Shloka 16

राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)

Devanagari script

विपन्ने च समारम्भे संतापं मा सम वै कृथा: । घटस्वैव सदा55त्मानं राज्ञामेष परो नय:

Transliteration

vipanne ca samārambhe santāpaṁ mā sma vai kṛthāḥ | ghaṭasvaiva sadātmānaṁ rājñām eṣa paro nayaḥ ||

Translation

Wika ni Bhishma: “Kaya kung ang sinimulang gawain ay mabigo o masagkaan, huwag magpadala sa dalamhati. Ipagpatuloy mong lagi ang matatag na pagsisikap. Ito ang pinakamataas na simulain ng pamamahala para sa mga hari.”

Word by Word

• विपन्ने: when (it is) ruined/failed
• विपन्ने: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपन्न (वि+पद् धातु, क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

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

• समारम्भे: in an undertaking/enterprise
• समारम्भे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समारम्भ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• संतापम्: grief, distress
• संतापम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: संताप
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मा: do not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा

• सम: equally, at all
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• कृथाः: (you) should do/make
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: Imperative, 2, Singular, Parasmaipada

• घटस्व: strive, make effort
• Type: Verb
• Root: घट् (धातु)
• Form: Imperative, 2, Singular, Atmanepada

• एव: indeed, only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• सदा: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा

• आत्मानम्: yourself
• आत्मानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• राज्ञाम्: of kings
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• एषः: this
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• परः: highest, best
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नयः: policy, conduct
• Type: Noun
• Root: नय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should not sink into sorrow when a planned enterprise fails or is obstructed; the superior royal policy is steady, continuous effort and renewed striving rather than despair.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma counsels the king (Yudhishthira) on practical governance: setbacks are inevitable, but a king must maintain composure and persist in purposeful action.