Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

अज्जरकुशमुज्जानां पलाशशरवर्णिनाम्‌ | यवसेन्धनदिग्धानां कारयीत च संचयान्‌

Transliteration

ajjarakuśam ujjānāṁ palāśaśaravarṇinām | yavasendhanadigdhānāṁ kārayīta ca saṁcayān ||

Translation

بھیشم نے کہا—جب دشمن کی فوج کے دباؤ سے بادشاہ ستایا جائے تو وہ دانائی سے دولت اور ضروری سامان کے ذخیرے تیار کر کے رکھے۔ زخمیوں کے علاج کے لیے تیل، چربی، شہد، گھی اور ہر قسم کی دوائیں؛ نیز کارآمد چیزیں—ارک، کشا گھاس، مُنج، پلاश، تیر، لکھنے کا سامان، گھاس—اور ایندھن میں لتھڑے ہوئے، جلانے کے لیے تیار کیے گئے تیر بھی جمع کرائے۔

Word by Word

• अज्जरकुशमुञ्जानाम्: of ajjara, kuśa-grass, and muñja-grass
• अज्जरकुशमुञ्जानाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्जर + कुश + मुञ्ज
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• पलाशशरवर्णिनाम्: of those having the color of palāśa and arrows
• पलाशशरवर्णिनाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पलाश + शर + वर्णिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• यवसेन्धनदिग्धानाम्: of those smeared/treated with grass and fuel (i.e., fire-hardened/treated items)
• यवसेन्धनदिग्धानाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यवस + इन्धन + दिग्ध
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• कारयीत: should cause (to be made/done)
• कारयीत: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (णिच्)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada, true

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

• संचयान्: collections, stockpiles
• संचयान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: संचय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• king (rājā)
• enemy army (śatru-senā)
• arka
• kuśa
• muñja
• palāśa
• arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s dharma in wartime includes foresight and preparedness: maintaining reserves of wealth and essential materials, and ensuring medical supplies for the wounded, so the kingdom can withstand enemy pressure and protect its people.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rāja-dharma, Bhishma advises the king on practical measures during military threat—organizing stockpiles of provisions, materials, and treatment resources, including items useful for defense and battlefield needs.