Shloka 16

Bhṛtya-niyoga: Role-appropriate appointment of servants and protection of the royal treasury (भृत्यनियोगः कोशरक्षणं च)

Devanagari script

एतैरेव गुणैर्युक्तो राजा शास्त्रविशारद: । एष्टव्यो धर्मपरम: प्रजापालनतत्पर:,राजाको भी ऐसे ही गुणोंसे युक्त होना चाहिये। साथ ही उसमें शास्त्रज्ञान, धर्मपरायणता तथा प्रजापालनकी लगन भी होनी चाहिये; ऐसा ही राजा प्रजाजनोंके लिये वांछनीय होता है

Transliteration

etair eva guṇair yukto rājā śāstraviśāradaḥ | eṣṭavyo dharmaparamaḥ prajā-pālana-tatparaḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: A king should be endowed with these very qualities; he should be well-versed in the śāstras, devoted to dharma above all, and intent on protecting and nurturing his subjects. Such a ruler alone is truly desirable for the people.

Word by Word

एतैःwith these

एवindeed/only

गुणैःqualities/virtues

युक्तःendowed (with)

राजाking

शास्त्रविशारदःskilled in the scriptures

एष्टव्यःto be desired/fit to be sought

धर्मपरमःhaving dharma as the highest (aim)

प्रजापालनतत्परःdevoted to protecting the subjects

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

rājā (the king)

prajā (subjects/people)

śāstra

dharma

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Geographic Context

Sandhi Notes