desire of benefiting thyself.  Cast thy eyes on righteousness, giving up covetousness that is improper.  It behoveth thee not to abandon the duties of thy order from lust or desire of battle.  Victory O sire, is not certain.  Defeat also is not certain.  Remembering this, peace should be made with an enemy by giving him food and other articles of enjoyment.  One may see victory and defeat in his own case.  They that seek to exterminate a foe are sometimes exterminated themselves in course of their efforts.’  Thus addressed, king Janaka, properly saluting and honouring that bull among Brahmanas who deserved every honour, replied unto him, saying, ’Thou art of great learning and great wisdom.  That which thou hast said from desire of benefiting us, is certainly advantageous for both of us.  Such a course of conduct is highly beneficial (to us).  I have no hesitation in saying this.  The ruler of Videha then, addressing the prince of Kosala, said these words:  ’In observance of Kshatriya duties as also with aid of Policy, I have conquered the world.  I have, however, O best of kings, been conquered by thee with thy good qualities.  Without cherishing any sense of humiliation (if thou remainest by my side), live thou with me as a victor.[326] I honour thy intelligence, and I honour thy prowess.  I do not disregard thee, saying that I have conquered thee.  On the other hand, live thou with me as a victor.  Honoured duly by me, O king, thou wilt go to my abode.  Both the kings then worshipped that Brahmana, and trusting each other, proceeded to the capital of Mithila.  The ruler of the Videhas, causing the prince of Kosala to enter his abode, honoured him, who deserved every honour, with offerings of water to wash his feet, honey and curds and the usual articles.  King Janaka also bestowed upon his guest his own daughter and diverse kinds of gems and jewels.  This (the establishment of peace) is the high duty of kings; victory and defeat are both uncertain.’”

SECTION CVII

“Yudhishthira said, ’Thou hast, O scorcher of foes, described the course of duties, the general conduct, the means of livelihood, with their results, of Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and Vaisyas and Sudras.  Thou hast discoursed also on the duties of kings, the subject of their treasuries, the means of filling them, and the topic of conquest and victory.  Thou hast spoken also of the characteristics of ministers, the measures, that lead to the advancement of the subjects, the characteristics of the sixfold limbs of a kingdom, the qualities of armies, the means of distinguishing the wicked, and the marks of those that are good, the attributes of those that are equal, those that are inferior, and those that are superior, the behaviour which a king desirous of advancement should adopt towards the masses, and the manner in which the weak should be protected and cherished.  Thou hast discoursed on all these subjects, O Bharata,