Shloka 130

Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

रिपौ मित्रेडथ मध्यस्थे विजये संधिविग्रहे । कृतवान्‌ यो महीपाल: कि तस्मिन्‌ मुक्तलक्षणम्‌

Transliteration

ripau mitre'tha madhyasthē vijayē sandhi-vigrahē | kṛtavān yo mahīpālaḥ ki tasmin mukta-lakṣaṇam ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଶତ୍ରୁ, ମିତ୍ର ଓ ମଧ୍ୟସ୍ଥଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି, ଏବଂ ବିଜୟ, ସନ୍ଧି ଓ ବିଗ୍ରହର ସମୟରେ ଯେ ରାଜା ଯଥୋଚିତ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରେ—ତାହାରେ ଜୀବନ୍ମୁକ୍ତିର ଲକ୍ଷଣ କ’ଣ?

Word by Word

• रिपौ: in (the case of) an enemy
• रिपौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपु
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• मित्रे: in (the case of) a friend
• मित्रे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• अथ: and/then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• मध्यस्थे: in (the case of) a neutral/mediator
• मध्यस्थे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्यस्थ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• विजये: in victory
• विजये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विजय
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• सन्धि-विग्रहे: in peace and war (treaty and hostility)
• सन्धि-विग्रहे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्धि-विग्रह
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• कृतवान्: has done / did
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Perfect (periphrastic), Third, Singular, Masculine, Nominative

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महीपालः: the king (protector of the earth)
• महीपालः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपाल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• किम्: what
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• तस्मिन्: in him / in that (person)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• मुक्त-लक्षणम्: the mark/sign of liberation (jīvanmukti)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्तलक्षण
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• mahīpāla (king)
• ripu (enemy)
• mitra (friend/ally)
• madhyastha (neutral party)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a key inquiry of Śānti Parva: even when a ruler performs correct political duties—discerning friend, enemy, and neutral, and choosing victory, treaty, or war appropriately—liberation is not merely external success. The question points toward inner marks of freedom: non-attachment, equanimity, and dharmic intention amid action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma, instructing on rājadharma and higher aims, raises a reflective question: if a king has already acted properly in diplomacy and conflict, what additional sign distinguishes him as a liberated person? It sets up discussion on the inner spiritual state alongside outward governance.