Shloka 20

अध्याय ५७ — राज्ञः नित्यप्रयत्नः, रक्षा-प्रधानता, तथा त्याग-नीतिः

Chapter 57: Constant Royal Vigilance, Primacy of Protection, and Principles of Dismissal

Devanagari script

उपासिता च वृद्धानां जिततन्द्रिरलोलुप: । सतां वृत्ते स्थितमति: संतोष्यश्चारुदर्शन:,राजाको वृद्ध पुरुषोंकी उपासना (सेवा या संग) करनी चाहिये, वह आलस्यको जीते और लोलुपताका परित्याग करे। सत्पुरुषोंके व्यवहारमें मन लगावे। संतुष्ट होने योग्य स्वभाव बनाये रखे। वेश-भूषा ऐसी रखे, जिससे वह देखनेमें अत्यन्त मनोहर जान पड़े

Transliteration

upāsitā ca vṛddhānāṃ jitatandrir alolupaḥ | satāṃ vṛtte sthitamatīḥ santoṣyaś cārudarśanaḥ ||

Translation

قال بهيشما: على الملك أن يُلازم مجالسة الشيوخ وخدمتهم. وليغلب الكسل ويترك الطمع. ولتثبت همّته على سيرة الأخيار، وليكن سريع القناعة، وليكن مظهره وهيبته مما يسرّ النظر—حتى يقوم ملكه على الانضباط، وحسن القدوة، وثقة الناس.

Word by Word

• {'upāsitā (upāsitaḥ)': 'one who attends upon

• keeps close company with (especially elders/teachers)', 'vṛddhānām': 'of the elders

• of the aged and experienced', 'jita-tandriḥ': 'having conquered lethargy/sloth

• disciplined and vigilant', 'a-lolupaḥ': 'not greedy

• free from covetousness and excessive desire', 'satām': 'of the good/virtuous people', 'vṛtte': 'in conduct

• in customary behavior and ethical practice', 'sthita-matiḥ': 'steady-minded

• mentally established', 'santoṣyaḥ': 'contented

• easily pleased in rightful ways', 'cāru-darśanaḥ': 'pleasant to look at

• of agreeable appearance and demeanor', 'rājā': 'the king

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• rājā
• vṛddhāḥ (elders)
• sat (virtuous people)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma outlines key virtues for a ruler: reverence and service toward elders, personal discipline (overcoming laziness), freedom from greed, commitment to the ethical conduct of the good, a contented temperament, and a dignified, pleasing public presence that supports trust and order.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rāja-dharma, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on the qualities and habits that sustain righteous kingship, emphasizing moral self-control and alignment with the example of virtuous elders.