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Shloka 20

Ākiṃcanya–Tyāga Upadeśa

The Instruction on Non-ownership and Renunciation

राजधर्मेति विख्यातो बभूवाप्रतिमो भुवि । देवकन्यासुत: श्रीमान्‌ विद्वान्‌ देवसमप्रभ:,वह अनुपम पक्षी इस भूतलपर राजधर्माके नामसे विख्यात था। देवकन्यासे उत्पन्न होनेके कारण उसके शरीरकी कान्ति देवताके समान थी। वह बड़ा विद्वान्‌ था और दिव्य तेजसे सम्पन्न दिखायी देता था

bhīṣma uvāca | rājadharmeti vikhyāto babhūvāpratimo bhuvi | devakanyāsutaḥ śrīmān vidvān devasamaprabhaḥ ||

അവൻ ഭൂമിയിൽ ‘രാജധർമ്മ’ എന്ന പേരിൽ തന്നെ പ്രസിദ്ധനായി—അപ്രതിമൻ. ദേവകന്യയുടെ പുത്രനായതിനാൽ അവൻ ശ്രീസമ്പന്നൻ; ദേവതുല്യമായ കാന്തിയോടെ ദീപ്തൻ. അവൻ പണ്ഡിതനും ദിവ്യ തേജസ്സാൽ പ്രകാശിക്കുന്നവനായി തോന്നുകയും ചെയ്തു.

राजधर्मेतिas (one) called 'rājadharma' (royal duty)
राजधर्मेति:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootराजधर्म
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
विख्यातःrenowned, famous
विख्यातः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootविख्यात
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
बभूवbecame / was
बभूव:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormPerfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
अप्रतिमःincomparable
अप्रतिमः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअप्रतिम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
भुविon earth
भुवि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootभू
FormFeminine, Locative, Singular
देवकन्यासुतःson of a divine maiden
देवकन्यासुतः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदेवकन्यासुत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
श्रीमान्splendid, illustrious
श्रीमान्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रीमत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
विद्वान्learned, wise
विद्वान्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootविद्वस्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
देवसमप्रभःhaving radiance equal to a god
देवसमप्रभः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootदेवसमप्रभ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
R
Rājadharma (as a person/being by name)
D
devakanyā (celestial maiden)

Educational Q&A

The verse elevates rājadharma—righteous royal conduct—as an ideal so eminent that it is personified and praised as incomparable. It implies that true kingship is measured by ethical governance, learning, and a luminous (almost divine) character.

Bhishma introduces or describes a remarkable figure known as “Rājadharma,” emphasizing his unmatched reputation on earth, his celestial birth, his learning, and his godlike radiance—setting a tone of reverence for the standards of ideal rule.