Shloka 16

Devanagari script

सन्धिविग्रहतत्त्वज्ञा: प्रकृत्या सम्पदान्विता: ।।।।मन्त्रसंवरणे शक्ताश्श्लक्ष्णास्सूक्ष्मासु बुद्धिषु ।नीतिशास्त्रविशेषज्ञास्सततं प्रियवादिन: ।।।।

Transliteration

sandhivigrahatattvajñāḥ prakṛtyā sampadānvitāḥ | mantrasaṃvaraṇe śaktāḥ ślakṣṇāḥ sūkṣmāsu buddhiṣu | nītiśāstraviśeṣajñāḥ satataṃ priyavādinaḥ ||

Translation

ពួកគេចេះដឹងច្បាស់អំពីសច្ចធម៌នៃសន្ធិ និងវិគ្រៈ គឺការចងសម្ព័ន្ធ និងការប្រឆាំង; តាមធម្មជាតិមានសម្បត្តិសមបូរ អាចរក្សាការពិគ្រោះយោបល់ជាសម្ងាត់ មានប្រាជ្ញាល្អិតល្អន់ជ្រាលជ្រៅ ជាអ្នកជំនាញនីតិ-សាស្ត្រ ហើយតែងនិយាយពាក្យផ្អែមល្ហែម។

Word by Word

सन्धिविग्रहतत्त्वज्ञाःknowing the truth of peace and war

प्रकृत्याby nature

सम्पदाwith prosperity/wealth

अन्विताःendowed (with)

मन्त्रसंवरणेin keeping counsel secret

शक्ताःcapable

श्लक्ष्णाःpolished/gentle

सूक्ष्मासुin subtle (matters)

बुद्धिषुin intellects/understandings

नीतिशास्त्रविशेषज्ञाःexpert in the special science of polity/ethics

सततम्always

प्रियवादिनःspeaking pleasantly

Context

The ministers were inherently well aware of the real nature of peace or war. They were affluent, adept in keeping secrecy and sharp in comprehending the points (before making any decision). They were experts in the science of ethics and morality. They always spoke pleasing words.

Characters & Entities

Sandhi (alliance/peace)

Vigraha (conflict/war)

Mantra (state counsel/strategy)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharmic statecraft combines moral nīti with strategic clarity: knowing when to seek peace or wage war, keeping counsel responsibly, and using speech that heals rather than harms.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator catalogs advanced administrative virtues—diplomacy, secrecy, subtle intellect, and ethical expertise—attributed to Daśaratha’s ministers.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudent wisdom: subtle intelligence, disciplined secrecy, and ethical-political expertise.