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Shloka 41

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

दुर्गाणां चाभितो राजा मूलच्छेदं प्रकारयेत्‌ । सर्वेषां क्षुद्रवृक्षाणां चैत्यवृक्षान्‌ विवर्जयेत्‌

durgāṇāṃ cābhito rājā mūlacchedaṃ prakārayet | sarveṣāṃ kṣudravṛkṣāṇāṃ caityavṛkṣān vivarjayet ||

ビーシュマは言った。「王は領内の周囲にある小さな砦や隠れ場所を、根こそぎにして破壊させよ。また、低い灌木や小木はすべて伐り払わせよ—ただし祠(チャイティヤ)に結びつく聖なる『チャイティヤ樹』だけは除く—敵に身を隠す蔭を与えぬためである。」

दुर्गाणाम्of forts/strongholds
दुर्गाणाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootदुर्ग
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अभितःaround, on all sides
अभितः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअभितः
राजाthe king
राजा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
मूलच्छेदम्uprooting; cutting at the root
मूलच्छेदम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमूलच्छेद
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
प्रकारयेत्should cause to be done; should have (it) carried out
प्रकारयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र+कृ
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada, लिङ्
सर्वेषाम्of all
सर्वेषाम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
क्षुद्रवृक्षाणाम्of small trees/shrubs
क्षुद्रवृक्षाणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootक्षुद्रवृक्ष
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
चैत्यवृक्षान्sacred/temple-related trees
चैत्यवृक्षान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootचैत्यवृक्ष
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
विवर्जयेत्should avoid/leave out; should exempt
विवर्जयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootवि+वृज्
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada, लिङ्

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
R
rājā (king)
D
durga (fort/stronghold)
C
caitya-vṛkṣa (sacred shrine-tree)

Educational Q&A

A ruler must remove potential cover and hidden refuges that could aid enemies, but should still respect religious sanctity by sparing sacred caitya-associated trees—balancing security with dharmic restraint.

In Bhīṣma’s instruction on rājadharma in Śānti Parva, he advises practical measures for protecting the kingdom: clearing nearby strongholds and undergrowth that could conceal hostile forces, while exempting trees regarded as sacred.