CONVERSATION BETWEEN NARADA AND YUDHISHTHIRA

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA - SABHA PARVA - LOKAPALA SABHAKHAYANA (UPA) PARVA - CHAPTER 5(E) - CONVERSATION BETWEEN NARADA AND YUDHISHTHIRA

“(Deva) Rishi Narada continued, ‘Do you worship Brahmanas and wise men according to their merits in respect of various branches of learning? I tell you, such worship is without doubt, highly beneficial to you.

“Do you have faith in the Dharma based on the three Vedas (Rig Veda, Yajur Veda and Sama Veda) and practised by men who have gone before you (your ancestors)? Do you carefully follow the practices that were followed by them?

“Are accomplished Brahmanas entertained in your house and in your presence with nutritive and excellent food, and do they also obtain monetary gifts (Dakshina in Sanskrit) at the conclusion of those feasts?

“Do you, with passions under complete control and with singleness of mind, strive to perform yagnas called Vaajapeya and Pundareeka with their full complement of rites?

“Do you bow to your relatives, Gurus, the aged, Devas, Rishis, Brahmanas, and the tall trees (banian) in villages, that are of so much benefit to people (banian trees in villages is the general place where Panchayat used to take place; it acts a local governance structure coupled with local judiciary)?

“O sinless one (Yudhishthira), do you ever cause grief or anger in any one?

“Do priests capable of granting you auspicious fruits ever stand by your side?

“O sinless one, are your inclinations and practices such as I have described them, and as always enhance the duration of life and spread one’s fame and as always help the cause of Dharma, Arthaa, and Kaamaa?

“He who conducts himself according to this way, never finds his kingdom distressed or pained; and that monarch, subjugating the whole earth, enjoys a high degree of happiness.

“O monarch (Yudhishthira), I hope, no well-behaved, pure-souled, and respected person is ever ruined and his life taken, on a false charge or theft, by your ministers ignorant of Shaastraas and acting from greed?

“O bull among men (Yudhishthira), I hope your ministers never from greed set free a real thief, knowing him to be such and having arrested him with the booty about him?

“O Bharata (Yudhisthira), I hope, your ministers are never won over by bribes, nor do they wrongly decide the disputes that arise between the rich and the poor.

“Do you keep yourself free from the fourteen evils of kings – atheism, untruthfulness, anger, incautiousness, delay, non-visit to the wise, idleness, restlessness of mind, taking counsels with only one man, consultation with persons non-familiar with the science of profit, abandonment of a settled plan, let knowing of counsels (to others), non-accomplishment of beneficial projects, and undertaking everything without thought? By these, O king (Yudhishthira), even monarchs firmly seated on their thrones are ruined.

“Has your study of the Vedas, your wealth and knowledge of the Shaastraas and marriage been fruitful?

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘After the Rishi (Narada) had finished, Yudhishthira asked, ‘How, O Rishi, do the Vedas, wealth, wife, and knowledge of the Shaastraas bear fruit?’

“The Rishi (Narada) answered, ‘The Vedas are said to bear fruit when he that has studied them performs Agnihotra and other yagnas. Wealth is said to bear fruit when he that has it enjoyed it himself and gives it away in charity. A wife is said to bear fruit when she is useful and when she bears children. Knowledge of the Shaastras is said to bear fruit when it results in humility and good behaviour.’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘The Maharishi Narada, having answered Yudhishthira thus, again asked that Dharmaraja, ‘Do the officers of your government, O king, that are paid from the taxes levied on the community, take only their proper dues from the merchants that come to your territories from distant lands driven by the desire of gain?

“Are the merchants, O king (Yudhishthira), treated with consideration in your capital and kingdom, capable of bringing their goods there without being deceived by the false pretexts of (both the buyers and the officers of government)?

“Do you always listen, O monarch (Yudhishthira), to the words, filled with instructions in Dharma and Arthaa, of old men acquainted with economic doctrines?

“Are gifts of honey and clarified butter made to Brahmanas intended for the increase of agricultural produce, of cows, of fruits and flowers, and for the sake of Dharma?

“Do you always give, O king (Yudhishthira), regularly to all the artisans and artists employed by you the materials of their works and their wages for periods not more than four months?

“Do you examine the works executed by those that are employed by you, and do you applaud them before good men, and do you reward them, having shown them proper respect?

“O bull of the Bharata race (Yudhishthira), do you follow the principles in respect of every concern particularly those relating to elephants, horses, and chariots?

“O bull of the Bharata race, are the principles relating to Dhanurveda, as also those that relate to the practice of engines in warfare--so useful to towns and fortified places, studied in your court?

“O sinless one (Yudhishthira), are you familiar with all mysterious mantras, and with the secrets of poisons destructive of all enemies?

“Do you protect your kingdom from the fear of fire, of snakes and other animals destructive of life, of disease, and Raakshasaas?

“As acquainted you are with every duty, do you like a father cherish, the blind, the dumb, the lame, the deformed, the friendless, and Rishis that have no homes?

“O monarch (Yudhishthira), have you banished these six evils – sleep, idleness, fear, anger, weakness of mind, and delay?’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘The illustrious bull among the Kurus (Yudhisthira), having heard these words of that best of Brahmanas, bowed down to him and worshipped his feet. Satisfied with everything he heard, the monarch said to Narada of divine form, ‘I shall do all that you have directed, for my knowledge has expanded under your advice!’

“Having said this the king (Yudhishthira) acted conformably to that advice, and gained in time the whole Earth bounded by her belt of seas. Narada again spoke, saying, ‘That king who is thus employed in the protection of four varnas – Brahmanas, Kshatriyaas, Vaishyaas, and Shudraas – passes his days here happily and attains hereafter to the region of Shakra (Indraloka).’”