Shloka 45

Devanagari script

द्वारेषु च गुरूण्येव यन्त्राणि स्थापयेत्‌ सदा | आरोपयेच्छतघ्नी श्व स्वाधीनानि च कारयेत्‌,सभी दरवाजोंपर भारी-भारी यन्त्र और तोप सदा लगाये रखे और उन सबको अपने अधिकारमें रखे

Transliteration

dvāreṣu ca gurūṇy eva yantrāṇi sthāpayet sadā | āropayec chataghnīś ca svādhīnāni ca kārayet ||

Translation

Bhīṣma berkata: “Pada pintu-pintu gerbang hendaklah sentiasa dipasang jentera pertahanan yang berat; dan hendaklah juga dipasang śataghnī, dengan memastikan segala senjata dan alat itu berada di bawah kawalan sendiri.”

Word by Word

dvāreṣuat/on the gates

caand

gurūṇiheavy

evaindeed/only

yantrāṇimachines/engines (devices)

sthāpayetshould install/place

sadāalways

āropayetshould mount/raise (set up)

śataghniḥa śataghni (missile/engine; later glossed as cannon)

caand

svādhīnānīunder one's control

caand

kārayetshould have (them) made/done; should keep arranged

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

dvāra (gates)

yantra (defensive engines)

śataghnī (weapon/engine)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler must maintain strong, well-positioned defenses at key access points (especially gates) and keep all weaponry and defensive mechanisms firmly under direct authority, emphasizing preparedness and controlled security.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhīṣma’s instruction on rājadharma (kingly duties) within Śānti Parva, he gives practical guidance on fortifying a city/fort: install heavy defensive machines at the gates, mount powerful weapons like śataghnīs, and ensure these assets remain under the ruler’s control.