Shloka 10

दुर्ग-निवेश-राजधर्मः | Fortified Capital and the King’s Residential Polity

Rājadharma

Devanagari script

समाजोत्सवसम्पन्नं सदा पूजितदैवतम्‌ । वश्यामात्यबलो राजा तत्पुरं स्‍्वयमाविशेत्‌

Transliteration

samājotsava-sampannaṁ sadā pūjita-daivatam | vaśyāmātya-balo rājā tat-puraṁ svayam āviśet ||

Translation

ഭീഷ്മൻ പറഞ്ഞു—സമൂഹസമ്മേളനങ്ങളും ഉത്സവങ്ങളും സമൃദ്ധമായും ദേവതകൾ നിത്യവും പൂജിക്കപ്പെടുന്നുമായ ആ നഗരത്തിലേക്ക്, മന്ത്രിമാരും സൈന്യവും തന്റെ നിയന്ത്രണത്തിലും വിശ്വസ്തതയിലും ഉള്ള രാജാവ് സ്വയം പ്രവേശിച്ച് ഭരണഭാരം ഏറ്റെടുക്കണം.

Word by Word

• समाजोत्सवसम्पन्नम्: endowed with assemblies and festivals
• समाजोत्सवसम्पन्नम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समाजोत्सवसम्पन्न
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सदा: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा

• पूजितदैवतम्: whose deities are worshipped / having worshipped deities
• पूजितदैवतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूजितदैवत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वश्यामात्यबलः: having obedient ministers and forces
• वश्यामात्यबलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वश्यामात्यबल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तत्: that
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पुरम्: city
• पुरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• स्वयम्: himself
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम्

• आविशेत्: should enter
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-विश्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• rājā (the king)
• amātyāḥ (ministers)
• bala (army)
• puram (city)
• daivatam (deities)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should personally assume responsibility for a well-governed city—one marked by social harmony (festivals and assemblies) and religious observance (regular worship). Effective kingship rests on disciplined administration: loyal ministers and a controlled military enable the king to govern directly and protect dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on royal duty, Bhīṣma advises the king on the conditions of a stable realm and the proper royal response: when the city is prosperous, socially vibrant, and devoted, and when the king’s ministers and forces are obedient, the king should himself enter and take up governance there.