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Shloka 8

दुर्ग-निवेश-राजधर्मः | Fortified Capital and the King’s Residential Polity

Rājadharma

ऊर्जस्विनरनागाश्वृं चत्वरापणशोभितम्‌ | प्रसिद्धव्यवहारं च प्रशान्‍्तमकुतोभयम्‌

ūrjasvinaranāgāśvaṁ catvarāpaṇaśobhitam | prasiddhavyavahāraṁ ca praśāntam akutobhayam ||

جو توانا مردوں، ہاتھیوں اور گھوڑوں سے بھرا ہو؛ چوراہوں اور بازاروں سے آراستہ ہو؛ جس کے عوامی معاملات معروف اور منظم ہوں؛ اور جو پُرسکون ہو—کسی سمت سے بھی بےخوف۔

ऊर्जस्वि-नर-नाग-अश्व-ऋंhaving vigorous men, elephants, and horses
ऊर्जस्वि-नर-नाग-अश्व-ऋं:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootऊर्जस्विन् + नर + नाग + अश्व
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
चत्वर-आपण-शोभितम्adorned with squares and markets
चत्वर-आपण-शोभितम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootचत्वर + आपण + शोभित (√शुभ्/शोभ्)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
प्रसिद्ध-व्यवहारम्having well-known (regular) dealings/commerce
प्रसिद्ध-व्यवहारम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रसिद्ध + व्यवहार
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
प्रशान्तम्peaceful, tranquil
प्रशान्तम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रशान्त (√शम्)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अकुतोभयम्free from fear from any quarter
अकुतोभयम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअकुतोभय
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
M
men (nara)
E
elephants (nāga)
H
horses (aśva)
C
crossroads/public squares (catvara)
M
marketplaces (āpaṇa)

Educational Q&A

A well-ruled realm is recognized by strength and readiness (men, elephants, horses), thriving civic life (crossroads and markets), transparent and reputable public dealings (vyavahāra), and above all public peace and security (akutobhayam).

In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs on dharma and statecraft; here he describes the marks of a prosperous, orderly, and fear-free city/kingdom as part of his guidance on ideal governance.