thou like the god of justice himself unto those that deserve punishment
and those that deserve worship, unto those that are dear to thee and those
that thou likest not? O son of Pritha, seekest thou to cure bodily
diseases by medicines and fasts, and mental illness with the advice of the
aged? I hope that the physicians engaged in looking after thy health are
well conversant with the eight kinds of treatment and are all attached and
devoted to thee. Happeneth it ever, O monarch, that from covetousness or
folly or pride thou failest to decide between the plaintiff and the
defendant who have come to thee? Deprivest thou, through covetousness or
folly, of their pensions the proteges who have sought thy shelter from
trustfulness or love? Do the people that inhabit thy realm, bought by thy
foes, ever seek to raise disputes with thee, uniting themselves with one
another? Are those amongst thy foes that are feeble always repressed by
the help of troops that are strong, by the help of both counsels and
troops? Are all the principal chieftains (of thy empire) all devoted to
thee? Are they ready to lay down their lives for thy sake, commanded by
thee? Dost thou worship Brahmanas and wise men according to their merits
in respect of various branches of learning? I tell thee, such worship is
without doubt, highly beneficial to thee. Hast thou faith in the religion
based on the three Vedas and practised by men who have gone before thee?
Dost thou carefully follow the practices that were followed by them? Are
accomplished Brahmanas entertained in thy house and in thy presence with
nutritive and excellent food, and do they also obtain pecuniary gifts at
the conclusion of those feasts? Dost thou, with passions under complete
control and with singleness of mind, strive to perform the sacrifices
called Vajapeya and Pundarika with their full complement of rites? Bowest
thou unto thy relatives and superiors, the aged, the gods, the ascetics,
the Brahmanas, and the tall trees (banian) in villages, that are of so
much benefit to people? O sinless one, causest thou ever grief or anger in
any one? Do priests capable of granting thee auspicious fruits ever stand