Shloka 19

Vāmadeva’s Rājadharma: Norm-Setting, Counsel, and the Prevention of Rāṣṭra-Vināśa (वामदेव-प्रोक्तं राजधर्मम्)

Devanagari script

ये केचित्‌ भूमिपतय: सर्वास्तानन्ववेक्षयेत्‌ । सुहृद्धिरनभिख्यातैस्तेन राजातिरिच्यते

Transliteration

ye kecid bhūmipatayaḥ sarvāṁs tān anvavekṣayet | suhṛdbhir anabhikhyātaiḥ tena rājātiricyate ||

Translation

ବାମଦେବ କହିଲେ—ଯେ କେହି ଭୂମିପତି ହେଉନାହିଁ, ରାଜା ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ନିରୀକ୍ଷଣ କରିବା ଉଚିତ। ଯେ ରାଜା ଅପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ (ଗୁପ୍ତ) ସୁହୃଦମାନଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ସମସ୍ତ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ଅବସ୍ଥା ଓ ଉଦ୍ଦେଶ୍ୟକୁ ଗୁପ୍ତରୂପେ ଦେଖାଶୁଣା କରାଏ, ସେ ଏହି ଆଚରଣରେ ରାଜମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ହୁଏ।

Word by Word

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• केचित्: some, certain
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: क + चित्

• भूमिपतयः: kings, lords of the earth
• भूमिपतयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमिपति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अन्ववेक्षयेत्: should observe/inspect, should keep under watch
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + अव + ईक्ष्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सुहृद्भिः: by friends, by well-wishers
• सुहृद्भिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृद्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अनभिख्यातैः: by unknown/unfamed (persons)
• अनभिख्यातैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनभिख्यात
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• तेन: by that, thereby
• तेन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

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

• अतिरिच्यते: excels, surpasses, becomes pre-eminent
• Type: Verb
• Root: अति + रिच्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada (passive-like sense)

Speaker

वामदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāmadeva
• king (rājā)
• other kings/rulers (bhūmipatayaḥ)
• trusted friends/agents (suhṛd)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should maintain informed vigilance about other rulers through discreet, trustworthy, and publicly unknown agents; strategic awareness and secrecy, used responsibly, make a king excel in governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rāja-dharma, the sage Vāmadeva advises the king on practical statecraft: to assess the situation of all other kings by employing trusted but unrecognized friends who can observe and report without drawing attention.