Shloka 18

Bhṛtya-niyoga: Role-appropriate appointment of servants and protection of the royal treasury (भृत्यनियोगः कोशरक्षणं च)

Devanagari script

मेधावी धारणायुक्तो यथान्यायोपपादक: । दान्त: सदा प्रियाभाषी क्षमावांक्ष विपर्यये

Transliteration

medhāvī dhāraṇāyukto yathānyāyopapādakaḥ | dāntaḥ sadā priyābhāṣī kṣamāvāṁś ca viparyaye ||

Translation

Bhishma nói: “Người đáng kính phải có trí tuệ và tâm trí vững vàng; biết hành động và suy xét đúng theo lẽ phải; tự chế; lời nói luôn dịu dàng, êm ái; và dù gặp chống đối hay bị khiêu khích, vẫn giữ lòng khoan dung tha thứ.”

Word by Word

• मेधावी: intelligent, wise
• मेधावी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेधाविन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धारणायुक्तः: endowed with steadiness/retentive power
• धारणायुक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धारणायुक्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यथा: as, according to
• यथा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• न्यायोपपादकः: one who establishes/proves (things) by reasoning/justice
• न्यायोपपादकः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न्याय-उपपादक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दान्तः: self-controlled, restrained
• दान्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा

• प्रियाभाषी: one who speaks pleasantly
• प्रियाभाषी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय-भाषिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• क्षमावान्: forbearing, forgiving
• क्षमावान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षमावत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• विपर्यये: in adversity, in reverse circumstances
• विपर्यये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपर्यय
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma lists ethical qualities that sustain dharma: intelligence guided by steadiness, acting according to justice, restraint of the senses, gentle speech, and forgiveness even under provocation or adverse circumstances.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Bhishma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira by describing the virtues that should characterize a disciplined and dharmic person (especially fitting for rulers and leaders).