Shloka 34

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

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

Devanagari script

अगूढविभवा यस्य पौरा राष्ट्रनिवासिन: । नयापनयतवेत्तार: स राजा राजसत्तम:

Transliteration

agūḍha-vibhavā yasya paurā rāṣṭra-nivāsinaḥ | nayāpanayata-vettāraḥ sa rājā rājasattamaḥ ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଯାହାଙ୍କ ରାଜ୍ୟରେ ନଗରବାସୀ ଓ ଗ୍ରାମବାସୀ ଧନ ଲୁଚାଇ ରଖିବାକୁ ବାଧ୍ୟ ହୁଅନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ, ଏବଂ ଯେମାନେ ନୀତି ଓ ଅନୀତିର ଭେଦ ବୁଝନ୍ତି—ସେଇ ରାଜା ରାଜସତ୍ତମ।

Word by Word

• अगूढविभवाः: those whose wealth is not hidden
• अगूढविभवाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अगूढविभव (बहुव्रीहिः)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• यस्य: of whom/whose
• यस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• पौराः: citizens (townsmen)
• पौराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• राष्ट्रनिवासिनः: inhabitants of the realm
• राष्ट्रनिवासिनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राष्ट्रनिवासिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• नयापनयतत्त्ववेतारः: knowers of the true nature of right and wrong (policy and its opposite)
• नयापनयतत्त्ववेतारः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नयापनयतत्त्ववेतृ (बहुव्रीहिः/तत्पुरुषसमाससमूहः)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सः: he/that
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजसत्तमः: best among kings
• राजसत्तमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजसत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• king
• townspeople (paurāḥ)
• kingdom inhabitants (rāṣṭra-nivāsinaḥ)
• wealth (vibhava)
• right policy (naya)
• wrong policy (apanaya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The highest king is one who ensures public security and cultivates moral-political discernment: subjects need not conceal wealth out of fear, and they can distinguish proper governance (naya) from misrule (apanaya).

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma defines a hallmark of excellent rule by describing the condition of the people under a truly superior king—safe, prosperous, and ethically aware.