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Thinking, “I am permitted,” he should dwell in the king’s abode. 1487. A wise man should not be too far from the king, nor too near; He should stand before him, visible to his master. 1488. The king is not my friend, the king is not my intimate; Kings quickly get angry, like an eye poked by a thorn. 1489. A wise and learned man, not thinking himself honored; Should not speak harshly in reply to the king, when he is in an assembly. 1490. Having gained access, he should gain access, but never trust kings; He should stand restrained like fire, he should dwell in the king’s abode. 1491. Whether it be a son or a brother, the warrior king supports; With villages or towns, with districts or countries; He should remain silent and overlook, not speaking of good or bad. 1492. Elephant-riders, soldiers, charioteers, foot-soldiers; For their deeds and services, the king increases their pay; He should not go between them, he should dwell in the king’s abode. 1493. The wise man should bend like a bow, or sway like a bamboo; He should not act contrary, he should dwell in the king’s abode. 1494. He should be like a bent bow, he should be tongueless like a fish; Modest, skillful, brave, he should dwell in the king’s abode. 1495. He should not go excessively to women, seeing the decline of vigor; Cough, asthma, pain, weakness, a man of diminished intelligence incurs. Not excessively should one speak, nor always silent be; Unscattered, measured speech, at the proper time should utter. Not angry, not clashing, truthful, gentle, not slanderous; Vain speech should not utter, he should dwell in the king's service. One who supports mother and father, reveres elders in the family; Gentle, with pleasant speech, he should dwell in the king's service. Disciplined, skilled, self-controlled, accomplished, resolute, gentle; Diligent, pure, expert, he should dwell in the king's service. Humble in conduct towards elders, respectful, reverent; Amiable, pleasant to live with, he should dwell in the king's service. Far off should one avoid, a person sent to conspire; Only his master should he look to, and not to another king. Ascetics and brahmins, virtuous and learned; Respectfully should attend, he should dwell in the king's service. Ascetics and brahmins, virtuous and learned; Respectfully should follow, he should dwell in the king's service. Ascetics and brahmins, virtuous and learned; Should satisfy with food and drink, he should dwell in the king's service. Ascetics and brahmins, virtuous and learned; Approaching, should serve the wise, desiring his own growth. What was given before should not diminish, gifts to ascetics and brahmins; And should not refuse anything, to beggars at the time of giving. Wise, endowed with intelligence, skilled in methods and ways; Knowing the time and knowing the occasion, he should dwell in the king's service. Energetic in duties, diligent, discerning; With well-arranged work, he should dwell in the king's service. To the threshing floor, storehouse, cattle, field, he should go often; Measured grain should store, measured should cook at home. A son or a brother, who is not established in virtues; For they are fools without limbs, just like hungry ghosts are they; And clothes... And to them, food to those seated, one should give. 1511. Slaves, workers, servants, well-established in virtue; Skillful, endowed with energy, should be placed in authority. 1512. Virtuous and not greedy, and devoted to the king; Openly and secretly beneficial to him, he should dwell in the king's service. 1513. He should know the king's wishes, he should be dear to the king's heart; He should be of unhesitating conduct, he should dwell in the king's service. 1514. He should rub and bathe, wash the feet, head down; Even if struck, he should not get angry, he should dwell in the king's service. 1515. He should make a respectful salutation, and circumambulate a pot; How much more to the giver of all desires, the wise, supreme giver. 1516. He who gives beds, clothes, vehicles, dwellings, houses; Like a rain-cloud to beings, he showers with enjoyments. 1517. This is the king's service, as a man conducts himself; He pleases the king, and receives honor among his dependents. The King's Service. (Intermediate refrain) 1518. Having thus advised his kinsmen, the wise one; Surrounded by friends, approached the king. 1519. Having bowed his head at his feet, and circumambulated him; Vidhura spoke to the king, having raised his hands in salutation. 1520. "This youth leads me, wishing to go as he pleases; I will speak for the benefit of my kinsmen, listen to that, O subduer of enemies. 1521. Watch over my sons, and whatever other wealth is in the house; So that after I am gone, it may not diminish, the assembly of kinsmen, when I have departed. 1522. Just as one who stumbles on the ground, on the ground itself he finds his footing; So this is my stumble, I see this as my transgression." 1523. "It is possible not to go, so it seems to me, having cut down and slain the Kātiyas here; It pleases me that you remain right here, do not go, O one of supreme, vast wisdom." 1524. "Do not indeed..." Set your mind on good things, Be devoted to welfare and Dhamma; Shame on unwholesome, ignoble deeds, Having done which, one would later go to hell. 1525. This is not Dhamma, nor proper conduct, For a master, O king, is lord over his slave; To kill, to burn, or even to strike, And I have no anger, so I say. 1526. Embracing his eldest son, Dispelling the fear in his heart; With eyes full of tears, He entered the great house. 1527. Like a hall completely fallen, Crushed by the wind; Lie sons and wives, In the house of the bereaved. 1528. A thousand wives, And seven hundred slave-women; Raised their arms and cried aloud, In the house of the bereaved. 1529. The royal women and princes, Merchants and brahmins; Raised their arms and cried aloud, In the house of the bereaved. 1530. Elephant-riders, cavalry, Charioteers, foot-soldiers; Raised their arms and cried aloud, In the house of the bereaved. 1531. The country folk gathered, And the townspeople gathered; Raised their arms and cried aloud, In the house of the bereaved. 1532. A thousand wives, And seven hundred slave-women; Raised their arms and cried aloud, "Why will you abandon us?" 1533. The royal women and princes, And seven hundred slave-women; Raised their arms and cried aloud, "Why will you abandon us?" 1534. Elephant-riders, cavalry, And seven hundred slave-women; Raised their arms and cried aloud, "Why will you abandon us?" 1535. The country folk gathered, And seven hundred slave-women; Raised their arms and cried aloud, "Why will you abandon us?" 1536. Having done his duties in the house, Having instructed his own people; Friends, ministers, and servants, Sons, wives, and relatives. 1537. Having arranged his affairs, Having declared the wealth in the house; Both treasure and debts, He spoke this to Puṇṇaka. 1538. "You have stayed three days in my house, Duties have been done..." and duties in my homes; My sons and wives have been instructed by me, "We will do the duties according to your wish." "If indeed, O Katte, your sons and wives and dependents have been instructed; Come now, quickly, for the path ahead is still long. Without trembling, grasp the tail of the noble steed; This is your last sight of the world of the living." "Why should I fear, I who have no evil deed; by body, speech, or mind, by which I might go to a bad destination." That king of horses, carrying Vidhura, departed through the air, in the sky; not clinging to branches or rocks, he quickly reached Kālāgiri. A thousand wives, and seven hundred slave women; raised their arms and cried out, "The yakkha in the guise of a brahmin is taking Vidhura away!" The country folk gathered, and the townspeople gathered; they raised their arms and cried out, "The yakkha in the guise of a brahmin is taking Vidhura away!" A thousand wives, and seven hundred slave women; raised their arms and cried out, "Where has that wise man gone?" The country folk gathered, and the townspeople gathered; they raised their arms and cried out, "Where has that wise man gone?" "If he, within seven nights, the wise man, does not return; We shall all enter the fire, for there is no purpose in our lives." "He is wise and skilled, discerning and sagacious; He will quickly free himself, do not fear, he will return." This is called the middle section of repetition. The Section on the Dhamma of Good Men "Having gone there, he pondered, various thoughts arose; 'I have no use for his life, I will kill him and take his heart.'" "Having gone there, he In a ravine, having entered inside, with a corrupted mind; In an unguarded place on earth, Katiyāna held him head downwards. "He, hanging in a hellish precipice, greatly fearful, hair-raising, difficult to escape; Undisturbed, the chief Kuru warrior, spoke thus to the yakkha named Puṇṇaka. "You are one who has the opportunity to be noble, but are ignoble in form, unrestrained, yet appearing like one restrained; You do a dreadful, cruel deed, and in your being, there is no good whatsoever. Why do you wish to throw me into the precipice? What is your purpose in my death? Your appearance today is like that of a non-human, tell me, what deity are you?" "If you have heard of the yakkha named Puṇṇaka, he is indeed a companion of King Kuvera; There is a Naga, a lord of the earth, named Varuṇa, great, pure, endowed with beauty and strength. I desire his younger sister's daughter, that Naga maiden is named Irandhatī; For the sake of that slender-waisted beloved, I have set out for your death, O wise one." "May you not be deluded, O yakkha, many have been ruined in the world by wrong grasping; What is your business with that slender-waisted beloved? By my death? Come, let me hear everything." "I am one who desires the daughter