SECTION V

“Vaisampayana said, ’Having received the king’s permission, king Dhritarashtra of great energy then proceeded to his own palace, followed by Gandhari.  With weakened strength and slow motion, that king of great intelligence walked with difficulty, like the leader, worn out with age, of an elephantine herd.  He was followed by Vidura of great learning, and his charioteer Sanjaya, as also that mighty bowman Kripa, the son of Saradwata.  Entering his mansion, O king, he went through the morning rites and after gratifying many foremost of Brahmanas he took some food.  Gandhari conversant with every duty, as also Kunti of great intelligence, worshipped with offers of various articles by their daughters-in-law, then took some food, O Bharata.  After Dhritarashtra had eaten, and Vidura also and others had done the same, the Pandavas, having finished their meals, approached and sat around the old king.  Then the son of Amvika, O monarch, addressing Kunti’s son who was seated near him and touching his back with his hand, said, ’Thou shouldst always, O delighter of the Kurus, act without heedlessness as regards everything connected with thy kingdom consisting of eight limbs, O foremost of rulers, and in which the claims of righteousness should ever be kept foremost.[7] Thou art possessed, O son of Kunti, of intelligence and learning.  Listen to me, O king, as I tell thee what the means are by which, O son of Pandu, the kingdom is capable of being righteously protected.  Thou shouldst always, O Yudhishthira, honour those persons that are old in learning.  Thou shouldst listen to what they would say, and act accordingly without any scruple.  Rising at dawn, O king, worship them with due rites, and when the time comes for action, thou shouldst consult them about thy (intended) acts.  When, led by the desire of knowing what would be beneficial to thee in respect of thy measures, thou honourest them; they will, O son, always declare what is for thy good, O Bharata.  Thou shouldst always keep thy senses, as thou keepest thy horses.  They will then prove beneficial to thee, like wealth that is not wasted.  Thou shouldst employ only such ministers as have passed the tests of honesty, (i.e., as are possessed of loyalty, disinterestedness, continence, and courage), as are hereditary officers of state, possessed of pure conduct, self-restrained, clever in the discharge of business, and endued with righteous conduct.  Thou shouldst always collect information through spies in diverse disguises, whose faithfulness have been tasted, who are natives of thy kingdom, and who should not be known to thy foes.  Thy citadel should be properly protected with strong walls and arched gates.  On every side the walls, with watch-towers on them standing close to one another, should be such as to admit of six persons walking side by side on their top.[8] The gates should all be large and sufficiently strong.  Kept in proper places