Shloka 23

Bhīṣma on the Śara-Śayyā: Yudhiṣṭhira and Kṛṣṇa Approach the Eldest for Śānti

Devanagari script

सत्ये तपसि दाने च यज्ञाधिकरणे तथा । धनुर्वेदे च वेदे च नीत्यां चैवानुरक्षणे

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

satye tapasi dāne ca yajñādhikaraṇe tathā |

dhanurvede ca vede ca nītyāṃ caivānurakṣaṇe |

Translation

ਵੈਸ਼ੰਪਾਯਨ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਸੱਚਾਈ, ਤਪ, ਦਾਨ, ਯਜ੍ਞ ਦੇ ਯਥਾਵਿਧਿ ਅਨੁਸ਼ਠਾਨ ਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧ ਵਿੱਚ, ਵੇਦ ਅਤੇ ਧਨੁਰਵੇਦ ਦੀ ਨਿਪੁੰਨਤਾ ਵਿੱਚ, ਅਤੇ ਨੀਤੀ ਨਾਲ ਪ੍ਰਜਾ-ਰੱਖਿਆ ਵਿੱਚ—ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਸਭ ਵਿੱਚ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਸਮਾਨ ਹੋਰ ਕੋਈ ਮਹਾਰਥੀ ਮੈਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਸੁਣਿਆ।

Word by Word

• सत्ये: in truth
• सत्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• तपसि: in austerity
• तपसि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• दाने: in giving/charity
• दाने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

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

• यज्ञाधिकरणे: in the conduct/administration of sacrifice
• यज्ञाधिकरणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञाधिकरण
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• तथा: likewise/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• धनुर्वेदे: in the science of archery (Dhanurveda)
• धनुर्वेदे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुर्वेद
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

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

• वेदे: in the Veda/knowledge
• वेदे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

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

• नीत्याम्: in polity/ethics
• नीत्याम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीति
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

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

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

• अनुरक्षणे: in protection/guardianship
• अनुरक्षणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुरक्षण
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Excellence is measured not only by martial skill but by a complete dharmic profile: truthfulness, disciplined austerity, generosity, correct ritual responsibility, scriptural learning, sound policy, and the protective care of subjects.

What is happening in the narrative?

Within the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, Vaiśampāyana reports praise that highlights a warrior-ruler’s comprehensive virtues—linking Vedic authority, military competence, and ethical kingship through the duty of protecting the people.