Shloka 133

Prajñā as Pratiṣṭhā — Indra–Kāśyapa Saṃvāda (Śānti-parva 12.173)

Devanagari script

राजधर्मशरीरं च पक्षास्थिचरणोज्झितम्‌ | तदनन्तर कुछ ही दूर जानेपर राक्षसोंने गौतमको पकड़ लिया। साथ ही उन्हें पंख, पैर और हड्ियोंसे रहित राजधर्माकी लाश भी मिल गयी

Transliteration

rājadharmaśarīraṃ ca pakṣāsthicaraṇojjhitam |

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം അല്പദൂരം ചെന്നതുമാത്രത്തിൽ രാക്ഷസന്മാർ ഗൗതമനെ പിടികൂടി. കൂടാതെ അവർക്ക് രാജധർമ്മത്തിന്റെ ശരീരവും ലഭിച്ചു—ചിറകുകളും കാലുകളും അസ്ഥികളും ഇല്ലാത്ത, രാജധർമ്മത്തിന്റെ ശവംപോലെ.

Word by Word

• राजधर्मशरीरम्: the body/corpse of royal duty (rajadharma)
• राजधर्मशरीरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजधर्म-शरीर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पक्ष: with wings (as things absent: 'devoid of wings')
• पक्ष: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अस्थि: with bones (as things absent: 'devoid of bones')
• अस्थि: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्थि
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• चरण: with feet/legs (as things absent: 'devoid of feet')
• चरण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• उज्झितम्: devoid of, abandoned/left without
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उज्झित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• rājadharma (as a personified/figurative body)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Rājadharma must have functional supports—strength, stability, and effective action. When governance loses these foundations, it becomes an empty shell: dharma in name only, unable to uphold justice or protect the people.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma presents a striking image: the ‘body’ of royal duty is found mutilated—without wings, legs, or bones—signifying that the system of righteous rule has been rendered powerless and structurally broken.