239 - The duties of a king

Rama said:

1. The king, ministry, kingdom, fort, treasury, army and allies helpful to one another are said to be the seven constituents of a kingdom, 

2-16. The sovereignty is the most important means of a kingdom. Itshould hence always be protected. Good descent, good conduct, (young in) years, good quality, compassion, quick action, consistency, truthfulness, service to the aged, gratefulness, being fortunate, intellect, possessing an unwicked retinue, able to exhibit his valour, faithfulness, foresightedness zeal, purity, generosity, modesty and virtuousness are the qualities of a pious man and a king. A king, seeking his own good,should make those belonging to a good family his attendants, be not cruel, but capable of winning the people and pure. A kingshould be eloquent, confident, possessing good memory, distinguished,strong, self-controlled, a leader, well-versed in polity and the different branches of fine arts, capable of facing an attack, capable of remedying all evils, one who knows the movements of hostiles, one who knows the principles of peacemaking and war; capable of knowing the secret counsels (of the hostiles), knower of opportune time and place, one that takes goods in the proper way and distributes to the proper person, free from wrath, greed, fear, doing evil, haughtiness and fickleness, free froin harassing others, calumny, jealousy, envy and untruth, fortunate (in getting) the counsel of the aged, able,showing his amiable manners and one that is fond of good qualities which are known to confer prosperity. Men of noble descent, virtuous, brave, learned, attached, those who would implement the rules of punishinentshould be the ministers of the king. The ministershould moreover be having good physique, a native of the country, belonging to a good family, endowed with good conduct and knowledge in arts, eloquent, courageous, possessing good eye-sight, enthusiasm, discrimination, devoid of rigidity and ficklemindedness, friendly, capable of enduring hardship, virtuous, possessing (the qualities, of) truthfulness, good nature, firmness, perseverence, dignity, good health, able, having retentive memory, firm devotion (to the king) and not creating enmity (with other kings). Good memory, good application of the mind conducive to gain, decisive knowledge, firmness and guarding the secret counsels are the virtues of a minister. The royal priestshould be profiicient in the Vedas and codes of punishment. 

17-23. The priestshould do the expiatory and welfare yielding rites as laid down in Atharvaveda. The wise kingshould examine the fitness of these ministers with the help of experts. The two qualities of having a clear sight and skillshould be examined. Heshould know about the family and the integrity from his own people. The three qualities-ability in service, knowledge and enduranceshould be examined. So also the boldness, and their pleasure in conversationshould be known. Their eloquence, truthfulness, enthusiasm, greatness, endurance for hardship, firmnness, loyalty and steadiness in distressshould be noted. The kingshould know their devotion, friendship and honesty from their conduct. Likewise, their strength, good nature, health, good conduct, not being fickleminded and not exhibiting their enmity (should be known) from their companions. Their gentleness and meannessshould be known (from their acts) in his presence. Everywhere the virtues of them (practised) not in his presenceshould be gauged from results. 

24-25. A region having good crops, meritorious, endowed with minerals, beneficial for cows, having plenty of water having holy cities, enchanting, abounding in elephants, having water courses and not depending on rains is commended for abundant prosperity. 

26-27. Itshould abound with sūdras, artisans and merchants and have great enterprises and agriculturers. (Itshould abound with men) fondly attached (to the king), hating the hostile king, capable of enduring hardship. Itshould contain people who have come from different countries and who are pious, possessing cattle and strength. Such a country is commended. The headshould be wise and not addicted to any vice. 

28-30. The fortressshould be built on hills having a river or desert or forest (as a boundary) covering a large area and having a deep moat, high walls and gateways. The fortshould contain water, grains and treasures to stand a long siege. Those surrounded by water, mountain, forest, desert and archers are six (kinds of forts)¹. The fortsshould be replete with choice things, righteously acquired since the time of forefathers that would stand a heavy drain for the furtherance of righteousness etc. 

1. It mentions only five names. 

31-37. (The servantsshould be descendants) of their forefathers' (servants), subservient, salaried, known for their valour, belonging to a good family, able, possessing knowledge about omens. (The arıny of the kingshould be) armed with different kinds of weapons, conversant with different types of warfare, possessing varied kinds of warriors, having horses and elephants duly sanctified, which has endured hardships in battle and sufferings in expeditions etc. Those who administer justiceshould be undivided and mostly drawn from the kshatriya community. One that is proficient in yoga, good-natured, possessing a strong army, conversing affectionately, able to wait patiently for the outcome, not divided and belonging to a good familyshould be befriended. Approaching from a distance, uttering words having clear meaning and agreeable to the heart and doing good deeds are the three ways of acquiring friendship. One gets three kinds of fruits such as piety, enjoyment and prosperity through the friend. The son of a friend, a newly acquired friend, an ancestral friend and one protected from distress are known to be the four kinds of friends. Truthfulness and other things and similar pleasure and pain are thc qualities in the friend. 

38-41. Ishall describe the conduct of those who serve (the king). A servantshould serve the king (to the best of his ability). Ability, good disposition, tirmness, forbearance, ability to endure hardship, happiness, good conduct, enthusiasm are ornaments for the servants. A servantshould serve the king to the best of his ability for the agreed period. Heshould give up visiting the place of enemies, doing cruel acts, haughtiness and jealousy. A servantshould not exchange harsh words with his superiors. Heshould not publicise the confidential matters and the secret councils of his master. Heshould desire the prosperity of the affectionate king. Heshould desert a king that is not affectionate. 

42. Dissuading the king from doing evil deeds and persuading him to do good deeds (are said to be) the good conduct in brief for the relatives, friends and servants. 

43-45. The king, like the god of rain,should be sustainer of all good. He would take a part of the earnings from the sources of one's earning. Heshould employ efficient men to be in charge of all deeds. A good kingshould protect eight things such as agriculture, trade, fort, bridge, elephant stable, mines, ocean (the source of gems) and the abodes of the downcast and thus follow a good code of conduct. 

46. There is danger for the subjects from the (following) five sources such as the soldiers, thieves, subjects, king's officers and the greed of the king. 

47. The kingshould take tax after having taken note of this danger at the proper time. He has to protect his own body and the external body, the kingdom. 

48. Heshould punish those deserving punishment and protect himself from poison as well as his wives and sons from the enemies. Heshould never trust them.