Shloka 60

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

Devanagari script

नटांश्व नर्तकांश्वैव मल्‍लान्‌ मायाविनस्तथा । शोभयेयु: पुरवरं मोदयेयुश्व॒ सर्वश:

Transliteration

naṭāṁś ca nartakāṁś caiva mallān māyāvinas tathā | śobhayeyuḥ puravaraṁ modayeyuś ca sarvaśaḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: Ngay cả trong thời bình thường, nhà vua cũng nên ban sự bảo trợ và chỗ nương náu cho các nghệ sĩ sân khấu, vũ công, đô vật và những người tinh thông ảo thuật. Họ làm tăng vẻ huy hoàng của kinh thành và, qua các cuộc trình diễn, đem niềm vui đến cho mọi người.

Word by Word

• नटान्: actors, performers
• नटान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नट
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• नर्तकान्: dancers
• नर्तकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर्तक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• एव: indeed, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• मल्लान्: wrestlers
• मल्लान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल्ल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• मायाविनः: illusionists, conjurers
• मायाविनः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मायाविन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• शोभयेयुः: would adorn, would beautify
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• पुरवरम्: the best city (capital)
• पुरवरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरवर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• मोदयेयुः: would gladden, would delight
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुद्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

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

• सर्वशः: in every way; entirely; all around
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशः

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• king (rājā)
• capital city (puravara)
• actors (naṭa)
• dancers (nartaka)
• wrestlers (malla)
• illusionists (māyāvin)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s dharma includes sustaining cultural and recreational life: by supporting performers and athletes, the king promotes public happiness and the dignity of the capital, which strengthens social harmony.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma advises the king on practical duties in peacetime—here, recommending patronage to entertainers and performers who beautify the city and delight the populace.