Shloka 56

Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa

The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa

Devanagari script

एतान्‌ मयोक्ताश्नर राजधर्मान्‌ नृणां च गुप्ती मतिमादधत्स्व । अवाप्स्यसे पुण्यफलं सुखेन सर्वो हि लोको नृप धर्ममूल:

Transliteration

etān mayoktān nara-rāja dharmān nṛṇāṁ ca guptīṁ matim ādhatsva | avāpsyase puṇya-phalaṁ sukhena sarvo hi loko nṛpa dharma-mūlaḥ ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ହେ ନରରାଜ! ମୋର କହିଥିବା ଏହି ରାଜଧର୍ମଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ମନେ ଧାରଣ କରି ଆଚରଣ କର; ଏବଂ ପ୍ରଜାର ରକ୍ଷା-ଶାସନରେ ମନ ଲଗା। ଏହାଦ୍ୱାରା ତୁମେ ସହଜରେ ପୁଣ୍ୟଫଳ ଓ କଲ୍ୟାଣ ପାଇବ; କାରଣ, ହେ ନୃପ, ସମଗ୍ର ଲୋକ ଧର୍ମମୂଳ।

Word by Word

• एतान्: these
• एतान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Instrumental, Singular

• उक्तान्: said, spoken
• उक्तान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural, Past passive participle (क्त)

• नर: O man
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• राजधर्मान्: duties of a king
• राजधर्मान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजधर्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• नृणाम्: of men/people
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

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

• गुप्तिम्: protection, safeguarding
• गुप्तिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुप्ति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• मतिम्: mind, intention
• मतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• आदधत्स्व: apply (yourself), set (your mind)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (आ + धा)
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Atmanepada

• अवाप्स्यसे: you will obtain
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (अव + आप्)
• Form: Simple future (लृट्), Second, Singular, Atmanepada

• पुण्यफलम्: fruit of merit
• पुण्यफलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्यफल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सुखेन: easily, happily
• सुखेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• सर्वः: all, the whole
• सर्वः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हि: indeed, for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• लोकः: world
• लोकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नृप: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• धर्ममूलः: having dharma as its root
• धर्ममूलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्ममूल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नरेश्वर: O lord of men
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरेश्वर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• king (addressed as nara-rāja/nṛpa; contextually Yudhishthira)
• people/subjects (nṛṇām)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should internalize and practice rājadharma—especially the safeguarding and welfare of the subjects—because social order and prosperity rest on dharma, and such conduct yields merit and well-being.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva, Bhishma instructs the king (Yudhishthira) on statecraft and righteous rule; here he urges the king to follow the royal duties he has explained and to focus on protecting the people.