Shloka 6

Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa

The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa

Devanagari script

यस्मिन्नर्थे हितं॑ यत्‌ स्यात्‌ तद्धर्ण रूपमादिशेत्‌ | बहुरूपस्य राज्ञो हि सूक्ष्मो5प्यर्थों न सीदति

Transliteration

yasminn arthe hitaṃ yat syāt tad dharma-rūpam ādiśet | bahu-rūpasya rājño hi sūkṣmo 'py artho na sīdati ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ— ଯେ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟରେ ଯାହା ସତ୍ୟସାର ହିତକର, ସେଠାରେ ରାଜା ସେହିଅନୁଯାୟୀ ଧର୍ମୋଚିତ ରୂପ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରିବା ଉଚିତ। କାରଣ ଯେ ରାଜା ଆବଶ୍ୟକତାନୁସାରେ ନାନା ରୂପ ଧାରଣ କରିପାରେ, ତାହାର ସୂକ୍ଷ୍ମ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ମଧ୍ୟ ବିଫଳ ହୁଏ ନାହିଁ— ଅପରାଧୀକୁ ଦଣ୍ଡ ଦେବାବେଳେ ଉଗ୍ର, ଏବଂ ଦୁଃଖୀଙ୍କୁ ରକ୍ଷା କରିବାବେଳେ ଶାନ୍ତ ଓ କରୁଣ।

Word by Word

• यस्मिन्: in which
• यस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• अर्थे: in a matter/purpose
• अर्थे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• हितम्: beneficial, proper
• हितम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हित
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• यत्: whatever (that which)
• यत्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• स्यात्: may be/should be
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• धर्मरूपम्: a form in accordance with dharma
• धर्मरूपम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मरूप
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आदिशेत्: should prescribe/indicate
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√दिश्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• बहुरूपस्य: of the many-formed (versatile)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुरूप
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• राज्ञः: of the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

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

• सूक्ष्मः: subtle/small
• सूक्ष्मः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• अर्थः: matter/aim
• अर्थः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• सीदति: fails/sinks/comes to ruin
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सद्
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• king (rājā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should frame and execute actions in a dharmic manner suited to the situation—stern when restraining wrongdoing, gentle when protecting the vulnerable—because adaptable, context-appropriate conduct prevents even small affairs from going wrong.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction on rajadharma in the Shanti Parva, he advises the king on effective ethical governance: the king must adopt different outward ‘forms’ or demeanors according to what truly serves welfare, so that administration remains successful.