Shloka 22

Bhṛtya-niyoga: Role-appropriate appointment of servants and protection of the royal treasury (भृत्यनियोगः कोशरक्षणं च)

Devanagari script

युक्तदण्डो न निर्दण्डो धर्मकार्यानुशासन: । चारनेत्र: प्रजावेक्षी धर्मार्थक़ुशल: सदा

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | yuktadaṇḍo na nirdaṇḍo dharmakāryānuśāsanaḥ | cāranetraḥ prajāvekṣī dharmārthakuśalaḥ sadā ||

Translation

Bhishma dit : «Un roi doit exercer le châtiment avec mesure et à propos, sans jamais l’abandonner tout à fait. Qu’il enseigne et fasse respecter les devoirs du dharma, qu’il veille sur le royaume par les “yeux” d’espions dignes de confiance, qu’il protège le peuple avec une sollicitude vigilante, et qu’il demeure toujours habile à assurer à la fois la droiture (dharma) et la prospérité (artha).»

Word by Word

• {'yukta-daṇḍaḥ': 'one whose punishment is properly applied

• measured and just in penal policy', 'na nirdaṇḍaḥ': 'not without punishment

• not one who renounces coercive authority entirely', 'dharma-kārya-anuśāsanaḥ': 'one who instructs/enforces actions in accordance with dharma

• a guide in righteous duties', 'cāra-netraḥ': 'having spies as eyes

• using intelligence-gathering for governance', 'prajā-vekṣī': 'one who watches over/cares for the subjects

• attentive to the people', 'dharma-artha-kuśalaḥ': 'skilled in dharma and artha

• adept at balancing righteousness and material welfare', 'sadā': 'always

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• king (implied ruler)
• subjects (prajā)
• spies (cāra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma teaches rajadharma: a ruler must apply punishment judiciously (neither cruel nor lax), uphold dharma through instruction and enforcement, use intelligence networks to monitor the realm, protect and care for the people, and remain competent in achieving both moral order (dharma) and material stability (artha).

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance, Bhishma continues advising the king on ideal rulership. This verse outlines practical pillars of administration—balanced punishment, dharmic guidance, surveillance through spies, vigilant oversight of subjects, and sustained competence in both ethical and economic aims.