Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

एतैरेव गुणैर्युक्तो राजा शास्त्रविशारद: । एष्टव्यो धर्मपरम: प्रजापालनतत्पर:

Transliteration

etair eva guṇair yukto rājā śāstraviśāradaḥ | eṣṭavyo dharmaparamaḥ prajā-pālana-tatparaḥ ||

Translation

రాజుకూ ఇవే గుణాలు ఉండాలి. అదనంగా అతడు శాస్త్రాలలో నిపుణుడు, ధర్మాన్ని పరమంగా భావించేవాడు, ప్రజాపాలనలో నిత్యం తత్పరుడై ఉండాలి; అటువంటి రాజే ప్రజలకు వాంఛనీయుడు.

Word by Word

• एतैः: with these
• एतैः: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

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

• गुणैः: qualities/virtues
• गुणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• युक्तः: endowed (with)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शास्त्रविशारदः: skilled in the scriptures
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शास्त्रविशारद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एष्टव्यः: to be desired/fit to be sought
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्टव्य (√इष्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मपरमः: having dharma as the highest (aim)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मपरम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रजापालनतत्परः: devoted to protecting the subjects
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रजापालनतत्पर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• rājā (the king)
• prajā (subjects/people)
• śāstra
• dharma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler becomes worthy of acceptance only when virtue is joined with learning: mastery of śāstra, supremacy of dharma in decision-making, and unwavering commitment to protecting and sustaining the people.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance, Bhīṣma continues advising on rājadharma, describing the traits that make a king fit to be desired by his subjects—learned, righteous, and devoted to public welfare.