Shloka 33

कपोत-लुब्धकसंवादः — Hunter’s Remorse and Renunciatory Resolve

Devanagari script

वष्ट: क्षत्रियधर्मोडयं सौहृदं त्वयि मे स्थितम्‌ । उग्रकर्मणि सृष्टोडसि तस्मादू राज्यं प्रशाधि वै

Transliteration

kaṣṭaḥ kṣatriyadharmo 'yaṃ sauhṛdaṃ tvayi me sthitam | ugrakarmaṇi sṛṣṭo 'si tasmād rājyam praśādhi vai, vatsa ||

Translation

Bhishma said: “Hard to practice is this dharma of a kshatriya. Because I bear affection for you, I speak thus. The Ordainer has brought you forth for stern deeds; therefore, standing firm in your own duty, govern and administer the kingdom, my child.”

Word by Word

• {'kaṣṭaḥ': 'difficult, arduous', 'kṣatriya-dharmaḥ': 'the duty/ethical code of a warrior-ruler', 'ayam': 'this', 'sauhṛdam': 'affection, goodwill, heartfelt friendship', 'tvayi': 'toward you / in you', 'me': 'my', 'sthitam': 'is established, abides', 'ugra-karmaṇi': 'in fierce/rigorous action

• in stern deeds', 'sṛṣṭaḥ asi': 'you have been created/appointed

• you are brought forth', 'tasmāt': 'therefore', 'rājyam': 'the kingdom

• royal authority', 'praśādhi': 'rule, govern, administer (imperative)', 'vai': 'indeed, surely (emphatic particle)', 'vatsa': 'dear child

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma emphasizes that kshatriya-dharma is demanding, yet one must not evade it; being suited (and destined) for stern responsibilities, the addressee should uphold svadharma by governing the kingdom with firmness and discipline.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs the king on righteous rule. Here he speaks with personal affection, urging the listener to accept the harsh obligations of warrior-kingship and to administer the realm according to duty.