Shloka 50

राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)

Devanagari script

प्रेष्प्माणा विकल्पन्ते गुह्मां चाप्पनुयुञ्जते । अयाच्य॑ चैव याचन्ते भोज्यान्याहारयन्ति च

Transliteration

preṣyamāṇā vikalpante guhyaṃ cāpy anuyuñjate | ayācyaṃ caiva yācante bhojyāny āhārayanti ca ||

Translation

କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ପାଇଁ ପଠାଇଲେ ସେମାନେ ଅନାବଶ୍ୟକ ସନ୍ଦେହ ଉଠାଇ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟସିଦ୍ଧିକୁ ଅନିଶ୍ଚିତ କରନ୍ତି। ଗୁପ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ହସ୍ତକ୍ଷେପ କରି ରାଜାଙ୍କ ଲୁଚିଥିବା ତ୍ରୁଟିକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରନ୍ତି। ଯାହା ମାଗିବା ଉଚିତ୍ ନୁହେଁ, ସେହିଟି ମଧ୍ୟ ମାଗନ୍ତି; ରାଜା ପାଇଁ ରଖା ଭୋଜ୍ୟକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ନିଜେ ଖାଇଦିଅନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• प्रेष्यमाणाः: being sent (as messengers/agents)
• प्रेष्यमाणाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रेष्य (प्र-इष्/इष् धातु से निष्पन्न; ‘भेजे जाने योग्य/भेजे गए’)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• विकल्पन्ते: they doubt / they raise doubts / they waver
• Type: Verb
• Root: विकॢप् (वि-कल्प्)
• Form: Present, 3rd, Plural, Ātmanepada

• गुह्यां: a secret (matter)
• गुह्यां: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्य (गुह् धातु से; ‘गोप्य/रहस्य’)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

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

• अपि: also / even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• अनुयुञ्जते: they bring up / they press / they question (about)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-युज्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Plural, Ātmanepada

• अयाच्यं: what should not be asked for
• अयाच्यं: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अयाच्य (याच् धातु; ‘न याचनीय’)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• एव: indeed / just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• याचन्ते: they ask / beg
• Type: Verb
• Root: याच्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Plural, Ātmanepada

• भोज्यानि: foods / eatables
• भोज्यानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोज्य (भुज् धातु; ‘खाने योग्य/भोज्य’)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• आहारयन्ति: they consume / they take for themselves
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-हृ (causative: आहारयति)
• Form: Present, 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

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

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• the king (rājā, implied)
• confidential matters (guhya)
• royal food/provisions (bhojya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma warns that untrustworthy attendants undermine governance: they create doubt in missions, violate confidentiality, make improper demands, and misuse royal resources—traits a king should recognize and avoid.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction on righteous rule and administration, he describes the recognizable behaviors of corrupt or unsuitable servants/agents, illustrating how they harm a ruler’s effectiveness and dignity.