Shloka 15

Nīti-upadeśa to a Rājaputra: Self-restraint, Alliances, and Rival-Management (नीतिउपदेशः)

Devanagari script

रमस्व परमामित्रे विषये प्राज्ञसम्मत: । भजस्व श्वेतकाकीयैर्मित्रधर्ममनर्थकै:ः

Transliteration

ramasva paramāmitre viṣaye prājñasammataḥ | bhajasva śvetakākīyair mitradharmam anarthakaiḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “Dwell contentedly in a realm that is free from hostility and approved by the wise. Do not associate with the so‑called ‘friendship’ practiced by the Śvetakāka type—friendship that is ultimately ruinous and brings no true benefit.”

Word by Word

• रमस्व: enjoy; take delight
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), आत्मनेपद, मध्यम, एकवचन

• परम: supreme; excellent
• परम: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• अमित्रे: in/with an enemy
• अमित्रे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमित्र
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• विषये: in the domain; in the sphere
• विषये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• प्राज्ञसम्मतः: approved by the wise
• प्राज्ञसम्मतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राज्ञसम्मत
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भजस्व: resort to; associate with; practice
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), आत्मनेपद, मध्यम, एकवचन

• श्वेतकाकीयैः: by/with (those) like the white crow
• श्वेतकाकीयैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेतकाकीय
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• मित्रधर्मम्: the duty/way of a friend
• मित्रधर्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्रधर्म
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनर्थकैः: by/with the harmful; profitless (ones)
• अनर्थकैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनर्थक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Śvetakāka (proverbial type/person)