Shloka 12

Devanagari script

न होको भृत्यरहितो राजा भवति रक्षिता | राज्यं चेदं॑ जन: सर्वस्तत्कुलीनो$भिकांक्षति,सेवकोंके बिना अकेला राजा राज्यकी रक्षा नहीं कर सकता; क्योंकि उत्तम कुलमें उत्पन्न सभी लोग इस राज्यकी अभिलाषा करते हैं

Transliteration

na eko bhṛtyarahito rājā bhavati rakṣitā | rājyaṃ cedaṃ janaḥ sarvas tat-kulīno ’bhikāṅkṣati ||

Translation

Wika ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “Ang hari, kapag iniwang walang mga tagapaglingkod at tapat na mga tauhan, ay hindi makapagtatanggol nang mag-isa. Sapagkat ang buong bayan—lalo na yaong mula sa mararangal na angkan—ay nag-aasam sa kahariang ito.”

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• ह: indeed/for emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह

• उकः: a solitary one (lit. 'one who has a house/nest')
• उकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भृत्य-रहितः: devoid of servants/attendants
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भृत्य-रहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भवति: becomes/is
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• रक्षिता: protector/guardian
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, तृच् (agent noun)

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• इदम्: this
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• जनः: people (collective)
• जनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वः: all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तत्-कुलीनः: born in that (good/noble) family
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्-कुलीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभिकाङ्क्षति: desires/longs for
• Type: Verb
• Root: काङ्क्ष् (धातु)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada, अभि

Speaker

युधिषछ्िर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• rājā (the king)
• rājya (the kingdom)
• jana (the people/subjects)
• bhṛtya/sevaka (servants/retainers)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Effective protection and governance are not a solitary act: a king requires a dependable body of servants/retainers and institutional support. Power attracts claimants; therefore, safeguarding the realm demands organized loyalty and administration, not mere personal valor.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s discussion of rājadharma, Yudhiṣṭhira reflects on practical governance. He notes that without attendants and loyal functionaries a ruler cannot secure the kingdom, since many people—especially influential, well-born groups—desire control over the state.