Shloka 7

राष्ट्रगुप्ति-संग्रहः

Protection of the Realm and Principles of Revenue & Local Administration

Devanagari script

ग्रामं ग्रामशताध्यक्षो भोक्तुमरहति सत्कृत: । महान्तं भरतश्रेष्ठ सुस्फीतं जनसंकुलम्‌

Transliteration

grāmaṁ grāmaśatādhyakṣo bhoktum arhati satkṛtaḥ | mahāntaṁ bharataśreṣṭha susphītaṁ janasaṅkulam ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ହେ ଭରତଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ! ଶତ ଗ୍ରାମର ଅଧ୍ୟକ୍ଷ ସତ୍କାର ସହିତ ପୋଷିତ ହେବାକୁ ଅର୍ହ। ତାଙ୍କୁ ଭୋଗ ପାଇଁ ଏକ ମହାନ ଗ୍ରାମ ଦିଆଯାଉ—ସୁସମୃଦ୍ଧ, ସୁସଜ୍ଜିତ ଏବଂ ଜନସଙ୍କୁଳ।

Word by Word

• ग्रामम्: village
• ग्रामम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ग्रामशताध्यक्षः: the superintendent of a hundred villages
• ग्रामशताध्यक्षः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रामशताध्यक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भोक्तुम्: to enjoy/consume
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज्
• Form: Tumun (infinitive), Parasmaipada/Atmanepada (root-based; infinitive is voice-neutral)

• अर्हति: is entitled/deserves
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सत्कृतः: honored/respected
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्कृत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त)

• महान्तम्: great/large
• महान्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भरतश्रेष्ठ: O best of the Bharatas
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरतश्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• सुस्फीतम्: very prosperous/abundant
• सुस्फीतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुस्फीत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• जनसंकुलम्: crowded with people
• जनसंकुलम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जनसंकुल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Bharataśreṣṭha (Yudhiṣṭhira)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma frames a principle of rājadharma: capable administrators who bear responsibility for many villages should be honored and materially supported, receiving a prosperous and populous village as their due—linking public service, merit, and rightful remuneration.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on statecraft, Bhīṣma addresses Yudhiṣṭhira and describes how a king should treat a high-ranking local officer (over a hundred villages), emphasizing respectful reception and assignment of a substantial, flourishing village for his maintenance.