n his very
presence, do not show the least anxiety. They do not take what rightfully
belongs to them. On the other hand, without being content with what has
been assigned to them, they appropriate what belongs to the king. They
wish to sport with the king as with a bird tied with a string. And always
give the people to understand that the king is very intimate with them
and loves them dearly. If the king becomes mild and disposed to jest, O
Yudhishthira, these and many other evils spring from it."'"

SECTION LVII

"'Bhishma said, "The king, O Yudhishthira, should always be ready for
action. That king is not worth of praise who, like a woman, is destitute
of exertion. In this connection, the holy Usanas has sung a Sloka, O
monarch. Listen to it with attention, O king, as I recite it to thee:
'Like a snake swallowing up mice, the earth swallows up these two, the
king that is averse to battle and the Brahmana that is exceedingly
attached to wives and children.'[163] It behoveth thee, O tiger among
kings, to bear this always in thy heart. Make peace with those foes with
whom (according to the ordinance) peace should be made, and wage war with
them with whom war should be waged. Be he thy preceptor or be he thy
friend, he that acts inimically towards thy kingdom consisting of seven
limbs, should be slain.[164] There is an ancient Sloka sung by king
Marutta, agreeable to Vrihaspati's opinion, O monarch, about the duty of
kings. According to the eternal provision, there is punishment for even
the preceptor if he becomes haughty and disregardful of what should be
done and what should not, and if he transgresses all restraints. Jadu's
son, king Sagara, of great intelligence, from desire of doing good to the
citizens, exiled his own eldest son Asamanjas. Asamanjas, O king, used to
drown the children of the citizens in the Sarayu. His sire, therefore,
rebuked him and sent him to exile. The Rishi Uddalaka cast off his
favourite son Swetaketu (afterwards) of rigid penances, because the
latter used to invite Brahmanas with deceptive promises of entertainment.
The happiness of their subjects, observance of truth, and sincerity of
behaviour are the eternal duty of kings. The king should not covet the
wealth of others. He should in time give what should be given, If the
king becomes possessed of prowess, truthful in speech, and forgiving in
temper, he would never fall away from prosperity. With soul cleansed of
vices, the king shou