Shloka 20

Devanagari script

नाहंवादी न निर्द॑न्द्धो न यर्किंचनकारक: । कृते कर्मण्यमात्यानां कर्ता भृत्यजनप्रिय:,वह अहंकार छोड़ दे, द्वन्धोंसे प्रभावित न हो, जो ही मनमें आवे वही न करने लगे, मन्त्रियोंके किये हुए कर्मका अनुमोदन करे और सेवकोंपर प्रेम रखे

Transliteration

nāhaṃvādī na nirdvandvo na yatkiñcanakārakaḥ | kṛte karmaṇy amātyānāṃ kartā bhṛtyajanapriyaḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “One should not be quarrelsome, nor tossed about by the pairs of opposites. One should not become a doer of whatever impulse arises. Rather, one should approve and uphold the actions properly carried out by one’s ministers, and maintain affectionate goodwill toward one’s servants and dependents.”

Word by Word

नnot

अहम्I

वादीa talker/arguer (one who speaks much)

नnot

निर्द्वन्द्वःfree from pairs of opposites (unaffected by dualities)

नnot

यत्किञ्चनकारकःone who does whatever comes to mind (a doer of anything whatsoever)

कृतेwhen done / in what has been done

कर्मणिin the act/work

अमात्यानाम्of the ministers

कर्ताapprover/authorizer; one who makes (it) his own responsibility

भृत्यजनप्रियःdear to servants/retainers; affectionate toward attendants

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

amātya (ministers/counsellors)

bhṛtyajana (servants/dependents)

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 teaches disciplined kingship and ethical conduct: abandon egoistic self-assertion, remain steady amid opposites, avoid impulsive action, rely on and endorse properly executed ministerial work, and treat servants and dependents with affectionate care.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on the qualities of a good ruler/leader—emphasizing inner restraint, balanced judgment, sound delegation, and humane treatment of those who serve.