Shloka 32

दुर्ग-निवेश-राजधर्मः | Fortified Capital and the King’s Residential Polity

Rājadharma

Devanagari script

ते कस्याज्चिदवस्थायां शरणं शरणार्थिने । राज्ञे दद्युर्यथाकामं तापसा: संशितव्रता:,वे उत्तम व्रतका पालन करनेवाले तपस्वी शरणार्थी राजाको किसी भी अवस्थामें इच्छानुसार शरण दे सकते हैं

Transliteration

te kasyācid avasthāyāṃ śaraṇaṃ śaraṇārthine | rājñe dadyur yathākāmaṃ tāpasāḥ saṃśitavratāḥ ||

Translation

Bhishma said: “In whatever circumstance it may be, ascetics of firm and well-disciplined vows may, according to their own judgment, grant refuge to a king who seeks protection.”

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• कस्यचित्: of some (any)
• कस्यचित्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: feminine, genitive, singular

• अवस्थायाम्: in (any) condition/state
• अवस्थायाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवस्था
• Form: feminine, locative, singular

• शरणम्: refuge, protection
• शरणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• शरणार्थिने: to one seeking refuge
• शरणार्थिने: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरणार्थिन्
• Form: masculine, dative, singular

• राज्ञे: to the king
• राज्ञे: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: masculine, dative, singular

• दद्युः: would give / may grant
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (ददाति)
• Form: optative (vidhiling), 3rd, plural, parasmaipada

• यथा: as, according to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• कामम्: desire, wish
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• तापसाः: ascetics
• तापसाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तापस
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• संशितव्रताः: of well-sharpened/strict vows
• संशितव्रताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संशित-व्रत
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• king (rājā)
• ascetics (tāpasāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

That granting refuge (śaraṇa) to a seeker is a powerful dharmic obligation; disciplined ascetics, guided by strict vows and moral clarity, may extend protection even to a king, regardless of circumstances, when refuge is sincerely sought.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma is instructing on dharma in the Shanti Parva, stating a principle about asylum/protection: ascetics of firm vows can choose to shelter a king who comes seeking refuge, emphasizing the moral authority of tapas and the sanctity of supplication.