Shloka 36

राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)

Devanagari script

तस्मान्नित्यं दया कार्या चातुर्वण्यें विपश्चिता | धर्मात्मा सत्यवाक्‌ चैव राजा रञ्जयति प्रजा:,अतः विद्वान राजाको चारों वर्णोॉपर सदा दया करनी चाहिये, धर्मात्मा और सत्यवादी नरेश ही प्रजाको प्रसन्न रख पाता है

Transliteration

tasmān nityaṃ dayā kāryā cāturvarṇye vipaścitā | dharmātmā satyavāk caiva rājā rañjayati prajāḥ ||

Translation

కాబట్టి జ్ఞానవంతుడైన రాజు నాలుగు వర్ణాల పట్ల ఎల్లప్పుడూ దయను ఆచరించాలి. ధర్మాత్ముడూ సత్యవాక్కుడూ అయిన నరేశుడే ప్రజలను రంజింపజేసి—అంటే సంతృప్తిగా, ప్రసన్నంగా—ఉంచగలడు.

Word by Word

तस्मात्therefore/from that (reason)

नित्यम्always

दयाcompassion

कार्याto be done/should be practiced

चातुर्वर्ण्येin the fourfold social order (the four varṇas)

विपश्चिताby the wise person

धर्मात्माa righteous-souled (king)

सत्यवाक्truth-speaking

चand

एवindeed/only

राजाthe king

रञ्जयतिpleases/delights

प्रजाःthe subjects/people

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

rājā (the king)

prajāḥ (the subjects/people)

cāturvarṇya (the four varṇas)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s legitimacy and public welfare rest on two pillars: compassion toward all sections of society (cāturvarṇya) and personal integrity—being dharmic in conduct and truthful in speech. Such a king alone can truly keep the people satisfied and harmonious.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on rājadharma (the duties of kings). Here he emphasizes that wise governance requires steady compassion across the whole social body, and that a king’s righteousness and truthfulness are what win the people’s contentment.