Shloka 19

Sundopasundayor Digvijayaḥ — The Conquests of Sunda and Upasunda

Nārada’s Account

Devanagari script

यदि धर्मस्त्वया कार्यो यदि कार्य प्रियं च मे । क्षेमं च यदि कर्तव्यं तेषामर्थ प्रदीयताम्‌,यदि तुम्हें धर्मके अनुकूल चलना है, यदि मेरा प्रिय करना है और यदि (संसारमें) भलाई करनी है, तो उन्हें आधा राज्य दे दो

Transliteration

yadi dharmas tvayā kāryo yadi kāryaṁ priyaṁ ca me | kṣemaṁ ca yadi kartavyaṁ teṣām arthaḥ pradīyatām ||

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: „Wenn du wahrhaft nach dem Dharma handeln willst, wenn du tun willst, was mir lieb ist, und wenn du das Wohl der Welt suchst, dann gewähre ihnen den ihnen zustehenden Anteil am Königreich.“

Word by Word

यदिif

धर्मःdharma; righteous duty

त्वयाby you

कार्यःto be done; should be done

यदिif

कार्यम्a deed; what is to be done

प्रियम्pleasing; dear (thing)

चand

मेto me / for me

क्षेमम्welfare; well-being; security

चand

यदिif

कर्तव्यम्to be done; obligatory

तेषाम्of them / to them

अर्थःshare; portion; wealth (here: portion/share)

प्रदीयताम्let it be given; should be granted

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

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

What is the core teaching?

Dharma in governance requires fairness and the honoring of rightful claims; peace and public welfare are best served by granting the opposing party their due rather than clinging to total power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma, speaking as an elder statesman, urges the ruler/decision-maker to follow dharma and ensure kṣema (welfare) by giving the other claimants their rightful share of the kingdom, aiming to prevent conflict and uphold justice.