Shloka 2

Kośārtha-Rājadharma: Ethical Revenue Collection and Social Regulation (कोशार्थ-राजधर्मः)

Devanagari script

भीष्य उवाच यथादेशं यथाकालं यथाबुद्धि यथाबलम्‌ । अनुशिष्यात्‌ प्रजा राजा धर्मार्थी तद्धिते रत:

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | yathādeśaṃ yathākālaṃ yathābuddhi yathābalam | anuśiṣyāt prajā rājā dharmārthī taddhite rataḥ ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ରାଜନ୍! ଧର୍ମକୁ ଆକାଂକ୍ଷା କରୁଥିବା ରାଜା ଦେଶ ଓ କାଳର ପରିସ୍ଥିତି ଅନୁଯାୟୀ, ନିଜ ବୁଦ୍ଧି ଓ ବଳ ଅନୁସାରେ, ପ୍ରଜାହିତରେ ରତ ରହି ପ୍ରଜାକୁ ଶାସନ-ଅନୁଶାସନରେ ରଖିବେ।

Word by Word

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यथा-आदेशम्: according to instruction/command
• यथा-आदेशम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (avyaya) + आदेश
• Form: functions adverbially; internal nominal member in accusative singular

• यथा-कालम्: according to time/occasion
• यथा-कालम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (avyaya) + काल
• Form: functions adverbially; internal nominal member in accusative singular

• यथा-बुद्धि: according to (one's) understanding
• यथा-बुद्धि: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (avyaya) + बुद्धि
• Form: functions adverbially; internal nominal member in accusative singular (buddhim implied/treated as avyayibhava)

• यथा-बलम्: according to (one's) strength
• यथा-बलम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (avyaya) + बल
• Form: functions adverbially; internal nominal member in accusative singular

• अनुशिष्यात्: should instruct/discipline
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + शास्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• प्रजाः: subjects, people
• प्रजाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्म-अर्थी: desiring dharma (righteousness)
• धर्म-अर्थी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + अर्थिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तत्-हिते: in their welfare (in that welfare)
• तत्-हिते: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् + हित
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• रतः: engaged, devoted
• रतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, past passive participle from √रम् (to delight/be engaged)

Speaker

भीष्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• King (rājā)
• Subjects/people (prajā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s dharma is not rigid rule for its own sake, but welfare-oriented governance: the king should discipline and guide the people while adapting to place, time, and his own capacity, keeping the subjects’ benefit as the guiding aim.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma is advising the king (Yudhishthira in context) on how a righteous ruler should administer society—by prudent, context-sensitive governance devoted to the people’s good.