Shloka 17

Adharmic Victory as Unstable; Rules of Restraint, Mediation, and Conciliation (अधर्मविजय-अध्रुवत्व तथा क्षमा-नयः)

Devanagari script

यस्य स्फीतो जनपद: सम्पन्न: प्रियराजक: । संतुष्टभृत्यसचिवो दृढमूल: स पार्थिव:

Transliteration

yasya sphīto janapadaḥ sampannaḥ priyarājakaḥ | santuṣṭabhṛtyasacivo dṛḍhamūlaḥ sa pārthivaḥ ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଯାହାର ଜନପଦ ସମୃଦ୍ଧ, ଧନ-ଧାନ୍ୟରେ ସମ୍ପନ୍ନ, ପ୍ରଜା ନିଜ ପ୍ରିୟ ରାଜା ପ୍ରତି ଅନୁରକ୍ତ, ଏବଂ ଯାହାର ଭୃତ୍ୟ ଓ ସଚିବମାନେ ସନ୍ତୁଷ୍ଟ—ସେଇ ପାର୍ଥିବ ଦୃଢମୂଳ (ସ୍ଥିର ରାଜ୍ୟବାନ) ବୋଲି ଗଣ୍ୟ।

Word by Word

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• स्फीतः: prosperous, flourishing
• स्फीतः: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्फीत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जनपदः: realm, country
• जनपदः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनपद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सम्पन्नः: endowed, well-provided
• सम्पन्नः: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्पन्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle), सम् + पद्

• प्रियराजकः: having a king dear (to the people) / with a beloved king
• प्रियराजकः: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रियराजक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सन्तुष्टभृत्यसचिवः: whose servants and ministers are satisfied
• सन्तुष्टभृत्यसचिवः: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सन्तुष्टभृत्यसचिव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दृढमूलः: firm-rooted, having a strong foundation
• दृढमूलः: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढमूल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सः: he, that (king)
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पार्थिवः: king, ruler
• पार्थिवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• pārthiva (the king)
• janapada (the realm/people)
• bhṛtya (servants/retainers)
• saciva (ministers/counselors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king’s stability rests on two pillars: the prosperity of the realm and the contentment of those who serve in governance. When subjects thrive and officials are satisfied, the rule is 'firm-rooted'—secure and aligned with rajadharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira on rajadharma. Here he describes the marks of a well-established ruler: a flourishing country, loyal subjects, and satisfied ministers and retainers.