Shloka 5

Bala and Dharma in Kṣatriya Governance (बल-धर्म सम्बन्धः)

Devanagari script

यो<धर्मविजिगीशु: स्याद्‌ बलवान्‌ पापनिश्चय: । आत्मन: संनिरोधेन संधि तेनापि रोचयेत्‌,जो विजय चाहनेवाला शत्रु अधर्मपरायण हो तथा बलवान होनेके साथ ही पापपूर्ण विचार रखता हो, उसके साथ अपना कुछ खोकर भी संधि कर लेनेकी ही इच्छा रखे

Transliteration

yo dharmavijigīṣuḥ syād balavān pāpaniścayaḥ | ātmanaḥ saṃnirodhena sandhiṃ tenāpi rocayet ||

Translation

Bhishma said: If there is an adversary who is intent on conquering through adharma, who is powerful, and whose resolve is sinful, then one should prefer making peace even with him—restraining oneself and accepting some personal loss—rather than rushing into a ruinous conflict.

Word by Word

यःwho

धर्म-विजिगीषुःdesiring to conquer by/with dharma (righteous means)

स्यात्should be / may be

बलवान्strong, powerful

पाप-निश्चयःof sinful resolve/intent

आत्मनःof oneself

संनिरोधेनby restraint/self-control (lit. by holding back)

सन्धिम्peace, treaty, alliance

तेनwith him / by that (person)

अपिeven, also

रोचयेत्should prefer/approve; should choose

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

enemy/adversary (śatru, implied)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Sandhi Notes