Shanti Parva Adhyaya 141 Shloka 7 - Mahabharata | Oriya | Vedapath

Vyasa

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Shloka 7

Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā

Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative

Devanagari script

नित्यमुद्यतदण्ड: स्यान्नित्यं विवृतपौरुष: । अच्छिद्रश्छिद्रदर्शी च परेषां विवरानुग:

Transliteration

nityam udyatadaṇḍaḥ syān nityaṁ vivṛtapauruṣaḥ | acchidraś chidradarśī ca pareṣāṁ vivarānugaḥ ||

Translation

ରାଜା ସଦା ଦଣ୍ଡ ପ୍ରୟୋଗ ପାଇଁ ଉଦ୍ୟତ ରହିବା ଉଚିତ ଏବଂ ନିରନ୍ତର ପୌରୁଷ ଓ ପ୍ରୟାସ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରିବା ଉଚିତ। ନିଜରେ କୌଣସି ଛିଦ୍ର—ଦୁର୍ବଳତା—ରଖିବେ ନାହିଁ; ପରପକ୍ଷର ଛିଦ୍ରକୁ ସଦା ଦେଖିବେ, ଏବଂ ଶତ୍ରୁର ଦୁର୍ବଳତା ଧରାପଡ଼ିଲେ ସେହି ବିବରରେ ପ୍ରବେଶ କରି ଆକ୍ରମଣ କରିବେ।

Word by Word

नित्यम्always

उद्यत-दण्डःhaving the rod (punishment) raised/ready

स्यात्should be

नित्यम्always

विवृत-पौरुषःone whose manliness/valor is manifest

अच्छिद्रःwithout a flaw/weak point

छिद्र-दर्शीone who observes (others') weak points

चand

परेषाम्of others/enemies

विवर-अनुगःone who follows up/presses into the opening (i.e., exploits the gap)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

rājā (the king)

daṇḍa (punitive authority/rod of punishment)

para (opponents/enemies)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma teaches rājadharma: effective rule requires constant readiness to enforce law (daṇḍa), visible courage and initiative, self-discipline to avoid internal weaknesses, and strategic vigilance to exploit an adversary’s vulnerabilities when necessary.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on kingship and governance. Here he gives a concise maxim on maintaining order through daṇḍa, strengthening one’s own position, and monitoring enemies for openings.