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INTRODUCTION
 
and taking care of the government are the five sacred
duties of the king.
 
10. Distribution of wealth to the deserving; appre-
ciation of merits; enjoyment of life with his family and
dependents; knowledge of Sastra-s; and prowess in
warfare are the five characteristics of the king.
 
11-8. Virtues of the king to be learnt from the
lion, the crane, the cock, the crow, the dog, and the
donkey.
 
25
 
Good and Bad King
 
19. A good king is like a gardener who replants
the uprooted trees; strengthens the weak ones; bends
down those which shoot too high; weakens the too
strong ones; divides the united; and trims the thorny
 
ones.
 
20. A king who follows the right path is happy.
21. A king should know the qualities which lead
to prosperity.
 
22. A thriftless spender, a helpless (king), a
quarrelsome (king), and a sick (king) perish.
 
23. The king should govern his country well; it
is better to be without a king than to have a bad one.
24. There is no happiness in a kingdom ruled by
a bad king.
 
25. Kings are like serpents; but they can be
managed by good counsel.
 
Governing in accordance with Dharma
 
26. There is no safety in a misruled kingdom.