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Shloka 43

Dhaumya’s Counsel on Incognito Conduct in a Royal Household (राजवसतौ आचरण-निति)

श्रेयः सदा55त्मनो दृष्ट्वा परं राज्ञा न संवदेत्‌ विशेषयेच्च राजानं योग्यभूमिषु सर्वदा,अपनी भलाई अथवा लाभ देखकर दूसरेको सदा राजाके साथ न मिलावे; न बातचीत करावे। उपयुक्त स्थान और अवसर देखकर सदा राजाकी विशेषता प्रकट करे

śreyaḥ sadātmanaḥ dṛṣṭvā paraṃ rājñā na saṃvadet | viśeṣayec ca rājānaṃ yogyabhūmiṣu sarvadā ||

Da das eigene Wohl als vorrangig zu erkennen ist, soll man nicht aus persönlichem Gewinnstreben fortwährend eine private Anlehnung an den König suchen, noch ihn mit unnötig vertraulichem Gerede behelligen. Vielmehr soll man, Ort und Gelegenheit wohl erwählend, die Vorzüglichkeit des Königs stets in gebührender Weise anerkennen und verkünden, damit der Rat sittlich bleibe und das Verhältnis zur Krone seine Würde wahre.

श्रेयःone's welfare / the better course
श्रेयः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootश्रेयस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
सदाalways
सदा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसदा
आत्मनःof oneself
आत्मनः:
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मन्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
दृष्ट्वाhaving seen/considered
दृष्ट्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)
परम्another (person)
परम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootपर
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
राज्ञाwith/by the king
राज्ञा:
Karna
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
संवदेत्should converse / should speak with
संवदेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootसम् + वद्
FormVidhi-linga (optative), Present-system, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
विशेषयेत्should distinguish / should extol / should point out (merit)
विशेषयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootवि + शिष् (causative: विशेषयति)
FormVidhi-linga (optative), Present-system, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada, Causative
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
राजानम्the king
राजानम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
योग्यभूमिषुin suitable places/occasions
योग्यभूमिषु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootयोग्यभूमि
FormFeminine, Locative, Plural
सर्वदाalways
सर्वदा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसर्वदा

धौग्य उवाच

धौम्य (Dhaumya)
राजा (the king)

Educational Q&A

Maintain ethical distance and dignity in dealings with rulers: do not cultivate the king’s company or conversation for personal advantage; instead, speak appropriately and praise or acknowledge the king’s merits only in fitting contexts.

Dhaumya offers a norm of conduct regarding interaction with a king, emphasizing prudent speech and proper occasions—guidance meant to preserve dharma, avoid opportunism, and uphold royal decorum.