Shloka 51

राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)

Devanagari script

क्रुश्यन्ति परिदीप्यन्ति भूमिपायाधितिष्ठते । उत्कोचैर्वज्चनाभि श्र कार्याण्यनुविहन्ति च,राज्यके अधिपति भूपालको कोसते हैं, उनके प्रति क्रोधसे तमतमा उठते हैं; घूस लेकर और धोखा देकर राजाके कार्योमें विघ्न डालते हैं

Transliteration

kruśyanti paridīpyante bhūmipāyādhitiṣṭhate | utkośair vañcanābhiś ca kāryāṇy anuvighnanti ca ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “They cry out and flare up in anger against the king who rules the land; and, taking bribes and resorting to deceit, they obstruct the king’s affairs.”

Word by Word

क्रुश्यन्तिthey cry out / shout

परिदीप्यन्तिthey blaze up / become inflamed (with anger)

भूमिपायin/at the king (protector of the earth)

अधितिष्ठतेhe presides / rules / stands over

उत्कोचैःby bribes

वञ्चनाभिःby deceptions / frauds

कार्याणिtasks / affairs / duties

अनुविहन्तिthey obstruct / they hinder

चand

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

the king (bhūmipā)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma highlights a key ethical danger to righteous rule: subjects or officials who, driven by anger and self-interest, use bribery and deceit to obstruct the king’s legitimate work. The verse condemns corruption and sabotage as adharma that undermines stable governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma (the duties of kings), Bhishma describes harmful behaviors found in a kingdom: people complain and rage against the ruling king, and some interfere with royal administration by taking bribes and employing fraud.