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Shloka 6

कपोत-लुब्धकसंवादः — Hunter’s Remorse and Renunciatory Resolve

कुरुनन्दन! धर्म और सत्पुरुषोंका आचार--ये बुद्धिसे ही प्रकट होते हैं और सदा उसीके द्वारा जाने जाते हैं। तुम मेरी इस बातको अच्छी तरह समझ लो ।।

bhīṣma uvāca |

buddhiśreṣṭhā hi rājānaś caranti vijayaiṣiṇaḥ |

dharmaḥ pratividhātavyo buddhyā rājñā tatas tataḥ ||

Bhishma berkata: “Wahai keturunan Kuru, dharma dan tata laku orang-orang bajik lahir dari budi, dan melalui budi pula keduanya senantiasa dikenali; pahamilah ucapanku ini baik-baik. Para raja yang unggul dalam pertimbangan dan mendambakan kemenangan berjalan menurut dharma. Karena itu, seorang raja harus berulang kali membentuk dan menjalankan dharma dengan kecerdasan—belajar dari berbagai sumber dan memakai penilaian yang tepat agar kebajikan menjadi pemerintahan yang nyata.”

बुद्धि-श्रेष्ठाःexcellent in intellect
बुद्धि-श्रेष्ठाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootबुद्धि-श्रेष्ठ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
हिindeed/for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
राजानःkings
राजानः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
चरन्तिpractice/act (conduct themselves)
चरन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootचर्
FormPresent, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada
विजय-एषिणःseeking victory
विजय-एषिणः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootविजय-एषिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
धर्मःdharma/righteous conduct
धर्मः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
प्रतिविधातव्यःto be carried out/observed (must be practiced)
प्रतिविधातव्यः:
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रतिविधा + तव्य
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular, Gerundive (tavya), Obligation/necessity
बुद्ध्याby/with intellect
बुद्ध्या:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootबुद्धि
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
राज्ञाby the king
राज्ञा:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
ततःthereafter/then
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
ततःagain/then (repeated: 'from time to time')
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
K
Kurunandana (Yudhiṣṭhira)
R
rājānaḥ (kings)

Educational Q&A

Dharma in kingship is not merely inherited custom; it must be understood and implemented through buddhi (discernment). A ruler seeking success should repeatedly apply intelligent judgment to enact righteous policy and conduct appropriate to each situation.

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira after the war, emphasizing that effective and righteous rule depends on superior intelligence and continual situational application of dharma.