235 - The daily duties of a king

Pushkara said: 

1-2. Ishall describe the perpetual daily duties of the king. The kingshould put an end to his sleep with the songs and music of the panegyrists when two muhurtas (fortyeight minutes) are still left in the night. Heshould then see spies in such a way that they are not known as his own men by anybody. 

3. Heshould then hear the report about the income and expenditure as laid down. After having eased, the kingshould. go to the bath-room. 

4. The kingshould then bathe preceded by cleansing the teeth. After having done the twilight worship and the repetition (of the sacred syllables) (the king)should worship lord Väsudeva (Vishnu's manifestation as Krishna). 

5. Heshould then offer unto the fire holy (twigs). Libationsshould be offered to the ancestors. Accompanied by the blessings of brahmins, heshould then give a cow (as gift) together with gold. 

6. Heshould then see his face in the mirror after having adorned himself and besmeared (his body with sandal-paste). (Heshould also then see his face in clarified butter kept together with gold. The kingshould then hear about (the nature of) the day etc. 

7. (Heshould then take) medicines prescribed by the physicians. Heshould then touch the auspicious things. Heshould then see the preceptor and go to the court after having been blessed by him. 

8. O Fortunate one | Heshould then see brahmins, ministers, counsellors and others presented by the door-keeper. 

9-13. After having heard the traditional history and things to be done, heshould determine the business (to be done). Heshould then look into civil disputes and have counsel with the counsellors. Heshould not have the counsel with a single person or with many or ignorant men or untrustworthy men. Heshould also not make public the secret (counsel). The counsel he hadshould be given effect to promptly so that the state may not get affected. The secret counsel is considered to be guarded well by a king by his postures. Wise men gather secrets from the postures of others. A king gets prosperity by following the words of astrologers, physicians and connsellors, because they sustain the king. After having had the counsel (heshould do) physical exercises with discs, chariot and weapon. 

14. Heshould then bathe in tanks not inhabited by living creatures and see lord Vishnu that has already been worshipped. Heshould then see fire into which oblations have been made and also see brahmins that have been worshipped well. 

15-17. After having adorned himself heshould take food after having fed beings and after having tested the food duly. After having taken food, heshould chew betels and rest lying on the left. Heshould then have inquiry in the sacred texts. After having met the warriors and seen the granary and the armoury heshould do the evening twilight worship. Heshould then think of the tasks to be done, send spies, eat food and spend time in the harem with instrumental music and being guarded by others. A kingshould do thus daily.