Shloka 36

ब्राह्मणपूजा-राजधर्मः | Royal Duty of Honoring Learned Brahmins

Devanagari script

ततो5सौ यौवराज्ये च स्थापयित्वा प्रतर्दनम्‌ कृतकृत्यं तदा55त्मानं स राजा अभ्यनन्दत,तत्पश्चात्‌ राजा दिवोदासने प्रतर्दनको युवराजके पदपर स्थापित करके अपने आपको कृतकृत्य माना और बड़े आनन्दका अनुभव किया

Transliteration

tato 'sau yauvarājye ca sthāpayitvā pratardanam kṛtakṛtyaṃ tadātmānaṃ sa rājābhyānandat |

Translation

Dann setzte jener König Pratardana als Thronerben ein, fühlte sein Vorhaben erfüllt und freute sich in sich selbst—zufrieden, rechtmäßige Nachfolge und die Festigkeit des Reiches gesichert zu haben.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

असौhe (that person)

यौवराज्येin the position of crown-prince-ship

चand

स्थापयित्वाhaving installed/appointed

प्रतर्दनम्Pratardana (proper name)

कृतकृत्यम्one who has accomplished what was to be done; satisfied

तदाthen, at that time

आत्मानम्himself

सःhe

राजाthe king

अभ्यनन्दत्rejoiced; felt great joy

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Pratardana

Divodāsa (king)

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?

A ruler’s dharma includes ensuring orderly succession by appointing a qualified heir; doing so brings personal peace (kṛtakṛtyatā) and protects the kingdom from instability.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma narrates that King Divodāsa appoints Pratardana as yuvarāja (heir-apparent). Having completed this essential royal duty, the king feels satisfied and rejoices.