Shloka 24

Devanagari script

मित्राटवीबलंचैवमौलभृत्यबलंतथा ।सर्वमेतद्बलंग्राह्यंवर्जयित्वाद्विषद्बलम् ।।6.17.24।।

Transliteration

mitrāṭavībalaṃ caiva maulabhṛtyabalaṃ tathā | sarvam etad balaṃ grāhyaṃ varjayitvā dviṣadbalam || 6.17.24 ||

Translation

ಮಿತ್ರರ ಸೇನೆ, ಅರಣ್ಯದಿಂದ ಬಂದ ಸೇನೆ, ಹಾಗೂ ವಂಶಪಾರಂಪರ್ಯ ರಾಜಭೃತ್ಯರ ಸೇನೆ—ಇವೆಲ್ಲ ಬಲವನ್ನು ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸಬೇಕು; ಆದರೆ ಶತ್ರುವಿನ ಬಲವನ್ನು ತ್ಯಜಿಸಬೇಕು.

Word by Word

• मित्राटवीबलम्: ally-and-forest forces
• मित्राटवीबलम्: Karma (कर्म; with grāhyam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र-आटवी-बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः (समाहार): मित्रबलं च आटवीबलं च (forces of allies and of the forest)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), अवधारण (indeed)

• मौलभृत्यबलम्: hereditary-retainers’ army
• मौलभृत्यबलम्: Karma (कर्म; with grāhyam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौल-भृत्य-बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: मौलाः भृत्याः येषां तेषां बलम् (hereditary/established retainers’ force)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), समुच्चय/तुल्य (so/likewise)

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Karma-anubandha (कर्मसम्बन्धे विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बलम् इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma-anubandha (कर्मसम्बन्धे विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बलम् इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

• बलम्: force/army
• बलम्: Karta (कर्ता; with grāhyam as predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ग्राह्यम्: should be accepted
• ग्राह्यम्: Kriya-sadhya (क्रियासाध्य/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-भाव्य/अर्ह्य (gerundive/णीयत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be accepted’

• वर्जयित्वा: excluding
• वर्जयित्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), ‘having excluded’

• द्विषद्बलम्: enemy force
• द्विषद्बलम्: Karma (कर्म; excluded object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विषद्-बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: द्विषतः (शत्रोः) बलम् (enemy force)

Context

Army of friends or army from a jungle, so also an army brought up by a king for generations, army obtained on payment and all kinds of army except for enemies can be accepted.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sugrīva
• Vānaras (forest forces implied)

FAQs

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

Ethical statecraft: alliances are legitimate supports for a righteous mission, but accepting an enemy’s force risks betrayal and violates the duty to protect one’s people.

What is the narrative situation?

A principle is stated about what kinds of military support can be accepted while evaluating a potential defector’s sincerity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Disciplined governance—setting clear rules for security and alliance.