Shloka 44

Devanagari script

संकटद्वारकाणि स्युरुच्छवासार्थ पुरस्य च । तेषां च द्वारवद्‌ गुप्ति: कार्या सर्वात्मना भवेत्‌,नगरमें हवा आने-जानेके लिये परकोटोंमें सँकरे दरवाजे बनावे और बड़े दरवाजोंकी भाँति उनकी भी सब प्रकारसे रक्षा करे

Transliteration

saṅkaṭa-dvārakāṇi syur ucchvāsārthaṁ purasya ca | teṣāṁ ca dvāravad guptiḥ kāryā sarvātmanā bhavet ||

Translation

Bhishma sprach: „In einer Stadt sollen in den äußeren Wällen schmale Nebenpforten angelegt werden, damit Luft ein- und ausströmen kann; und diese Öffnungen müssen, wie die Haupttore, mit voller Wachsamkeit bewacht werden.“

Word by Word

संकट-द्वारकाणिnarrow gates

स्युःshould be / should exist

उच्छ्वास-अर्थम्for ventilation / for breathing-space

पुरस्यof the city

चand

तेषाम्of those (gates)

चand

द्वारवत्like (main) gates

गुप्तिःprotection/guarding

कार्याto be done / should be made

सर्वात्मनाentirely / in every way

भवेत्should be

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

pura (city)

saṅkaṭa-dvārakāṇi (narrow postern-gates)

dvāra (main gates)

parakoṭa (outer ramparts/encircling walls)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even minor openings created for comfort (like ventilation posterns) must be protected as carefully as major gates; small vulnerabilities can endanger the whole polity. In rājadharma, thoroughness and vigilance are ethical duties of governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma advises the king on practical city-fortification: build narrow openings in the outer walls for airflow, but ensure they are guarded with the same rigor as the main gates.