Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

एवं विचिनुयाद्‌ राजा परचारं विचक्षण: । चारे हि विदिते पूर्व हितं भवति पाण्डव

Transliteration

evaṁ vicinuyād rājā paracāraṁ vicakṣaṇaḥ | cāre hi vidite pūrvaṁ hitaṁ bhavati pāṇḍava pāṇḍunandana ||

Translation

یوں دانا بادشاہ کو دشمن کے جاسوسوں کی لگاتار چھان بین کرتے رہنا چاہیے؛ کیونکہ، اے پاندو کے فرزند، جب جاسوس پہلے ہی پہچان لیا جائے تو وہ بادشاہ کے لیے بڑی مصلحت اور حفاظت کا سبب بنتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• विचिनुयात्: should investigate/consider
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-चि
• Form: Vidhi-linga, optative (injunctive sense), 3, singular, Parasmaipada

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• परचारम्: enemy’s spy/espionage agent
• परचारम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: परचार
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• विचक्षणः: discerning, wise
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचक्षण
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• चारे: in/when the spy (matter)
• चारे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चार
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

• हि: indeed, for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• विदिते: when known/ascertained
• विदिते: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: विदित
• Form: past passive participle (kta), विद्, masculine, locative, singular

• पूर्वम्: beforehand
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व

• हितम्: benefit, welfare
• हितम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• भवति: becomes/is
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Lat, present, 3, singular, Parasmaipada

• पाण्डव: O Pāṇḍava
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

• पाण्डुनन्दन: O son of Pāṇḍu
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डुनन्दन
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Pāṇḍava (Yudhiṣṭhira implied)
• Pāṇḍu
• rājā (the king)
• paracāra/cāra (enemy spy)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler must be vigilant and discerning in matters of intelligence: proactively identifying enemy spies is a practical duty of kingship because early detection protects the realm and advances the king’s welfare.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira on governance. Here he emphasizes counter-intelligence—continual scrutiny to uncover hostile agents—framing it as prudent state protection.