Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 133

Prajñā as Pratiṣṭhā — Indra–Kāśyapa Saṃvāda (Śānti-parva 12.173)

Devanagari script

राजधर्मशरीरं च पक्षास्थिचरणोज्झितम्‌ | तदनन्तर कुछ ही दूर जानेपर राक्षसोंने गौतमको पकड़ लिया। साथ ही उन्हें पंख, पैर और हड्ियोंसे रहित राजधर्माकी लाश भी मिल गयी

Transliteration

rājadharmaśarīraṃ ca pakṣāsthicaraṇojjhitam |

Translation

और कुछ ही दूर जाने पर राक्षसों ने गौतम को पकड़ लिया। साथ ही उन्हें राजधर्म का वह शरीर भी मिला—पंख, पैर और हड्डियों से रहित, मानो राजधर्म की निर्जीव लाश।

Word by Word

• राजधर्मशरीरम्: the body/corpse of royal duty (rajadharma)
• राजधर्मशरीरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजधर्म-शरीर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• पक्ष: with wings (as things absent: 'devoid of wings')
• पक्ष: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अस्थि: with bones (as things absent: 'devoid of bones')
• अस्थि: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्थि
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• चरण: with feet/legs (as things absent: 'devoid of feet')
• चरण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• उज्झितम्: devoid of, abandoned/left without
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उज्झित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• rājadharma (as a personified/figurative body)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Rājadharma must have functional supports—strength, stability, and effective action. When governance loses these foundations, it becomes an empty shell: dharma in name only, unable to uphold justice or protect the people.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma presents a striking image: the ‘body’ of royal duty is found mutilated—without wings, legs, or bones—signifying that the system of righteous rule has been rendered powerless and structurally broken.