examining them well in offices they deserve? O monarch, employest thou in
thy business persons that are thievish or open to temptation, or hostile,
or minors? Persecutest thou thy kingdom by the help of thievish or
covetous men, or minors, or women? Are the agriculturists in thy kingdom
contented. Are large tanks and lakes constructed all over thy kingdom at
proper distances, without agriculture being in thy realm entirely
dependent on the showers of heaven? Are the agriculturists in thy kingdom
wanting in either seed or food? Grantest thou with kindness loans (of
seed-grains) unto the tillers, taking only a fourth in excess of every
measure by the hundred? O child, are the four professions of agriculture,
trade, cattle-rearing, and lending at interest, carried on by honest men?
Upon these O monarch, depends the happiness of thy people. O king, do the
five brave and wise men, employed in the five offices of protecting the
city, the citadel, the merchants, and the agriculturists, and punishing
the criminals, always benefit thy kingdom by working in union with one
another? For the protection of thy city, have the villages been made like
towns, and the hamlets and outskirts of villages like villages? Are all
these entirely under thy supervision and sway? Are thieves and robbers
that sack thy town pursued by thy police over the even and uneven parts of
thy kingdom? Consolest thou women and are they protected in thy realm? I
hope thou placest not any confidence in them, nor divulgest any secret
before any of them? O monarch, having heard of any danger and having
reflected on it also, liest thou in the inner apartments enjoying every
agreeable object? Having slept during the second and the third divisions
of the night, thinkest thou of religion and profit in the fourth division
wakefully. O son of Pandu, rising from bed at the proper time and dressing
thyself well, showest thou thyself to thy people, accompanied by ministers
conversant with the auspiciousness or otherwise of moments? O represser of
all foes, do men dressed in red and armed with swords and adorned with
ornaments stand by thy side to protect thy person? O monarch! behavest