Shloka 31

Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa

The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa

Devanagari script

व्यक्तश्चानुग्रहो यस्य यथार्थश्चापि निग्रह: । गुप्तात्मा गुप्तराष्ट्रश्न स राजा राजधर्मवित्‌

Transliteration

vyaktaś cānugraho yasya yathārthaś cāpi nigrahaḥ | guptātmā guptarāṣṭraś ca sa rājā rājadharmavit ||

Translation

Bhishma nói: Vị vua mà ân huệ được bày tỏ rõ ràng trước mọi người, và hình phạt chỉ được thi hành vì một nguyên do chân thật, thích đáng; người giữ gìn an toàn cho chính mình và cho quốc độ—ấy là bậc thật sự am tường đạo làm vua (rājadharma).

Word by Word

• व्यक्तः: manifest, evident
• व्यक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यक्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• अनुग्रहः: favor, grace
• अनुग्रहः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुग्रह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यस्य: of whom, whose
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• यथार्थः: proper, justified, true-to-purpose
• यथार्थः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यथार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

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

• निग्रहः: restraint, punishment
• निग्रहः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: निग्रह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गुप्तात्मा: one whose self is guarded; self-controlled
• गुप्तात्मा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुप्तात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गुप्तराष्ट्रः: one whose kingdom is protected
• गुप्तराष्ट्रः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुप्तराष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सः: he, that (person)
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजधर्मवित्: knower of the duties of kingship
• राजधर्मवित्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजधर्मविद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• the king (rājā)
• the kingdom/realm (rāṣṭra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A righteous king balances two public functions: visible benevolence (anugraha) that reassures and supports the people, and justified punishment (nigraha) that is applied only for real and fitting causes. Alongside this, he maintains prudent self-control and protects the realm; these together define true knowledge of rājadharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira on the marks of a competent and dharmic ruler. This verse summarizes the ideal: transparent kindness, principled discipline, and vigilant protection of both the ruler’s person/counsel and the kingdom.