Shloka 14

Devanagari script

न हि कामात्मना राज्ञा सततं कामबुद्धिना । नृशंसेनातिलुब्धेन शक्‍्यं पालयितुं प्रजा:,जो राजा कामासक्त हो सदा कामका ही चिन्तन करनेवाला, क्रूर और अत्यन्त लोभी होता है, वह प्रजाका पालन नहीं कर सकता

Transliteration

na hi kāmātmanā rājñā satataṃ kāmabuddhinā | nṛśaṃsenātilubdhena śakyaṃ pālayituṃ prajāḥ ||

Translation

ಕಾಮಾಸಕ್ತನಾಗಿ, ಸದಾ ಭೋಗಬುದ್ಧಿಯಲ್ಲೇ ಮುಳುಗಿ, ಕ್ರೂರನಾಗಿ, ಅತಿಲೋಭಿಯಾಗಿರುವ ರಾಜನು ಪ್ರಜೆಗಳನ್ನು ಪಾಲಿಸಿ ರಕ್ಷಿಸಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ.

Word by Word

नnot

हिindeed/for

कामात्मनाby one whose nature is desire; by a lustful-minded (person)

राज्ञाby the king

सततम्always/constantly

कामबुद्धिनाwith desire-driven understanding; with lustful intent

नृशंसेनby a cruel/merciless (one)

अतिलुब्धेनby an exceedingly greedy (one)

शक्यम्possible

पालयितुम्to protect/govern

प्रजाःsubjects/people

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

rājā (king)

prajāḥ (subjects)

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 ruler must master desire and greed; otherwise he becomes cruel and self-serving, and such inner vices make just protection of the people impossible. Effective kingship depends on self-restraint and dharmic intention, not on constant pursuit of pleasure.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma advises the king on the qualities required for righteous rule. Here he warns that a desire-driven, cruel, and overly greedy king cannot properly maintain and protect his subjects.