Shloka 43

Dhaumya’s Counsel on Incognito Conduct in a Royal Household (राजवसतौ आचरण-निति)

Devanagari script

श्रेयः सदा55त्मनो दृष्ट्वा परं राज्ञा न संवदेत्‌ विशेषयेच्च राजानं योग्यभूमिषु सर्वदा,अपनी भलाई अथवा लाभ देखकर दूसरेको सदा राजाके साथ न मिलावे; न बातचीत करावे। उपयुक्त स्थान और अवसर देखकर सदा राजाकी विशेषता प्रकट करे

Transliteration

śreyaḥ sadātmanaḥ dṛṣṭvā paraṃ rājñā na saṃvadet | viśeṣayec ca rājānaṃ yogyabhūmiṣu sarvadā ||

Translation

Viendo que el propio bienestar es lo primero, no debe uno buscar de continuo una alianza privada con el rey por interés personal, ni entretenerlo con familiaridades inútiles. Antes bien, escogiendo lugar y ocasión convenientes, debe siempre reconocer y proclamar la excelencia del rey de manera debida, para que el consejo permanezca ético y la relación con la majestad real conserve su dignidad.

Word by Word

श्रेयःone's welfare / the better course

सदाalways

आत्मनःof oneself

दृष्ट्वाhaving seen/considered

परम्another (person)

राज्ञाwith/by the king

नnot

संवदेत्should converse / should speak with

विशेषयेत्should distinguish / should extol / should point out (merit)

चand

राजानम्the king

योग्यभूमिषुin suitable places/occasions

सर्वदाalways

Speaker

धौग्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

ध

धौम्य (Dhaumya)

र

राजा (the king)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Maintain ethical distance and dignity in dealings with rulers: do not cultivate the king’s company or conversation for personal advantage; instead, speak appropriately and praise or acknowledge the king’s merits only in fitting contexts.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhaumya offers a norm of conduct regarding interaction with a king, emphasizing prudent speech and proper occasions—guidance meant to preserve dharma, avoid opportunism, and uphold royal decorum.