with one another? O slayer of all foes, watchest
thou all thy enemies with care and attention, and
unknown to them? Is the priest thou honourest,
possessed of humility, and purity of blood, and renown,
and without jealousy and illiberality? Hath any
well-behaved, intelligent, and guileless Brahmana,
well-up in the ordinance, been employed by thee in
the performance of thy daily rites before the sacred
fire, and doth he remind thee in proper time as to
when thy homa should be performed? Is the astrologer
thou hast employed skilled in reading physiognomy,
capable of interpreting omens, and competent to neutralise
the effect of the disturbances of nature? Have
respectable servants been employed by thee in offices
that are respectable, indifferent ones in indifferent
offices, and low ones in offices that are low?
Hast thou appointed to high offices ministers that
are guileless and of well conduct for generations and
above the common run? Oppressest thou not thy
people with cruel and severe punishment? And,
O bull of the Bharata race, do thy ministers rule
thy kingdom under thy orders? Do thy ministers
ever slight thee like sacrificial priests slighting
men that are fallen (and incapable of performing any
more sacrifices) or like wives slighting husbands that
are proud and incontinent in their behaviour?
Is the commander of thy forces possessed of sufficient
confidence, brave, intelligent, patient, well-conducted,
of good birth, devoted to thee, and competent?
Treatest thou with consideration and regard the chief
officers of thy army that are skilled in every kind
of welfare, are forward, well-behaved, and endued
with prowess? Givest thou to thy troops their
sanctioned rations and pay in the appointed time?
Thou dost not oppress them by withholding these?
Knowest thou that the misery caused by arrears of pay
and irregularity in the distribution of rations driveth
the troops to mutiny, and that is called by the learned
to be one of the greatest of mischiefs? Are all
the principal high-born men devoted to thee, and ready
with cheerfulness to lay down their lives in battle
for thy sake? I hope no single individual of
passions uncontrolled is ever permitted by thee to
rule as he likes a number of concerns at the same time
appertaining to the army? Is any servant of thine,
who hath accomplished well a particular business by
the employment of special ability, disappointed in
obtaining from thee a little more regard, and an increase
of food and pay? I hope thou rewardest persons
of learning and humility, and skill in every kind
of knowledge with gifts of wealth and honour proportionate
to their qualifications. Dost thou support, O
bull in the Bharata race, the wives and children of
men that have given their lives for thee and have
been distressed on thy account? Cherishest thou,
O son of Pritha, with paternal affection the foe that
hath been weakened, or him also that hath sought thy
shelter, having been vanquished in battle? O lord
of Earth, art thou equal unto all men, and can every