Shloka 6

Nīti-upadeśa to a Rājaputra: Self-restraint, Alliances, and Rival-Management (नीतिउपदेशः)

Devanagari script

तमुत्तमेन शौचेन कर्मणा चाभिधारय

Transliteration

tam uttamena śaucena karmaṇā cābhidhāraya

Translation

উত্তম শৌচ ও শ্রেষ্ঠ কর্মের দ্বারা তাকে নিজের অনুকূলে আনো; এমন নির্মল আচরণে বিদেহরাজের বিশ্বাস জাগাও। বিদেহরাজ সত্যপ্রতিজ্ঞ, অতএব তিনি নিশ্চয়ই তোমাকে ধন দান করবেন। তা হলে তুমি সকল প্রাণীর কাছে বিশ্বাসযোগ্য মানদণ্ড হবে এবং রাজার দক্ষিণ বাহু—শাসনে তার প্রধান সহায়—হয়ে উঠবে।

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'tam', 'definition': 'him (that person)'}, {'term': 'uttamena', 'definition': 'by the highest, best'}, {'term': 'śaucena', 'definition': 'purity, cleanliness

• moral purity of conduct'}, {'term': 'karmaṇā', 'definition': 'by action, deed

• by one’s work'}, {'term': 'ca', 'definition': 'and'}, {'term': 'abhidhāraya', 'definition': 'win over, secure, establish (confidence/attachment)

• cause to be well-disposed'}, {'term': 'Videharāja', 'definition': 'the king of Videha (Mithilā), i.e., Janaka in many contexts'}, {'term': 'satyapratijña', 'definition': 'true to one’s vow

• steadfast in truth and promise'}, {'term': 'dhana', 'definition': 'wealth, resources'}, {'term': 'pramāṇabhūta', 'definition': 'a standard/authority

• one who becomes a trustworthy exemplar'}, {'term': 'dakṣiṇā bāhuḥ', 'definition': 'the right arm

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Videharāja (King of Videha/Janaka)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Trust and authority are earned through śauca (inner and outer purity) and upright action; a ruler or patron who is satyapratijña will support such a person, who then becomes an exemplar (pramāṇa) and a pillar of governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma instructs the listener to secure the Videha king’s confidence through pure conduct and excellent deeds, assuring that the vow-true king will grant wealth and elevate the person to a position of trusted, right-hand support.