Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

प्रियं ब्रयादकृपण: शूर: स्यादविकत्थन: । दाता नापात्रवर्षी स्यात्‌ प्रगल्भ: स्यादनिष्ठर:

Transliteration

priyaṃ brūyād akṛpaṇaḥ śūraḥ syād avikatthanaḥ | dātā nāpātravārṣī syāt pragalbhaḥ syād aniṣṭhuraḥ ||

Translation

ପ୍ରିୟ ଓ ମଧୁର ବଚନ କହିବ; କୃପଣତାରୁ ମୁକ୍ତ ରହିବ। ଶୂର ହେବ, କିନ୍ତୁ ଡିଙ୍ଗ ମାରିବ ନାହିଁ। ଦାତା ହେବ, କିନ୍ତୁ ଅପାତ୍ର ଉପରେ ଦାନର ବର୍ଷା କରିବ ନାହିଁ। କାର୍ଯ୍ୟରେ ପ୍ରଗଲ୍ଭ ଓ ସମର୍ଥ ହେବ, ତଥାପି ନିଷ୍ଠୁର କିମ୍ବା କ୍ରୂର ହେବ ନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

प्रियम्what is pleasing / agreeable (speech)

ब्रूयात्should speak

अकृपणःa non-miser / generous person

शूरःa hero / brave man

स्यात्should be

अविकत्थनःnot boastful / unvainglorious

दाताa giver / donor

नnot

अपात्रवर्षीone who showers (gifts) on the unworthy

स्यात्should be

प्रगल्भःbold / confident

स्यात्should be

अनिष्ठरःnot harsh / not rigid

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

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 lists balanced virtues: kind speech without stinginess, courage without boasting, generosity guided by discernment (not wasted on the unworthy), and confident strength without harshness.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma after the war, offering practical standards of character and conduct expected of a righteous person and ruler.