Shloka 5

Bhṛtya-niyoga: Role-appropriate appointment of servants and protection of the royal treasury (भृत्यनियोगः कोशरक्षणं च)

Devanagari script

कुलज: प्राकृतो राज्ञा स्वकुलीनतया सदा । न पापे कुरुते बुद्धि भिद्यमानो5प्यनागसि,कुलीन पुरुष यदि कभी राजाके द्वारा बिना अपराधके ही तिरस्कृत हो जाय और लोग उसे फोड़ें या उभाड़ें तो भी वह अपनी कुलीनताके कारण राजाका अनिष्ट करनेकी बात कभी मनमें नहीं लाता है

Transliteration

Bhīṣma uvāca: kulajaḥ prākṛto rājñā svakulīnatayā sadā | na pāpe kurute buddhiṁ bhidyamāno 'py anāgasi ||

Translation

Bhishma sprach: Ein Mann von edler Geburt, selbst wenn der König ihn ohne eigene Schuld hart behandelt und andere ihn brechen oder demütigen, wendet seinen Sinn nicht dem Unrecht zu. Aus angeborener Vornehmheit und Treue zum Geschlecht hegt er niemals den Gedanken, dem König aus Vergeltung zu schaden.

Word by Word

कुलजःwell-born, of noble lineage

प्राकृतःnatural, straightforward (simple-minded)

राज्ञाby the king

स्वकुलीनतयाby/through his own nobility (good breeding)

सदाalways

नnot

पापेin sin/evil (in wrongdoing)

कुरुतेmakes, forms, directs (his mind)

बुद्धिम्thought, intention, mind

भिद्यमानःbeing split/harassed/tormented

अपिeven, although

अनागसिwhen (he is) guiltless; in the state of being without fault

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

king (rājā)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True nobility is shown by restraint: even when an innocent person is insulted or harmed by royal authority, he does not let his mind turn toward sinful retaliation or wishing harm to the king.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Bhishma describes the hallmark of a kulīna (well-born, well-bred) person—enduring unjust treatment without forming malicious intent against the ruler.