Mahabharata Condensed in the Poet's Own Words /413

SANTI PARVA
 
"
 
397
 
"First of all, you best of the Kurus,
 

(Yudhisthira),
 
the king who wants to please
his subjects,
 
the king who wants to must conduct himself
towards gods and Brahmins in the
please
rescribed must conduct himself
towards gods and Brahmins in the
prescribed manner.
 

 
'उत्थानेन सदा पुत्र प्रयतेथा [ युधिष्ठिर ] ।

न ह्युत्थानमृते दैवं राज्ञामर्थथं प्रसाधयेत् ॥

पौरुषं हि परं मन्ये देवं निश्चित्य मुह्यते ॥
 

" Son, always strive with exertion ;

without exertion, Fate will not achieve their
 

purpose for kings. I consider human

endeavour as greater; by believing in Fate,

one confounds oneself.
 

 
'न हि सत्याहदृते किञ्चिद् राक्षांज्ञां वै सिद्धिकारकम् ।

आर्जवं सर्वकार्येषु अश्रयेथाः [ कुरुनन्दन ] ॥
 

"Nothing except truthfulness brings

success to kings. Adopt straightforwardness

in all actions.
 

 
'मृदुर्द्दिहि राजा सततं लङ्घ्यो भवति सर्वशः ।

तीक्ष्णाच्चोद्विजते लोकस्तस्मा दुभयमाचरेत् ॥