Shloka 22

Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa

The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa

Devanagari script

अनुयुञ्जीत कृत्यानि सर्वाण्येव महीपति: । आगमैरुपदिष्टानि स्वस्य चैव परस्यथ च,राजा अपने तथा दूसरेको भी शास्त्रमें बताये हुए समस्त कर्मोमें ही लगावे

Transliteration

anuyuñjīta kṛtyāni sarvāṇy eva mahīpatiḥ | āgamair upadiṣṭāni svasya caiva parasya ca ||

Translation

अनुयुञ्जीत कृत्यानि सर्वाण्येव महीपतिः । आगमैरुपदिष्टानि स्वस्य चैव परस्य च ॥

Word by Word

अनुयुञ्जीतshould engage / should employ

कृत्यानिduties / things to be done

सर्वाणिall

एवindeed / only

महीपतिःthe king (lord of the earth)

आगमैःby the scriptures / authoritative texts

उपदिष्टानिtaught / prescribed

स्वस्यof oneself / one’s own

चand

एवalso / indeed

परस्यof another / of others

अथand then / also

चand

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

mahīpati (king)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler must actively perform all prescribed duties, guided by authoritative teachings, covering both personal discipline and responsibilities toward others.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma continues advising the king on proper governance, emphasizing adherence to scripturally taught duties in all matters.