crooked, dry, and trailing, so should a king, who resembles a gardener, ever bear this in mind.
94–95.
A gardener should carefully plant a twig that has been thrown away; he should break off the flowers in bloom, allow the small plants to develop, cause very erect ones to bend, those too much inclined to he made more erect; he should remove the bark from trees that are too green: a tree being small, he should plant thorny shrubs on the outside; he should cherish lovingly one that is in a thriving condition: a king, the cherisher of a kingdom, should take delight in his realm, just as a good gardener takes delight in a garden.
96.
The king should have ministers who are nobly descended, pure, brave, learned, amicable, and well versed in the Nîti.[1]
97.
He is spoken of as a good minister who is learned, virtuous, and brave, industrious, accustomed to be victorious, and powerful, who is not covetous, has an amiable appearance, and is perfect in his organs.
98.
A king governing a kingdom having deliberated separately with his ministers, should subsequently, after assembling them, follow a counsel which has been well considered.[2]
99.
The king should find out from wise men a thing he does not understand; by removing doubt and making comparisons by means of his own wisdom, he should show the various advantages of his deliberation.
