Shloka 18

Kṣātra-dharma as the Public Foundation of Dharma (क्षात्रधर्म-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

आनयित्वा यथापाठं विप्रेभ्यो दत्तदक्षिण: । संग्रामे विजयं प्राप्य तथाल्पं यदि वा बहु

Transliteration

ānayitvā yathāpāṭhaṃ viprebhyo dattadakṣiṇaḥ | saṃgrāme vijayaṃ prāpya tathālpaṃ yadi vā bahu ||

Translation

భీష్ముడు పలికెను—బ్రాహ్మణులచే యథాపాఠంగా వేదపఠనం చేయించి, విధివిధానంగా దక్షిణను ఇచ్చి, ఆపై యుద్ధంలో చిన్నదైనా పెద్దదైనా విజయం పొందిన తరువాత కూడా రాజు ధర్మమార్గంలోనే నడవవలెను. ఎందుకంటే విజయం స్వార్థభోగానికి కాదు; ప్రజా-ధర్మ రక్షణకే.

Word by Word

• आनयित्वा: having brought / after bringing
• आनयित्वा: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-नी (धातु: नी)
• Form: क्त्वा, कर्तरि, पूर्वकाले (absolutive)

• यथापाठम्: according to the prescribed recitation
• यथापाठम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + पाठ
• Form: true

• विप्रेभ्यः: to the brahmins
• विप्रेभ्यः: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Plural

• दत्तदक्षिणः: one who has given the sacrificial fee (dakṣiṇā)
• दत्तदक्षिणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दत्त + दक्षिणा
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (दत्त), qualifies an implied masculine subject (e.g., राजा/क्षत्रियः)

• संग्रामे: in battle
• संग्रामे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्राम
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• विजयम्: victory
• विजयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विजय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्राप्य: having obtained
• प्राप्य: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु: आप्)
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वान्त-प्रकार), कर्तरि, पूर्वकाले (having obtained)

• तथा: likewise / so
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा
• Form: true

• अल्पम्: small / slight
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular, adjectival accusative used adverbially with विजयम् (as 'small')

• यदि: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि
• Form: true

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा
• Form: true

• बहु: much / great
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular, adjectival accusative used adverbially with विजयम् (as 'great')

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Brahmins (vipra)
• battle/war (saṃgrāma)
• dakṣiṇā (ritual honorarium)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king’s power must be anchored in dharma: perform rites correctly, honor learned Brahmins with proper dakṣiṇā, and treat military victory—small or great—as a responsibility to uphold order and protect subjects, not as a license for arrogance.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājanīti and dharma, Bhishma continues advising the ruler: after ensuring correct Vedic procedure and rewarding priests, the king, having won in war, should proceed with disciplined, duty-centered governance.