Shloka 50

Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)

Devanagari script

दूषणेन च नागानामातड्कजननेन च । आराधनेन भक्तस्य प्रत्ययोपार्जनेन च

Transliteration

dūṣaṇena ca nāgānām ātaṅkajananeṇa ca | ārādhanena bhaktasya pratyayopārjanena ca

Translation

ภีษมะกล่าวว่า “ด้วยการกล่าวร้ายพญานาค ด้วยการก่อให้เกิดความหวาดหวั่นและความทุกข์ร้อนแก่พวกเขา ด้วยการยกย่องผู้ภักดี และด้วยการได้มาซึ่ง (ความ) ไว้วางใจของเขา—ด้วยวิธีเช่นนี้ย่อมบังเกิดผลตามประสงค์”

Word by Word

dūṣaṇenaby/through blaming; by censure

caand

nāgānāmof the serpents (Nāgas)

ātaṅka-jananenaby causing fear/distress

caand

ārādhanenaby propitiation; by worship

bhaktasyaof the devotee; of the faithful one

pratyaya-upārjanenaby gaining confidence/trust; by acquiring conviction

caand

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Nāgas (serpents)

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?

Bhīṣma highlights practical means by which outcomes are shaped in human affairs: negative tactics like blame and intimidation can unsettle opponents, while positive tactics like honoring a loyal person and earning trust can secure cooperation. The ethical tension lies in choosing methods consistent with dharma, especially regarding manipulation versus rightful persuasion.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction-setting, Bhīṣma is enumerating methods or factors relevant to influencing others and achieving aims. The verse lists a sequence of approaches—censure and fear toward nāgas, and reverent service plus trust-building toward a devoted person—indicating different strategies applied to different targets.