Shloka 17

अध्याय ५७ — राज्ञः नित्यप्रयत्नः, रक्षा-प्रधानता, तथा त्याग-नीतिः

Chapter 57: Constant Royal Vigilance, Primacy of Protection, and Principles of Dismissal

Devanagari script

द्विट्छिद्रदर्शी नृपतिर्नित्यमेव प्रशस्यते । त्रिवर्ग विदितार्थश्न युक्तचारोपधिश्व॒ यः:

Transliteration

dviṭ-chidra-darśī nṛpatir nityam eva praśasyate | trivarga-viditārthaś ca yukta-cāropadhiś ca yaḥ ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଯେ ରାଜା ସଦା ଶତ୍ରୁଙ୍କ ଦୁର୍ବଳତା ଉପରେ ଦୃଷ୍ଟି ରଖେ, ସେ ସର୍ବଦା ପ୍ରଶଂସିତ ହୁଏ। ଏହିପରି ଯେ ଶାସକ ଧର୍ମ, ଅର୍ଥ ଓ କାମ—ଏଇ ତ୍ରିବର୍ଗର ତତ୍ତ୍ୱ ଜାଣେ ଏବଂ ଶତ୍ରୁଙ୍କ ଗୁପ୍ତ କଥା ଉଦ୍ଘାଟନ ଓ ତାଙ୍କ ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀମଣ୍ଡଳର ଯୋଜନା ଭଙ୍ଗ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ସୁସଂଗଠିତ ଗୁପ୍ତଚର–ପ୍ରତିଗୁପ୍ତଚର ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥା ରଖେ, ସେ ମଧ୍ୟ ପ୍ରଶଂସାଯୋଗ୍ୟ।

Word by Word

• द्विट्-छिद्र-दर्शी: one who sees the enemy’s weak points
• द्विट्-छिद्र-दर्शी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्विट् + छिद्र + दर्शिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नृपतिः: king
• नृपतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

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

• प्रशस्यते: is praised
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + शंस्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada, Passive

• त्रि-वर्ग-विदित-अर्थः: one who knows the purport of the three aims (dharma, artha, kama)
• त्रि-वर्ग-विदित-अर्थः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + वर्ग + विदित + अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• युक्त-चार-उपधिः: one who has employed spies/agents
• युक्त-चार-उपधिः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त + चार + उपधि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• nṛpati (king)
• dviṭ (enemy)
• trivarga (dharma-artha-kāma)
• cāra (spies/agents)
• mantrin (ministers) (implied by context)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A good king deserves praise when he combines ethical understanding (knowledge of dharma, artha, and kāma) with practical vigilance—especially the ability to detect enemy weaknesses and to use organized intelligence measures to protect the kingdom.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira about qualities of effective rulership, highlighting reconnaissance, awareness of adversaries’ vulnerabilities, and the disciplined use of spies to uncover hostile plans and neutralize dangerous counsel.