Shloka 49

Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)

Devanagari script

कर्मारारिष्टशालासु ज्वलेदग्नि: सुरक्षित: । गृहाणि च प्रवेश्यान्तर्विधेय: स्थादू हुताशन:,लोहार आदिकी भट्ठियोंमें और सूतिकागृहोंमें भी अत्यन्त सुरक्षित रूपसे आग जलानी चाहिये, आगको घरके भीतर ले जाकर ढककर रखना चाहिये

Transliteration

karmārāriṣṭaśālāsu jvaled agniḥ surakṣitaḥ | gṛhāṇi ca praveśyāntar vidheyaḥ sthād dhutāśanaḥ ||

Translation

Di bengkel-bengkel dan ruang kerja yang terlindungi, api hendaknya dinyalakan hanya dengan pengamanan yang ketat. Dan bila api dibawa masuk ke dalam rumah, ia harus ditempatkan dengan benar dan ditutup di bagian dalam, agar rumah tangga tetap aman.

Word by Word

कर्मारारिष्टशालासुin the smiths’/metalworkers’ workshops

ज्वलेत्should burn

अग्निःfire

सुरक्षितःwell-guarded / safely kept

गृहाणिhouses

चand

प्रवेश्यhaving brought/entered (it) in

अन्तर्विधेयःto be kept/placed inside

स्थात्should remain / should be

उindeed / also (emphatic particle)

हुताशनःfire (lit. eater of oblations)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Agni (fire)

karmārā (smiths/metalworkers)

ariṣṭaśālā (protected workshop/shed)

gṛha (house)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even beneficial powers (like fire) must be governed by discipline and precaution. Dharma in daily life includes preventing harm through careful management of household and workplace risks.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction on righteous conduct (Shanti Parva), he gives practical guidance for orderly living—specifically, how fire should be maintained safely in workshops and within homes.