Dhaumya’s Counsel on Incognito Conduct in a Royal Household (राजवसतौ आचरण-निति)
ऐश्वर्य प्राप्य दुष्प्रापं प्रियं प्राप्प च राजतः । अप्रमत्तो भवेद् राज्ञ: प्रियेषु च हितेषु च,राजासे दुर्लभ ऐश्वर्य तथा प्रिय भोग प्राप्त होनेपर मनुष्य सदा सावधान होकर उसके प्रिय एवं हितकर कार्योंमें संलग्न रहे
aiśvaryaṁ prāpya duṣprāpaṁ priyaṁ prāpya ca rājataḥ | apramatto bhaved rājñaḥ priyeṣu ca hiteṣu ca ||
ऐश्वर्यं प्राप्य दुष्प्रापं प्रियं प्राप्य च राजतः। अप्रमत्तो भवेद् राज्ञः प्रियेषु च हितेषु च॥
धौग्य उवाच
Rare power and royal favor are unstable unless guarded by vigilance; therefore one should avoid negligence and consistently act in ways that are both pleasing and genuinely beneficial to the ruler.
Dhaumya is giving counsel framed as courtly and ethical instruction: if someone has gained difficult-to-attain prosperity and the king’s favor, he must remain alert and devote himself to the king’s pleasing and welfare-promoting tasks.