01-01
प्रणम्य शिरसा विष्णुं त्रैलोक्याधिपतिं प्रभुम् ।
नानाशास्त्रोद्धृतं वक्ष्ये राजनीतिसमुच्चयम् ॥ ०१-०१ ॥
Bowing my head to Viṣṇu, the Lord, the overlord of the three worlds, I shall now expound a compendium of political science and ethics, drawn from various scriptures.
01-02
अधीत्येदं यथाशास्त्रं नरो जानाति सत्तमः ।
धर्मोपदेशविख्यातं कार्याकार्यं शुभाशुभम् ॥ ०१-०२ ॥
Having studied this in accordance with the precepts of the treatises, a man, however excellent, comes to know what is righteous and what is unrighteous, what is to be done and what is not to be done, what is auspicious and what is inauspicious.
01-03
तदहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि लोकानां हितकाम्यया ।
येन विज्ञातमात्रेण सर्वज्ञात्वं प्रपद्यते ॥ ०१-०३ ॥
Therefore, out of a sincere desire for the welfare of all people, I shall fully expound this work, through the mere knowledge of which a person attains omniscience.
01-04
मूर्खशिष्योपदेशेन दुष्टस्त्रीभरणेन च ।
दुःखितैः सम्प्रयोगेण पण्डितोऽप्यवसीदति ॥ ०१-०४ ॥
Even a wise man is brought to ruin through instructing a foolish pupil, maintaining a wicked wife, and intimately associating with the miserable.
01-05
दुष्टा भार्या शठं मित्रं भृत्यश्चोत्तरदायकः ।
ससर्पे च गृहे वासो मृत्युरेव न संशयः ॥ ०१-०५ ॥
A wicked wife, a deceitful friend, a servant who answers back, and dwelling in a house with a serpent — these are verily death itself, there is no doubt.
01-06
आपदर्थे धनं रक्षेद्दारान् रक्षेद्धनैरपि ।
आत्मानं सततं रक्षेद्दारैरपि धनैरपि ॥ ०१-०६ ॥
One should guard wealth for times of calamity; one should protect one's wife even with that wealth; but one should always protect one's own self, even with one's wife and one's wealth.
01-07
आपदर्थे धनं रक्षेच्छ्रीमतां कुत आपदः ।
कदाचिच्चलते लक्ष्मीः सञ्चितोऽपि विनश्यति ॥ ०१-०७ ॥
Guard your wealth for times of misfortune, for what misfortune can befall the wealthy? Yet fortune is ever fickle; even accumulated wealth can be destroyed.
01-08
यस्मिन्देशे न सम्मानो न वृत्तिर्न च बान्धवाः ।
न च विद्यागमोऽप्यस्ति वासं तत्र न कारयेत् ॥ ०१-०८ ॥
One should not make a dwelling in a country where there is no honour, no livelihood, no kinsmen, and no opportunity for acquiring learning.
01-09
धनिकः श्रोत्रियो राजा नदी वैद्यस्तु पञ्चमः ।
पञ्च यत्र न विद्यन्ते न तत्र दिवसं वसेत् ॥ ०१-०९ ॥
Where these five are not found — a creditor, a Vedic scholar, a king, a river, and a physician as the fifth — there one should not reside for even a single day.
01-10
लोकयात्रा भयं लज्जा दाक्षिण्यं त्यागशीलता ।
पञ्च यत्र न विद्यन्ते न कुर्यात्तत्र संस्थितिम् ॥ ०१-१० ॥
Where these five do not exist — sustenance of worldly commerce, a sense of fear, a sense of shame, a sense of propriety, and a generous disposition — one should not take up permanent residence.
01-11
जानीयात्प्रेषणे भृत्यान्बान्धवान् व्यसनागमे ।
मित्रं चापत्तिकालेषु भार्यां च विभवक्षये ॥ ०१-११ ॥
One comes to know a servant when sent on an errand, a kinsman when adversity arrives, a friend in times of calamity, and a wife when one's wealth is destroyed.
01-12
आतुरे व्यसने प्राप्ते दुर्भिक्षे शत्रुसङ्कटे ।
राजद्वारे श्मशाने च यस्तिष्ठति स बान्धवः ॥ ०१-१२ ॥
He alone is a true kinsman who stands by one in sickness, in adversity, in famine, when surrounded by enemies, at the king's gate, and at the cremation ground.
01-13
यो ध्रुवाणि परित्यज्य अध्रुवं परिषेवते ।
ध्रुवाणि तस्य नश्यन्ति चाध्रुवं नष्टमेव हि ॥ ०१-१३ ॥
He who abandons the certain to pursue the uncertain loses the certain, and the uncertain is already lost.
01-14
वरयेत्कुलजां प्राज्ञो विरूपामपि कन्यकाम् ।
रूपशीलां न नीचस्य विवाहः सदृशे कुले ॥ ०१-१४ ॥
A wise man should choose a maiden of noble family even if she is unattractive, rather than one of low birth who is beautiful and well-mannered; marriage should be within an equal family.
01-15
नदीनां शस्त्रपाणीनां नखीनां शृङ्गिणां तथा ।
विश्वासो नैव कर्तव्यः स्त्रीषु राजकुलेषु च ॥ ०१-१५ ॥
One must never place trust in rivers, in those who bear weapons, in those with claws or horns, in women, or in royal families.
01-16
विषादप्यमृतं ग्राह्यममेध्यादपि काञ्चनम् ।
अमित्रादपि सद्वृत्तं बालादपि सुभाषितम् ॥ ०१-१६ ॥
Even from poison, nectar should be taken; even from filth, gold should be taken; even from an enemy, good conduct should be taken; and even from a child, a well-spoken word should be taken.
01-17
स्त्रीणां द्विगुण आहारो लज्जा चापि चतुर्गुणा ।
साहसं षड्गुणं चैव कामश्चाष्टगुणः स्मृतः ॥ ०१-१७ ॥
In women, appetite is twofold, modesty fourfold, rashness sixfold, and desire, it is said, eightfold.