Shloka 1

अविश्वास-निति: ब्रह्मदत्त–पूजनी-संवादः

Policy of Caution: The Brahmadatta–Pūjanī Dialogue

Devanagari script

ऑपन--माज बछ। अि<-छऋाय षट्त्रिशर्दाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: राजा किसका धन ले और किसका न ले तथा किसके साथ कैसा बर्ताव करे--इसका विचार भीष्म उवाच अत्र गाथा ब्रह्मगीता: कीर्तयन्ति पुराविद: । येन मार्गेण राजा वै कोशं संजनयत्युत

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | atra gāthā brahmagītāḥ kīrtayanti purāvidaḥ | yena mārgeṇa rājā vai kośaṃ sañjanayaty uta |

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଯୁଧିଷ୍ଠିର! ଏହି ବିଷୟରେ ପୁରାବିଦମାନେ ‘ବ୍ରହ୍ମଗୀତା’ ନାମକ କିଛି ଗାଥା କୀର୍ତ୍ତନ କରନ୍ତି; ଯେ ମାର୍ଗରେ ରାଜା ଧର୍ମପୂର୍ବକ ନିଜ କୋଷ (ରାଜକୋଷ) ବୃଦ୍ଧି କରେ, ସେହି ପଥ ସେଥିରେ କୁହାଯାଇଛି।

Word by Word

• अत्र: here, in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र

• गाथाः: verses, songs (gāthās)
• गाथाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाथा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• ब्रह्मगीताः: sung/uttered by Brahmā (Brahmā-said)
• ब्रह्मगीताः: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मगीता
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• कीर्तयन्ति: they recite, they proclaim
• कीर्तयन्ति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कीर्तय्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• पुराविदः: knowers of ancient lore/history
• पुराविदः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराविद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• मार्गेण: by the path/means
• मार्गेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

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

• वै: indeed, surely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• कोशम्: treasury
• कोशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• संजजनयति: produces, causes to arise/accumulate
• संजजनयति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: संजन्/सञ्जनय्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• उत: and, also (emphatic)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Brahmā
• rājā (the king)
• kośa (royal treasury)
• purāvidaḥ (ancient traditionists)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse introduces an authoritative traditional teaching (called the Brahma-gītās) on the ethical method by which a king should build the treasury—implying that revenue must be raised through a proper, dharmic path rather than arbitrary exaction.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma begins a new instruction to Yudhishthira on royal conduct and revenue policy, citing that ancient experts recite Brahmā-attributed verses explaining how a king generates wealth for the state and, by implication, how he should treat different subjects in the process.