Shloka 6

Nīti-upadeśa to a Rājaputra: Self-restraint, Alliances, and Rival-Management (नीतिउपदेशः)

Devanagari script

तमुत्तमेन शौचेन कर्मणा चाभिधारय

Transliteration

tam uttamena śaucena karmaṇā cābhidhāraya

Translation

Bhīṣma dijo: «Gánate su favor mediante la más alta pureza de conducta y mediante obras nobles. Con ese comportamiento sin mancha, despierta en el rey de Videha confianza hacia ti. El rey de Videha es fiel a sus votos; por ello, sin duda te concederá riquezas. Si eso sucede, te convertirás en un referente digno de fe para todos los seres y en el brazo derecho del rey: su apoyo principal en el gobierno.»

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'tam', 'definition': 'him (that person)'}, {'term': 'uttamena', 'definition': 'by the highest, best'}, {'term': 'śaucena', 'definition': 'purity, cleanliness

• moral purity of conduct'}, {'term': 'karmaṇā', 'definition': 'by action, deed

• by one’s work'}, {'term': 'ca', 'definition': 'and'}, {'term': 'abhidhāraya', 'definition': 'win over, secure, establish (confidence/attachment)

• cause to be well-disposed'}, {'term': 'Videharāja', 'definition': 'the king of Videha (Mithilā), i.e., Janaka in many contexts'}, {'term': 'satyapratijña', 'definition': 'true to one’s vow

• steadfast in truth and promise'}, {'term': 'dhana', 'definition': 'wealth, resources'}, {'term': 'pramāṇabhūta', 'definition': 'a standard/authority

• one who becomes a trustworthy exemplar'}, {'term': 'dakṣiṇā bāhuḥ', 'definition': 'the right arm

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Videharāja (King of Videha/Janaka)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Trust and authority are earned through śauca (inner and outer purity) and upright action; a ruler or patron who is satyapratijña will support such a person, who then becomes an exemplar (pramāṇa) and a pillar of governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma instructs the listener to secure the Videha king’s confidence through pure conduct and excellent deeds, assuring that the vow-true king will grant wealth and elevate the person to a position of trusted, right-hand support.