Shloka 19

Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa

The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa

Devanagari script

परं विश्वासयेत्‌ साम्ना स्वशक्तिं चोपलक्षयेत्‌ । आत्मन: परिमर्शेन बुद्धि बुद्धया विचारयेत्‌

Transliteration

paraṁ viśvāsayet sāmnā svaśaktiṁ copalakṣayet | ātmanaḥ parimarśena buddhiṁ buddhyā vicārayet ||

Translation

ରାଜା ପ୍ରଥମେ ମଧୁର ସାମ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କର ବିଶ୍ୱାସ ଜିତିବା ଉଚିତ। ସହିତେ ନିଜ ଶକ୍ତିର ଯଥୋଚିତ ପରିଚୟ ମଧ୍ୟ ଦେବା ଉଚିତ; ତା’ପରେ ଆତ୍ମପରାମର୍ଶ କରି, ସ୍ପଷ୍ଟ ବୁଦ୍ଧିରେ ବିଚାର କରି କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ କରିବା ଉଚିତ।

Word by Word

• परम्: the other (person)
• परम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम् (पर-)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विश्वासयेत्: should cause (him) to trust / should win confidence
• विश्वासयेत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश्वासय् (causative of √विश् + वि-; denom. from विश्वास)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• साम्ना: by conciliation / by gentle means
• साम्ना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामन्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• स्वशक्तिम्: one's own power
• स्वशक्तिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वशक्ति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• उपलक्षयेत्: should indicate / should make known
• उपलक्षयेत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: उपलक्षय् (causative/denom. from उपलक्षण; from √लक्ष् with उप-)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• आत्मनः: of oneself
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• परिमर्शेन: by reflection / by deliberation
• परिमर्शेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिमर्श
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• बुद्धिम्: understanding / judgment
• बुद्धिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• बुद्ध्या: by intellect
• बुद्ध्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• विचारयेत्: should consider / should deliberate
• विचारयेत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: विचारय् (denom./causative from विचार; from √चर with वि-)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

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

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• king (rājā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should lead by a balanced method: win trust through gentle persuasion (sāman), maintain credibility by demonstrating strength, and finally decide action through careful self-reflection and rational deliberation.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rāja-dharma, Bhishma advises the king on practical statecraft: how to approach others, establish confidence, signal capability, and then choose the proper course through thoughtful judgment.