Shloka 8

Devanagari script

सेवितं सततं राजन पुरा राजर्षिसत्तमै: । क्षत्रधर्मपरैर्नित्यं सत्यव्रतपरायणै:

Transliteration

sevitaṃ satataṃ rājan purā rājarṣisattamaiḥ | kṣatradharmaparair nityaṃ satyavrataparāyaṇaiḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “O King, in ancient times this (mantra/observance) was practiced continually by the foremost royal sages—men ever devoted to the kṣatriya code of duty and steadfastly committed to vows of truth. They used to recite it constantly.”

Word by Word

• सेवितम्: practised/observed
• सेवितम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेवित (√सेव्)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• सततम्: always, continually
• सततम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• पुरा: formerly, in ancient times
• पुरा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा

• राजर्षि-सत्तमैः: by the best of royal sages
• राजर्षि-सत्तमैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजर्षि-सत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• क्षत्र-धर्म-परैः: by those devoted to kshatriya-duty
• क्षत्र-धर्म-परैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षत्रधर्मपर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• सत्य-व्रत-परायणैः: by those wholly devoted to the vow of truth
• सत्य-व्रत-परायणैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्यव्रतपरायण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• King (Yudhiṣṭhira, addressed as rājan)
• Royal sages (rājarṣis)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse upholds an ethical ideal for rulers: true kṣatriya-dharma is inseparable from satya (truth). The highest kings are portrayed as those who continually practice a revered discipline (implied mantra/observance) while remaining unwavering in truthful vows.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma, instructing the king, appeals to ancient precedent: he says that the foremost royal sages of earlier times constantly practiced/recited this tradition, emphasizing their devotion to warrior-duty and truth as the model for present conduct.