Shloka 13

Vāmadeva’s Rājadharma: Norm-Setting, Counsel, and the Prevention of Rāṣṭra-Vināśa (वामदेव-प्रोक्तं राजधर्मम्)

Devanagari script

निवृत्तं प्रतिकूलेषु वर्तमानमनुप्रिये । भक्त भजेत नृपति: सदैव सुसमाहित:,राजा सदा सावधान रहकर अपने उस सेवकको हर तहरसे अपनावे, जो प्रतिकूल कार्योसे अलग रहता हो और राजाका निरन्तर प्रिय करनेमें ही संलग्न हो

Transliteration

nivṛttaṁ pratikūleṣu vartamānam anupriye | bhaktaṁ bhajeta nṛpatiḥ sadaiva susamāhitaḥ ||

Translation

قال فاماديفا: على الملك، وهو دائم الاتزان واليقظة، أن يكرم ويؤثر على الدوام ذلك الخادم المخلص الذي يكفّ عن الأفعال المعادية أو المؤذية، ويلازم ما يرضي الملك وينفعه باستمرار.

Word by Word

निवृत्तम्withdrawn, refraining

प्रतिकूलेषुin hostile (matters/acts)

वर्तमानम्engaged, abiding

अनुप्रियेin what is pleasing/favorable (to the king)

भक्तम्a devoted (servant)

भजेतshould favor/associate with

नृपतिःthe king

सदैवalways

सुसमाहितःwell-composed, attentive

Speaker

वामदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāmadeva

nṛpati (the king)

bhakta (devoted servant)

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 deliberately support and promote servants who are loyal and disciplined—those who avoid hostile, harmful, or contrary actions and consistently work for what benefits and pleases the king in a dharmic sense. Vigilance and self-control in the king are essential to recognize and reward such integrity.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva’s rājadharma instruction, the sage Vāmadeva addresses principles of governance. Here he advises the king on how to treat subordinates: favor the devoted servant who keeps away from inimical conduct and remains steadily aligned with the ruler’s welfare.