Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

अरिमध्यस्थमित्राणां सम्यक्‌ चोक्त प्रपडचनम्‌ | अवरमर्द: प्रतीघातस्तथैव च बलीयसाम्‌

Transliteration

arimadhyasthamitrāṇāṁ samyak cokta-prapañcanam | avaramardaḥ pratīghātas tathaiva ca balīyasām ||

Translation

Bhīṣma dijo: «En ese tratado se expone, de manera completa y en el orden debido, un examen detallado de enemigos, neutrales y aliados; y asimismo los medios para aplastar al adversario y para afrontar el contraataque—aunque el oponente sea más fuerte.»

Word by Word

• अरि: of enemies
• अरि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरि
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• मध्यस्थ: of neutrals/mediators
• मध्यस्थ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्यस्थ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• मित्राणाम्: of friends
• मित्राणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• सम्यक्: properly, correctly
• सम्यक्: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक्

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

• उक्त: said, stated
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• प्रपञ्चनम्: detailed exposition
• प्रपञ्चनम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रपञ्चन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अवरमर्दः: crushing, suppression
• अवरमर्दः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवरमर्द
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रतिघातः: counter-stroke, resistance
• प्रतिघातः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिघात
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

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

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

• बलीयसाम्: of the stronger (ones)
• बलीयसाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलीयस्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler must understand the political field comprehensively—classifying powers as enemy, neutral, or ally—and must know both offensive and defensive measures, including how to respond to retaliation and how to face even stronger adversaries with prudent strategy rather than rashness.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira by summarizing what a foundational treatise on governance contains: systematic analysis of relations (enemy/neutral/ally) and practical methods for subduing foes and meeting counterattacks.