Shloka 16

Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)

Devanagari script

क्षत्रिये संगतं नास्ति न प्रीतिर्न च सौहदम्‌ । कारणात्‌ सान्त्वयन्त्येते कृतार्था: संत्यजन्ति च

Transliteration

kṣatriye saṅgataṃ nāsti na prītir na ca sauhṛdam | kāraṇāt sāntvayante te kṛtārthāḥ saṃtyajanti ca ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ— ‘କ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟରେ ସଙ୍ଗତି ନିଭାଇବାର ଦୃଢ଼ତା ନାହିଁ; ନ ସତ୍ୟ ପ୍ରୀତି, ନ ସୌହାର୍ଦ୍ୟ। କୌଣସି କାରଣ କିମ୍ବା ସ୍ୱାର୍ଥରୁ ହିଁ ସେମାନେ ସାନ୍ତ୍ୱନା ଦିଅନ୍ତି; କାମ ସିଦ୍ଧ ହେଲେ ଆଶ୍ରିତକୁ ତ୍ୟାଗ କରନ୍ତି।’

Word by Word

• क्षत्रिये: in a kshatriya
• क्षत्रिये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• संगतम्: association/companionship (steadfast fellowship)
• संगतम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: संगत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

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

• अस्ति: is/exists
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

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

• प्रीतिः: affection/love
• प्रीतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• न: nor/not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

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

• सौहृदम्: friendliness/goodwill
• सौहृदम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौहृद
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• कारणात्: from a motive/for a reason
• कारणात्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• सान्त्वयन्ति: they console/soothe
• Type: Verb
• Root: सान्त्वय्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• एते: these (people)
• एते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कृतार्थाः: having achieved their purpose
• कृतार्थाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सन्त्यजन्ति: they abandon/renounce
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-त्यज्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

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

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• kṣatriya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma warns that relationships in political and warrior spheres can be driven by expediency rather than genuine affection; one should recognize motive-based consolation and be cautious about dependence on power-holders.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and statecraft; here he offers a sharp observation about kṣatriya conduct—how alliances and kindness may be strategic and may end once the objective is fulfilled.