Shloka 66

Hiḍimba’s Approach and Hiḍimbā’s Warning to Bhīmasena (हिडिम्बागमनम् / हिडिम्बा-भयवचनम्)

Devanagari script

वाचा भृशं विनीत: स्याद्‌ हृदयेन तथा क्षुर: । स्मितपूर्वाभिभाषी स्यात्‌ सृष्टो रौद्राय कर्मणे,राजा बातचीतमें अत्यन्त विनयशील हो, परंतु हृदय छूरेके समान तीखा बनाये रखे। अत्यन्त भयानक कर्म करनेके लिये उद्यत हो तो भी मुसकराकर ही वार्तालाप करे

Transliteration

vācā bhṛśaṃ vinītaḥ syād hṛdayena tathā kṣuraḥ | smitapūrvābhibhāṣī syāt sṛṣṭo raudrāya karmaṇe ||

Translation

Kaṇika said: “A king should be exceedingly courteous in speech, yet keep his heart as sharp as a razor. Even when set upon dreadful deeds, he should converse with a smile.”

Word by Word

• {'vācā': 'by speech

• in words', 'bhṛśam': 'exceedingly

• greatly', 'vinītaḥ': 'well-trained

• courteous', 'syāt': 'should be', 'hṛdayena': 'in/with the heart

• inwardly', 'tathā': 'likewise

• in the same way', 'kṣuraḥ': 'razor

• figuratively, sharp and cutting', 'smita': 'smile

• gentle laughter', 'pūrva': 'preceded by

• first', 'abhibhāṣī': 'one who speaks/addressess (others)', 'smitapūrvābhibhāṣī': 'one who speaks after first smiling

• smiling in address', 'sṛṣṭaḥ': 'sent forth

• intent upon', 'raudrāya': 'for fierce/terrible (purpose)

• toward cruelty', 'karmaṇe': 'for action/deed

Speaker

कणिक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• कणिक (Kaṇika)
• राजा (the king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches a hard-edged principle of statecraft attributed to Kaṇika: outward humility and pleasant speech can be used as a cover for inward sharpness and even ruthless action. It highlights a tension between ethical ideals and pragmatic political strategy.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Adi Parva, Kaṇika is giving counsel on kingship and political conduct. Here he advises that a ruler should appear gentle and smiling in conversation while remaining inwardly keen and prepared for severe measures—an example of strategic, even manipulative, counsel within the larger courtly context.