Shloka 19

मयूरवद्राजधर्मः (Mayūra-vat Rāja-dharma) — The Peacock-Model of Protective Kingship

Devanagari script

ज्ञातिबन्धुजनावेक्षी मित्रसम्बन्धिसंवृत: । पौरकार्यहितान्वेषी भव कौरवनन्दन

Transliteration

jñātibandhujanāvekṣī mitrasambandhisaṁvṛtaḥ | paurakāryahitānveṣī bhava kauravanandana ||

Translation

Bhīṣma dijo: «Oh deleite de la estirpe Kuru, sé quien vela por los parientes, los deudos y los dependientes; mantente sostenido por amigos y relaciones; y busca sin cesar los medios para cumplir las tareas y el bienestar de los habitantes de la ciudad.»

Word by Word

• ज्ञाति-बन्धु-जन-अवेक्षी: one who looks after kinsmen, relatives, and people
• ज्ञाति-बन्धु-जन-अवेक्षी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञाति + बन्धु + जन + अवेक्षिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मित्र-सम्बन्धि-संवृतः: surrounded by friends and relations
• मित्र-सम्बन्धि-संवृतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मित्र + सम्बन्धिन् + संवृत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पौर-कार्य-हित-अन्वेषी: one who seeks the works and welfare of the citizens
• पौर-कार्य-हित-अन्वेषी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पौर + कार्य + हित + अन्वेषिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भव: be (become)
• भव: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Imperative (Lot), Second, Singular

• कौरव-नन्दन: O delight of the Kauravas
• कौरव-नन्दन: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौरव + नन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Kauravanandana (a Kuru prince, typically Yudhishthira in Shanti Parva context)
• Paurāḥ (townspeople/citizens)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s dharma is relational and civic: protect and care for one’s kin and dependents, maintain strong alliances with friends and relations, and actively pursue policies that accomplish public works and secure the welfare of the citizens.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs the Kuru king on rajadharma. Here he gives practical counsel on governance: sustaining social bonds and focusing administrative effort on the needs, duties, and well-being of the townspeople.