Shloka 16

Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)

Devanagari script

गुणवन्तो महोत्साहा धर्मज्ञा: साधवश्च ये । संदधीत नृपस्तैश्न राष्ट्र धर्मेण पालयन्‌

Transliteration

guṇavanto mahotsāhā dharmajñāḥ sādhavaś ca ye | sandadhīta nṛpas tais tu rāṣṭraṃ dharmeṇa pālayan ||

Translation

Bhishma said: A king who protects his realm in accordance with dharma should first gather around him men of virtue—great in energy and enterprise, knowledgeable in righteousness, and truly good in conduct—and, supported by such allies, he should establish alliances with powerful rulers.

Word by Word

• गुणवन्तः: virtuous, possessing good qualities
• गुणवन्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुणवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• महोत्साहाः: of great energy/enterprise
• महोत्साहाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महोत्साह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• धर्मज्ञाः: knowers of dharma
• धर्मज्ञाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• साधवः: good men, righteous persons
• साधवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• संदधीत: should make/arrange/establish (e.g., alliance)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + धा
• Form: Vidhi-linga (Optative), Present-system, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• नृपः: the king
• नृपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तैः: with/by those
• तैः: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• राष्ट्रम्: the kingdom/state
• राष्ट्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राष्ट्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• धर्मेण: by/according to dharma
• धर्मेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• पालयन्: protecting/ruling
• पालयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: पालयत् (पाल् धातोः caus. वर्तमान कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, शतृ (present active participle), Active

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• king (nṛpa)
• powerful kings (implicit)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s strength should rest on dharmic governance and the support of virtuous, capable advisers; with such a foundation, forming alliances with strong rulers becomes a legitimate and effective means to protect the realm.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction on rajadharma in the Shanti Parva, he advises the king on practical policy: appoint and rely on upright, energetic, dharma-knowing men, and then pursue treaties/alliances with powerful kings to secure the kingdom.