Shloka 12

नृशंस-लक्षणनिर्णयः | Determining the Marks of Cruel Conduct

Nṛśaṃsa

Devanagari script

न हि बुद्धया सम किंचिद्‌ विद्यते पुरुषे नृप । तथा बलेन राजेन्द्र न समो5स्तीह कक्षन

Transliteration

na hi buddhyā samaṁ kiñcid vidyate puruṣe nṛpa | tathā balena rājendra na samo 'stīha kaścana ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ହେ ନୃପ! ପୁରୁଷରେ ବୁଦ୍ଧି ସମାନ ଅନ୍ୟ କିଛି ନାହିଁ। ହେ ରାଜେନ୍ଦ୍ର! ଏହି ଲୋକରେ ଯାହାର ବଳ ବୁଦ୍ଧିଦ୍ୱାରା ନିୟନ୍ତ୍ରିତ, ତାହାର ସମକକ୍ଷ କେହି ନାହିଁ; ତେଣୁ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠତା କେବଳ ବଳରେ ନୁହେଁ, ବିବେକ-ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶିତ ବଳରେ ଅଛି।

Word by Word

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

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• बुद्ध्या: by/with intellect
• बुद्ध्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• समम्: equal (to)
• समम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• किंचित्: anything (at all)
• किंचित्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किंचित्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• विद्यते: exists/is found
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (विद्यते)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• पुरुषे: in a man/person
• पुरुषे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• नृप: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• तथा: so/likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• बलेन: by/with strength
• बलेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• राजेन्द्र: O lord of kings
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

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

• समः: equal
• समः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• इह: here/in this world
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• कश्चन: anyone (at all)
• कश्चन: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: कश्चन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नरेश्वर: O lord of men
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरेश्वर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• King (Yudhishthira, implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Intelligence (buddhi) is the highest human asset, and strength (bala) becomes truly effective and admirable only when governed by discernment; mere power without wisdom is not the standard of excellence.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to the king, Bhishma continues his counsel on righteous rule and personal conduct, emphasizing that a ruler’s real superiority comes from wise judgment and the disciplined use of power.