Shloka 11

Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)

Devanagari script

नगर, जनपद तथा मल्ललोग जहाँ व्यायाम करते हों, उन स्थानोंमें ऐसी युक्तिसे गुप्तचर नियुक्त करने चाहिये, जिससे वे आपसमें भी एक-दूसरेको पहचान न सकें ।।

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | cārāṃś ca vidyāt prahitān pareṇa bharatarṣabha | āpaṇeṣu vihāreṣu samājeṣu ca bhikṣuṣu ||

Translation

Wika ni Bhishma: “O toro sa mga Bharata, dapat ding magtalaga ang hari ng mga espiya sa lungsod, sa kanayunan, at sa mga pook na pinaglilinangan ng lakas ng mga Mallā, sa paraang hindi nila makikilala ang isa’t isa. At dapat ding matukoy ng hari, sa pamamagitan ng sarili niyang mga ahente, ang mga espiya na ipinadala ng kaaway: bantayan sila sa mga pamilihan, sa mga pook ng paglilibang at paggalaw ng mga tao, sa mga pagtitipon at pagdiriwang, at maging sa hanay ng mga pulutong ng mga pulubi. Sa gayong maingat at lihim na gawaing-paniktik, napangangalagaan niya ang kaharian nang hindi ginugulo ang buhay ng bayan.”

Word by Word

• चारान्: spies
• चारान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विद्यात्: should know/ascertain
• विद्यात्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• प्रहितान्: sent, dispatched
• प्रहितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-हि (धातु) / प्रहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural, Past passive participle (क्त)

• परेण: by the enemy/other (person)
• परेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• भरतर्षभ: O bull among the Bharatas
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत + ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• आपणेषु: in markets/shops
• आपणेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• विहारेषु: in promenades/places of recreation
• विहारेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• समाजेषु: in assemblies/gatherings
• समाजेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समाज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

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

• भिक्षुषु: among mendicants/beggars
• भिक्षुषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• भरतश्रेष्ठ: O best of the Bharatas
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Bharatarshabha (addressed king, i.e., Yudhishthira)
• spies (cāra)
• enemy (para)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler must maintain discreet intelligence networks to detect enemy agents in ordinary public spaces (markets, promenades, assemblies, even among mendicants), thereby protecting the kingdom while minimizing disruption to civic life.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship (rājadharma), Bhishma advises the king (addressed as Bharatarṣabha) on practical governance: how to monitor society for hostile espionage and ensure internal security through counter-intelligence.