Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

यथा तासां च मन्येत श्रेय आत्मन एव च | तथा कर्माणि सर्वाणि राजा राष्ट्रेषु वर्तयेत्‌

Transliteration

yathā tāsāṃ ca manyeta śreya ātmana eva ca | tathā karmāṇi sarvāṇi rājā rāṣṭreṣu vartayet ||

Translation

ପ୍ରଜାମାନଙ୍କର ଓ ନିଜର ମଙ୍ଗଳ ଯେପରି ହେବ ବୋଲି ରାଜା ଭାବେ, ସେହିପରି ସମସ୍ତ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଓ ନୀତିକୁ ସେ ନିଜ ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ରରେ ପ୍ରଚଳିତ କରିବେ।

Word by Word

• यथा: as, in the manner that
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• तासाम्: of them (of those women/subjects)
• तासाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• मन्येत: should think/consider
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (मन्यते)
• Form: Vidhi-linga (Optative), Present-system, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• श्रेयः: welfare, the better good
• श्रेयः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आत्मनः: of oneself
• आत्मनः: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• तथा: so, in that way
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• कर्माणि: actions, works, duties
• कर्माणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• सर्वाणि: all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

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

• राष्ट्रेषु: in the kingdoms/realms
• राष्ट्रेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राष्ट्र
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• वर्तयेत्: should set in motion/establish/cause to be carried out
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (वर्तते) / वर्तयति (caus.)
• Form: Vidhi-linga (Optative), Present-system, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada, Causative (णिच्)

Speaker

भीष्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• rājā (the king)
• rāṣṭra (the realm/kingdom)
• prajā (subjects) (implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king’s policies should be guided by discernment of welfare (śreyaḥ): he must implement throughout the realm those actions he judges to benefit both the subjects and the ruler, aligning self-interest with public good as a principle of rājadharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma is advising the king on how to govern: he emphasizes practical implementation—spreading and enforcing beneficial measures across the kingdom—rather than merely holding good intentions.