VI. in their turn, according to the sacred ordinances, CHAP. ' lead the Bráhmen, who acts by the preceding rules, to the highest mansion: 89. But of all those, the house-keeper, observing 'the regulations of the Sruti and Smriti, may be called the chief; since he supports the three other ' orders. 6 90. As all rivers, female and male, run to their ' determined place in the sea, thus men of all other ' orders, repair to their fixed place in the mansion of the house-keeper. 91. By Bráhmens, placed in these four orders, a 'ten-fold system of duties must ever be sedulously practised: 92. Content, returning good for evil, resistance to 'sensual appetites, abstinence from illicit gain, puri'fication, coercion of the organs, knowledge of scrip' ture, knowledge of the Supreme Spirit, veracity, and freedom from wrath, form their tenfold system ' of duties. 93. Such Bráhmens, as attentively read the ten precepts of duty, and after reading, carefully prac'tise them, attain the most exalted condition. 94. A Bráhmen having practised, with organs under 'command, this ten-fold system of duty, having heard the Upanishads explained, as the law directs, and ' who has discharged his three debts, may become an 2 B 6 anchorite, СНАР. VI. anchorite, in the house of his son, according to the • Véda; 95. And, having abandoned all ceremonial acts, having expiated all his offences, having obtained a command over his organs, and having perfectly ' understood the scripture, he may live at his ease, ' while the household affairs are conducted by his 6 son. 96. When he thus has relinquished all forms, is 'intent on his own occupation, and free from every 'other desire, when, by devoting himself to God, he has effaced sin, he then attains the supreme path of 'glory. 6 6 97. THIS four-fold regulation for the sacerdotal class, has thus been made known to you; a just ' regulation, producing endless fruit after death: next, learn the duty of kings, or the military class. CHAP. CHAP. VII. On Government, and Publick Law; or on the Military Class. 1. I WILL fully declare the duty of kings; and show CHAP. how a ruler of men should conduct himself, in what VII. manner he was framed, and how his ultimate re'ward may be attained by him. 2. By a man of the military class, who has received in due form the investiture which the Véda prescribes, 'great care must be used to maintain the whole assemblage of laws. 3. Since, if the world had no king, it would quake on all sides through fear, the ruler of this universe, 'therefore, created a king, for the maintenance of this 'system, both religious and civil, 4. Forming him of eternal particles drawn from the 'substance of INDRA, PAVANA, YAMA, SURYA, of AGNI ' and VARUNA, of CHANDRA and CUVE'RA: 5. And since a king was composed of particles drawn 'from those chief guardian deities, he consequently surpasses all mortals in glory. 6. Like the sun, he burns eyes and hearts; nor 7. He is fire and air; he, both sun and moon; he, the god of criminal justice; he, the genius of wealth; CHAP. he, the regent of waters; he, the lord of the firma 8. A king, even though a child, must not be treated lightly, from an idea that he is a mere mortal: no; ' he is a powerful divinity, who appears in a human 'shape. 9. Fire burns only one person, who carelessly goes 'too near it; but the fire of a king in wrath burns a whole family, with all their cattle and goods. 10. Fully considering the business before him, his ' own force, and the place, and the time, he assumes in succession all sorts of forms, for the sake of advancing justice. 11. ‘He, sure, must be the perfect essence of majesty, by whose favour Abundance rises on her lotos, in whose valour dwells conquest; in whose anger, • death. 12. He, who shews hatred of the king, through ' delusion of mind, will certainly perish; for speedily will the king apply his heart to that man's perdi' tion. 13. LET the king prepare a just compensation for 'the good, and a just punishment for the bad: the rule of strict justice let him never transgress. 14. For his use BRAHMA' formed in the beginning of 'time the genius of punishment, with a body of pure light, his own son, even abstract criminal justice, the protector of all created things: Through 15. 6 VII. 15. Through fear of that genius, all sentient beings, CHAP. whether fixed or locomotive, are fitted for natural enjoyments and swerve not from duty. 16. When the king, therefore, has fully considered place and time, and his own strength, and the divine ordinance, let him justly inflict punishment on all those, who act unjustly. 17. Punishment is an active ruler; he is the true manager of publick affairs; he is the dispenser of laws; and wise men call him the sponsor of all the four orders for the discharge of their several ' duties. 18. Punishment governs all mankind; punishment ' alone preserves them; punishment wakes, while their guards are asleep; the wise consider punishment as 'the perfection of justice. 19. When rightly and considerately inflicted, it 'makes all the people happy; but, inflicted without 'full consideration, it wholly destroys them all. 20. If the king were not, without indolence, to punish the guilty, the stronger would roast the weaker, ' like fish, on a spit; (or, according to one reading, the stronger would oppress the weaker, like fish in their <element ;) 6 6 6 21. The crow would peck the consecrated offering of rice; the dog would lick the clarified butter; owner ship would remain with none; the lowest would overset the highest. 22. The |