Shloka 95

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

Devanagari script

हसन्ति च मनुष्याणां स्वरवर्णमनांस्युत । व्याधयश्व भवन्त्यत्र प्रियन्ते च गतायुष:

Transliteration

hasanti ca manuṣyāṇāṃ svaravarṇamanāṃsy uta | vyādhayaś ca bhavanty atra priyante ca gatāyuṣaḥ ||

Translation

Bhishma said: In such a condition, people’s voice, complexion, and even their minds become tainted and impaired. Diseases and afflictions arise and torment them here, and men, their span of life diminished, perish while still young.

Word by Word

• हसन्ति: they laugh / (are derided)
• हसन्ति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: हस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथम, बहुवचन

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

• मनुष्याणाम्: of humans
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• स्वर: voice / tone
• स्वर: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (समास/समुच्चय-प्रयोगे), एकवचन

• वर्ण: complexion / color
• वर्ण: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (समास/समुच्चय-प्रयोगे), एकवचन

• मनांसि: minds
• मनांसि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• उत: also / moreover
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत

• व्याधयः: diseases
• व्याधयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याधि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

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

• भवन्ति: arise / occur
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथम, बहुवचन

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र

• प्रियन्ते: they become dear / are pleased
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्री (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम, बहुवचन

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

• गतायुषः: those whose lifespan is gone / short-lived
• गतायुषः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत-आयुस्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• manuṣyāḥ (human beings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When dharma declines, its effects appear concretely in human life: mental impurity, loss of vitality and excellence, spread of disease, and shortened lifespan. Ethical decay is presented as having real psychological and physical consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma is describing the marks of a deteriorating age/condition in society: people’s voice, complexion, and minds become corrupted; illnesses proliferate; and humans die young due to diminished longevity.