Shloka 18

मयूरवद्राजधर्मः (Mayūra-vat Rāja-dharma) — The Peacock-Model of Protective Kingship

Devanagari script

नित्ययुक्ताश्न ते भृत्या भवन्तु रणकोविदा: । वाजिनां च प्रयोगेषु वैशारद्यमिहेष्यते,तुम्हारे सभी सेवक सदा उद्योगशील तथा युद्धकी कलामें कुशल हों। घोड़ोंकी सवारी करने अथवा उन्हें हाँकनेमें भी उनको विशेष चतुर होना चाहिये

Transliteration

nityayuktāśn te bhṛtyā bhavantu raṇakovidāḥ | vājīnāṃ ca prayogeṣu vaiśāradyam iheṣyate ||

Translation

تمہارے تمام خادم ہمیشہ منضبط، اپنے فرائض میں لگے رہنے والے اور فنونِ جنگ میں ماہر ہوں۔ گھوڑوں کے استعمال، سواری اور ہانکنے میں بھی ان کے لیے خاص مہارت مطلوب ہے—یہی یہاں مقصود ہے۔

Word by Word

नित्ययुक्ताःalways engaged/ever diligent

अश्नुbe / become (let them be)

तेyour

भृत्याःservants/attendants

भवन्तुlet them be

रणकोविदाःskilled in battle

वाजिनाम्of horses

चand

प्रयोगेषुin the handling/operations (use, management)

वैशारद्यम्expertise, special skill

इहhere / in this matter

इष्यतेis desired/required

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

bhṛtyāḥ (attendants/servants)

vājinaḥ (horses)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should ensure continuous discipline and professional competence among attendants—especially in warfare and the practical management of horses—so that governance and defense rest on trained readiness rather than improvisation.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs the king on principles of governance and security. Here he emphasizes maintaining a well-trained retinue, including expertise in cavalry-related skills, as part of responsible rule.