Shloka 31

Kośārtha-Rājadharma: Ethical Revenue Collection and Social Regulation (कोशार्थ-राजधर्मः)

Devanagari script

प्राज्ञ: शूरो धनस्थश्व स्वामी धार्मिक एव च | तपस्वी सत्यवादी च बुद्धिमांश्वापि रक्षति

Transliteration

prājñaḥ śūro dhanasthaś ca svāmī dhārmika eva ca | tapasvī satyavādī ca buddhimānś cāpi rakṣati ||

Translation

بھیشم کہتے ہیں—دانشمند، بہادر، مالدار، جائز آقا، اور حقیقی طور پر دیندار؛ نیز تپسوی، سچ بولنے والا اور صاحبِ عقل—یہ سب (دوسروں کی) حفاظت کرنے کے قابل ہیں۔

Word by Word

प्राज्ञःwise

शूरःvaliant

धनस्थःpossessed of wealth / well-provided

स्वामीmaster, lord

धार्मिकःrighteous

एवindeed, certainly

चand

तपस्वीascetic

सत्यवादीtruth-speaking

चand

बुद्धिमान्intelligent

अपिalso, even

रक्षतिprotects

Speaker

भीष्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

भ

भीष्म (Bhīṣma)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Protection of society (rakṣaṇa) is grounded in multiple virtues—wisdom, courage, resources, rightful authority, righteousness, austerity, truthfulness, and intelligence—rather than in mere power alone.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, Bhīṣma is advising Yudhiṣṭhira by listing the kinds of persons whose qualities make them fit to safeguard others and uphold order.