Shloka 3

राजवृत्त-रक्षा-प्रणिधि-षाड्गुण्योपदेशः

Royal Conduct, Protection, Intelligence, and Policy Measures

Devanagari script

राजा वसुमना नाम कौसल्यो धीमतां वर: । महर्षि किल पप्रच्छ कृतप्रज्ञं बृहस्पतिम्‌

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | rājā vasumanā nāma kausalyō dhīmatāṁ varaḥ | maharṣiṁ kila papraccha kṛtaprajñaṁ bṛhaspatim ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ— “ପୁରାତନ କାଳରେ କୋସଳଦେଶରେ ବସୁମନା ନାମକ ଜଣେ ରାଜା ଥିଲେ; ସେ ଜ୍ଞାନୀମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ବୋଲି ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ। ସେ ସ୍ଥିର ଓ ପରିପକ୍ୱ ପ୍ରଜ୍ଞାବାନ ମହର୍ଷି ବୃହସ୍ପତିଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରଶ୍ନ କଲେ।”

Word by Word

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

• वसुमना: Vasumanā (name of the king)
• वसुमना: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुमन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नाम: by name / named
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नामन्

• कौसल्यः: the Kosala king / a Kosalan
• कौसल्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौसल्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धीमताम्: of the wise
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• वरः: best / excellent
• वरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महर्षिम्: the great sage
• महर्षिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• किल: indeed / it is said
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल

• पप्रच्छ: asked
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• कृतप्रज्ञम्: of accomplished/steady wisdom
• कृतप्रज्ञम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतप्रज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• बृहस्पतिम्: Bṛhaspati
• बृहस्पतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहस्पति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Vasumanā
• Kosala
• Bṛhaspati

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames an ethical inquiry: an exemplary king seeks counsel from a perfected sage, highlighting that righteous governance and personal conduct begin with humble questioning and reliance on established wisdom.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma introduces a traditional episode: the Kosala king Vasumanā approaches the sage Bṛhaspati and asks him questions, setting up a didactic dialogue on dharma and prudent understanding.