Shloka 11

Bhṛtya-niyoga: Role-appropriate appointment of servants and protection of the royal treasury (भृत्यनियोगः कोशरक्षणं च)

Devanagari script

खातकव्यूहतत्त्वज्ञं बलहर्षणकोविदम्‌ | इड्धिताकारतत्त्वज्ञं यात्राज्ञानविशारदम्‌

Transliteration

khātaka-vyūha-tattva-jñaṁ bala-harṣaṇa-kovidam | iddhitākāra-tattva-jñaṁ yātrā-jñāna-viśāradam ||

Translation

Bhīṣma dijo: «Que el rey nombre ministro a quien conozca los verdaderos principios de cavar fosos y disponer formaciones de batalla; sea diestro en infundir ánimo y vigor al ejército; entienda la realidad de las fortificaciones y las obras defensivas; y sea consumado experto en la ciencia de las expediciones y las marchas militares».

Word by Word

• खातक: skilled in digging (trenches/tunnels)
• खातक: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खातक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• व्यूह-तत्त्व-ज्ञम्: knower of the principles of battle-formations
• व्यूह-तत्त्व-ज्ञम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यूहतत्त्वज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• बल-हर्षण-कोविदम्: expert in raising the army’s morale/strength
• बल-हर्षण-कोविदम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलहर्षणकोविद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• इड्धि-ताकार-तत्त्व-ज्ञम्: knower of the true nature of prosperity and bodily marks/appearance
• इड्धि-ताकार-तत्त्व-ज्ञम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इड्धिताकारतत्त्वज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• यात्रा-ज्ञान-विशारदम्: highly skilled in knowledge of expeditions/marches
• यात्रा-ज्ञान-विशारदम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यात्राज्ञानविशारद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• the king (rājā)
• minister/counsellor (implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king should choose ministers with practical, principle-based expertise in defense and campaigning—those who can design fortifications, arrange battle-formations, raise troop morale, and manage expeditions—because competent counsel is essential to protect the kingdom and uphold rajadharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira about governance. Here he specifies technical competencies desirable in a minister, emphasizing military engineering, strategic formations, morale-building, and campaign logistics.