rn. Let thy servants, skilled in
battle, be always attentive to their duties. It is desirable that they
should be skilful in the management of steeds. O delighter of the Kurus,
attend to the wants of thy kinsmen and friends. Be thou surrounded with
friends and relatives. Seek thou the good of thy city. By citing the
precedent of the dog I have instructed thee about the duties thou
shouldst adopt towards thy subjects. What further dost thou wish to
hear?"'"

SECTION CXX

"'Yudhishthira said, "Thou hast, O Bharata, discoursed upon the many
duties of king-craft that were observed and laid down in days of old by
persons of ancient times conversant with kingly duties. Thou hast,
indeed, spoken in detail of those duties as approved by the wise. Do
thou, however, O bull of Bharata's race, speak of them in such a way that
one may succeed in retaining them in memory."[353]

"'Bhishma said, "The protection of all creatures is regarded as the
highest duty of the Kshatriya. Listen now to me, O king, as to how the
duty of protection is to be exercised. A king conversant with his duties
should assume many forms even as the peacock puts forth plumes of diverse
hues. Keenness, crookedness, truth, and sincerity, are the qualities that
should be present in him. With thorough impartiality, he should practise
the qualities of goodness if he is to earn felicity. He must assume that
particular hue or form which is beneficial in view of the particular
object which he seeks to accomplish.[354] A king who can assume diverse
forms succeeds in accomplishing even the most subtle objects. Dumb like
the peacock in autumn, he should conceal his counsel. He should speak
little, and the little he speaks should be sweet. He should be of good
features and well versed in the scriptures. He should always be heedful
in respect of those gates through which dangers may come and overtake
him, like men taking care of breaks in embankments through which the
waters of large tanks may rush and flood their fields and houses. He
should seek the refuge of Brahmanas crowned with ascetic success even as
men seek the refuge of lordly rivers generated by the rain-water
collected within mountain lakes. That king who desires to amass wealth
should act like religious hypocrites in the matter of keeping a coronal
lock.[355] The king should always have the rod of chastisement uplifted
in his hands. He should always act heedfully (in the matter of levying
his taxes) aft