Shloka 55

Devanagari script

एवं सदा मन्त्रयितव्यमाहु- यें मन्त्रतत्त्वार्थविनिश्चयज्ञा: | तस्मात्‌ तमेवं प्रणयेत्‌ सदैव मन्त्र प्रजासंग्रहणे समर्थम्‌,मन्त्रतत्त्वके अर्थका निश्चयात्मक ज्ञान रखनेवाले विद्वान कहते हैं कि सदा इसी तरह मन्त्रणा करे और जो विचार प्रजाको अपने अनुकूल बनानेमें अधिक प्रबल जान पड़े, सर्वदा उसे ही काममें ले

Transliteration

evaṁ sadā mantrayitavyam āhur ye mantratattvārthaviniścayajñāḥ | tasmāt tam evaṁ praṇayet sadaiva mantraṁ prajāsaṅgrahaṇe samartham ||

Translation

Bhishma bersabda: Para bijaksana yang benar-benar memahami prinsip dan tujuan musyawarah menyatakan bahawa perundingan hendaklah sentiasa dilakukan dengan cara demikian. Oleh itu, hendaklah sentiasa digunakan musyawarah seperti itu—dan penasihat seperti itu—yang paling mampu menawan hati serta menghimpunkan rakyat. Kerana kestabilan negeri bergantung pada pertimbangan yang sihat dan bimbingan yang dapat menjamin kesetiaan serta perpaduan rakyat jelata.

Word by Word

• {'evaṁ': 'thus, in this manner', 'sadā': 'always, continually', 'mantrayitavyam': 'should be deliberated

• counsel ought to be taken (gerundive of √mantr)', 'āhuḥ': 'they say, they declare', 'ye': 'those who', 'mantra': 'counsel

• statecraft advice', 'tattva': 'principle

• essential truth', 'artha': 'purpose

• practical aim', 'viniścaya': 'ascertainment

• firm determination', 'jñāḥ': 'knowers

• experts', 'tasmāt': 'therefore', 'tam': 'him

• that person (the counsellor)', 'praṇayet': 'one should employ/engage

• one should lead/bring into use (optative/vidhi sense)', 'sadaiva': 'always indeed

• at all times', 'prajā': 'subjects

• the people', 'saṅgrahaṇa': 'gathering, unifying, securing allegiance

• maintaining cohesion', 'samartham': 'capable, competent, powerful (in accomplishing the task)'}

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should consistently deliberate according to sound principles of counsel and rely on advisers whose guidance can effectively secure the unity, loyalty, and welfare of the people; good governance depends on both wise deliberation and the ability to consolidate the subjects.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on rajadharma, emphasizing the proper method of consultation and the practical criterion for choosing counsel—its effectiveness in maintaining public cohesion and support.