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This is the **Nikrant** ritual for those who are renouncing the kingdom and are being repeatedly enlightened by the Laukantika Devas. ||267||
They hand over the kingdom to their eldest son in the presence of all the kings and instruct him on how to rule and raise his children. ||268||
O son, you should be free from the need for wealth in ruling your people. Consider justice as your wealth, for people ruled justly are like wish-fulfilling cows (Kamadhenu). ||269||
O son, consider this the duty of kings: to earn wealth justly, to increase it, to protect it, and to give it to worthy recipients or to holy places. ||270||
To rule your people, you must first protect your own mind. The knowledge of what is beneficial and harmful in both this world and the next is called "mati" (wisdom). ||271||
Therefore, by conquering your senses and associating with wise elders, you should cultivate your intellect through the knowledge of Dharma (righteousness) and Artha (economics). ||272||
If a king acts contrary to this, he will become confused about what is beneficial and harmful, and will fall under the sway of those who are arrogant due to their limited knowledge. ||273||
Kings should make every effort to uphold the traditions of their lineage, for one who is ignorant of his lineage's customs can corrupt it with his own misdeeds. ||274||
Furthermore, a king should always strive to protect himself, for when the king is safe, everything else is safe. ||275||
A king who does not protect himself will be destroyed by enemies, or by his own servants who are angry, greedy, or scorned. ||276||
Therefore, a king should avoid those dangers that are initially pleasant but ultimately harmful, and protect himself through the efforts of his trusted advisors. ||277||
Moreover, a king should strive to be righteous in his conduct, for even his own people will overcome him if he is unrighteous. ||278||