Shloka 29

Chapter 81: Trust, Allies, and the Qualifications of the King’s Artha-Secretary (अर्थसचिव)

Devanagari script

एते ह्मात्या: कर्तव्या: सर्वकर्मस्ववस्थिता: । पूजिता: संविभक्ताश्न सुसहाया: स्वनुछिता:

Transliteration

ete hy ātyāḥ kartavyāḥ sarvakarmasv avasthitāḥ | pūjitāḥ saṁvibhaktāś ca aśnantu sahāyāḥ svānucitāḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma dit : «De tels hommes doivent être établis comme tes ministres les plus proches, fermement engagés dans tous les domaines de l’action. Honore-les et accorde-leur la part qui leur revient en subsistance et en commodités. Ainsi respectés et convenablement entretenus, ils deviennent des alliés justes et sûrs dans toutes tes entreprises.»

Word by Word

• एते: these
• एते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• अमात्याः: ministers/counsellors
• अमात्याः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमात्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कर्तव्याः: to be made/should be appointed
• कर्तव्याः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्य (कर्तव्य)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वकर्मसु: in all tasks/affairs
• सर्वकर्मसु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• अवस्थिताः: stationed/engaged
• अवस्थिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव + स्था (धातु) + क्त (अवस्थित)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पूजिताः: honoured
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज् (धातु) + क्त (पूजित)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• संविभक्ताः: properly provided for / duly allotted (shares)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + वि + भज् (धातु) + क्त (संविभक्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अश्नु: you should cause (them) to partake / let (them) enjoy
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश् (धातु)
• Form: Imperative, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सुसहायाः: very good helpers
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + सहाय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• स्वनुचिताः: well-suited/appropriate (to you/for their role)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व + अनुचित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should appoint trustworthy, capable aides for all affairs, and must honor and properly provide for them; respected and well-supported ministers become dependable partners in governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising the king on how to constitute and sustain an effective ministerial circle—appointing suitable men, honoring them, and ensuring their livelihood so they serve as strong helpers.