Shloka 2

Gaṇānāṃ Vṛttiḥ — On the Sustenance and Cohesion of Assemblies

Gaṇa-nīti

Devanagari script

राज्ञां वित्त च कोशं च कोशसंचयनं जय: । अमात्यगुणवृत्तिश्व प्रकृतीनां च वर्धनम्‌

Transliteration

rājñāṁ vittaṁ ca kośaṁ ca kośasañcayanaṁ jayaḥ | amātyaguṇavṛttiś ca prakṛtīnāṁ ca vardhanam ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira nói: “(Xin hãy dạy thêm cho ta) về của cải và quốc khố của bậc quân vương—cách gây dựng và tích lũy; về chiến thắng (trước kẻ thù); về phẩm chất và phép tắc của các đại thần; và về việc nuôi dưỡng, làm cho các yếu tố cấu thành vương quốc (dân chúng và các sức mạnh nâng đỡ quốc gia) được hưng thịnh.”

Word by Word

• राज्ञाम्: of kings
• राज्ञाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• वित्तम्: wealth
• वित्तम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

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

• कोशम्: treasury
• कोशम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोश
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• कोश-संचयनम्: accumulation of the treasury
• कोश-संचयनम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोशसंचयन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• जयः: victory
• जयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अमात्य-गुण-वृत्तिः: the minister’s qualities and conduct
• अमात्य-गुण-वृत्तिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमात्यगुणवृत्ति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

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

• प्रकृतीनाम्: of the constituents (of the state)
• प्रकृतीनाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

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

• वर्धनम्: increase, promotion
• वर्धनम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्धन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• kings (rājānaḥ)
• treasury (kośa)
• ministers (amātya)
• prakṛtis (constituents of the realm)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames key pillars of righteous kingship (rājadharma): sound finances and treasury management, strategic success (victory), competent and ethical ministers, and the systematic strengthening of the realm’s constituent supports (people and state factors).

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance, Yudhiṣṭhira continues his inquiry, asking for guidance on practical statecraft—revenue and treasury, winning conflicts, selecting and assessing ministers, and promoting the welfare and strength of the kingdom’s foundational elements.