Shloka 64

Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)

Devanagari script

राज्ञा सप्तैव रक्ष्याणि तानि चैव निबोध मे । आत्मामात्याश्न कोशाशक्ष दण्डो मित्राणि चैव हि

Transliteration

rājñā saptaiva rakṣyāṇi tāni caiva nibodha me | ātmāmātyāś ca kośaś ca daṇḍo mitrāṇi caiva hi, kurunandana ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ହେ କୁରୁନନ୍ଦନ! ରାଜାଙ୍କୁ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ସାତଟି ବସ୍ତୁର ରକ୍ଷା କରିବା ଉଚିତ; ସେଗୁଡ଼ିକ କ’ଣ ମୋ ପାଖରୁ ଶୁଣ—ନିଜ ଶରୀର, ଅମାତ୍ୟ (ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ), କୋଷ, ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର, ଦଣ୍ଡ (ଦଣ୍ଡଶକ୍ତି/ସେନା) ଏବଂ ମିତ୍ରମାନେ।

Word by Word

• राज्ञा: by the king
• राज्ञा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural

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

• रक्ष्याणि: to be protected
• रक्ष्याणि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्ष्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• तानि: those (things)
• तानि: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

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

• एव: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• निबोध: understand/learn
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-बुध्
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मे: from me / to me
• मे: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive/Dative, Singular

• आत्मा: one's own self/body
• आत्मा: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अमात्याः: ministers
• अमात्याः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमात्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• कोशः: treasury
• कोशः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोश
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• दण्डः: punitive power/army
• दण्डः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मित्राणि: allies/friends
• मित्राणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

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

• एव: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• हि: for/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• कुरुनन्दन: O delight of the Kurus
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु-नन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Kurunandana (Yudhiṣṭhira)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s dharma includes vigilant protection of the essential supports of sovereignty—starting with personal integrity and security, competent ministers, sound finances, effective enforcement/punitive power, and reliable alliances—so that order and welfare can be sustained.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma addresses Yudhiṣṭhira and begins listing the key elements a king must guard as part of rajadharma, framing governance as a disciplined, ethical responsibility.