Shloka 15

आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः

Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca

Devanagari script

संधातव्यं बुधैर्नित्यं व्यवस्य च हितार्थिभि: । अमिन्रैरपि संधेयं प्राणा रक्ष्या हि भारत

Transliteration

sandhātavyaṁ budhair nityaṁ vyavasya ca hitārthibhiḥ | amitrair api sandheyaṁ prāṇā rakṣyā hi bhārata ||

Translation

Bhishma sprach: Die Weisen, fest entschlossen auf das wahrhaft Heilsame, sollen stets Bündnis und Versöhnung suchen. Wenn die Not es fordert, soll man sogar mit Feinden Frieden schließen—o Bharata—denn das Bewahren des Lebens ist wahrlich eine beständige Pflicht.

Word by Word

• संधातव्यम्: should be made (a treaty/peace should be concluded)
• संधातव्यम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: संधा (सम्+धा)
• Form: तव्यत् (gerundive), Neuter, Nominative, Singular, obligation (passive sense)

• बुधैः: by the wise
• बुधैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (बुध्)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• व्यवस्य: having resolved / decide (you should decide)
• व्यवस्य: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+अव+सो (व्यवस्)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), Second, Singular, परस्मैपद

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• हितार्थिभिः: by those who seek welfare (benefit-seekers)
• हितार्थिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हितार्थिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अमित्रैः: with enemies
• अमित्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमित्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• संधेयम्: should be made (peace should be concluded)
• संधेयम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: संधा (सम्+धा)
• Form: यत् (gerundive), Neuter, Nominative, Singular, obligation (passive sense)

• प्राणाः: lives/breaths
• प्राणाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• रक्ष्याः: are to be protected
• रक्ष्याः: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष्
• Form: यत् (gerundive), Masculine, Nominative, Plural, obligation (passive sense)

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• भारत: O Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• भारत: O Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Bhārata (Yudhiṣṭhira as addressee)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma teaches pragmatic dharma in governance: one should consistently pursue alliances and reconciliation for the sake of welfare, and even conclude peace with enemies when required, because protecting life is a paramount obligation.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship and conduct, Bhishma counsels Yudhisthira on policy: a ruler (or wise person) should not cling to hostility; strategic peace and the preservation of life can be ethically justified when it serves true welfare.