Shloka 4

राजधर्मः—प्रजापालनं दानयज्ञश्च

Royal Duty—Protection of Subjects, Generosity, and Sacrificial Discipline

Devanagari script

राज्ञा हि पूजितो धर्मस्तत: सर्वत्र पूज्यते । यद्‌ यदाचरते राजा तत्‌ प्रजानां सम रोचते

Transliteration

rājñā hi pūjito dharmas tataḥ sarvatra pūjyate | yad yad ācarate rājā tat prajānāṃ sama rocate ||

Translation

Bhishma said: When a king honors dharma, that dharma comes to be honored everywhere. For whatever conduct the king adopts, that very conduct appears agreeable and worthy of imitation to the people.

Word by Word

• राज्ञा: by the king
• राज्ञा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• पूजितः: honoured/worshipped
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूजित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मः: dharma/righteous conduct
• धर्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ततः: thereafter/therefrom
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र

• पूज्यते: is honoured
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज्
• Form: Present, Passive, Third, Singular

• यत्: whatever (relative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद्

• यत्: whatever (repeated for emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद्

• आचरते: practises/does
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर्
• Form: Present, Parasmaipada, Third, Singular

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तत्: that (same thing)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• प्रजानाम्: of the subjects/people
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• समम्: equally/just so
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम

• रोचते: pleases/seems good
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुच्
• Form: Present, Atmanepada, Third, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• King (rājā)
• Subjects/people (prajā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s personal reverence and practice of dharma sets the standard for society: when the king honors dharma, it gains authority everywhere, and the people naturally imitate the king’s conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance and righteousness, Bhishma advises the listener on rajadharma, emphasizing that the king’s behavior shapes public values and actions.