Shloka 12

Devanagari script

तेषां वृत्ति परिणयेत्‌ कक्रिद्‌ राष्ट्रेषु तच्चर: । जिघांसव: पापकामा: परस्वादायिन: शठा:

Transliteration

teṣāṁ vṛttiṁ pariṇayet kakrid rāṣṭreṣu taccaraḥ | jighāṁsavaḥ pāpakāmāḥ parasvādāyinaḥ śaṭhāḥ ||

Translation

ビーシュマは言った。「諸国を巡る密偵を置き、彼らの生業と素行を探らせよ――殺害を欲する者、罪深き目的を望む者、他人の財を奪って生きる者、そして欺瞞に長けた者どもを。」

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• वृत्तिम्: conduct; livelihood; mode of life
• वृत्तिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• परिणयेत्: should lead/bring about; should guide
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-नी
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• कश्चित्: someone; a certain (person)
• कश्चित्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: कश्चित्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राष्ट्रेषु: in kingdoms/realms
• राष्ट्रेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राष्ट्र
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• चरः: spy; agent
• चरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जिघांसवः: desirous of killing
• जिघांसवः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जिघांसु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पापकामाः: desiring evil/sinful acts
• पापकामाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पापकाम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• परस्वादायिनः: taking/stealing others' property
• परस्वादायिनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परस्वादायिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• शठाः: rogues; deceitful men
• शठाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• spies (cara)
• kingdoms/realms (rāṣṭra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should use intelligence networks to identify dangerous and unethical elements—murderous, sin-seeking, thieving, deceitful persons—so that society can be protected and governance can remain aligned with dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises the king on internal security: spies circulating through various realms should investigate people’s conduct and livelihoods, especially to detect those inclined to violence, theft, and fraud.