Shloka 18

Chapter 81: Trust, Allies, and the Qualifications of the King’s Artha-Secretary (अर्थसचिव)

Devanagari script

तं शक्‍्त्या वर्धमानश्न सर्वतः परिबृंहयेत्‌ । नित्यं क्षताद्‌ वारयति यो धर्मेष्वपि कर्मसु

Transliteration

taṁ śaktyā vardhamānaś ca sarvataḥ paribṛṁhayet | nityaṁ kṣatād vārayati yo dharmeṣv api karmasu ||

Translation

ନିଜ ଶକ୍ତି ଓ ସମୃଦ୍ଧି ବଢ଼ିଲେ, ଯଥାଶକ୍ତି ତାହାକୁ (ରାଜାଙ୍କୁ) ସମସ୍ତ ଦିଗରୁ ପୁଷ୍ଟ ଓ ସମୃଦ୍ଧ କରିବା ଉଚିତ୍। ଯେ ଧର୍ମକର୍ମରେ ଲିପ୍ତ ଥିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ରାଜାଙ୍କୁ ସଦା ହାନିରୁ ବଞ୍ଚାଇବାକୁ ଚେଷ୍ଟା କରେ ଏବଂ ରାଜହାନିର ଆଶଙ୍କାରେ ବ୍ୟାକୁଳ ହୁଏ—ସେହି ସ୍ୱଭାବକୁ ସତ୍ୟ ମିତ୍ରର ଲକ୍ଷଣ ବୋଲି ବୁଝିବା ଉଚିତ୍; ଯେମାନେ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ହାନି ଓ ବିନାଶ ଚାହାନ୍ତି, ସେମାନେ ଶତ୍ରୁ ମନାଯାନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• तम्: him/that (person)
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शक्त्या: by (one's) power/ability
• शक्त्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• वर्धमानः: growing/prospering
• वर्धमानः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्धमान
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वतः: from all sides; in every way
• सर्वतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः

• परिबृंहयेत्: should augment/enrich
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-बृंह्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• क्षतात्: from harm/injury
• क्षतात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• वारयति: wards off/prevents
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (वारयति = causative of √वृ/√वृञ् 'to cover/ward off')
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मेषु: in duties/righteous matters
• धर्मेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• कर्मसु: in actions/undertakings
• कर्मसु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• the king (rājā, implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A true friend is defined by active, continual concern for the ruler’s welfare: using one’s growing capacity to strengthen him, and preventing his loss even while pursuing dharmic duties; those wishing the ruler’s ruin are enemies.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma and conduct, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on how to recognize genuine allies: friends protect and promote the king’s prosperity, whereas those who seek his harm are to be treated as foes.