Shloka 137

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

Devanagari script

यो<स्य वै मुखमद्राक्षीत्‌ सौम्यं सोडस्य वशानुग:ः । सुभगं चार्थवन्तं च रूपवन्तं च पश्यति

Transliteration

yo 'sya vai mukham adrākṣīt saumyaṁ so 'ḍasya vaśānugaḥ | subhagaṁ cārthavantaṁ ca rūpavantaṁ ca paśyati ||

Translation

Bhīṣma dit : «Quiconque a contemplé ne fût-ce qu’une fois le visage doux et plaisant du roi se trouve soumis à son ascendant. À ses yeux, le roi paraît heureux, prospère et beau : sa seule présence façonne le jugement des hommes sur sa valeur et son autorité.»

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अस्य: of him (of this man/king)
• अस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• मुखम्: face
• मुखम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अद्राक्षीत्: saw
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Aorist (Luṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सौम्यम्: gentle, pleasing
• सौम्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उदस्य: of the king (lit. of the lord)
• उदस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदस्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• वशानुगः: submissive, under control
• वशानुगः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वशानुग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुभगम्: fortunate, auspicious
• सुभगम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुभग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• अर्थवन्तम्: wealthy, possessing resources
• अर्थवन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थवत्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• रूपवन्तम्: handsome, possessing beauty
• रूपवन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूपवत्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• पश्यति: sees
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश्
• Form: Present (Laṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• the king (rājā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how royal authority is reinforced not only by law or force but also by perception: a king’s gracious appearance can draw people into willing compliance, making them attribute fortune, wealth, and beauty to him.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma explains to the listener how subjects commonly respond to a king—how merely seeing the king’s pleasing countenance can create loyalty and the belief that he is inherently auspicious and prosperous.