Shloka 34

Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)

Devanagari script

विधानाक्रम्य मित्राणि विधानमुपकल्पयेत्‌ । सामभेदान्‌ विरोधार्थ विधानमुपकल्पयेत्‌,उस समय प्राप्त कर्तव्यपर विचार करनेके लिये मित्रोंका आश्रय लेकर उनकी सलाहसे पहले तो अपनी रक्षाके लिये उचित व्यवस्था करे; फिर साम, भेद अथवा युद्धमेंसे क्या करना है; इसपर विचार करके उसके उपयुक्त कार्य करे

Transliteration

vidhānākramya mitrāṇi vidhānam upakalpayet | sāmabhedān virodhārtha vidhānam upakalpayet |

Translation

అప్పుడు కర్తవ్యాన్ని నిర్ణయించుటకు మిత్రుల ఆశ్రయముతో వారి సలహా తీసుకొని ముందుగా స్వరక్షణకు తగిన ఏర్పాట్లు చేయవలెను; తరువాత సామ, భేదము లేదా యుద్ధము—ఏది యుక్తమో దానిని అవలంబించవలెను.

Word by Word

विधानम्arrangement, plan, provision

आक्रम्यhaving approached/attacked; having resorted to

मित्राणिfriends, allies

विधानम्arrangement, plan, provision

उपकल्पयेत्should arrange/provide; should set up

सामconciliation

भेदान्divisions, dissensions; (policy of) sowing dissension

विरोधार्थम्for the sake of opposition/hostility

विधानम्arrangement, plan, provision

उपकल्पयेत्should arrange/provide; should set up

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

First secure one’s own safety and preparedness through orderly planning and trusted counsel; then choose the appropriate political-ethical means—conciliation, division, or conflict—according to what the situation truly requires.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva discourse on rajadharma, Bhishma instructs the listener on prudent governance: consult allies, establish protective arrangements, and only then decide among diplomatic or forceful measures based on circumstances.