Shloka 43

Devanagari script

नीतिशास्त्रं समाश्रित्य हितमस्योपवर्णये । येनेमं शत्रुसंघातं मतिपूर्वेण वजचये,“आज नीतिशास्त्रका सहारा लेकर इसके हितका वर्णन करूँगा जिससे बुद्धिके द्वारा इस शत्रुसमुदायको धोखा देकर बच जाऊँगा

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | nītiśāstraṃ samāśritya hitam asyopavarṇaye | yenemaṃ śatrusaṃghātaṃ matipūrveṇa vañcaye | adya nītiśāstrakā sahārā lekar iske hitakā varṇan karū̃gā jis se buddhike dvārā is śatrusamudāyako dhokhā dekar bac jāū̃gā |

Translation

Bhishma said: “Relying on the science of polity and right conduct, I shall describe what is beneficial for him. By doing so, I will, through deliberate intelligence, outmaneuver this mass of enemies. Today, taking refuge in nītiśāstra, I will set forth his welfare, so that by strategy of mind I may escape after deceiving this hostile host.”

Word by Word

नीतिशास्त्रम्treatise on polity/ethics

समाश्रित्यhaving taken refuge in / relying on

हितम्benefit, welfare

अस्यof him/this (person)

उपवर्णयेI describe / I set forth

येनby which

इमम्this

शत्रु-संघातम्mass/host of enemies

मति-पूर्वेणwith forethought / with prior deliberation

वञ्चयेI deceive / I outwit

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

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?

That welfare (hita) should be articulated and pursued through nītiśāstra—disciplined ethical-political reasoning—using foresight and deliberate intelligence to navigate danger and overcome hostile forces.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma announces that he will now speak from the standpoint of nītiśāstra, explaining what is beneficial for the concerned person, and that this counsel will function as a strategic means to outmaneuver an opposing host.