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Shloka 10

राजधर्मस्य नवनीतम्—रक्षा, दण्ड, चार, उत्थान

Rājadharma’s ‘Essence’: Protection, Punishment, Intelligence, and Royal Diligence

पुरगुप्तिरविश्वास: पौरसंघातभेदनम्‌ | अरिमध्यस्थमित्राणां यथावच्चान्ववेक्षणम्‌

puraguptir aviśvāsaḥ paurasaṅghātabhedanam | arimadhyasthamitrāṇāṃ yathāvac cānuvīkṣaṇam, yudhiṣṭhira |

بھیشم نے کہا—اے یُدھشٹھِر، مملکت کی حفاظت کے ذرائع میں یہ بھی ہیں: شہر کی مضبوط نگہبانی، دوسروں پر اندھا اعتماد نہ کرنا، شہریوں میں بننے والے دھڑوں اور اتحادوں کو توڑ دینا، اور دشمن، غیر جانب دار اور دوست—سب پر مناسب اور باخبر نظر رکھنا۔ ایسی چوکسی اور بصیرت پر مبنی حکمرانی سلطنت کو اندرونی ٹوٹ پھوٹ سے بچاتی ہے اور بیرونی خطرے کو بھی روکتی ہے۔

पुरगुप्तिःprotection of the city
पुरगुप्तिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपुर-गुप्ति
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
अविश्वासःdistrust (non-reliance)
अविश्वासः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअ-विश्वास
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पौरसङ्घातभेदनम्breaking up the coalition/faction of townsmen
पौरसङ्घातभेदनम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपौर-सङ्घात-भेदन
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
अरिof enemies
अरि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootअरि
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
मध्यस्थof neutrals/mediators
मध्यस्थ:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमध्यस्थ
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
मित्राणाम्of friends/allies
मित्राणाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमित्र
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
यथावत्properly, as is fitting
यथावत्:
Karana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथावत्
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अन्ववेक्षणम्careful observation/supervision
अन्ववेक्षणम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअनु-√ईक्ष् (ईक्ष्) + अन्ववेक्षण
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
युधिष्ठिरO Yudhiṣṭhira
युधिष्ठिर:
TypeNoun
Rootयुधिष्ठिर
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
Y
Yudhishthira
P
pura (the city/fortified capital)
P
paura (townspeople/citizens)

Educational Q&A

A ruler protects the state through constant vigilance: fortify and guard the city, avoid complacent trust, prevent citizen factions from forming dangerous blocs, and continuously assess enemies, neutrals, and allies with clear-eyed scrutiny.

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship (rājadharma), Bhishma counsels Yudhishthira on practical measures of rule—especially urban security and political intelligence—emphasizing prevention of internal conspiracies and careful monitoring of external relations.