Shloka 20

Āśrama-dharma: Duties of the Four Life-Stages (आश्रमधर्मः)

Devanagari script

परिनिछितकार्यस्तु नृपति: परिपालनात्‌ | कुर्यादन्यन्न वा कुयदिन्द्रो राजन्य उच्यते

Transliteration

pariniścita-kāryas tu nṛpatiḥ paripālanāt | kuryād anyan na vā kuryād indro rājanya ucyate ||

Translation

Bhishma nói: Nhà vua, khi đã quyết định vững chắc điều cần làm, phải hành động vì sự bảo hộ và trị quốc đúng phép. Dù có thi hành thêm biện pháp hay không, người ấy vẫn được gọi là “Indra giữa các bậc vương giả” khi việc trị vì đặt nền trên bổn phận kiên định và sự che chở thần dân.

Word by Word

• परिनिश्चितकार्यः: one whose duties are well-determined
• परिनिश्चितकार्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिनिश्चितकार्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• नृपतिः: the king
• नृपतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• परिपालनात्: from (his) protection/governance
• परिपालनात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिपालन
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• कुर्यात्: should do
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अन्यत्: something else
• अन्यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• कुयात्: should do
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• इन्द्रः: Indra (lord)
• इन्द्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उच्यते: is called
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada (Passive)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Indra
• nṛpati (the king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler becomes truly exemplary (‘Indra among kings’) by decisively discerning his duty and prioritizing the protection and orderly maintenance of the realm; excellence in kingship is measured by steadfast governance, not by mere activity for its own sake.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising the king on standards of ideal rule, emphasizing resolute decision-making and the central obligation of safeguarding subjects as the hallmark of royal greatness.