“Bhishma said, ’The Vedas declare that the king is the lord of the wealth that belongs to all persons except Brahmanas, as also of those Brahmanas that are not observant of their proper duties.  The king should not spare those Brahmanas that are not observant of their duties.  The righteous say that this is the ancient custom of kings.  That king, O monarch, in whose dominion a Brahmana becomes a thief, is regarded to be the author of that misdeed.  It is the king that becomes sinful on that account.  In consequence of such a circumstance, kings regard themselves to be worthy of reproach.  All righteous kings, therefore, provide Brahmanas with the means of support.  In this connection is cited the old narrative of the speech made by the king of the Kaikeyas unto a Rakshasa while the latter was about to abduct him away.  Of rigid vows and possessed of Vedic lore, the king of the Kaikeyas, O monarch, while living in the woods, was forcibly seized on a certain occasion by a Rakshasa.’

“The king said, ’There is no thief in my territories, nor any person of wicked behaviour, nor any one that drinks alcohol.  There is no one in my dominions who has not his sacred fire or who does not perform sacrifices.  How then hast thou been able to possess my heart?  There is no Brahmana in my dominions who is not possessed of learning or who is not observant of vows or who has not drunk Soma.  There is no one who has not his sacred fire or who does not perform sacrifices.  How then hast thou been able to possess my soul?  In my dominions no sacrifice has been performed without completing it by Dakshina.  No one in my dominions studies the Vedas who is not observant of vows.  How then hast thou been able to possess my soul?  The Brahmanas in my kingdom teach, study, sacrifice, officiate at other’s sacrifices, give, and receive gifts.  All of them are observant of those six acts.  The Brahmanas in my kingdom are all devoted to the performance of the duties of their order.  Worshipped and provided for, they are mild, and truthful in speech.  How then hast thou been able to possess my soul?  The Kshatriyas in my kingdom are all devoted to the duties or their order.  They never beg but give, and are conversant with truth and virtue.  They never teach but study, and perform sacrifices but never officiate at the sacrifices of others.  They protect the Brahmanas and never fly from battle.  How then hast thou been able to possess my soul?  The Vaisyas in my dominion are all observant of the duties of their order.  With simplicity and without deceit they derive their sustenance from agriculture, cattle-keeping, and trade.  They are all heedful, observant of religious rites and excellent vows, and truthful in speech.  They give to guests what is their due, and self-restrained, and pure, and attached to their relative and kinsmen.  How then hast thou been able to possess my heart?  The Sudras in my kingdom, observant of the duties of their order, humbly and duly serve and wait upon the other three