Shloka 31

विहीनं कर्मणान्यायं यः प्रगृह्नाति भूमिप: । उपायस्याविशेषज्ञं तद्‌ वै क्षत्रं नपुंसकम्‌,जो राजा सत्कर्मसे रहित, न्यायशून्य तथा कार्यसाधनके उपायोंसे अनभिज्ञ पुरुषको सचिवके रूपमें अपनाता है, वह नपुंसक क्षत्रिय है

vihīnaṃ karmaṇā nyāyaṃ yaḥ pragṛhṇāti bhūmipaḥ | upāyasyāviśeṣajñaṃ tad vai kṣatraṃ napuṃsakam ||

సత్కర్మలేని, న్యాయబుద్ధిలేని, కార్యసాధనోపాయాలను గ్రహించలేని వ్యక్తిని మంత్రి గా స్వీకరించే రాజుని క్షాత్రశక్తి నిజంగా నపుంసకమైనదే (నిష్ఫలమైనదే)।

विहीनम्devoid (of)
विहीनम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootविहीन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
कर्मणाby action / by conduct
कर्मणा:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मन्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
अन्यायम्injustice
अन्यायम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअन्याय
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
यःwho
यः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
प्रगृह्णातिaccepts / takes up
प्रगृह्णाति:
TypeVerb
Rootग्रह्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
भूमिपःking
भूमिपः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootभूमिप
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
उपायस्यof means / of expedients
उपायस्य:
TypeNoun
Rootउपाय
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
अविशेषज्ञम्not knowing distinctions (i.e., undiscerning)
अविशेषज्ञम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअविशेषज्ञ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
तत्that
तत्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
वैindeed
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
क्षत्रम्kingship / kshatra (royal power)
क्षत्रम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootक्षत्र
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
नपुंसकम्impotent / unmanly
नपुंसकम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootनपुंसक
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
K
king (bhūmipaḥ)
M
minister/counselor (implied by pragṛhṇāti)

Educational Q&A

Royal power becomes ineffective when a king relies on advisors who lack righteous conduct, justice, and strategic discernment; ethical competence in counsel is essential to legitimate and effective rule.

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma warns about the consequences of poor ministerial selection, stating that a king who adopts an unjust and incompetent counselor renders his own sovereignty powerless.