Shloka 26

एकान्तिधर्म-प्रश्नः (Inquiry into Ekāntin Dharma) / The Origin and Practice of Single-Pointed Nārāyaṇa-Centered Discipline

Devanagari script

तस्य प्रशासतो राज्यं धर्मेणामित्रघातिन: । नानृता वाक्‌ समभवन्मनो दुष्ट न चाभवत्‌

Transliteration

tasya praśāsato rājyaṃ dharmeṇāmitraghātinaḥ | nānṛtā vāk samabhavan mano duṣṭa na cābhavat ||

Translation

Während jener Feindbezwinger sein Reich gemäß dem Dharma regierte, kam in seiner Rede niemals Unwahrheit auf, und auch sein Geist wurde nicht verdorben. So war seine Herrschaft geprägt von gerechter Verwaltung, wahrhaftigen Worten und innerer Reinheit.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• प्रशासतः: while ruling / of (him) ruling
• प्रशासतः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + शास्
• Form: Present active participle, Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• राज्यम्: the kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मेण: by righteousness / according to dharma
• धर्मेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अमित्रघातिनः: of the slayer of enemies
• अमित्रघातिनः: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमित्रघातिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अनृता: untrue / false
• अनृता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनृत
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• वाक्: speech
• वाक्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• समभवत्: arose / occurred / was
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भू
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• दुष्टम्: wicked / corrupted
• दुष्टम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्ट
• Form: Past passive participle (used adjectivally), Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

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

• अभवत्: was / became
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• an unnamed enemy-slaying ruler (amitraghātin)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s legitimacy and excellence rest on dharmic governance joined to personal integrity: truth in speech and purity of mind. Outer administration (rājya) must be supported by inner discipline (manaḥ) and moral restraint (not speaking anṛta).

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma, instructing on rājadharma in the Śānti Parva, praises an exemplary king/hero described as an ‘enemy-slayer.’ He highlights the qualities of that ruler’s reign: it was conducted according to dharma, free from false speech, and untainted by a corrupted mind.