Shloka 5

राजवृत्त-रक्षा-प्रणिधि-षाड्गुण्योपदेशः

Royal Conduct, Protection, Intelligence, and Policy Measures

Devanagari script

विधिं पप्रच्छ राज्यस्य सर्वलोकहिते रत: । प्रजानां सुखमन्विच्छन्‌ धर्मशीलं बृहस्पतिम्‌

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | vidhiṁ papraccha rājyasya sarvalokahite rataḥ | prajānāṁ sukham anvicchan dharmaśīlaṁ bṛhaspatim ||

Translation

Bhishma berkata: Demi kebajikan seluruh rakyat, raja itu bertanya tentang cara yang benar untuk memerintah kerajaan. Dengan hasrat melihat kebahagiaan rakyat jelata, baginda mendekati Brihaspati (Bṛhaspati) yang berpegang teguh pada dharma, lalu menanyakan prinsip-prinsip dan tatacara kenegaraan—bagaimana pemerintahan harus dijalankan selaras dengan dharma dan demi kepentingan bersama.

Word by Word

• विधिम्: procedure; rule; method
• विधिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पप्रच्छ: asked; inquired
• पप्रच्छ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• राज्यस्य: of the kingdom; of governance
• राज्यस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• सर्वलोकहिते: in the welfare of all people
• सर्वलोकहिते: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-लोक-हित
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• रतः: engaged; devoted
• रतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रजानाम्: of the subjects
• प्रजानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• सुखम्: happiness; welfare
• सुखम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अन्विच्छन्: seeking; desiring
• अन्विच्छन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-इष्
• Form: Present active participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मशीलम्: virtuous; of righteous conduct
• धर्मशीलम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मशील
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• बृहस्पतिम्: Brihaspati
• बृहस्पतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहस्पति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Brihaspati
• the king (Vasumana, per the accompanying prose)
• subjects (prajā)
• kingdom (rājya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Kingship is justified and guided by dharma: the ruler should seek the happiness and welfare of the people and therefore consult the wise about the proper methods of governance rather than ruling by impulse or self-interest.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes a king devoted to public welfare approaching the sage Brihaspati and formally asking him how to administer the kingdom according to proper rule and righteous conduct.