Shloka 82

Treasury Security, Protection of Informants, and the Kalakavṛkṣīya Exemplum (Śānti Parva 83)

Devanagari script

इति श्रीमहाभारते शान्तिपर्वणि राजधर्मानुशासनपर्वणि अमात्यपरीक्षायां कालकवृक्षीयोपाख्याने द्ायशीतितमो<ध्याय:

Transliteration

iti śrīmahābhārate śāntiparvaṇi rājadharmānuśāsanaparvaṇi amātyaparīkṣāyāṃ kālakavṛkṣīyopākhyāne dvāśītitamo 'dhyāyaḥ

Translation

Demikianlah berakhir bab yang kelapan puluh dua dalam Śānti Parva daripada Śrī Mahābhārata, dalam bahagian Rājadharmānuśāsana, pada episod mengenai pengujian para amātya (menteri), iaitu kisah yang dikenali sebagai “Hikayat Kālakavṛkṣa.”

Word by Word

इतिthus; end-quote marker

श्रीमहाभारतेin the revered Mahabharata

शान्तिपर्वणिin the Shanti Parva

राजधर्मानुशासनपर्वणिin the section (parvan) on instruction regarding kingly duties

अमात्यपरीक्षायाम्in the examination/testing of ministers

कालकवृक्षीयोपाख्यानेin the tale (upakhyana) of Kalaka and the tree

द्व्यशीतितमःeighty-third

अध्यायःchapter

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Śrī Mahābhārata

Śānti Parva

Rājadharmānuśāsana Parva

Amātyaparīkṣā (examination of ministers)

Kālakavṛkṣa (episode-title/object)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

This line functions as a colophon marking the close of a chapter within Bhīṣma’s instruction on rājadharma. By naming the topic—testing ministers—it underscores the ethical-political principle that a king’s success depends on carefully examining and selecting trustworthy, competent counsellors.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma’s discourse reaches a formal chapter conclusion. The text identifies its placement (Śānti Parva, Rājadharmānuśāsana section) and the specific sub-episode (the Kālakavṛkṣa-related tale) connected with the theme of amātya-parīkṣā, i.e., evaluating ministers.