Shloka 4
Nīti-upadeśa to a Rājaputra: Self-restraint, Alliances, and Rival-Management (नीतिउपदेशः)
Devanagari script
राजोवाच ब्रवीतु भगवाननीतिमुपपन्नो<स्म्यहं प्रभो
Transliteration
rājovāca brūtu bhagavān nītiṃ upapanno 'smy ahaṃ prabho
Translation
রাজা বলল: হে ভগবন, অনুগ্রহ করে নীতিধর্ম ব্যাখ্যা করুন; প্রভু, আমি আপনার উপদেশ গ্রহণের জন্য প্রস্তুত।
Word by Word
राजाthe king
राजा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
उवाचsaid
उवाच:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPerfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3rd, Singular
ब्रवीतुlet (him) speak / may (he) tell
ब्रवीतु:
TypeVerb
Rootब्रू
FormImperative, 3rd, Singular
भगवान्the Blessed Lord / venerable one
भगवान्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootभगवत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
नीतिम्policy, right conduct
नीतिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनीति
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
उपपन्नःendowed (with), possessed (of)
उपपन्नः:
TypeAdjective
Rootउपपन्न
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अस्मिI am
अस्मि:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormPresent, 1st, Singular
अहम्I
अहम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअहम्
Form—, Nominative, Singular
प्रभोO lord
प्रभो:
TypeNoun
Rootप्रभु
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
T
the king (rājā)B
Bhagavān (revered lord, addressee)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the ethical posture required for learning nīti: the ruler must be receptive and prepared, requesting guidance from a qualified authority so that governance aligns with dharma rather than impulse or power.
In the Śānti Parva’s instructional setting, the king addresses a revered teacher and asks him to explain nīti—principles of righteous policy and conduct—declaring his readiness to listen and follow the counsel.