Shloka 3

Gaṇānāṃ Vṛttiḥ — On the Sustenance and Cohesion of Assemblies

Gaṇa-nīti

Devanagari script

षाड्गुण्यगुणकल्पश्च सेनावृत्तिस्तथैव च । परिज्ञानं च दुष्टस्य लक्षणं च सतामपि

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | ṣāḍguṇyaguṇakalpaś ca senāvṛttis tathaiva ca | parijñānaṃ ca duṣṭasya lakṣaṇaṃ ca satām api ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira nói: “Ngài đã giảng về cách vận dụng đúng đắn sáu sách lược của thuật trị quốc, và cả phép tắc cùng việc điều hành quân đội; ngài cũng dạy cách nhận diện kẻ ác và phân biệt những dấu hiệu của bậc hiền thiện.”

Word by Word

• षाड्गुण्य: the sixfold policy (ṣāḍguṇya)
• षाड्गुण्य: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: षाड्गुण्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• गुणकल्पः: the arrangement/constitution of qualities
• गुणकल्पः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुणकल्प
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• सेनावृत्तिः: the conduct/operations of the army
• सेनावृत्तिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेनावृत्ति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

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

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

• परिज्ञानम्: full knowledge/recognition
• परिज्ञानम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिज्ञान
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

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

• दुष्टस्य: of the wicked (person)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• लक्षणम्: mark/characteristic
• लक्षणम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

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

• सताम्: of the good/virtuous (people)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• युधिष्ठिर (Yudhiṣṭhira)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights key components of righteous kingship: mastering the six strategic policies of governance, maintaining disciplined military conduct, and cultivating discernment—being able to identify wickedness and recognize the traits of virtuous people.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva dialogue on royal duty, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses the teacher/speaker and acknowledges that these crucial topics—state policy, army management, and moral discernment—have been explained.