Shloka 44

मृदु-तीक्ष्ण-नीति तथा दुष्टलक्षण-विज्ञानम्

Measured Policy and the Recognition of Malicious Disposition

Devanagari script

तथैव चान्यैरपि शास्त्रवेदिभि: स्वलंकृतै: शास्त्रविधानदृष्टिभि: । सुशिक्षितैर्भाष्पकथाविशारदै: परेषु कृत्यामुपधारयेच्च

Transliteration

tathaiva cānyair api śāstravedibhiḥ svalankṛtaiḥ śāstravidhānadṛṣṭibhiḥ | suśikṣitair bhāṣyakathāviśāradaiḥ pareṣu kṛtyām upadhārayec ca ||

Translation

Bhishma said: “In the same manner, one should also employ other learned authorities—those who know the scriptures, are properly adorned, and are trained in the procedures prescribed by the śāstras; those well educated and skilled in commentary and exposition—to undertake and apply such a rite against one’s enemies.”

Word by Word

• {'tathaiva': 'just so

• in the same way', 'anyaiḥ api': 'by others also', 'śāstra-vedibhiḥ': 'by those who know the treatises/scriptures', 'su-alaṅkṛtaiḥ (svalankṛtaiḥ)': 'well adorned

• properly decorated (with garments/ornaments)', 'śāstra-vidhāna-dṛṣṭibhiḥ': 'by those who have insight into/knowledge of scriptural injunctions and procedures', 'suśikṣitaiḥ': 'well trained

• well educated', 'bhāṣya-kathā-viśāradaiḥ': 'skilled in commentarial explanation and learned discourse', 'pareṣu': 'against others

• upon enemies', 'kṛtyām': 'a rite/act (often a special ritual operation

• in some contexts a hostile rite)', 'upadhārayet': 'should cause to be undertaken/implemented

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• enemies (pare)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse stresses that specialized actions—especially rites requiring technical competence—should be carried out only through properly trained, scripturally grounded experts who understand correct procedure and can explain authoritative interpretations.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction to Yudhishthira in the Shanti Parva, he continues outlining methods and counsel for governance and protection, here indicating that certain operations against adversaries are to be executed through qualified, well-instructed ritual and exegetical specialists.