222 - Construction of Forts

Pushkara said:

1-2. Ishall describe the excellent fortification. The kingshould reside in the fort. Itshould abound with the traders and  servants and sparsely with others. Itshould have few brahmins and plenty of artisans. A country not depending on rain-water and having plenty of water (for cultivation) is commended. 

3. Itshould not be vulnerable for attack by others andshould abound with flowers, fruits and grains. Itshould be impassable by foreign army andshould be free from rogues and thieves. 

4-5. The mighty kingshould build one of the following types of forts and live there. O Bhargava (son of Bhrugu; Parasurama)! Fort guarded by archers, land, men, forest, water and hill (are the six kinds of forts). The excellent among these (forts) would be the fort protected by the hill. It is indestructible and it destroys others. 

6. Such a fortshould have the market place, temple and other things. A fort furnished with weapons and implements and surrounded by water is an excellent one. 

7-9. Ishall describe the means of protecting the king. The king has to be saved from poison. The sirisha well ground with (cow's) urine, (known as) pañchånga destroys poison. Satāvari, chinnaruhā, vishaghni, tamduliyaka, kośátaki, kalhāri, brāhmi, citrapatolikā, mandūkaparņi, värähi, dhatri, anandakam, unmādini, somarāji and the gemstone destroying poison (are the antidotes for poison). 

10. Residing in the fort possessing the characteristics of a dwelling place, (the king)should propitiate gods. (He)should protect the subjects, conquer the wicked and make gifts. 

11. (The king) who takes away the articles (dedicated to) the god would dwell in hell for a kalpa (period). The king being devoted to the worship of godsshould erect temples. 

12-13. The templesshould be protected and (images of) deitiesshould be installed. A wooden one is meritorious than the earthen one, one made of bricks than the wooden one. One made of stone is meritorious than that of the (image) made of brick. One made of gold and gems (is meritorious) than that of the stone one. Even by the construction of a temple sportively one would get enjoyment and emancipation. 

14. One who donates paintings, musical instruments and (arranges for) dramatic performances to be seen and who anoints the deity with oil, clarified butter, honey, milk and other things would go to heaven. 

15-18. The kingshould worship and protect the brahmins. Heshould not take away the belongings of a brahmin. (The king) would reach hell and remain there till the inundation of beings (deluge) by taking away (a piece of) gold, a cow or an angula breadth of a thumb) measure of land (from a brahmin). There is no other sin greater than the killing of a brahmin. The brahmins would make non-divine into divine and divine into non-divine. Brahmins are the most fortunate ones. Theyshould always be respected. A brahmin woman who weeps would destroy the family, kingdom and subjects (of a king). 

19-23. A righteous kingshould protect the chaste women. The womenshould engage happily and efficiently in the cores of household work. (Sheshould be) decorating well the household articles and be frugal in her expenses.sheshould always do service to her husband to whom her father has given her (in marriage). The lady practising continence after the death of the husband goes to heaven.sheshould not have the desire (to live) in other's house andshould not be quarrelsome. A widow as well as the wife of a man who has gone abroad,should not decorate her person.sheshould always be bent on the worship of god and the welfare of the husband. (A woman whose husband has gone abroad)should wear some ornaments for the welfare (of the husband). The woman (widow) who enters the (funeral) fire along with the (dead) husband would also reach heaven. (A householder)should worship the goddess of fortune and do the cleansing of the house etc. (Heshould worship lord) Vishņu on the twelfth day of Kārttika and then make a gift of a cow together with a calf. Her husband was saved by Savitri (wife of Satyaván, king of Salva) by practising truthfulness and good conduct. There need not be any doubt that a woman would have children by the worship of the Sun on the seventh day in the bright (fortnight) in (the month of) märgasirsa.