Shloka 14

ब्राह्मणपूजा-राजधर्मः | Royal Duty of Honoring Learned Brahmins

Devanagari script

हर्यश्वके पुत्र सुदेव जो देवताके तुल्य तेजस्वी और साक्षात्‌ दूसरे धर्मराजके समान न्यायशील थे, पिताके बाद काशिराजके पदपर अभिषिक्त किये गये ।।

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca |

sa pālayāmāsa mahīṃ dharmātmā kāśinandanaḥ |

tair vītahavyair āgatya yudhi sarvair vinirjitaḥ ||

Translation

Bhishma said: “The righteous prince of Kāśī, a true son of Kāśī, governed the earth in accordance with dharma. But then the sons of Vītahavya came and attacked; in battle he was defeated by them all.”

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पालयामास: ruled, protected
• Type: Verb
• Root: पालय् (पाल्) / पा (पालने)
• Form: Perfect (Periphrastic perfect), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• महीम्: the earth, land
• महीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• धर्मात्मा: righteous-souled
• धर्मात्मा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• काशिनन्दनः: son of Kashi (the Kashian prince)
• काशिनन्दनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशिनन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तैः: by them
• तैः: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• वीतहव्यैः: by the Vītahavyas (sons/descendants of Vītahavya)
• वीतहव्यैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीतहव्य
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• आगत्य: having come, after coming
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• युधि: in battle
• युधि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युध्
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• सर्वम्: all, entirely
• सर्वम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विनिर्जितः: completely conquered/defeated
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-नि-√जि
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Kāśī (Kashi)
• Kāśinandana (prince of Kāśī)
• Vītahavya
• Vītahavyas (sons/descendants of Vītahavya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ideal of dharmic kingship—protecting and governing the realm according to righteousness—while also acknowledging that ethical rule does not guarantee immunity from hostile coalitions or political violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

A righteous prince of Kāśī rules the kingdom, but the sons/lineage of Vītahavya arrive and attack; in the ensuing battle, they collectively defeat him.