Shloka 15

आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः

Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca

Devanagari script

संधातव्यं बुधैर्नित्यं व्यवस्य च हितार्थिभि: । अमिन्रैरपि संधेयं प्राणा रक्ष्या हि भारत

Transliteration

sandhātavyaṁ budhair nityaṁ vyavasya ca hitārthibhiḥ | amitrair api sandheyaṁ prāṇā rakṣyā hi bhārata ||

Translation

Dijo Bhishma: Los sabios, resueltos con firmeza en lo que es verdaderamente provechoso, deben buscar siempre alianza y reconciliación. Cuando la necesidad lo exige, incluso con los enemigos debe hacerse la paz—oh Bharata—pues la salvaguarda de la vida es, en verdad, un deber constante.

Word by Word

• संधातव्यम्: should be made (a treaty/peace should be concluded)
• संधातव्यम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: संधा (सम्+धा)
• Form: तव्यत् (gerundive), Neuter, Nominative, Singular, obligation (passive sense)

• बुधैः: by the wise
• बुधैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (बुध्)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• व्यवस्य: having resolved / decide (you should decide)
• व्यवस्य: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+अव+सो (व्यवस्)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), Second, Singular, परस्मैपद

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

• हितार्थिभिः: by those who seek welfare (benefit-seekers)
• हितार्थिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हितार्थिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अमित्रैः: with enemies
• अमित्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमित्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• संधेयम्: should be made (peace should be concluded)
• संधेयम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: संधा (सम्+धा)
• Form: यत् (gerundive), Neuter, Nominative, Singular, obligation (passive sense)

• प्राणाः: lives/breaths
• प्राणाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• रक्ष्याः: are to be protected
• रक्ष्याः: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष्
• Form: यत् (gerundive), Masculine, Nominative, Plural, obligation (passive sense)

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• भारत: O Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• भारत: O Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Bhārata (Yudhiṣṭhira as addressee)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma teaches pragmatic dharma in governance: one should consistently pursue alliances and reconciliation for the sake of welfare, and even conclude peace with enemies when required, because protecting life is a paramount obligation.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship and conduct, Bhishma counsels Yudhisthira on policy: a ruler (or wise person) should not cling to hostility; strategic peace and the preservation of life can be ethically justified when it serves true welfare.