When the king, who is powerful acts unfairly towards the Weak, persons born in his family imitate the same conduct.

Others, again, imitate that wretch who commits sins. Such imitation of the man who does not care for restraints soon brings destruction upon the kingdom.

The conduct of a king, who observes his proper duties, is accepted by men in general as a model for imitation. The conduct, however, of a king, who deviates from his duties, is not tolerated by his very kinsmen.

That rash king, who, neglecting the injunctions laid down in scriptures, acts with high-handedness in his kingdom, very soon meets with fall.

That Kshatriya, who does not follow the conduct observed from days of yore by other Kshatriyas conquered or unconquered, deviates from Kshatriyas duties.

Having captured in battle a royal enemy that did some good to the conqueror on a former occasion, that king, who, does not, out of malice, honour him, is said to deviate from Kshatriya duties.

The king should show his power, live merrily, and do what is necessary in times of danger. Such a king is loved of all creatures and never falls away from prosperity.

If you do evil to any person, you should, when the times comes, do him good. One who is not loved becomes an object of love if he does what is good.

Falsehoods should be avoided. You should do good to others without being asked for the same. You should never abandon righteousness from lust or anger or malice.

Do not reply harshly when questioned by anybody. Do not utter mean words. Never be in a hurry to do anything. Never cherish malice. By such means an enemy is won over.

Do not be overjoyed when anything pleasant occurs, nor give away to sorrow when anything disagreeable occurs. Never grieve when your wealth is exhausted, and always remember the duty of doing good to your subjects.

That king, who always does what is agreeable by natural inclination, acquires success in all his undertakings and is never shorn of prosperity.

The king should always, carefully, cherish that devoted servant who abstains from doing injury to his master and who always does what is for his good.

He should employ in responsible offices persons who have controlled their senses, who are devotedly loyal and of pure conduct, and who are able.

That person, who by possessing such qualifications, pleases the king and who never neglects to take care of the interests of his master, should be appointed by the king in the affairs of his kingdom.

On the other hand, the king becomes shorn of prosperity by appointing to important offices men who are fools and slaves of their senses, who are covetous and of disreputable conduct, who are deceitful and hypocritical, who are minded, and addicted to drink, gambling, women, and hunting.

That king, who, first protecting his own self, protects others worthy of protection, feels the satisfaction of seeing his subjects prosper. Such a king succeeds also in acquiring greatness.

A king should, by devoted secret agents, watch the conduct and acts of other kings. By such means can he acquire superiority.

Having injured a powerful king, one should not comfort himself with the idea that the injurer lives at a great distance from the injured. Such kings when injured attack the injurer like the hawk swooping down upon its : prey, in careless moments.

A king, whose power has been consolidated and who is confident of his own strength, should attack a neighbour who is weaker than himself but never who is stronger.

Having acquired the sovereignty of the Earth by prowess, a virtuous king should protect his subjects fairly and kill enemies in battle

Everything belonging to this world is liable to destruction. Nothing here is lasting. Therefore, the king, following righteousness, should protect his subjects righteously.

The defence of forts, battle, administration of justice, consultations on questions of policy, and keeping the subjects of happiness, these five increase the dominions of a king.

That king who takes proper care of these is considered to be the best of kings. By always doing these, a king succeeds in protecting his kingdom.

It is impossible, however, for one man to look after all these matters at all times. Transferring such supervision to his ministers, a king may govern the Earth for ever,

The people select such a person as their king who is liberal, who shares all objects of enjoyment with others, who is mild by nature, who is of pure conduct, and who will never forsake his subjects.

He is obeyed in the world who, having listened to the advice of the wise, accepts them, leaving aside his own opinions.

That king, who does not accept the advice of a well-wisher for its being opposed to his own views, who listens with inattention to what is said to him in opposition to his views, and who does not always follow the conduct of high and noble persons conquered or unconquered, deviates from the duties of Kshatriyas.

From ministers, who have once been chastised, from women in particular, from mountains and inaccessible quarrels, from elephants and horses and reptiles, the king should always carefully guard himself. That king, who, leaving his chief ministers, makes favourites of low persons, soon falls into distress and never succeeds in attaining his objects.

That weak king, who, under the influence of anger and malice, does not love and honour those amongst his kinsmen, who are endued never with good qualities, is said to live on the very brink of destruction.

That king, who wins over accomplished persons by doing good to them even though he may not like them heartily, succedes in enjoying fame for ever.

You should impose taxes unseasonably. You should not be sorry at the occurrence of anything disagreeable, nor rejoice exceedingly at anything agreeable. You should always try to accomplish good acts.

You should always determine who amongst the dependent kings is truly devoted to you, and who is loyal to you from fear, and who amongst them has faults.

The king, even if he be powerful, should trust the weak, for in moments of carelessness the weak may attack the powerful like a flock of vultures seizing their prey.

A sinful man seeks to injure his master even if the latter be sweet-speeched and endued with every accomplishment. Do not, therefore, repose confidence in such men.

Nahusha's son Yayati, in describing the mysteries of king-craft, said that a person in ruling men should kill even contemptible foes.