39.
Indra, the sun, the god of wind, Yama, the ocean, the moon, the earth, and the god of rain—these eight should be borne in mind by the king.[1]
40.
As Sakka, the king of devas, exalts or degrades creatures according as they deserve exaltation or degradation, like him should a king also act.
41.
As the sun (gradually) dries up the water during eight months, so should the king, who is like the sun, exact taxes in his kingdom.[2]
42.
As the air (unobserved) reaches all creatures, so should the king know all about his people by means of spies:[3] this secrecy is the character of the wind.
43.
As the king of death, at the right moment brings about the death of one whom he loves or one whom he hates, even so should a king inflict punishment upon one who deserves punishment: this infliction of punishment is the character of Yama.[4]
44.
As small streams fill the ocean without the ocean mak-
- ↑ "He is fire and wind; he is the sun, the moon, the king of justice (Yama); the is Kuvera; Varuṇa, he great Indra in grandeur." —Manu, vii. 70. It is said that the Creator organised a king by drawing forth eternal particles (mâtrâḥ ṡâṡvatîḥ) from the essence of these eight.
- ↑ Compare Manu, vii. 129: "As the leech (water animal), calf, and insect eat their food little by little, so yearly taxes are taken little by little from the kingdom by the king."
- ↑ Spies are spoken of as the "eyes" of a king; if he has not one, he is called "blind." See Hitopadeśa, iii. 37; Manu, ix. 256; Vishṇu, iii. 35.
- ↑ Punishment is personified as the son of Îc̣vara and spoken of as "the protector of all beings." For remarks on the infliction of punishment, see Manu, vii. 13–31.
