Shloka 23

Bhīṣma on the Śara-Śayyā: Yudhiṣṭhira and Kṛṣṇa Approach the Eldest for Śānti

Devanagari script

सत्ये तपसि दाने च यज्ञाधिकरणे तथा । धनुर्वेदे च वेदे च नीत्यां चैवानुरक्षणे

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

satye tapasi dāne ca yajñādhikaraṇe tathā |

dhanurvede ca vede ca nītyāṃ caivānurakṣaṇe |

Translation

वैशम्पायन बोले—सत्य, तप, दान, यज्ञ के विधिवत् अनुष्ठान-प्रबन्ध में, वेद और धनुर्वेद के ज्ञान में, तथा नीतिशास्त्र और प्रजा-रक्षण में—इन सब में आपके समान किसी अन्य महारथी को मैंने नहीं सुना।

Word by Word

• सत्ये: in truth
• सत्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• तपसि: in austerity
• तपसि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• दाने: in giving/charity
• दाने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

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

• यज्ञाधिकरणे: in the conduct/administration of sacrifice
• यज्ञाधिकरणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञाधिकरण
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• तथा: likewise/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• धनुर्वेदे: in the science of archery (Dhanurveda)
• धनुर्वेदे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुर्वेद
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

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

• वेदे: in the Veda/knowledge
• वेदे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

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

• नीत्याम्: in polity/ethics
• नीत्याम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीति
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

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

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• अनुरक्षणे: in protection/guardianship
• अनुरक्षणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुरक्षण
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Excellence is measured not only by martial skill but by a complete dharmic profile: truthfulness, disciplined austerity, generosity, correct ritual responsibility, scriptural learning, sound policy, and the protective care of subjects.

What is happening in the narrative?

Within the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, Vaiśampāyana reports praise that highlights a warrior-ruler’s comprehensive virtues—linking Vedic authority, military competence, and ethical kingship through the duty of protecting the people.