Shloka 13

Ānṛśaṃsya, Amātya-Guṇa, and Reconciliatory Counsel (आनृशंस्य–अमात्यगुण–संधि-उपदेशः)

Devanagari script

कालकवृक्षीय मुनि राजा जनकका राजकुमार क्षेमदर्शीके साथ मेल करा रहे हैं धर्मात्मनां क्वचिल्लोके नान्यास्ति गतिरीदृशी । महात्मा राजपुत्रो5यं सतां मार्गमनुछित:

Transliteration

dharmātmanāṁ kvacil loke nānyāsti gatir īdṛśī | mahātmā rājaputro ’yaṁ satāṁ mārgam anucchitaḥ ||

Translation

Bhishma said: “For righteous kings in this world, there is, at times, no course of action comparable to this—namely, the guidance of the good. This prince is high-souled; he has taken refuge in the path followed by virtuous men.”

Word by Word

• {'dharmātmanām': 'of the righteous-minded

• of those whose nature is dharma', 'kvacit': 'at some time

• in some cases', 'loke': 'in the world

• among people', 'na': 'not', 'anyā': 'other', 'asti': 'there is', 'gatiḥ': 'course, resort, way, refuge, means', 'īdṛśī': 'of this kind

• like this', 'mahātmā': 'great-souled

• noble', 'rājaputraḥ': 'king’s son

• prince', 'ayam': 'this', 'satām': 'of the good/virtuous', 'mārgaḥ': 'path

• way of conduct', 'anucchitaḥ': 'followed/accepted

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• rājaputra (the prince)
• dharmātmānaḥ (righteous kings)
• sat (the virtuous/good people)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king’s best ‘refuge’ or practical course is to align with dharma by following the guidance and example of the virtuous; ethical governance depends on good counsel and right conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma, instructing on royal duty in the Shanti Parva, praises a prince for adopting the conduct of good people and states that for righteous rulers there is no better recourse than such virtuous guidance.