Shloka 20

शूरलक्षणवर्णनम् | Marks and Typologies of Martial Temperament

Devanagari script

ये सब-के-सब अन्त्यज (कोल-भील आदि) हैं, जो युद्धसे कभी पीछे नहीं हटते और शरीरका मोह छोड़कर लड़ते हैं। सेनामें ऐसे लोगोंको सदा पुरस्कार देना चाहिये और इन्हें सदा आगे-आगे रखना चाहिये। ये धैर्यपूर्वक शत्रुओंकी मार सहते और उन्हें भी मारते हैं ।।

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | ye sarve sarve antyajāḥ (kola-bhīlādayaḥ) santi, ye yuddhāt kadācit na nivartante śarīra-mohaṃ ca tyaktvā yudhyante | senāyāṃ tādṛśān janān sadā puraskartavyān, sadā ca teṣāṃ agre sthānaṃ dātavyam | te dhairyapūrvakaṃ śatrūṇāṃ prahārān sahante, tān api praharanti || adhārmikā bhinna-vṛttāḥ; sāntvenaiṣāṃ parābhavaḥ | evam eva prakupyanti rājño 'py ete habhīkṣṇaśaḥ; ye adharmī bhavanti dharma-maryādāṃ bhaṅktvā vartante | ataḥ etān madhura-vākyaiḥ sāntvayitvā eva vaśe kartavyān ||

Translation

Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Ang lahat ng lalaking ito—bagaman ibinibilang sa mga mababang lipi gaya ng Kola at Bhil—ay hindi kailanman tumatalikod sa labanan. Itinatakwil nila ang pagkakapit sa katawan at patuloy na nakikipagsagupa. Sa hukbo, ang gayong mga tao ay dapat laging gantimpalaan at ilagay sa unahan, sapagkat sa matatag na tapang ay tinitiis nila ang mga hampas ng kaaway at gumaganti rin. Ngunit yaong mga walang-dharma at saliwa ang asal ay pinakamainam supilin sa pamamagitan ng pakikipagkasundo: kapag nilalabag nila ang hanggahan ng dharma, madalas silang mag-alab ng galit maging laban sa sarili nilang hari. Kaya dapat silang mapasunod sa pamamagitan ng banayad at pampalubag-loob na pananalita.”

Word by Word

• अधार्मिकाः: unrighteous (people)
• अधार्मिकाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भिन्नवृत्ताः: of deviating conduct / of different ways
• भिन्नवृत्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिन्नवृत्त (प्रातिपदिक; भिन्न + वृत्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सान्त्वेन: by conciliation / by soothing words
• सान्त्वेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सान्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• एषाम्: of these
• एषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• पराभवः: defeat / subjugation
• पराभवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• एव: indeed / just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• प्रकुप्यन्ति: they become angry
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कुप् (धातु)
• Form: Present (Lat), Third, Plural, Atmanepada

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अपि: also / even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• एते: these (people)
• एते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अभीक्ष्णशः: repeatedly / again and again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभीक्ष्णशः

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Kolas
• Bhils
• King (rājā)
• Army (senā)
• Enemies (śatru)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma advises a king to recognize and reward fearless frontline fighters, while managing unruly and adharmic elements through conciliation—sweet, calming speech—since harshness may provoke repeated rebellion even against royal authority.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship and conduct, Bhishma describes certain battle-hardy groups who do not retreat and should be honored in the army, then adds a practical note on governance: those who break dharma’s limits and become repeatedly angry should be controlled primarily by appeasement and persuasion.