligence, worshipped with offers of various articles by their daughters-in-law, then took some food, O Bharata.
After Dhritarashtra had eaten, and Vidura also and others had done the same, the Pandavas, having finished their meals,
approached and sat around the old king. Then the son of Amvika, O monarch, addressing Kunti's son who was seated near him
and touching his back with his hand, said, 'Thou shouldst always, O delighter of the Kurus, act without heedlessness as regards
everything connected with thy kingdom consisting of eight limbs, O foremost of rulers, and in which the claims of
righteousness should ever be kept foremost.[7] Thou art possessed, O son of Kunti, of intelligence and learning. Listen to me,
O king, as I tell thee what the means are by which, O son of Pandu, the kingdom is capable of being righteously protected.
Thou shouldst always, O Yudhishthira, honour those persons that are old in learning. Thou shouldst listen to what they would
say, and act accordingly without any scruple. Rising at dawn, O king, worship them with due rites, and when the time comes
for action, thou shouldst consult them about thy (intended) acts. When, led by the desire of knowing what would be beneficial
to thee in respect of thy measures, thou honourest them; they will, O son, always declare what is for thy good, O Bharata. Thou
shouldst always keep thy senses, as thou keepest thy horses. They will then prove beneficial to thee, like wealth that is not
wasted. Thou shouldst employ only such ministers as have passed the tests of honesty, (i.e., as are possessed of loyalty,
disinterestedness, continence, and courage), as are hereditary officers of state, possessed of pure conduct, self-restrained, clever
in the discharge of business, and endued with righteous conduct. Thou shouldst always collect information through spies in
diverse disguises, whose faithfulness have been tasted, who are natives of thy kingdom, and who should not be known to thy
foes. Thy citadel should be properly protected with strong walls and arched gates. On every side the walls, with watch-towers
on them standing close to one another, should be such as to admit of six persons walking side by side on their top.[8] The gates
should all be large and sufficiently strong. Kept in proper places those gates should be carefully guarded. Let thy purposes be
accomplished through men whose families and conduct are well known. Thou shouldst always protect thy person also with
care, in matters connected with thy food, O Bharata, as also in the hours of sport and eating and in matters connected with the
garlands thou wearest and the beds thou liest upon. The ladies of thy household should be properly protected, looked over by
aged and trusted servitors, of good behaviour, well-born, and possessed of learning, O Yudhishthira. Thou shouldst make
ministers of Brahmanas possessed of learning, endued with humility, well-born, conversant with religion and wealth, and
adorned with simplicity of behaviour. Thou shouldst hold consultations with them. Thou shouldst not, however, admit many
persons into thy consultations. On particular occasions thou mayst consult with the whole of thy council or with a portion of it.
Entering a chamber or spot that is well protected (from intruders) thou shouldst hold thy consultation. Thou mayst hold thy
consultation in a forest that is divested of grass. Thou shouldst never consult at night time.[9] Apes and birds and other animals
that can imitate human beings should all be excluded from the council chamber, as also idiots and lame and palsied individuals.
I think that the evils that flow from the divulgence of the counsels of kings are such that they cannot be remedied. Thou
shouldst repeatedly refer, in the midst of thy counsellors, to the evils that arise from the divulgence of counsels, O chastiser of
foes, and to the merits that flow from counsels properly kept. Thou shouldst, O Yudhishthira, act in such a manner as to
ascertain the merits and faults of the inhabitants of thy city and the provinces. Let thy laws, O king, be always administered by
trusted judges placed in charge thereof, who should also be contented and of good behaviour. Their acts should also be
ascertained by thee through spies. Let thy judicial officers, O Yudhishthira, inflict punishments, according to the law, on
offenders after careful ascertainment of the gravity of the offences. They that are disposed to take bribes, they that are the
violators of the chastity of other people's wives, they that inflict heavy punishments, they that are utterers of false speeches,
they that are revilers, they that are stained by cupidity, they that are murderers, they that are doers of rash deeds, they that are
disturbers of assemblies and the sports of others, and they that bring about a confusion of castes, should, agreeably to
considerations of time and place, be punished with either fines or death.[10] In the morning thou shouldst see those that are
employed in making thy disbursements. After that thou shouldst look to thy toilet and then to thy food. Thou shouldst next
supervise thy forces, gladdening them on every occasion. Thy evenings should be set apart for envoys and spies. The latter end
of the night should be devoted by thee to settle what acts should be done by thee in the day. Mid-nights and mid-days should be
devoted to thy amusements and sports. At all times, however thou shouldst think of the means for accomplishing thy purposes.
At the proper time, adorning thy person, thou shouldst sit prepared to make gifts in profusion. The turns for different acts, O
son, ceaselessly revolve like wheels. Thou shouldst always exert thyself to fill thy treasuries of various kinds by lawful means.
Thou shouldst avoid all unlawful means towards that end. Ascertaining through thy spies who thy foes are that are bent on
finding out thy laches, thou shouldst, through trusted agents, cause them to be destroyed from a distance. Examining their
conduct, thou shouldst O perpetuator of Kuru's race, appoint thy servants. Thou shouldst cause all thy acts to be accomplished
through thy servitors: whether they are appointed for those acts or not. The commandant of thy forces should be of firm
conduct, courageous, capable of bearing hardships, loyal, and devoted to thy good. Artisans and mechanics, O son of Pandu,
dwelling in thy provinces, should always do thy acts like kine and asses.[11] Thou shouldst always, O Yudhishthira, be careful
to ascertain thy own laches as also those of thy foes. The laches also of thy own men as also of the men of thy foes should
equally be ascertained. Those men of thy kingdom, that are well skilled in their respective vocations, and are devoted to thy
good, should be favoured by thee with adequate means of support. A wise king, O ruler of men, should always see that the
accomplishments of his accomplished subjects might be kept up. They would then be firmly devoted to thee, seeing that they
did not fall away from their skill.'"

SECTION VI

"Dhritarashtra said, Thou shouldst always ascertain the Mandalas that belong to thee, to thy foes, to neutrals, and to those that
are disposed equally towards thee and thy foes, O Bharata.[12] The Mandalas also of the four kinds of foes, of these called
Atatayins, and of allies, and the allies of foes, should be distinguished by thee, O crusher of foes.[13] The ministers of state, the
people of the provinces, the garrisons of forts, and the forces, O foremost one of Kuru's race, may or may not be tampered with.
(Thou shouldst, therefore, behave in such a manner that these may not be tampered with by thy foes). The twelve (enumerated
above), O son of Kunti, constitute the principal concerns of kings. These twelve, as also sixty, having Ministers for their
foremost, should be looked after by the king.[14] Professors conversant with the science of politics call these by the name of
Mandala. Understand, O Yudhishthira, that the six incidents (of peace, war, march, halt, sowing dissensions, and conciliation)
depend upon these. Growth and diminution should also be understood, as also the condition of being stationary. The attributes
of the sixfold incidents, O thou of mighty arms, as resting on the two and seventy (already enumerated), should also be
carefully understood. When one's own side has become strong and the side of the foe his become weak, it is then, O son of
Kunti, that the king should war against the foe and strive to will victory. When the enemy is strong and one's own side is weak,
then the weak king, if possessed of intelligence, should seek to make peace with the enemy. The king should collect a large
store of articles (for his commissariat). When able to march out, he should on no account make a delay, O Bharata. Besides, he
should on that occasion set his men to offices for which they are fit, without being moved by any other consideration. (When
obliged to yield a portion of his territories) he should give his foe only such land as does not produce crops in abundance.
(When obliged to give wealth), he should give gold containing much base metal. (When obliged to give a portion of his forces),
he should give such men as are not noted for strength. One that is skilled in treaties should, when taking land or gold or men
from the foe, take what is possessed of attributes the reverse of this.[15] In making treaties of peace, the son of the (defeated)
king, should be demanded as a hostage, O chief of the Bharatas. A contrary course of conduct would not be beneficial, O son.
If a calamity comes over the king, he should, with knowledge of means-and counsels, strive to emancipate himself from it.[16]
The king, O foremost of monarchs, should maintain the cheerless and the destitute (such as the blind, the deaf and dumb, and
the diseased) among his people. Himself protecting his own kingdom, the king, possessed of great might, should direct all his
efforts, either one after another or simultaneously, against his foes. He should afflict and obstruct them and seek to drain their
treasury. The king that desires his own growth should never injure the subordinate chieftains that are under his sway. O son of
Kunti, thou shouldst never seek to war with that king who desires to conquer the whole Earth. Thou shouldst seek to gain
advantages by producing, with the aid of thy ministers, dissensions among his aristocracy and subordinate chieftains. A
powerful king should never seek to exterminate weak kings, for these do good to the world by cherishing the good and
punishing the wicked. O foremost of kings, thou shouldst live, adopting the behaviour of the cane.[17] If a strong king
advances against a weak one, the latter should make him desist, by adopting conciliation and other modes. If unable to stop the
invader in this way, then he, as also those that are disposed to do him good, should fall upon the foe for battling with him.
Indeed, with his ministers and treasury and citizens, he should thus adopt force against the invader. If battling with the foe
becomes hopeless, then he should fall, sacrificing his resources one after another. Casting off his life in this way, he will attain
to liberation from all sorrow.'"

SECTION VII

"Dhritarashtra said, 'O best of kings, thou shouldst also reflect properly on war and peace. Each is of two kinds. The means are
various, and the circumstances also, under which war or peace may be made, are various, O Yudhishthira.[18] O thou of Kuru's

rites and after gratifying many foremost of Brahmanas he took some food. Gandhari conversant with every duty, as also Kunti

of great intelligence, worshipped with offers of various articles by their daughters-in-law, then took some food, O Bharata.

After Dhritarashtra had eaten, and Vidura also and others had done the same, the Pandavas, having finished their meals,

approached and sat around the old king. Then the son of Amvika, O monarch, addressing Kunti's son who was seated near him

and touching his back with his hand, said, 'Thou shouldst always, O delighter of the Kurus, act without heedlessness as regards

everything connected with thy kingdom consisting of eight limbs, O foremost of rulers, and in which the claims of

righteousness should ever be kept foremost.[7] Thou art possessed, O son of Kunti, of intelligence and learning. Listen to me,

O king, as I tell thee what the means are by which, O son of Pandu, the kingdom is capable of being righteously protected.

Thou shouldst always, O Yudhishthira, honour those persons that are old in learning. Thou shouldst listen to what they would

say, and act accordingly without any scruple. Rising at dawn, O king, worship them with due rites, and when the time comes

for action, thou shouldst consult them about thy (intended) acts. When, led by the desire of knowing what would be beneficial

to thee in respect of thy measures, thou honourest them; they will, O son, always declare what is for thy good, O Bharata. Thou

shouldst always keep thy senses, as thou keepest thy horses. They will then prove beneficial to thee, like wealth that is not

wasted. Thou shouldst employ only such ministers as have passed the tests of honesty, (i.e., as are possessed of loyalty,

disinterestedness, continence, and courage), as are hereditary officers of state, possessed of pure conduct, self-restrained, clever

in the discharge of business, and endued with righteous conduct. Thou shouldst always collect information through spies in

diverse disguises, whose faithfulness have been tasted, who are natives of thy kingdom, and who should not be known to thy

foes. Thy citadel should be properly protected with strong walls and arched gates. On every side the walls, with watch-towers

on them standing close to one another, should be such as to admit of six persons walking side by side on their top.[8] The gates

should all be large and sufficiently strong. Kept in proper places those gates should be carefully guarded. Let thy purposes be

accomplished through men whose families and conduct are well known. Thou shouldst always protect thy person also with

care, in matters connected with thy food, O Bharata, as also in the hours of sport and eating and in matters connected with the

garlands thou wearest and the beds thou liest upon. The ladies of thy household should be properly protected, looked over by

aged and trusted servitors, of good behaviour, well-born, and possessed of learning, O Yudhishthira. Thou shouldst make

ministers of Brahmanas possessed of learning, endued with humility, well-born, conversant with religion and wealth, and

adorned with simplicity of behaviour. Thou shouldst hold consultations with them. Thou shouldst not, however, admit many

persons into thy consultations. On particular occasions thou mayst consult with the whole of thy council or with a portion of it.

Entering a chamber or spot that is well protected (from intruders) thou shouldst hold thy consultation. Thou mayst hold thy

consultation in a forest that is divested of grass. Thou shouldst never consult at night time.[9] Apes and birds and other animals

that can imitate human beings should all be excluded from the council chamber, as also idiots and lame and palsied individuals.

I think that the evils that flow from the divulgence of the counsels of kings are such that they cannot be remedied. Thou

shouldst repeatedly refer, in the midst of thy counsellors, to the evils that arise from the divulgence of counsels, O chastiser of

foes, and to the merits that flow from counsels properly kept. Thou shouldst, O Yudhishthira, act in such a manner as to

ascertain the merits and faults of the inhabitants of thy city and the provinces. Let thy laws, O king, be always administered by

trusted judges placed in charge thereof, who should also be contented and of good behaviour. Their acts should also be

ascertained by thee through spies. Let thy judicial officers, O Yudhishthira, inflict punishments, according to the law, on

offenders after careful ascertainment of the gravity of the offences. They that are disposed to take bribes, they that are the

violators of the chastity of other people's wives, they that inflict heavy punishments, they that are utterers of false speeches,

they that are revilers, they that are stained by cupidity, they that are murderers, they that are doers of rash deeds, they that are

disturbers of assemblies and the sports of others, and they that bring about a confusion of castes, should, agreeably to

considerations of time and place, be punished with either fines or death.[10] In the morning thou shouldst see those that are

employed in making thy disbursements. After that thou shouldst look to thy toilet and then to thy food. Thou shouldst next

supervise thy forces, gladdening them on every occasion. Thy evenings should be set apart for envoys and spies. The latter end

of the night should be devoted by thee to settle what acts should be done by thee in the day. Mid-nights and mid-days should be

devoted to thy amusements and sports. At all times, however thou shouldst think of the means for accomplishing thy purposes.

At the proper time, adorning thy person, thou shouldst sit prepared to make gifts in profusion. The turns for different acts, O

son, ceaselessly revolve like wheels. Thou shouldst always exert thyself to fill thy treasuries of various kinds by lawful means.

Thou shouldst avoid all unlawful means towards that end. Ascertaining through thy spies who thy foes are that are bent on

finding out thy laches, thou shouldst, through trusted agents, cause them to be destroyed from a distance. Examining their

conduct, thou shouldst O perpetuator of Kuru's race, appoint thy servants. Thou shouldst cause all thy acts to be accomplished

through thy servitors: whether they are appointed for those acts or not. The commandant of thy forces should be of firm

conduct, courageous, capable of bearing hardships, loyal, and devoted to thy good. Artisans and mechanics, O son of Pandu,

dwelling in thy provinces, should always do thy acts like kine and asses.[11] Thou shouldst always, O Yudhishthira, be careful

to ascertain thy own laches as also those of thy foes. The laches also of thy own men as also of the men of thy foes should

equally be ascertained. Those men of thy kingdom, that are well skilled in their respective vocations, and are devoted to thy

good, should be favoured by thee with adequate means of support. A wise king, O ruler of men, should always see that the

accomplishments of his accomplished subjects might be kept up. They would then be firmly devoted to thee, seeing that they

did not fall away from their skill.'"

SECTION VI

"Dhritarashtra said, Thou shouldst always ascertain the Mandalas that belong to thee, to thy foes, to neutrals, and to those that

are disposed equally towards thee and thy foes, O Bharata.[12] The Mandalas also of the four kinds of foes, of these called

Atatayins, and of allies, and the allies of foes, should be distinguished by thee, O crusher of foes.[13] The ministers of state, the

people of the provinces, the garrisons of forts, and the forces, O foremost one of Kuru's race, may or may not be tampered with.

(Thou shouldst, therefore, behave in such a manner that these may not be tampered with by thy foes). The twelve (enumerated

above), O son of Kunti, constitute the principal concerns of kings. These twelve, as also sixty, having Ministers for their

foremost, should be looked after by the king.[14] Professors conversant with the science of politics call these by the name of

Mandala. Understand, O Yudhishthira, that the six incidents (of peace, war, march, halt, sowing dissensions, and conciliation)

depend upon these. Growth and diminution should also be understood, as also the condition of being stationary. The attributes

of the sixfold incidents, O thou of mighty arms, as resting on the two and seventy (already enumerated), should also be

carefully understood. When one's own side has become strong and the side of the foe his become weak, it is then, O son of

Kunti, that the king should war against the foe and strive to will victory. When the enemy is strong and one's own side is weak,

then the weak king, if possessed of intelligence, should seek to make peace with the enemy. The king should collect a large

store of articles (for his commissariat). When able to march out, he should on no account make a delay, O Bharata. Besides, he

should on that occasion set his men to offices for which they are fit, without being moved by any other consideration. (When

obliged to yield a portion of his territories) he should give his foe only such land as does not produce crops in abundance.

(When obliged to give wealth), he should give gold containing much base metal. (When obliged to give a portion of his forces),

he should give such men as are not noted for strength. One that is skilled in treaties should, when taking land or gold or men

from the foe, take what is possessed of attributes the reverse of this.[15] In making treaties of peace, the son of the (defeated)

king, should be demanded as a hostage, O chief of the Bharatas. A contrary course of conduct would not be beneficial, O son.

If a calamity comes over the king, he should, with knowledge of means-and counsels, strive to emancipate himself from it.[16]

The king, O foremost of monarchs, should maintain the cheerless and the destitute (such as the blind, the deaf and dumb, and

the diseased) among his people. Himself protecting his own kingdom, the king, possessed of great might, should direct all his

efforts, either one after another or simultaneously, against his foes. He should afflict and obstruct them and seek to drain their

treasury. The king that desires his own growth should never injure the subordinate chieftains that are under his sway. O son of

Kunti, thou shouldst never seek to war with that king who desires to conquer the whole Earth. Thou shouldst seek to gain

advantages by producing, with the aid of thy ministers, dissensions among his aristocracy and subordinate chieftains. A

powerful king should never seek to exterminate weak kings, for these do good to the world by cherishing the good and

punishing the wicked. O foremost of kings, thou shouldst live, adopting the behaviour of the cane.[17] If a strong king

advances against a weak one, the latter should make him desist, by adopting conciliation and other modes. If unable to stop the

invader in this way, then he, as also those that are disposed to do him good, should fall upon the foe for battling with him.

Indeed, with his ministers and treasury and citizens, he should thus adopt force against the invader. If battling with the foe

becomes hopeless, then he should fall, sacrificing his resources one after another. Casting off his life in this way, he will attain

to liberation from all sorrow.'"

SECTION VII

"Dhritarashtra said, 'O best of kings, thou shouldst also reflect properly on war and peace. Each is of two kinds. The means are

various, and the circumstances also, under which war or peace may be made, are various, O Yudhishthira.[18] O thou of Kuru's