Shloka 58

Devanagari script

अलंकारे च भोज्ये च तथा स्नानानुलेपने । हेलनानि नरव्याप्र स्वस्थास्तस्योपशृण्वत:,पुरुषसिंह! राजा पास ही खड़ा-खड़ा सुनता रहता है निर्भय होकर उसके आभूषण पहनने, खाने, नहाने और चन्दन लगाने आदिका मजाक उड़ाया करते हैं

Transliteration

alaṃkāre ca bhojye ca tathā snānānulepane | helanāni naravyāghra svasthās tasyopaśṛṇvataḥ ||

Translation

قال بهيشما: «يا نِمْرَ الرجال، بينما يقف الملك قريبًا ويصغي بنفسه، يسخر منه من يظنون أنفسهم في مأمن—فيجعلون من تزيّنه بالحُليّ، وطعامه، واغتساله، وتطيّبه بخشب الصندل وما شابهه موضع هزلٍ واستهزاء. ومع ذلك يبقى الملك، غير هيّاب، واقفًا يسمع كلَّ ذلك.»

Word by Word

अलंकारेin/with ornamentation; regarding ornaments

चand

भोज्येin/with food; regarding what is to be eaten

चand

तथाlikewise; also

स्नानin/at bathing

अनुलेपनेin/at anointing (with unguents/sandal paste)

हेलनानिmockings; acts of derision

नरव्याघ्राःtigers among men (i.e., eminent men)

स्वस्थाःat ease; unperturbed; fearless

तस्यof him; his

उपशृण्वतःwhile he is listening; of him who listens nearby

पुरुषसिंहO lion among men

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

King (rājā)

naravyāghra (addressed listener)

ornaments (alaṃkāra)

food (bhojya)

bathing (snāna)

anointing/sandal paste (anulepana)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should cultivate fearlessness and forbearance: even when others deride his personal comforts and royal routines, he should remain steady, not reacting with anger or vindictiveness, and uphold dignified self-control.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes a scene where people who feel safe in the king’s presence openly mock his adornment, meals, bathing, and anointing. The king, however, stands nearby and listens without fear, indicating restraint and composure amid disrespect.