A king
should always seek to swell his treasury. Let thy barns, O king, be
fitted with corn. And let their keep be entrusted to honest servants. Do
thou seek to increase thy wealth and corn. Let thy servants, skilled in
battle, be always attentive to their duties. It is desirable that they
should be skilful in the management of steeds. O delighter of the Kurus,
attend to the wants of thy kinsmen and friends. Be thou surrounded with
friends and relatives. Seek thou the good of thy city. By citing the
precedent of the dog I have instructed thee about the duties thou
shouldst adopt towards thy subjects. What further dost thou wish to
hear?'"
SECTION CXX
"Yudhishthira said, 'Thou hast, O Bharata, discoursed upon the many
duties of king-craft that were observed and laid down in days of old by
persons of ancient times conversant with kingly duties. Thou hast,
indeed, spoken in detail of those duties as approved by the wise. Do
thou, however, O bull of Bharata's race, speak of them in such a way that
one may succeed in retaining them in memory."[353]
"Bhishma said, 'The protection of all creatures is regarded as the
highest duty of the Kshatriya. Listen now to me, O king, as to how the
duty of protection is to be exercised. A king conversant with his duties
should assume many forms even as the peacock puts forth plumes of diverse
hues. Keenness, crookedness, truth, and sincerity, are the qualities that
should be present in him. With thorough impartiality, he should practise
the qualities of goodness if he is to earn felicity.
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