Mahābhārata

M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Regarding the way in which a king should fill his treasury, persons will read in the scriptures of olden days, cite the following verses sung by Brahmana himself.

M. N. Dutt: The wealth of persons who celebrate sacrifices, as also the wealth dedicated to the deities, should never be taken. A Kshatriya should take the wealth of such persons as never perform religious rites and sacrifices, and who are, therefore, considered to be equal to robbers.

M. N. Dutt: All the creatures of the Earth and all the enjoyments of sovereignty, O Bharata, belong to the Kshatriyas. All the wealth of the Earth is the Kshatriya's and not any one's else.

M. N. Dutt: The Kshatriya should use that wealth for mairtaining his army and for the celebration of sacrifices. Tearing up useless creepers and plants, men burn them for cooking vegetables of food.

M. N. Dutt: Men knowing duty have said that useless is his wealth who does not, with libations of clarificd butter, feed the gods, the Pitris, and men.

M. N. Dutt: O king, A virtuous ruler, should appropriate such riches. By that wealth, a large number of good people can be pleased. He should not, however, amass that wealth in his treasury.

M. N. Dutt: He, who is the instrument of acquisition and, taking away wealth from the wicked, gives them to those that are good, knows well the science of virtue.

M. N. Dutt: A king should conquer the next world according to the measure of his power, and as gradually as vegetables grow. As some ants are seen to originate from an insignificant cause, even so sacrifice springs from insufficient wealth.

M. N. Dutt: As flies, gnats, and ants are driven off from the bodies of kine and other domestic animals, so should all persons, who are averse to the celebration of sacrifices, should be similarly driven off from the kingdom. This is quite of a piece with morality.

M. N. Dutt: As being pounded between two stones, the dust becomes finer and finer, so questions of morality, the more they are discussed, becomes subtler and subtler.

M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said 'The two, viz., one, who provides for the future, and one, who has presence of mind—always enjoy happiness. An idle man gains nothing.