Shloka 8

Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa

The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa

Devanagari script

आपद्द्वारेषु युक्त: स्याज्जलप्रस्रवणेष्विव । शैलवर्षोदकानीव द्विजान्‌ सिद्धान्‌ समाश्रयेत्‌ । अर्थकाम: शिखां राजा कुर्याद्धर्मध्वजोपमाम्‌

Transliteration

āpad-dvāreṣu yuktaḥ syāj jala-prasravaṇeṣv iva | śaila-varṣodakānīva dvijān siddhān samāśrayet | artha-kāmaḥ śikhāṁ rājā kuryād dharma-dhvajopamām ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଯେଉଁ ‘ଦ୍ୱାର’ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଆପଦ ପ୍ରବେଶ କରିପାରେ, ସେଠାରେ ରାଜା ସଦା ସତର୍କ ରହିବା ଉଚିତ; ଯେପରି ଜଳ ଭାଙ୍ଗି ପସିବା ଆଶଙ୍କା ଥିଲେ ଲୋକେ ବନ୍ଧକୁ ସୁଦୃଢ଼ କରନ୍ତି। ଏବଂ ପର୍ବତରେ ବର୍ଷା ହୋଇ ସଞ୍ଚିତ ଜଳକୁ ଲୋକେ ଆଶ୍ରୟ କରନ୍ତି, ସେପରି ରାଜା ସିଦ୍ଧ ଦ୍ୱିଜ-ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣଙ୍କ ଆଶ୍ରୟ ନେବା ଉଚିତ। ତଥାପି ଲାଭକାମନାରେ ପ୍ରେରିତ ହୋଇ, ନିଜ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟସିଦ୍ଧି ପାଇଁ ଧର୍ମଧ୍ୱଜଧାରୀ କପଟୀର ଶିଖା ପରି ବାହ୍ୟ ଧର୍ମଲକ୍ଷଣ ମଧ୍ୟ ଧାରଣ କରିପାରେ।

Word by Word

• आपत्-द्वारेषु: at the gates/points of calamity
• आपत्-द्वारेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आपद्-द्वार
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• युक्तः: prepared, vigilant
• युक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (युज्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• जल-प्रस्रवणेषु: at water-outlets/drains
• जल-प्रस्रवणेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल-प्रस्रवण
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• इव: like, as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• शैल-वर्ष-उदकानि: waters from rain on mountains
• शैल-वर्ष-उदकानि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल-वर्ष-उदक
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• इव: like, as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• द्विजान्: brahmins (twice-born)
• द्विजान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सिद्धान्: accomplished, perfected
• सिद्धान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• समाश्रयेत्: should resort to, should take refuge in
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-श्रि
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular

• अर्थ-कामः: desiring wealth and pleasure
• अर्थ-कामः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थ-काम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शिखाम्: topknot, tuft of hair
• शिखाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

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

• कुर्यात्: should make/do
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular

• धर्म-ध्वज-उपमाम्: like a banner/standard of dharma
• धर्म-ध्वज-उपमाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म-ध्वज-उपमा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• rājā (the king)
• dvijāḥ (Brahmins)
• siddhāḥ (accomplished Brahmins)
• āpad (calamity)
• dvāra (gateways/entry-points)
• jala (water)
• śaila (mountains)
• varṣa (rain)
• śikhā (topknot)
• dharma-dhvaja (hypocritical ‘banner of dharma’)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler must proactively secure points of vulnerability against impending crises, rely on competent spiritual-intellectual advisers (siddha Brahmins), and recognize that political life can involve strategic use of outward symbols of virtue—while warning that such ‘dharma-banner’ display can be hypocritical when driven purely by self-interest.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on practical governance: fortify weak points before disaster strikes, seek guidance from accomplished Brahmins, and understand how rulers may adopt public signs of righteousness to achieve political ends.