Shloka 13

Gaṇānāṃ Vṛttiḥ — On the Sustenance and Cohesion of Assemblies

Gaṇa-nīti

Devanagari script

तत्रादानेन भिद्यन्ते गणा: संघातवृत्तय: । भिन्ना विमनस: सर्वे गच्छन्त्यरिवशं भयात्‌,संघबद्ध होकर जीवन-निर्वाह करनेवाले गणराज्यके सैनिकोंको भी यदि समयपर भोजन और वेतन न मिले तो भी वे फूट जाते हैं। फ़ूट जानेपर सबके मन एक-दूसरेके विपरीत हो जाते हैं और वे सबके सब भयके कारण शत्रुओंके अधीन हो जाते हैं

Transliteration

tatrādānena bhidyante gaṇāḥ saṅghātavṛttayaḥ | bhinnā vimanasaḥ sarve gacchanty arivaśaṃ bhayāt ||

Translation

Bhishma said: Even those corporate bodies (gaṇas) that sustain themselves by acting in close union are split apart when timely provisions are not given. Once divided, all become disheartened and mutually opposed, and out of fear they fall under the control of enemies.

Word by Word

तत्रthere/therein

अदानेनby non-giving (by withholding)

भिद्यन्तेare split / break apart

गणाःgroups / troops / corporations

संघातवृत्तयःthose whose mode of life is in a compact body (living by union)

भिन्नाःsplit, divided

विमनसःdejected / ill-disposed

सर्वेall

गच्छन्तिgo / fall into

अरिवशम्enemy’s control/subjection

भयात्from fear / out of fear

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

gaṇa (corporate/republican body)

ari (enemy)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler must ensure timely and fair provision (pay, food, support) to those who serve collectively; neglect (adāna) fractures unity, destroys morale, and makes the community vulnerable to enemy domination.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction on rāja-dharma in the Śānti Parva, he explains a practical cause of political collapse: when a united corporate body or soldiery is not properly maintained, it splits into factions and, weakened by fear and discord, becomes subject to enemies.