Shloka 48

Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)

Devanagari script

तथा खातविधानं च योग: संचार एव च | चोरैराटविकैश्नोग्रै: परराष्ट्स्य पीडनम्‌

Transliteration

tathā khātavidhānaṃ ca yogaḥ saṃcāra eva ca | corair āṭavikaiś cograir pararāṣṭrasya pīḍanam ||

Translation

Bhīṣma dijo: «Asimismo, cavar fosos y disponer otras trampas ocultas, valerse de estratagemas y moverse en secreto—y además hostigar el reino enemigo mediante ladrones feroces y salteadores de los bosques—cuentan entre las medidas empleadas para afligir a un Estado rival.»

Word by Word

• तथा: thus; likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• खात-विधानम्: the arrangement/provision of trenches (moats)
• खात-विधानम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: खातविधान
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

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

• योगः: deployment; arrangement; strategic preparation
• योगः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• संचारः: movement; patrolling; circulation
• संचारः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: संचार
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एव: indeed; just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

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

• चोरैः: by thieves
• चोरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चोर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• आटविकैः: by forest-tribesmen/bandits
• आटविकैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आटविक
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

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

• उग्रैः: by fierce (ones)
• उग्रैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• पर-राष्ट्रस्य: of the enemy/other kingdom
• पर-राष्ट्रस्य: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: परराष्ट्र
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• पीडनम्: harassing; afflicting; oppression
• पीडनम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीडन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• pararāṣṭra (enemy kingdom/state)
• cora (thieves/bandits)
• āṭavika (forest-raiders)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse lists harsh but recognized instruments of rājadharma (state policy in conflict): traps, stratagems, covert movement, and using irregular forces to pressure an enemy state—highlighting that governance includes pragmatic measures, even morally tense ones, when protecting one’s realm.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on kingship and policy. Here he enumerates specific tactics used to weaken an opposing kingdom, describing forms of covert and irregular warfare.