Shloka 186

Adhyāya 90 — Protection of Livelihoods, Brahmanical Subsistence Norms, and Royal Oversight (राष्ट्रवृत्ति-राष्ट्रगुप्ति-उपदेशः)

Devanagari script

सर्वान्‌ सुपरिणीतांस्तान्‌ कारयेथा युधिष्ठिर । युधिष्ठिर! जो धर्मज्ञ

Transliteration

sarvān supariṇītāṁs tān kārayethā yudhiṣṭhira |

Translation

Wika ni Bhīṣma: “O Yudhiṣṭhira, tiyakin mong ang lahat ng taong mahusay ang pagsasanay at mabuti ang asal ay maitalaga at masuportahan nang nararapat. Purihin ka man nila o punahin—yaong mga bihasa sa dharma, matatag ang loob at hindi kailanman tumatalikod sa labanan; yaong mga kumikita ng ikabubuhay sa loob ng kaharian o nabubuhay sa ilalim ng pag-iingat ng hari; gayundin ang mga ministro at ang mga nananatiling walang kinikilingan—dapat mo silang parangalan lahat. Tungkulin ng hari na itaguyod at igalang ang gayong mga tao nang hindi natitinag ng papuri o paninisi.”

Word by Word

• सर्वान्: all (of them)
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सुपरिणीतान्: well-guided / well-conducted
• सुपरिणीतान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुपरिणीत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• कारयेथाः: you should cause (to be done) / you should have (them) treated
• कारयेथाः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), Second, Singular, Causative (ṇic), Parasmaipada

• युधिष्ठिर: O Yudhiṣṭhira
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Yudhishthira
• ministers (mantri-gaṇa)
• neutral parties (taṭastha-varga)
• warriors who do not retreat in battle

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should honor and properly employ worthy people—dharma-knowers, steadfast warriors, dependents, ministers, and neutral parties—without being influenced by whether they praise or criticize him. Respect for merit and social support is a central duty of kingship (rājadharma).

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on statecraft and righteous rule after the war. Here he emphasizes impartial conduct: the king must maintain dignity and fairness by honoring key social and political groups regardless of their opinions about him.