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INTRODUCTION
 

 
and taking care of the government are the five sacred
duties of the king.
 

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.
 

 
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.