Shloka 8

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

Rājadharma

Devanagari script

ऊर्जस्विनरनागाश्वृं चत्वरापणशोभितम्‌ | प्रसिद्धव्यवहारं च प्रशान्‍्तमकुतोभयम्‌

Transliteration

ūrjasvinaranāgāśvaṁ catvarāpaṇaśobhitam | prasiddhavyavahāraṁ ca praśāntam akutobhayam ||

Translation

Bhishma said: “(That city/realm) is filled with vigorous men, elephants, and horses; it is beautified by crossroads and marketplaces. Its public dealings are well-known and orderly, and it stands calm—free from fear on any side.”

Word by Word

• ऊर्जस्वि-नर-नाग-अश्व-ऋं: having vigorous men, elephants, and horses
• ऊर्जस्वि-नर-नाग-अश्व-ऋं: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्जस्विन् + नर + नाग + अश्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• चत्वर-आपण-शोभितम्: adorned with squares and markets
• चत्वर-आपण-शोभितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चत्वर + आपण + शोभित (√शुभ्/शोभ्)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्रसिद्ध-व्यवहारम्: having well-known (regular) dealings/commerce
• प्रसिद्ध-व्यवहारम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसिद्ध + व्यवहार
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• प्रशान्तम्: peaceful, tranquil
• प्रशान्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रशान्त (√शम्)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अकुतोभयम्: free from fear from any quarter
• अकुतोभयम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकुतोभय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• men (nara)
• elephants (nāga)
• horses (aśva)
• crossroads/public squares (catvara)
• marketplaces (āpaṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A well-ruled realm is recognized by strength and readiness (men, elephants, horses), thriving civic life (crossroads and markets), transparent and reputable public dealings (vyavahāra), and above all public peace and security (akutobhayam).

What is happening in the narrative?

In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs on dharma and statecraft; here he describes the marks of a prosperous, orderly, and fear-free city/kingdom as part of his guidance on ideal governance.