Shloka 22

Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā

Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative

Devanagari script

उत्थायोत्थाय गच्छेत नित्ययुक्तो रिपोर्गहान्‌ । कुशल चास्य पृच्छेत यद्यप्यकुशलं भवेत्‌

Transliteration

utthāyotthāya gacchet nityayukto ripor gṛhān | kuśalaṃ cāsya pṛcchet yady apy akuśalaṃ bhavet ||

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: „Der König soll Tag für Tag aufstehen und gehen — stets wachsam — bis in das Haus seines Feindes. Selbst wenn es dem Feind schlecht ergeht, soll er dennoch nach seinem Wohlergehen fragen und Worte des Wohlwollens sprechen.“

Word by Word

• उत्थाय: having risen
• उत्थाय: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• उत्थाय: again having risen (repeatedly)
• उत्थाय: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• गच्छेत्: should go
• गच्छेत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, optative (should/may), 3, singular, परस्मैपद

• नित्ययुक्तः: always vigilant/steadily engaged
• नित्ययुक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्ययुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• रिपोः: of the enemy
• रिपोः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• गृहान्: houses/home
• गृहान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• कुशलम्: welfare, well-being
• कुशलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

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

• अस्य: of him (of that person/enemy)
• अस्य: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine/neuter, genitive, singular

• पृच्छेत्: should ask/inquire
• पृच्छेत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, optative (should), 3, singular, परस्मैपद

• यद्यपि: even if/although
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद्यपि

• अकुशलम्: ill-being, misfortune
• अकुशलम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकुशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• भवेत्: may be/should be
• भवेत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, optative (may be/should be), 3, singular, परस्मैपद

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• king (rājā, implied)
• enemy (ripu, generic)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should combine constant vigilance with disciplined courtesy: even toward an enemy, he should maintain outward goodwill and inquire after welfare, reflecting self-control and strategic, dharmic conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction on rāja-dharma in the Śānti Parva, he advises the king on how to behave toward adversaries—personally visiting (or keeping close watch on) the enemy’s situation while speaking in the language of goodwill.