Shloka 18

Devanagari script

बलेन संविभागैश्नलू जय स्वर्ग जनेश्वर । यस्यैव बलमोजश्न स धर्मस्य प्रभुर्नर:,अब मैं राजाके कार्योमें जो सबसे श्रेष्ठ है, उसका वर्णन करता हूँ। जनेश्वर! तुम धैर्ययुक्त बल और दानके द्वारा स्वर्गलोकपर विजय प्राप्त करो। जिसके पास बल और ओज है, वही मनुष्य धर्माचरणमें समर्थ होता है

Transliteration

balena saṁvibhāgaiś ca jaya svargaṁ janeśvara | yasyaiva balam ojaś ca sa dharmasya prabhur naraḥ ||

Translation

“I shall now describe what is most excellent among a king’s duties. O lord of men, conquer heaven through steadfast strength and through generous distribution. For the man who truly possesses strength and vital energy (ojas) is the one capable of upholding and practicing dharma.”

Word by Word

बलेनby strength

संविभागैःby distributions / by gifts (apportionments)

नृलोकेin the world of men

जयconquer

स्वर्गम्heaven

जनेश्वरO lord of people

यस्यwhose

एवindeed / only

बलम्strength

ओजःvigor / energy

सःhe

धर्मस्यof dharma

प्रभुःmaster / capable one

नरःman

Speaker

शौनक उवाच

Characters & Entities

श

शौनक (Śaunaka)

ज

जनेश्वर (janeśvara—king/lord of men)

स

स्वर्ग (svarga—heaven)

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?

Royal excellence is grounded in disciplined strength and generous sharing; only one who has real power and vigor can reliably uphold dharma and thereby attain the highest fruits, symbolized as victory over heaven.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śaunaka addresses a king (‘lord of men’) and introduces a teaching on the श्रेष्ठ (best) royal duty, urging him to pursue heavenly attainment through steadfast power coupled with charitable distribution, linking ethical rule to inner strength.