Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

धीरो मर्षी शुचिस्तीक्षण: काले पुरुषकारवित्‌ । शुश्रूषु: श्रुववान्‌ श्रोता ऊहापोहविशारद:,राजा धीर, क्षमाशील, पवित्र, समय-समयपर तीक्ष्ण, पुरुषार्थको जाननेवाला, सुननेके लिये उत्सुक, वेदज्ञ, श्रवणपरायण तथा तर्क-वितर्कमें कुशल हो

Transliteration

dhīro marṣī śucis tīkṣṇaḥ kāle puruṣakāravit | śuśrūṣuḥ śrutavān śrotā ūhāpohaviśāradaḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “A king should be steady-minded and forbearing, inwardly pure, and—when the time demands—firm and incisive. He should understand true human effort and initiative, be eager to listen and serve the wise, be learned from what he has heard, attentive as a listener, and skilled in discerning reasoning—able to weigh alternatives and separate what is sound from what is unsound.”

Word by Word

धीरोsteady, wise

मर्षीforbearing, patient

शुचिःpure, clean

तीक्ष्णःsharp, stern

कालेin (proper) time

पुरुषकारवित्knower of human effort/initiative

शुश्रूषुःeager to listen/serve (attentive)

श्रुववान्learned (one who has heard/learned much)

श्रोताlistener

ऊहापोहविशारदःskilled in reasoning and refutation

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

king (rājā)

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?

Bhīṣma outlines the ideal traits of a ruler: inner purity and patience, firmness when circumstances require it, respect for counsel and learning, and sharp discernment to judge arguments and choose the right course in governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira about the standards and competencies a king must cultivate to rule justly and effectively.