Shloka 16
Mantri-Parīkṣā — Testing Ministers, Securing Counsel, and Ethical Criteria for Advisers (अध्याय ८४)
Devanagari script
कुलीन: कुलसम्पन्नस्तितिक्षुर्दक्ष आत्मवान् । शूर: कृतज्ञः सत्यश्न श्रेयस: पार्थ लक्षणम्
Translation
Bhishma said: O son of Kunti, to be born in a noble line, to keep company with the best of families, to be forbearing, skilled in action, strong-willed, courageous, grateful, and truthful in speech—these are the marks of an excellent man, O Partha.
Word by Word
कुलीनःwell-born, of noble family
कुलीनः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootकुलीन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कुलसम्पन्नःendowed with (good) lineage
कुलसम्पन्नः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootकुलसम्पन्न
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तितिक्षुःforbearing, patient
तितिक्षुः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootतितिक्षु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
दक्षःskilful, competent
दक्षः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootदक्ष
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
आत्मवान्self-possessed, self-controlled
आत्मवान्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootआत्मवत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
शूरःvaliant, heroic
शूरः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootशूर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कृतज्ञःgrateful (one who knows what is done)
कृतज्ञः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootकृतज्ञ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सत्यश्नःtruth-speaking / devoted to truth (lit. 'truth-eating')
सत्यश्नः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसत्यश्न
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
श्रेयसःof the good / of welfare / of the best
श्रेयसः:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootश्रेयस्
FormNeuter, Genitive, Singular
पार्थO Partha (son of Pritha)
पार्थ:
TypeNoun
Rootपार्थ
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
लक्षणम्mark, characteristic
लक्षणम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootलक्षण
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
कुन्तीनन्दनO son of Kunti
कुन्तीनन्दन:
TypeNoun
Rootकुन्तीनन्दन
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes