Shanti Parva Adhyaya 121 Shloka 31 - Mahabharata | Thai | Vedapath

Vyasa

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Shloka 31

Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa

The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa

Devanagari script

व्यक्तश्चानुग्रहो यस्य यथार्थश्चापि निग्रह: । गुप्तात्मा गुप्तराष्ट्रश्न स राजा राजधर्मवित्‌

Transliteration

vyaktaś cānugraho yasya yathārthaś cāpi nigrahaḥ | guptātmā guptarāṣṭraś ca sa rājā rājadharmavit ||

Translation

พระราชาผู้ซึ่งพระกรุณาปรากฏชัดแก่คนทั้งปวง และการลงทัณฑ์ก็ทรงกระทำด้วยเหตุอันจริงและสมควรเท่านั้น ผู้ทรงปกป้องทั้งพระองค์และแว่นแคว้นให้มั่นคง—พระราชาเช่นนั้นแลเป็นผู้รู้ราชธรรม

Word by Word

व्यक्तःmanifest, evident

चand

अनुग्रहःfavor, grace

यस्यof whom, whose

यथार्थःproper, justified, true-to-purpose

चand

अपिalso, even

निग्रहःrestraint, punishment

गुप्तात्माone whose self is guarded; self-controlled

गुप्तराष्ट्रःone whose kingdom is protected

सःhe, that (person)

राजाking

राजधर्मवित्knower of the duties of kingship

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

the king (rājā)

the kingdom/realm (rāṣṭra)

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?

A righteous king balances two public functions: visible benevolence (anugraha) that reassures and supports the people, and justified punishment (nigraha) that is applied only for real and fitting causes. Alongside this, he maintains prudent self-control and protects the realm; these together define true knowledge of rājadharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira on the marks of a competent and dharmic ruler. This verse summarizes the ideal: transparent kindness, principled discipline, and vigilant protection of both the ruler’s person/counsel and the kingdom.