Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

नविश्वसेदविश्वस्ते विश्वस्ते नातिविश्वसेत्‌ विश्वासाद्‌ भयमुत्पन्नमपि मूलं निकृन्तति । काम॑ विश्वासयेदन्यान्‌ परेषां च न विश्वसेत्‌

Transliteration

na viśvased aviśvaste viśvaste nātiviśvaset | viśvāsād bhayam utpannam api mūlaṃ nikṛntati || kāmaṃ viśvāsayed anyān pareṣāṃ ca na viśvaset |

Translation

ବ୍ରହ୍ମଦତ୍ତ କହିଲେ—ଯେ ଅବିଶ୍ୱସନୀୟ, ତା’ଉପରେ ବିଶ୍ୱାସ କରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ; ଯେ ବିଶ୍ୱସନୀୟ, ତା’ଉପରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅତି ବିଶ୍ୱାସ କରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ। କାରଣ ବିଶ୍ୱାସରୁ ଜନ୍ମିଥିବା ଭୟ ମନୁଷ୍ୟକୁ ମୂଳରୁ କାଟି ଦିଏ। ଇଚ୍ଛା ହେଲେ ଅନ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କ ମନେ ନିଜ ପ୍ରତି ବିଶ୍ୱାସ ଜଗାଇପାର; କିନ୍ତୁ ନିଜେ ଅନ୍ୟଙ୍କୁ ଅନ୍ଧଭାବେ ବିଶ୍ୱାସ କରନି।

Word by Word

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

• विश्वसेत्: should trust
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश्वस् (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-linga, injunctive/optative sense, 3rd, singular, Parasmaipada

• अविश्वस्ते: in/with an untrustworthy (person)
• अविश्वस्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविश्वस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine/neuter (contextual), locative, singular

• विश्वस्ते: in/with a trusted (person)
• विश्वस्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्वस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine/neuter (contextual), locative, singular

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

• अति: excessively
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति

• विश्वसेत्: should trust
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश्वस् (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-linga, injunctive/optative sense, 3rd, singular, Parasmaipada

• विश्वासात्: from trust
• विश्वासात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, ablative, singular

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• उत्पन्नम्: arisen, produced
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत् + √पद्/पद्य (उत्पद्यते) → उत्पन्न (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), neuter, nominative, singular

• अपि: even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• मूलम्: root, foundation
• मूलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• निकृन्तति: cuts off, uproots
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + √कृत् (कृन्तति) / √कृन्त्
• Form: Lat, present, 3rd, singular, Parasmaipada

• कामम्: indeed, if you like, at will
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कामम् (अव्यय-प्रयोग; मूल: काम)

• विश्वासयेत्: should cause (others) to trust
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश्वासय् (धातु; causative of √विश्वस्)
• Form: Vidhi-linga, optative sense, 3rd, singular, Parasmaipada, causative

• अन्यान्: others
• अन्यान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• परेषाम्: of others
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine/neuter (contextual), genitive, plural

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

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

• विश्वसेत्: should trust
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश्वस् (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-linga, optative sense, 3rd, singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Brahmadatta

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Exercise discernment in trust: avoid trusting the untrustworthy, and even with the trustworthy do not become careless. Over-trust can create vulnerability, leading to fear and ruin; maintain prudent vigilance while still being able to win others’ confidence.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on conduct (nīti/dharma), Brahmadatta delivers a maxim on social and political prudence, warning that misplaced or excessive trust can become the cause of one’s downfall.