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308
VIII, 308.
308. They declare that a king who affords no protection, (yet) receives the sixth part of the produce, takes upon himself all the foulness of his whole people.
309. Know that a king who heeds not the rules (of the law), who is an atheist, and rapacious, who does not protect (his subjects, but) devours them, will sink low (after death).
310. Let him carefully restrain the wicked by three methods,-by imprisonment, by putting them in fetters, and by various (kinds of) corporal punishments.
LAWS OF MANU.
311. For by punishing the wicked and by favouring the virtuous, kings are constantly sanctified, just as twice-born men by sacrifices.
312. A king who desires his own welfare must always forgive litigants, infants, aged and sick men, who inveigh against him.
313. He who, being abused by men in pain, pardons (them), will in reward of that (act) be exalted in heaven; but he who, (proud) of his kingly state,
Nâr. and Râgh. read pratibhogam, Gov. bhutibhogam, and Nand. pritibhogam, but the explanation of the first two var. lect. is the same. Prîtibhoga would however denote all 'benevolences,' which usually are called prîtidâna and are levied on particular occasions.
308. Medh. and Nâr. read arakshitâram attâram, '(a king) who affords no protection, (yet) devours (his subjects and) takes, &c.'
309. Nand. reads at the end of the verse asatyam ka nripam tyaget, 'Let him forsake a king who heeds not the rules. ... and is untruthful.' This var. lect. is mentioned by Medh. Vipralumpakam (or lopakam), 'rapacious,' means according to Nâr., Nand., and Râgh. 'who takes the goods of Brahmanas or injures them.'
310. 'The wicked,' i. e. 'thieves, because the topic (is theft),' (Medh.).
311. 'Twice-born men,' i. e. 'Brâhmanas' (Medh., Nâr.).
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