Shloka 17

Treasury Security, Protection of Informants, and the Kalakavṛkṣīya Exemplum (Śānti Parva 83)

Devanagari script

अपने कौएको पिंजड़ेमें बाणसे विदीर्ण हुआ देखकर ब्राह्मणने पूर्वाह्ञमें राजा क्षेमदर्शीसे इस प्रकार कहा-- ।।

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca |

rājan tvām abhayaṃ yāce prabhuṃ prāṇa-dhaneśvaram |

anujñātas tvayā brūyāṃ vacanaṃ bhavato hitam ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “O King, I seek assurance of safety from you—who hold authority over the lives and wealth of your subjects. If you permit me, I shall speak words that are for your welfare.”

Word by Word

• {'rājan': 'O king (vocative of rājan)', 'tvām': 'you', 'abhayam': 'fearlessness

• protection from harm', 'yāce': 'I request

• I beg', 'prabhum': 'lord

• one with authority', 'prāṇa': 'life-breath

• life', 'dhana': 'wealth

• property', 'īśvaram / īśvara': 'master

• one who has power over', 'anujñātaḥ': 'permitted

• given leave', 'tvayā': 'by you', 'brūyām': 'may I speak

• I would speak (optative, expressing respectful request)', 'vacanam': 'speech

• counsel', 'bhavataḥ': 'of you

• your', 'hitam': 'benefit

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• King (rājan)
• Subjects (implied by 'prāṇa-dhana-īśvara')

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s power over life and wealth must be exercised with responsibility; therefore, truthful counsel should be welcomed, and the speaker should be granted safety (abhaya) so that beneficial advice can be offered without fear.

What is happening in the narrative?

A Brahmin (as framed in the surrounding story) addresses King Kṣemadarśī respectfully, first requesting protection, and then asking permission to speak candidly for the king’s welfare—setting up a moral admonition within Bhishma’s discourse on righteous governance.