Shloka 34

Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)

Devanagari script

अमात्यरक्षा प्रणिधी राजपुत्रस्य लक्षणम्‌ | चारश्न विविधोपाय: प्रणिधेय: पृथग्विध:

Transliteration

amātya-rakṣā praṇidhī rāja-putrasya lakṣaṇam | cāraś ca vividha-upāyaḥ praṇidheyaḥ pṛthag-vidhaḥ ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ରାଜନୀତିଶାସ୍ତ୍ରରେ ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀମାନଙ୍କର ରକ୍ଷା, ପ୍ରଣିଧି (ବିଶ୍ୱସ୍ତ ଦୂତ/କର୍ମଚାରୀ), ରାଜପୁତ୍ରର ଲକ୍ଷଣ, ଗୁପ୍ତଚରମାନଙ୍କ ସଞ୍ଚାରର ବିଭିନ୍ନ ଉପାୟ ଓ ବିଭିନ୍ନ ସ୍ଥାନରେ ବିଭିନ୍ନ ପ୍ରକାର ଗୁପ୍ତଚର ନିଯୁକ୍ତି—ଏସବୁ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦିଷ୍ଟ; ଏବଂ ସାମ, ଦାନ, ଭେଦ, ଦଣ୍ଡ, ଉପେକ୍ଷା—ଏହି ପାଞ୍ଚ ଉପାୟ ମଧ୍ୟ ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଭାବେ ପ୍ରତିପାଦିତ।

Word by Word

• अमात्यरक्षा: protection of ministers
• अमात्यरक्षा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमात्य-रक्षा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रणिधी: agents/commissioners (envoys, officers)
• प्रणिधी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणिधि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• राजपुत्रस्य: of the prince
• राजपुत्रस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• लक्षणम्: characteristic/mark
• लक्षणम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• चाराः: spies
• चाराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चार
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• विविधोपायः: various means/strategies
• विविधोपायः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विविध-उपाय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रणिधेयः: to be appointed/placed (to be deployed)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-नि-धा (धातु) → प्रणिधेय (gerundive)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पृथग्विधः: of separate kinds; in different forms
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पृथक्-विध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• amātya (ministers)
• rāja-putra (prince)
• cāra (spies)
• praṇidhi (envoy/agent)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king’s stability depends on disciplined governance: protect ministers from enemy influence, deploy reliable envoys/operatives, recognize the qualities of a capable prince, and maintain a well-structured intelligence network. Policy should be applied through the five classical means—conciliation, inducement, division, punishment, and strategic non-engagement—according to context.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on practical kingship. Here he summarizes key topics of political science: ministerial security, appointment of agents and spies, criteria for a prince, and the systematic use of the five upāyas in administration and diplomacy.