Shloka 11

Vyavahāra-Śuddhi and Rājadharma: Clean Administration, Counsel, and Proportional Punishment

Chapter 86

Devanagari script

वर्जित चैव व्यसनै: सुघोरै: सप्तभिर्भुशम्‌ अष्टानां मन्त्रिणां मध्ये मन्त्र राजोपधारयेत्‌

Transliteration

varjitaś caiva vyasanaiḥ sughoraiḥ saptabhir bhuśam | aṣṭānāṃ mantriṇāṃ madhye mantraṃ rājopadhārayet ||

Translation

بھیشم نے کہا—بادشاہ کو نہایت ہولناک ساتوں بدعادتوں سے پوری طرح کنارہ کش رہنا چاہیے۔ پھر آٹھ وزیروں کے درمیان بیٹھ کر وہ رازدارانہ طور پر مشورہ و تدبیر کرے۔

Word by Word

• वर्जितः: avoiding, free from
• वर्जितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्जित (वृज्/वर्ज्-धातु, क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• व्यसनैः: by vices/addictions/misfortunes
• व्यसनैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यसन
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• सुघोरैः: very terrible
• सुघोरैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुघोर
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• सप्तभिः: by seven
• सप्तभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• भूशम्: the king (lord of the earth)
• भूशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अष्टानाम्: of eight
• अष्टानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• मन्त्रिणाम्: of ministers/counsellors
• मन्त्रिणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• मध्ये: in the midst of, among
• मध्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मध्य

• मन्त्र: counsel/secret counsel
• मन्त्र: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उपधारयेत्: should hold/keep in mind; should deliberate/maintain (counsel)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-धृ (धृ)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• King
• Eight ministers

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s counsel is trustworthy only when grounded in personal discipline: the king must be far from destructive vices and should conduct sensitive deliberations privately with a vetted council of ministers.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on royal duty, Bhishma advises the king on proper governance: avoid ruinous habits and consult discreetly within a small, reliable circle of eight ministers.