Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

यो वा भवद्विनाशेन राज्यमिच्छत्यनन्तरम्‌ । आन्तरैरभिसंधाय राजन्‌ सिद्धयति नान्यथा

Transliteration

yo vā bhavad-vināśena rājyam icchaty anantaram | āntaraiḥ abhisandhāya rājan siddhyati nānyathā ||

Translation

Bhishma said: “O King, whoever desires to seize this kingdom immediately after you by bringing about your destruction can succeed only by forming a secret plot in collusion with insiders of the inner palace; in no other way. Therefore, you should remain vigilant.”

Word by Word

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वा: or/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• भवत्-विनाशेन: by your destruction
• भवत्-विनाशेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् + विनाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• इच्छति: desires/wants
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Singular

• अनन्तरम्: immediately after
• अनन्तरम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक; अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग)

• आन्तरैः: with insiders/inner (palace) people
• आन्तरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अभिसन्धाय: having conspired/after plotting
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-सम्-धा (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• सिद्ध्यति: succeeds/is accomplished
• Type: Verb
• Root: सिध् (धातु)
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• the King (rājan)
• rājya (the kingdom)
• antaḥpura (inner palace/royal household)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s greatest danger often comes from internal collusion: a usurper can most effectively harm the king and seize power by conspiring with insiders of the palace. Hence, prudent vigilance and safeguarding the inner administration are essential aspects of rajadharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance, Bhishma warns the king that an enemy seeking to destroy him and take the kingdom afterward will typically rely on secret coordination with people inside the royal household. The statement functions as practical counsel to remain alert to internal threats.