Shloka 186

Adhyāya 90 — Protection of Livelihoods, Brahmanical Subsistence Norms, and Royal Oversight (राष्ट्रवृत्ति-राष्ट्रगुप्ति-उपदेशः)

Devanagari script

सर्वान्‌ सुपरिणीतांस्तान्‌ कारयेथा युधिष्ठिर । युधिष्ठिर! जो धर्मज्ञ, धैर्यवान्‌ और संग्राममें कभी पीठ न दिखानेवाले शूरवीर हैं, जो राज्यमें रहकर जीविका चलाते हैं अथवा राजाके आश्रित रहकर जीते हैं तथा जो मन्त्रिगण और तटस्थवर्गके लोग हैं, वे सब तुम्हारी प्रशंसा करें या निन्दा, तुम्हें सबका सत्कार ही करना चाहिये

Transliteration

sarvān supariṇītāṁs tān kārayethā yudhiṣṭhira |

Translation

Бхишма сказал: «О Юдхиштхира, позаботься о том, чтобы все эти люди, хорошо обученные и благонравные, были должным образом употреблены на службе и обеспечены. Хвалят ли они тебя или порицают — знатоки дхармы, стойкие в мужестве и никогда не обращающие спины в битве; те, кто добывает пропитание, живя в царстве, или живёт под покровительством царя; а также министры и нейтральные — всех их следует почитать. Долг царя — поддерживать и уважать таких людей, не колеблясь от похвалы или брани».

Word by Word

• सर्वान्: all (of them)
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सुपरिणीतान्: well-guided / well-conducted
• सुपरिणीतान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुपरिणीत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• कारयेथाः: you should cause (to be done) / you should have (them) treated
• कारयेथाः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), Second, Singular, Causative (ṇic), Parasmaipada

• युधिष्ठिर: O Yudhiṣṭhira
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Yudhishthira
• ministers (mantri-gaṇa)
• neutral parties (taṭastha-varga)
• warriors who do not retreat in battle

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should honor and properly employ worthy people—dharma-knowers, steadfast warriors, dependents, ministers, and neutral parties—without being influenced by whether they praise or criticize him. Respect for merit and social support is a central duty of kingship (rājadharma).

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on statecraft and righteous rule after the war. Here he emphasizes impartial conduct: the king must maintain dignity and fairness by honoring key social and political groups regardless of their opinions about him.