may pass away.[284] If a king possessed of little resources be gratified therewith, he would regard life alone to be much.[285] That king whose dominions are extensive and full of wealth, whose subjects are loyal, whose servants and officers are all contented, is said to have his roots firm.  That king whose Ritwijas and priests and preceptors and others about him that are well-versed in all scriptures and deserving of honours are duly respected, is said to be conversant with the ways of the world.  It was by such behaviour that Indra got the sovereignty of the world.  It is by this behaviour that earthly kings succeed in obtaining the status of Indra.  King Pratardana, subjugating his foes in a great battle, took all their wealth, including their very grain and medicinal herbs, but left their land untouched.  King Divodasa, after subjugating his foes, brought away the very remnants of their sacrificial fires, their clarified butter (intended for libations), and their food.  For this reason he was deprived of the merit of his conquests.[286] King Nabhaga (after his conquests) gave away whole kingdoms with their rulers as sacrificial presents unto the Brahmanas, excepting the wealth of learned Brahmanas and ascetics.  The behaviour, O Yudhishthira, of all the righteous kings of old, was excellent, and I approve of it wholly.  That king who desires his own prosperity should seek for conquests by the aid of every kind of excellence but never with that of deceit or with pride.’”

SECTION XCVII

“Yudhishthira said.  ’There are no practices, O king, more sinful than those of the Kshatriyas.  In marching or in battle, the king slays large multitudes.[287] By what acts then does the king win regions of felicity?  O bull of Bharata’s race, tell this, O learned one, unto me that desire to know.’

“Bhishma said, ’By chastising the wicked, by attaching and cherishing the good, by sacrifices and gifts, kings become pure and cleansed.  It is true, kings desirous of victory afflict many creatures, but after victory they advance and aggrandise all.  By the power of gifts, sacrifices, and penances, they destroy their sins, and their merit increases in order that they may be able to do good to all creatures.  The reclaimer of a field, for reclaiming it, takes up both paddy-blades and weeds.  His action, however, instead of destroying the blades or paddy, makes them grow more vigorously.  They that wield weapons, destroy many that deserve destruction.  Such extensive destruction, however, causes the growth and advancement of those that remain.  He who protects people from plunder, slaughter, and affliction, in consequence of thus protecting their lives from robbers, comes to be regarded as the giver of wealth, of life, and of food.  The king, therefore, by thus adoring the deities by means of a union of all sacrifices whose Dakshina is the dispelling of everybody’s fear, enjoys every kind of felicity here and attains