ented men, watching for the calamities of the king,
promptly side with the latter's foes, O monarch, in times of danger. An
enemy should not be deceived by unfair means, nor should be wounded
mortally. For, if struck mortally, his very life may pass away.[284] If a
king possessed of little resources be gratified therewith, he would
regard life alone to be much.[285] That king whose dominions are
extensive and full of wealth, whose subjects are loyal, whose servants
and officers are all contented, is said to have his roots firm. That king
whose Ritwijas and priests and preceptors and others about him that are
well-versed in all scriptures and deserving of honours are duly
respected, is said to be conversant with the ways of the world. It was by
such behaviour that Indra got the sovereignty of the world. It is by this
behaviour that earthly kings succeed in obtaining the status of Indra.
King Pratardana, subjugating his foes in a great battle, took all their
wealth, including their very grain and medicinal herbs, but left their
land untouched. King Divodasa, after subjugating his foes, brought away
the very remnants of their sacrificial fires, their clarified butter
(intended for libations), and their food. For this reason he was deprived
of the merit of his conquests.[286] King Nabhaga (after his conquests)
gave away whole kingdoms with their rulers as sacrificial presents unto
the Brahmanas, excepting the wealth of learned Brahmanas and ascetics.
The behaviour, O Yudhishthira, of all the righteous kings of old, was
excellent, and I approve of it wholly. That king who desires his own
prosperity should seek for conquests by the aid of every kind of
excellence but never with that of deceit or with pride."'"

SECTION XCVII

"'Yudhishthira said, "There are no practices, O king, more sinful than
those of the Kshatriyas. In marching or in battle, the king slays large
multitudes.[287] By what acts then does the king win regions of felicity?
O bull of Bharata's race, tell this, O learned one, unto me that desire
to know."

"'Bhishma said, "By chastising the wicked, by attaching and cherishing the
good, by sacrifices and gifts, kings become pure and cleansed. It is
true, kings desirous of victory afflict many creatures, but after victory
they advance and aggrandise all. By the power of gifts, sacrifices, and
penances, they destroy their sins, and their merit increases in order
that they may be able to do good to all creatur