Shloka 3

राज्ञो वृत्त-गुण-संग्रहः (Conduct and the Thirty-Six Virtues of a King) / The King’s Code of Conduct

Devanagari script

चरेद्‌ धर्मानकटुको मुज्चेत्‌ स्नेह न चास्तिक: । अनुशंसश्चरेदर्थ चरेत्‌ काममनुद्धत:,(अब मैं क्रमश: उन गुणोंका वर्णन करता हूँ) १-धर्मका आचरण करे, किंतु कटुता न आने दे। २-आस्तिक रहते हुए दूसरोंके साथ प्रेमका बर्ताव न छोड़े। ३-क्रूरताका आश्रय लिये बिना ही अर्थ-संग्रह करे। ४-मर्यादाका अतिक्रमण न करते हुए ही विषयोंको भोगे

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | cared dharmān akaṭuko muñcet snehaṃ na cāstikaḥ | anuśaṃsaś cared arthaṃ caret kāmam anuddhataḥ ||

Translation

ଧର୍ମ ଆଚରଣ କର, କିନ୍ତୁ ଆଚରଣରେ କଟୁତା ଆସିବାକୁ ଦିଅନି। ଶାସ୍ତ୍ରଧର୍ମରେ ଆସ୍ଥା ରଖି ମଧ୍ୟ ଅନ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ସ୍ନେହ-ବ୍ୟବହାର ଛାଡ଼ନି। କ୍ରୂରତାର ଆଶ୍ରୟ ନେଇନାହିଁ ଅର୍ଥ ସଂଗ୍ରହ କର; ଏବଂ ମର୍ଯ୍ୟାଦା ଅତିକ୍ରମ ନକରି ଧର୍ମସମ୍ମତ ଭୋଗ କର—ଏହିପରି ସଂୟମ ଓ ସଦ୍ଭାବ ରହେ।

Word by Word

• {'cared (caret)': 'should practice

• should conduct oneself', 'dharmān': 'duties

• dharma', 'akaṭukaḥ': 'not bitter

• not harsh or acrid in manner', 'muñcet': 'should release/let go

• should not cling to', 'sneham': 'affection

• warm attachment', 'na': 'not', 'cāstikaḥ (ca āstikaḥ)': 'and being āstika

• a believer', 'anuśaṃsaḥ': 'kindly

• benevolent (one who speaks/acts with goodwill)', 'arthaṃ': 'wealth

• prosperity', 'kāmam': 'desire

• enjoyment', 'anuddhataḥ': 'not arrogant

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma teaches a fourfold balance: practice dharma without bitterness, keep affectionate relations while being āstika, acquire wealth without cruelty, and enjoy pleasures without arrogance or transgressing social and moral limits.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on ideal conduct after the war, outlining practical virtues for living righteously in society—how to align dharma, artha, and kāma with gentleness and restraint.