Shloka 24

राष्ट्रगुप्ति-संग्रहः

Protection of the Realm and Principles of Revenue & Local Administration

Devanagari script

पौरजानपदान सर्वान्‌ संश्रितोपश्ितांस्तथा | यथाशक्त्यनुकम्पेत सर्वान्‌ स्‍्वल्पधनानपि

Transliteration

paurajānāpadān sarvān saṁśritopaśritāṁs tathā | yathāśakty anukampeta sarvān svalpadhanān api ||

Translation

Bhishma sprach: Der König soll nach Kräften allen Stadt- und Landbewohnern Mitgefühl erweisen—ob sie unmittelbar Zuflucht suchen oder durch einen Mittler Schutz erbitten—selbst wenn sie nur geringen Besitz haben. Pflicht des Herrschers ist es, die Schutzlosen zu bergen und Bitten um Beistand ohne Vorurteil nach Rang oder Mitteln zu erhören.

Word by Word

• पौर: townsmen/citizens
• पौर: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• जानपदान्: country-folk/villagers
• जानपदान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानपद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• संश्रित: having taken refuge; resorted to (him)
• संश्रित: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-श्रि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• उपस्थितान्: present; having come near/appeared
• उपस्थितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-स्था
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तथा: and also; likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• यथा: as; according to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• शक्त्या: by (one's) power/ability
• शक्त्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• अनुकम्पेत: should show compassion to; should pity
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-कम्प्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• स्वल्पधनान्: having little wealth; poor
• स्वल्पधनान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वल्पधन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• king (rājā)
• townspeople (paurāḥ)
• villagers/countryfolk (jānapadāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s dharma is to protect and show compassion to all who seek refuge—city and village alike—without discriminating against the poor; mercy should be extended according to the king’s capacity.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on governance, emphasizing that the king must respond kindly to subjects who come for protection, whether directly or through intermediaries.