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420
THE LI Kİ.
When (a ruler) loves what the people love, and hates what the people hate, then is he what is called 'The Parent of the People.'
BK. XXXIX.
25. In the Book of Poetry it is said (II, iv, 7, 1), 'That southern hill, sublime, uprears its craggy
height;
Such thou, Grand-master Yin, before the nation's sight!'
Rulers of states should not neglect to be careful. If they deviate (to a selfish regard only for themselves), they will be counted a disgrace throughout the kingdom.
26. In the Book of Poetry it is said (III, i, 1, 6),
'Ere Shang had lost the nation's heart,
Its monarchs all with God had part In sacrifice. From them we see 'Tis hard to keep High Heaven's decree.'
This shows that by gaining the people, the state is gained; and by losing the people, the state is lost.
Therefore the ruler should first be careful about his (own) virtue. Possessing virtue will give him the people. Possessing the people will give him the territory. Possessing the territory will give him its wealth. Possessing the wealth, he will have resources for expenditure.
Virtue is the root; wealth is the branches. If he make the root his secondary object, and the branches his primary object, he will only quarrel with the people, and teach them rapine. Hence the accumulation of wealth is the way to scatter the people, and the distribution of his wealth is the way to collect the people. Hence (also), when his words go forth contrary to right, they will come back to
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| SR No. | 007678 |
| Book Title | Satapatha Bramhana Part 02 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Julius Eggeling |
| Publisher | Oxford |
| Publication Year | 1885 |
| Total Pages | 2521 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 44 MB |