Shloka 8

Devanagari script

शाखानगरमर्हस्तु सहस्रपतिरुत्तम:

Transliteration

śākhānagaram arhas tu sahasrapatir uttamaḥ

Translation

ভীষ্ম বললেন—আর যে সহস্রপতি, সেই উত্তম ব্যক্তি ‘শাখানগর’ নামে নগর লাভের যোগ্য।

Word by Word

• शाखा: branch
• शाखा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाखा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• नगरम्: city
• नगरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अर्हः: worthy, deserving
• अर्हः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्ह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but, however
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• सहस्रपतिः: lord of a thousand (epithet)
• सहस्रपतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्रपति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उत्तमः: best, excellent
• उत्तमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Śākhānagara

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse conveys a dharmic evaluation of worthiness: a truly excellent leader (sahasrapati) is ‘fit’ for honor, position, or rightful place—suggesting that status should align with merit and capability.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhīṣma’s discourse in the Śānti Parva, he makes a commendatory statement, declaring an excellent leader worthy of Śākhānagara, framing the discussion in terms of rightful entitlement and recognized excellence.