Shloka 19

अध्याय ५७ — राज्ञः नित्यप्रयत्नः, रक्षा-प्रधानता, तथा त्याग-नीतिः

Chapter 57: Constant Royal Vigilance, Primacy of Protection, and Principles of Dismissal

Devanagari script

अभृतानां भवेद्‌ भर्ता भूतानामन्ववेक्षक: । नृपति: सुमुखश्न स्यात्‌ स्मितपूर्वाभिभाषिता,जिनके भरण-पोषणका प्रबन्ध न हो उनका पोषण राजा स्वयं करे और उसके द्वारा जिनका भरण-पोषण चल रहा हो, उन सबकी देखभाल रखे। राजाको सदा प्रसन्नमुख रहना और मुसकराते हुए वार्तालाप करना चाहिये

Transliteration

abhṛtānāṁ bhaved bhartā bhūtānām anvavekṣakaḥ | nṛpatiḥ sumukhaś ca syāt smitapūrvābhibhāṣitā ||

Translation

ビーシュマは言った。「王は、扶養する者なき人々の支えとなり、己の庇護のもとに生きるあらゆる存在の安寧を細やかに見守らねばならぬ。統治者は常に和やかな面持ちを保ち、柔らかな微笑をもって先に言葉を発するがよい—政が恐れではなく、慈しみとして受け取られるためである。」

Word by Word

अभृतानाम्of the unmaintained (those not supported)

भवेत्should be / may become

भर्ताprotector, maintainer

भूतानाम्of beings/subjects

अन्ववेक्षकःoverseer, one who looks after

नृपतिःthe king

सुमुखःpleasant-faced, cheerful-faced

नnot

स्यात्should be

स्मितपूर्वाभिभाषिताone whose speech is preceded by a smile (who speaks smilingly)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

nṛpati (the king/ruler)

bhūtāni (subjects/living beings)

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?

A king’s dharma is twofold: materially support those without protectors and actively supervise the welfare of all subjects; additionally, he should govern with a pleasant demeanor and gentle speech, making authority humane and approachable.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises the king on practical ethics of rule—public welfare, oversight of dependents, and the importance of courteous, reassuring conduct in daily governance.