Shloka 17

Śānti Parva 116: Criteria for Royal Servants and Administrative Competence (भृत्य-गुण-प्रश्नः / राजसेवक-लक्षणम्)

Devanagari script

अनागतविधातार: कालज्ञानविशारदा: । अतिक्रान्तमशोचन्त: स राज्यफलमश्षुते

Transliteration

anāgatavidhātāraḥ kālajñānaviśāradāḥ | atikrāntam aśocantaḥ sa rājyaphalam aśnute ||

Translation

ਜਿਸ ਦੇ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਆਉਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਲਈ ਬੰਦੋਬਸਤ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ, ਕਾਲ-ਗਿਆਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਨਿਪੁਣ ਅਤੇ ਬੀਤੀ ਗੱਲ ਲਈ ਸ਼ੋਕ ਨਾ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਧੀਰਜਵਾਨ ਹੋਣ—ਉਹੀ ਰਾਜਾ ਰਾਜ-ਫਲ ਭੋਗਦਾ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• अनागतविधातारः: planners/arrangers of what is yet to come (future-providers)
• अनागतविधातारः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनागत-विधातृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कालज्ञानविशारदाः: skilled in knowledge of time/occasion
• कालज्ञानविशारदाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल-ज्ञान-विशारद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अतिक्रान्तम्: what has passed (the bygone)
• अतिक्रान्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिक्रान्त
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अशोचन्तः: did not grieve
• अशोचन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुच्
• Form: Imperfect, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

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

• राज्यफलम्: the fruit/result of kingship
• राज्यफलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य-फल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अश्नुते: enjoys/obtains
• अश्नुते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• the king (rājā)
• ministers/counsellors (implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king prospers when guided by ministers who are future-oriented, understand timing, and remain emotionally steady—especially by not wasting energy grieving over the past. Effective rule depends on foresight and composure.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira about the qualities of ideal ministers and how such counsel enables a king to obtain the true benefits of sovereignty.