Shloka 16
Chapter 2: Sudarśana Upākhyāna — Atithi-Dharma and the Conquest of Mṛtyu
Gṛhastha-Vrata
सुदक्षिणो मधुरवागनसूयुर्जितिन्द्रिय: । धर्मात्मा चानृशंसश्न विक्रान्तो5<थाविकत्थन:
sudakṣiṇo madhuravāg anasūyur jitendriyaḥ | dharmātmā cānṛśaṁsaś ca vikrānto ’thāvikatthanaḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Raja itu amat dermawan, manis tutur katanya, tidak gemar mencari-cari cela, menaklukkan indria, teguh dalam dharma, penuh welas asih, dan gagah berani; dan ia tak pernah memuji dirinya sendiri.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ethical portrait of the ideal ruler: generosity and pleasant speech tempered by non-censoriousness, self-mastery, commitment to dharma, compassion, courage, and humility (absence of boasting).
Bhishma is describing the character of a king, listing his virtues as a model of righteous conduct and exemplary kingship within the Anushasana Parva’s broader instruction on dharma.