Mahābhārata

M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said 'Regarding it, persons well read in the scriptures declare this text about duty, viz., for a learned and intelligent Kshatriya, (the acquisition) of religious merit and wealth is his obvious duty. By ingenuous discussions on duty and about the future world, he should not, abstain from performing those two duties.

M. N. Dutt: As it is useless, upon seeing certain footprints on the ground, to argue, whether they are the wolf's or not, is all discussion regarding the nature of righteousness and unrighteousness. Nobody in this world ever witnesses the fruits of righteousness and unrighteousness.

M. N. Dutt: A Kshatriya, therefore, should try to acquire power. A powerful person is master of everything. Wealth secures the possession of an army. He, who is powerful, gets intelligent advisers.

M. N. Dutt: He is truly degraded who has no wealth. A little is considered as the filthy residue of a feast. If a strong men commits even many bed deeds, nobody, through fear, speaks ill of him. If Righteousness and Power be associated with Truth, they can save men from great dangers.

Corresponding verse not found in M. N. Dutt's version.

M. N. Dutt: If, however, the two be compared, Power will appear as superior to Righteousness. From Power originates Righteousness. Righteousness depends upon Power as all immobile things upon the Earth.

M. N. Dutt: If, however, the two be compared, Power will appear as superior to Righteousness. From Power originates Righteousness. Righteousness depends upon Power as all immobile things upon the Earth. As smoke depends upon the wind, so Righteousness depends upon Power. Righteousness which is the weaker of the two depends upon a tree.

M. N. Dutt: Righteousness depends on the powerful does as pleasure on the pleasure hunters. There is nothing which powerful men cannot do. Everything is pure with the powerful.

M. N. Dutt: By committing evil acts, a powerless men, can never escape. Men fear his conduct even as they are alarmed on seeing a wolf.

M. N. Dutt: One becoming poor after being rich leads a life of humiliation and sorrow. A life of humiliation and censure is like death itself.

M. N. Dutt: The learned have said that when on account of one's sinful deeds he is forsaken by friends and companions, he is cut again and again by the wordy arrows of others and has to burn with grief on that account.

M. N. Dutt: Teachers of scriptures have held that for the expiation of sins one should study the three Vedas, serve and adore the Brahmanas, please all men by looks, words, and acts, shake off all meanness, merry in high families, sing the praises of others while admitting his own worthlessness, recite Mantras, perform the usual water-rites, assume a mildness of conduct, and abstain from too much speaking, and practise austere penances, seek refuge with the Brahmanas and Kshatriyas. Indeed, one who has perpretrated many evil acts, should do all this, without being angry at the censures of other man.

M. N. Dutt: By behaving thus, one is soon purged off of all his sins and wins the esteem of the world. Indeed, one acquires great respect in this world and meed in the next, and enjoys various sorts of happiness here by behaving thus and by sharing his riches with others.'