Shloka 70

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

Devanagari script

धर्मश्षार्थक्ष॒ कामश्न सेवितव्योडथ कालत: । धर्मेण च महीपालश्षिरं पालयते महीम्‌

Transliteration

dharmaś cārthaś ca kāmaś ca sevitavyo ’tha kālataḥ | dharmeṇa ca mahīpālaḥ śiraṃ pālayate mahīm ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଧର୍ମ, ଅର୍ଥ ଓ କାମ—ଏ ତିନିଟିକୁ ସମୟ ଓ ପରିସ୍ଥିତି ଅନୁସାରେ ସେବନ କରିବା ଉଚିତ। ଧର୍ମ ଦ୍ୱାରା ହିଁ ରାଜା ନିଜ ଶିର (ଜୀବନ ଓ ସାର୍ବଭୌମତ୍ୱ) ରକ୍ଷା କରେ ଏବଂ ପୃଥିବୀକୁ (ରାଜ୍ୟ-ପ୍ରଜାକୁ) ପାଳନ କରେ।

Word by Word

धर्मःdharma, righteousness

अर्थःwealth, polity, purpose

कामःdesire, pleasure

चand

सेवितव्यःis to be practiced/served

अथthen/now

कालतःaccording to time; from/with regard to time

धर्मेणby/through dharma

चand

महीपालःking (protector of the earth)

शिरम्head

पालयतेprotects, rules

महीम्the earth, land

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

mahīpāla (the king)

mahī (the earth/kingdom)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma teaches a balanced pursuit of the three aims—dharma, artha, and kāma—regulated by kāla (timeliness and context). For rulers especially, dharma is the foundation that preserves both personal security and the welfare of the realm.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance and conduct, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on rājadharma, emphasizing that a king’s stability and the protection of the kingdom depend on righteous rule.