ADMINISTRATION OF A COUNTRY

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA - SABHA PARVA - LOKAPALA SABHAKHAYANA (UPA) PARVA - CHAPTER 5(B) - ADMINISTRATION OF A COUNTRY

“(Deva Rishi) Narada said, ‘Is the wealth you are earning being spent on proper objects?

“Do you mind take pleasure in Dharma?

“Are you enjoying the pleasures of life?

“Does not your mind sink under their weight?

“O chief of men (Yudhishthira), do you continue in the noble conduct consistent with Dharma and Arthaa practised by your ancestors towards the three classes of citizens, (viz., good, indifferent, and bad)?

“Do you never injure Dharma for the sake of Arthaa, or both Dharma and Arthaa for the sake of Kaamaa that easily seduces?

“O you foremost of victorious men ever devoted to the good of all (Yudhishthira), as you are familiar with the timeliness of everything, do you follow Dharma, Arthaa, Kaamaa and Moksha dividing your time judiciously?

“O sinless one (Yudhishthira), with the six attributes of kings (cleverness of speech, readiness in providing means, intelligence in dealing with the enemy, memory, and acquaintance with morals and politics), do you attend to the seven means (viz., sowing differences, punishment, peace making, gifts, incantations, medicine and magic)?

“Do you also examine, after a survey of your own strength and weakness, the fourteen possessions of your enemies? These (fourteen) are the country, forts, chariots, elephants, cavalry, foot-soldiers, the principal officials of state, the apartments of women, food supply, computations of the army and income, the treatises of Dharma in force, the accounts of state, the revenue, wine-shops and other secret enemies.

“O you foremost of Dharmarajas (Yudhishthira), do you attend to the eight occupations (like agriculture, trade), having examined, your own and your enemy’s means, and having made peace with your enemies?

“O bull of the Bharata race (Yudhishthira), I hope your seven principal officers of state (the Governor of the fort, the Commander of forces, the Chief Judge, the General in Interior Command, the Chief Purohita, the Chief Physician, and the Chief Astrologer), have not succumbed to the influence of your enemies, nor have they, I hope, become idle in consequence of the wealth they have earned? They are, I hope, all obedient to you.

“I hope your advices are never revealed by your trusted spies in disguise, by yourself or by your ministers.

“I hope you have discovered, what your friends, enemies and strangers are about.

“Do you make peace and make war at proper times?

“Do you observe neutrality towards strangers and persons that are neutral towards you?

“O Veera (Yudhishthira), have you made persons like yourself, persons that are old, controlled in behaviour, capable of understanding what should be done and what should not, pure as regards birth and blood, and devoted to you, your ministers?

“O Bharata (Yudhishthira), the victories of kings can be attributed to good advices.

“O child (Yudhishthira), is your kingdom protected by ministers learned in Shaastraas, keeping their counsels close? Are your enemies unable to injure it?

“Have you not become the slave of sleep? Do you wake at the proper time?

“Familiar with pursuits yielding Arthaa, do you think, during the small hours of night, as to what you should do and what you should not do the next day?

“Do you settle nothing alone (i.e. without taking counsels from Ministers), nor taking counsels with many?

“The counsels you have determined upon, does it not become known all over your kingdom?

“Do you soon commence to accomplish measures of great utility that are easy of accomplishment? Are such measures are never obstructed?

“Do you keep the agriculturists not out of your sight? Do they do not fear to approach thee?

“Do you achievest your measures through persons that are trusted, incorruptible, and possessed of practical experience?

“O brave king (Yudhishthira), I hope, people only know the measures already accomplished by you and those that have been partially accomplished and are awaiting completion, but not those that are only in examination and uncommenced?

“Have experienced teachers capable of explaining the causes of things and learned in the science of morals and every branch of learning, been appointed to instruct the princes and the chiefs of the army?

“Do you buy a single learned man by giving in exchange a thousand ignorant individuals? The man that is learned provides the greatest benefit in seasons of distress.

“Are your forts always filled with treasure, food, weapons, water, engines and instruments, as also with engineers and bowmen?

“Even a single minister that is intelligent, brave, with his passions under complete control, and possessed of wisdom and judgment, is capable of conferring the highest prosperity on a king or a king’s son. I ask you, therefore, whether there is even one such minister with you?

“Do you seek to know everything about the eighteen Teerthaas of the enemies (Minister, Purohita, Prince, Commander of the army, Gatekeepers, Officer of the queen’s apartment, Jail Administrator, Treasurer, the one who spends the state finance, the one who executes the command, the City Administrator, the executor of the punishment, the Judge, the Head of the Sabha, the Jury, the one who issues direction of action, the Border security and the forest officer) and fifteen of your own (Commander of the army, Gatekeepers, Officer of the queen’s apartment, Jail Administrator, Treasurer, the one who spends the state finance, the one who executes the command, the City Administrator, the executor of the punishment, the Judge, the Head of the Sabha, the Jury, the one who issues direction of action, the Border security and the forest officer) by means of three and three spies all non-familiar with one another?