Shloka 10

Devanagari script

प्रमाणं सर्वभूतेषु गत्वा च ग्रहणं महत्‌ । ततः सुह्ृद्बलं लब्ध्वा मन्त्रयित्वा सुमन्त्रिभि:

Transliteration

pramāṇaṃ sarvabhūteṣu gatvā ca grahaṇaṃ mahat | tataḥ suhṛdbalaṃ labdhvā mantrayitvā sumantribhiḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “Having gone among all beings to establish one’s credibility and standing, and having secured substantial support, then—after obtaining the strength of loyal well-wishers—one should deliberate with excellent counsellors.”

Word by Word

प्रमाणम्authority; proof; standard

सर्वभूतेषुamong/in all beings

गत्वाhaving gone

चand

ग्रहणम्taking; acceptance; seizure

महत्great

ततःthen; thereafter; from that

सुहृद्बलम्strength/support of friends

लब्ध्वाhaving obtained

मन्त्रयित्वाhaving consulted; having deliberated

सुमन्त्रिभिःwith good ministers/counsellors

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Effective and ethical governance requires first establishing public credibility and broad acceptance, then securing dependable allies, and finally making decisions through careful consultation with wise ministers rather than acting impulsively.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising the king on practical steps of rule: build legitimacy and support, gather the strength of well-wishers, and deliberate with competent counsellors before undertaking major actions.