Shloka 58

राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)

Devanagari script

अलंकारे च भोज्ये च तथा स्नानानुलेपने । हेलनानि नरव्याप्र स्वस्थास्तस्योपशृण्वत:

Transliteration

alaṃkāre ca bhojye ca tathā snānānulepane | helanāni naravyāghra svasthās tasyopaśṛṇvataḥ ||

Translation

Bhishma nói: “Hỡi bậc hổ giữa loài người, khi nhà vua đứng ngay bên cạnh và lắng nghe, những kẻ tự cho mình an ổn liền chế nhạo vua—lấy việc vua đeo trang sức, ăn uống, tắm gội, xức đàn hương và những điều tương tự làm trò cười. Thế nhưng nhà vua vẫn không hề sợ hãi, cứ đứng đó mà nghe hết thảy.”

Word by Word

• अलंकारे: in/with ornamentation; regarding ornaments
• अलंकारे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलंकार
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

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

• भोज्ये: in/with food; regarding what is to be eaten
• भोज्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोज्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

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

• तथा: likewise; also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• स्नान: in/at bathing
• स्नान: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• अनुलेपने: in/at anointing (with unguents/sandal paste)
• अनुलेपने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुलेपन
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• हेलनानि: mockings; acts of derision
• हेलनानि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेलन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• नरव्याघ्राः: tigers among men (i.e., eminent men)
• नरव्याघ्राः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर-व्याघ्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• स्वस्थाः: at ease; unperturbed; fearless
• स्वस्थाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वस्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तस्य: of him; his
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• उपशृण्वतः: while he is listening; of him who listens nearby
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-श्रु (धातु: श्रु)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular, Present active participle

• पुरुषसिंह: O lion among men
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष-सिंह
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• King (rājā)
• naravyāghra (addressed listener)
• ornaments (alaṃkāra)
• food (bhojya)
• bathing (snāna)
• anointing/sandal paste (anulepana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should cultivate fearlessness and forbearance: even when others deride his personal comforts and royal routines, he should remain steady, not reacting with anger or vindictiveness, and uphold dignified self-control.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes a scene where people who feel safe in the king’s presence openly mock his adornment, meals, bathing, and anointing. The king, however, stands nearby and listens without fear, indicating restraint and composure amid disrespect.