Yudhishthira said You have described to me the four modes of life. I desire to know more of them. Do you describe them.'

Bhishma said 'O Yudhishthira of mighty-arms, all th duties which are practised in this world by the righteous are known to you and me.

O foremost of virtuous persons, hear now what you ask viz., the merit that a king acquires when the duties are practised by others leading other modes of life.

All the merits, O son of Kunti, which accrue to persons practising the duties of the four modes of life, are partaken of, O foremost of men, by righteous kings.

A king who is not under the influence of lust and hate, who rules with the help of the science of punishment, and who regards all creatures impartially, Yudhishthira, attains to the object of a mendicant's life.

That king, who is possessed of knowledge, who makes gifts to worthy persons on proper occasions, who knows how to favour and punish, who follows the injunctions of the scriptures in all his dealings, and who has tranquility of soul, attains to the object of the Garhasthya mode of life.

That king, who always adores those who are worthy of adorations by having paid them their due, attains, O son of Kunti, to the object of the Bhaikshya mode of life.

That king, O Yudhishthira, who saves from distress, to the best of his ability, the kinsmen and relatives and friends, attains to the object of the Vanaprastha mode of life.

That king, who on every occasion honours the foremost men and foremost of Yatis, attains, O son of Kunti, to the object of the Vanaprastha mode of life.

That king, O Partha, who daily presents offerings to the departed manes and large offerings to all living creatures including men, attains to the object of the same mode of life.

That king, O foremost of men, who attacks the kingdoms of others for protecting the pious, attains to the object of the same mode of life.

For the protection of all the creatures as also of the proper protection of his own kingdom, a king acquires the merit of as many sacrifices as the number of creatures protected, and therefore attains to the object of Sannyasa mode of life.

Study of the Vedas every day, forgiveness, and worship of preceptors and services rendered to one's own teacher, secure the attainment of the object of Brahmacharya.

That king silently recites his mantras every day and who adores the gods according to the ordinance, attains, O foremost of men, to the object of the Garhasthya mode of life.

That king, who fights with the object of protecting his kingdom or meeting with death, attains to the object of the Vanaprastha mode of life.

That king, O Bharata, who always treats all creatures with fairness and sincerity, attains to the object of Vanaprastha mode of life.

That king, who gives to persons leading a Vanaprastha mode of life and to Brahmanas versed in the three Vedas, attains to the object of the Vanaprastha mode of life.

That king, who shows mercy towards all creatures and abstains entirely from cruelty, O Bharata, attains to the object of all the modes of life.

That king, O Yudhishthira, who shows mercy to the young and the old, O son of Kunti, under every circumstance, attains to the objects of all modes of life.

That king, O perpetuator of Kuru's race, who relieves the oppressed who seek refuge with him, attains to the object of the Garhasthya mode of life.

That king, who protects all creatures mobile and immobile, and honours them duly, attains to the object of the Garhasthya mode of life.

Granting favours and inflicting punishments upon the wives of brothers elder and younger and upon their sons and grandsons, constitute the domestic duties of a king and these are also his best penances.

By honouring those who are pious and worthy of adorations and protecting those who have (by their penances) acquired a knowledge of self, a king, O foremost of men, attains to the object of the Garhasthya mode of life.

Inviting to his home, O Bharata, persons who have adopted the Vanaprastha and other modes of life, and feasting them form the domestic duties of a king.

That king who duly follows the duties laid down by the Creator, acquires the blessed merits of all the modes of life.

That king, O son of Kunti, who has all the virtues, that foremost of men, O Yudhishthira, is said by the learned to be a person who follows the Vanaprastha and all the other modes of life.

That king who duly honours the office or rank worthy of honour, the race or family worthy of honour, and those old men who deserve honour, is said, O Yudhishthira, to live in all the modes of life.

A king, O son of Kunti, by following the duties of his country and those of his family, acquires, O foremost of men the merits of all the modes of life.

That king, who at proper seasons gives to pious men riches and precious gifts, earns the merits, O king, of all the modes of life.

That king, O son of Kunti, who even when beset with danger and fear still keeps his eye on the duties of all men, earns the merits of all the modes of life.

The king partakes of the merits acquired under his protection by righteous people of his territories.

On the other hand, if kings, O foremost of men, do not protect the righteous people within their territories they then visited by the sins of the latter.

Those men also, O Yudhishthira, who assist kings (in protecting their subjects), are equally entitled, O sinless one, to a share of the merits acquired by others.

The learned declare that the Garhasthya, which we follow, is superior to all the other modes of life. The conclusions regarding it are very clear. It is certainly sacred, O foremost of men.

That man, who regards all creatures as his own self, who never does any harm and has his anger under control, enjoys great happiness both here and here after.

A king can easily cross the ocean of the world having kingly duties as his fleet boat urged on by the breeze of gifts,, having the scriptures for its tackle and intelligence for the strength of its helmsman, and kept afloat by the power of virtue.

When all attachment for every earthly object, is withdrawn from his heart he is then regarded as one leaving in his understanding alone. In this state he soon attains to Brahma.

Becoming cheerful by meditation and by controlling desire and other passions of the heart, O foremost of men, a king, engaged in discharging the duty of protection, succeeds in acquiring great merit.

Do you, therefore, O Yudhishthira, try your best to protect Brahmanas of pious deeds and devoted to the study of the Vedas, as also all other men.

By following the duty of protection only, o Bharata, the king acquires merit that is a hundred times greater than what is earned by hermits in their asylums in the forest.

I have now described, O eldest son of Pandu, the various duties of men. Do you follow kingly duties which are eternal and that have been practised by great men since days of yore.

If you devote yourself head and soul to the duty of protecting (your subjects), O foremost of men, you may then, O son of Pandu, acquire the merits of all the four modes of life and of all the four orders of men.