Chapter 2

The Duties of a King

Due to their abundance of valor, learning, and wealth, and especially because of their power, the minds of kings are always prone to delusion for these reasons. // K_004 //

Therefore, the king's mind must always be awakened to the royal duties by the twice-born. He should not transgress the words of the Smṛtis, which are sacred, supreme, and meritorious. // K_005 //

By the power of the sound of the Vedas, the gods dwelling in heaven are also pleased, being satisfied by the worship of the twice-born. // K_006 //

Therefore, the worship of the twice-born must always be diligently performed by kings. Through this, a king attains the state of Indra and kingship again and again. // K_007 //

The lord of the gods, having fallen from heaven, abides in the form of a king. Therefore, he must always perform that by which he may attain his true essence. // K_008 //

Kings who are established in their own sacred duty attain the state of Indra. But those who always deviate from right conduct become dwellers in the Avīci hell. // K_009 //

The king who, without proper investigation, falls under the sway of anger, will undoubtedly dwell in a terrible hell for half a kalpa. // K_010 //

A king should appoint as his minister and counselor a Brahmin endowed with these same qualities, who is devoted to the king and comes from a noble family. // K_011 //

Where the ministers, assessors, and physicians are all flatterers, the sovereign is quickly deprived of his kingdom, righteousness, and happiness. // K_012 //

He should not show anger at the words of these men, for what is just and well-established must always be spoken by them. // K_013 //

Where the king himself oversees matters according to sacred law, there the people, following virtuous conduct, live in happiness. // K_014 //

The constant protection of subjects, the removal of thorns (troublemakers), and the worship of the twice-born—for this purpose was a king created. // K_015 //

The king is traditionally considered the lord of the land, but not of other property at all times. He is to receive a one-sixth share of its produce, and nothing else. // K_016 //

Because living beings dwell upon it, his lordship is declared. From their activities, he receives a one-sixth share as tax, which is the result of their good and bad deeds. // K_017 //

The monarch who acts in this way, having abandoned greed, begets sons, and his kingdom and treasury flourish. // K_018 //

The sovereign who unjustly takes from his kingdom taxes, fines, a share of the crops, and duties becomes a partaker in sin. // K_019 //

He should abandon what is stated in the texts on polity and follow what is stated in the scriptures of Dharma. // K_020 //

One should not destroy the kingdom even of a wicked king, because he does not act unjustly with the consent of his people. // K_021 //

The king who properly delivers justice to a petitioner without causing hardship—this act of righteousness delivers him and becomes infinite. Such is the nature of this gift. // K_022 //

That which is acquired by kings through just conquest, having defeated an enemy, is pure and may be given away. But what is acquired otherwise should never be offered. // K_023 //

A king should appoint as his priest (purohita) a distinguished and beneficial Brahmin, who is accomplished in his studies, free from greed, and truthful. // K_024 //