guiding them?’[258] If after this, he does not give up his intention of leaving, and says anything, the king should say unto him, ‘Forget the past.’  This, O son of Kunti, is the eternal way of royal duty.[259] The king should further say unto him, ’Indeed, O Brahmana, people say that that only should be assigned to a Brahmana which would be just sufficient for maintaining him.  I, however, do not accept that opinion.  On the other hand, I think that if a Brahmana seeks to leave a kingdom for the king’s neglect in providing him with means of support, such means should be assigned to him, and, further, if he intends to take that step for procuring the means of luxury, he should still be requested to stay and supplied with ever those means.[260] Agriculture, cattle-rearing, and trade, provide all men with the means of living.  A knowledge of the Vedas, however, provide them with the means of obtaining heaven.  They, therefore, that obstruct the study of the Vedas and the cause of Vedic practices, are to be regarded as enemies of society.[261] It is for the extermination of these that Brahman created Kshatriyas.  Subdue thy foes, protect thy subjects, worship the deities in sacrifices, and fight battles with courage, O delighter of the Kurus!  A king should protect those that deserve protection.  The king who does this is the best of rulers.  Those kings that do not exercise the duty of protection live a vain life.  For the benefit of all his subjects the king should always seek to ascertain the acts and thoughts of all, O Yudhishthira; and for that reason fie should set spies and secret agents.[262] Protecting others from thy own, and thy own from others, as also others from others, and thy own from thy own, do thou always cherish thy people.  Protecting his own self first from every one, the king should protect the earth.  Men of knowledge have said that everything has its root in self.  The king should always reflect upon these, viz., What are his laches, to what evil habits he is addicted, what are the sources of his weakness, and what are the sources of his faults.  The king should cause secret and trusted agents to wander through the kingdom for ascertaining whether his conduct as displayed on the previous day has or has not met with the approbation of the people.  Indeed, he should ascertain whether his conduct is or is not generally praised, or, is or is not acceptable to the people of the provinces, and whether he has or has not succeeded in earning a good name in his kingdom.  Amongst those that are virtuous and possessed of wisdom, those that never retreat from battle, and those that do not reside in thy kingdom, those that are dependent on thee, and those that are thy ministers, as well as those that are independent of party, they that praise or blame thee should never be objects of disregard with thee, O Yudhishthira![263] No man, O sire, can succeed in earning the good opinion of all persons in the world.  All persons have friends, foes, and neutrals, O Bharata!’