Shloka 12

Bhṛtya-niyoga: Role-appropriate appointment of servants and protection of the royal treasury (भृत्यनियोगः कोशरक्षणं च)

Devanagari script

हस्तिशिक्षासु तत्त्वज्ञमहंकारविवर्जितम्‌ । प्रगल्भं दक्षिणं दानन्‍्तं बलिन॑ युक्तकारिणम्‌

Transliteration

hastiśikṣāsu tattvajñam ahaṅkāravivarjitam | pragalbhaṃ dakṣiṇaṃ dāntaṃ balinaṃ yuktakāriṇam ||

Translation

భీష్ముడు పలికెను—రాజు హస్తిశిక్షా తత్త్వాన్ని యథార్థంగా తెలిసినవాడై, అహంకారరహితుడై, ధైర్యసంపన్నుడై సామర్థ్యవంతుడై, దక్షుడై మర్యాదగలవాడై, సంయమంతో, బలంతో, యుక్తియుక్తంగా కార్యం చేయువాడైనవానిని మంత్రిగా నియమించవలెను।

Word by Word

• हस्तिशिक्षासु: in (matters of) elephant-training
• हस्तिशिक्षासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्तिशिक्षा
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• तत्त्वज्ञम्: knowing the true principles
• तत्त्वज्ञम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्त्वज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अहंकारविवर्जितम्: free from ego
• अहंकारविवर्जितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अहंकारविवर्जित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रगल्भम्: bold, confident
• प्रगल्भम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रगल्भ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दक्षिणम्: skilful, capable
• दक्षिणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दानान्तम्: liberal in giving (given to charity)
• दानान्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दानान्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• बलिनम्: strong
• बलिनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• युक्तकारिणम्: one who acts appropriately
• युक्तकारिणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्तकारिन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• rājā (the king)
• mantrin (minister/counsellor)
• hasti (elephant)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king should choose ministers who combine practical expertise (even in specialized royal arts like elephant-training) with inner virtues—humility, self-control, strength, tact, and sound judgment—so that power is guided by disciplined character.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira on governance. Here he lists key traits of an ideal minister, emphasizing competence joined to humility and restraint.