[403] They should be sought to be
brought under the king's way. The king should never behave with cruelty
towards them, thinking that he is more powerful than they. Those kings
that do not exterminate them outright have no fear of extermination to
themselves. They, however, that do exterminate them have always to live
in fear in consequence of that act.'"
SECTION CXXXIV
"Bhishma said, 'In this connection, persons acquainted with the
scriptures declare this text in respect of duty, viz., for a Kshatriya
possessed of intelligence and knowledge, (the earning of) religious merit
and (the acquisition of) wealth, constitute his obvious duties. He should
not, by subtle discussions on duty and unseen consequences in respect of
a future world, abstain from accomplishing those two duties. As it is
useless to argue, upon seeing certain foot-prints on the ground, whether
they are wolf's or not, even so is all discussion upon the nature of
righteousness and the reverse. Nobody in this world ever sees the fruits
of righteousness and unrighteousness. A Kshatriya, therefore, should seek
the acquisition of power. He that is powerful is master of everything.
Wealth leads to the possession of an army. He that is powerful[404]
obtains intelligent advisers. He that is without wealth is truly fallen.
A little (of anything in the world) is regarded as the dirty remnant of a
feast.[405] If a strong man does even many bad acts, nobody, through
fear, says or does anything (for censuring or checking him).
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