“Bhishma continued, ’Thus addressed by Utathya, O Bharata, Mandhatri, unhesitatingly did as he was directed, and became the sole lord of the wide earth.  Do thou also, O king, act righteously like Mandhatri.  Thou wilt then, after ruling the earth, obtain an abode in heaven.’”

SECTION XCII

“Yudhishthira said, ’How should a righteous king, who is desirous of adhering to a course of righteousness, behave?  I ask thee this, O foremost of men!  Answer me, O Grandsire!’

“Bhishma said, ’In this connection is cited the old story of what Vamadeva gifted with great intelligence and acquainted with the true import of everything sang in ancient time.  Once upon a time, king Vasumanas, possessed of knowledge and fortitude and purity of behaviour, asked the great Rishi Vamadeva of high ascetic merit, saying, ’Instruct me, O holy one, in words fraught with righteousness and of grave impart, as to the conduct to be observed by me so that I may not fall away from the duties prescribed for me.’  Unto him of a golden complexion and seated at his ease like Yayati, son of Nahusha, that foremost of ascetics, viz., Vamadeva, of great energy, said as follows: 

“Vamadeva said, ’Do thou act righteously.  There is nothing superior to righteousness.  Those kings that are observant of righteousness, succeed in conquering the whole earth.  That king who regards righteousness to be the most efficacious means for accomplishing his objects, and who acts according to the counsels of those that are righteous, blazes forth with righteousness.  That king who disregards righteousness and desires to act with brute force, soon falls away from righteousness and loses both Righteousness and Profit.  That king who acts according to the counsels of a vicious and sinful minister becomes a destroyer of righteousness and deserves to be slain by his subjects with all his family.  Indeed, he very soon meets with destruction.  That king who is incompetent to discharge the duties of state-craft, who is governed by caprice in all his acts, and who indulges in brag, soon meets with destruction even if he happens to be ruler of the whole earth.  That king, on the other hand, who is desirous of prosperity, who is free from malice, who has his senses under control, and who is gifted with intelligence, thrives in affluence like the ocean swelling with the waters discharged into it by a hundred streams.  He should never consider himself to have a sufficiency of virtue, enjoyments, wealth, intelligence, and friends.  Upon these depends the conduct of the world.  By listening to these counsels, a king obtains fame’, achievements, prosperity, and subjects.  Devoted to virtue, that king who seeks the acquisition of virtue and wealth by such means, and who begins all his measures after reflecting upon their objects, succeeds in obtaining great prosperity.  That king who is illiberal, and without affection, who afflicts his