Shloka 50

Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa

The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa

Devanagari script

धर्मान्वितेषु विज्ञाता मन्त्री गुप्तश्न॒ पाण्डव । आप्तो राजा कुलीनश्व पर्याप्तो राजसंग्रहे

Transliteration

dharmānvitēṣu vijñātā mantrī guptaśnaḥ pāṇḍava | āpto rājā kulīnaś ca paryāpto rājasaṅgrahe ||

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: „O Pāṇḍava, ein Minister soll in dharmabegründeten Angelegenheiten urteilsfähig sein, in geheimer Nachrichtengewinnung bewandert und vertrauenswürdig. Auch der König soll verlässlich sein, von edler Abstammung und in der Verwaltung und Festigung des Reiches vollends tüchtig.“

Word by Word

• धर्मान्वितेषु: among/with those endowed with dharma (righteous qualities)
• धर्मान्वितेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मान्वित
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural

• विज्ञाता: knower; expert; one who understands
• विज्ञाता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि-ज्ञा (धातु) → विज्ञातृ/विज्ञात (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मन्त्री: minister; counsellor
• मन्त्री: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गुप्तश्च: and protected/guarded; secret (kept)
• गुप्तश्च: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुप्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पाण्डव: O Pāṇḍava
• पाण्डव: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• आप्तः: trusted; reliable; faithful
• आप्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आप्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• कुलीनश्च: and of noble lineage
• कुलीनश्च: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुलीन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पर्याप्तः: competent; sufficient; capable
• पर्याप्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर्याप्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजसंग्रहे: in the administration/collection of royal affairs; in royal management
• राजसंग्रहे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजसंग्रह
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Pāṇḍava (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• rājā (the king)
• mantrī (minister)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Effective and ethical governance requires (1) a minister who is dharma-informed, discreet, and skilled in confidential intelligence, and (2) a king who is trustworthy, well-bred in conduct, and competent in administering and consolidating the realm.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira about the qualifications needed for stable rule—highlighting the character and capabilities required of both the king and his minister.