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224
LAWS OF MANU.
VII, 53
earlier-named vice is more abominable (than those named later).
53. (On a comparison) between vice and death, vice is declared to be more pernicious; a vicious man sinks to the nethermost (hell), he who dies, free from vice, ascends to heaven.
54. Let him appoint seven or eight ministers whose ancestors have been royal servants, who are versed in the sciences, heroes skilled in the use of weapons and descended from (noble) families and who have been tried.
55. Even an undertaking easy (in itself) is (sometimes) hard to be accomplished by a single man; how much (harder is it for a king), especially (if he has) no assistant, (to govern) a kingdom which yields great revenues.
56. Let him daily consider with them the ordinary (business, referring to) peace and war, (the four subjects called) sthâna, the revenue, the (manner of) protecting (himself and his kingdom), and the sanctification of his gains (by pious gifts).
54. Vi. III, 71; Yâgñ. I, 311. Labdhalakshân, 'skilled in the use of weapons' (Kull., Nâr.), means according to Medh., Gov., Nand., and Râgh. who fail not in their undertakings. Parîkshitân (Gov., Kull., and K.), or suparîkshitân (Medh., Når.), who have been tried,' i. e. by tempting them in various ways (Medh.), or if they are incorruptible' (Nar.), or who have been examined by spies' (Gov.), or who have been bound to fidelity by touching images of the gods, &c.' (Kull., Râgh.). Nand. reads parîkshakân, who examine (the state-affairs).'
55. The correct reading is kimu, 'how much harder' (Medh., Gov., sec, manu, Nár., Nand., Râgh., K.), instead of the kim tu,“but,' of the editions.
56. Yågñ. I, 311. Sthâna means according to Gov., Kull., Når., Ragh.'the army, the treasury, the town, and the kingdom ;' according to Medh. either that or the loss of his kingdom ;' according to Nand.' halting' (asana).
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