Shloka 3

Book 12, Chapter 93 — Vāmadeva’s Counsel to King Vasumanā on Dharmic Kingship (धर्मप्रधान-राजधर्मोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

राजा वसुमना नाम ज्ञानवान्‌ धृतिमान्‌ शुचि: । महर्षि परिपप्रच्छ वामदेवं तपस्विनम्‌

Transliteration

rājā vasumanā nāma jñānavān dhṛtimān śuciḥ | maharṣiṃ paripapraccha vāmadevaṃ tapasvinam ||

Translation

ভীষ্ম বললেন—বসুমনা নামে এক রাজা ছিলেন—জ্ঞানী, ধৈর্যশীল ও শুচি আচরণসম্পন্ন। ধর্মাচরণের স্পষ্টতা লাভের জন্য তিনি তপস্বী মহর্ষি বামদেবকে বিনীতভাবে প্রশ্ন করলেন।

Word by Word

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वसुमना: Vasumanā (by name)
• वसुमना: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुमन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नाम: by name
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नामन्
• Form: true

• ज्ञानवान्: wise, possessing knowledge
• ज्ञानवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञानवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धृतिमान्: steadfast, possessing fortitude
• धृतिमान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृतिमत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महर्षिम्: the great sage
• महर्षिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• परिपप्रच्छ: asked, inquired
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• वामदेवम्: Vāmadeva
• वामदेवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामदेव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तपस्विनम्: the ascetic
• तपस्विनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• King Vasumanas
• Sage Vāmadeva

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds a dharmic method: a ruler who is wise and self-controlled seeks guidance from a realized ascetic. Ethical governance begins with humility, purity of conduct, and learning from those grounded in tapas and insight.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma introduces an exemplum: King Vasumanas approaches the great sage Vāmadeva and questions him. This sets up a forthcoming instruction on dharma/rajadharma delivered through the sage’s counsel.