Shloka 4

Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)

Devanagari script

आत्मा जेय: सदा राज्ञा ततो जेयाश्ष शत्रव: । अजितात्मा नरपतिर्विजयेत कथं रिपून्‌

Transliteration

ātmā jeyaḥ sadā rājñā tato jeyāś ca śatravaḥ | ajitātmā narapatir vijayet kathaṃ ripūn |

Translation

Bhīṣma thưa: “Một vị vua trước hết và luôn luôn phải thắng chính mình; rồi sau đó mới nên gắng sức thắng kẻ thù bên ngoài. Bởi một bậc quân vương chưa chế ngự được tâm trí và dục vọng của mình thì làm sao có thể giành chiến thắng trước quân thù?”

Word by Word

• आत्मा: self (mind)
• आत्मा: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जेयः: to be conquered / should be conquered
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जि (धातु) → जेय (gerundive)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• राज्ञा: by the king
• राज्ञा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• ततः: then / thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• जेयाः: to be conquered / should be conquered
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जि (धातु) → जेय (gerundive)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• शत्रवः: enemies
• शत्रवः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अजितात्मा: one whose self is unconquered
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजित-आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नरपतिः: king (lord of men)
• नरपतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरपति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विजयेत: could/should conquer
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + जि
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• कथम्: how
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम्

• रिपून्: enemies
• रिपून्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• rājā (king)
• narapati (ruler)
• śatravaḥ/ripavaḥ (enemies)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that self-mastery is the foundation of kingship and success: a ruler must first conquer his own mind, desires, and anger; only then is victory over external enemies meaningful and achievable.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises the king on proper governance and conduct, emphasizing inner discipline as a prerequisite for effective rule and military or political victory.