Shloka 45

Mantri-Parīkṣā — Testing Ministers, Securing Counsel, and Ethical Criteria for Advisers (अध्याय ८४)

Devanagari script

सर्वलोकमिमं शक्तः सान्त्वेन कुरुते वशे | तस्मै मन्त्र: प्रयोक्तव्यो दण्डमाधित्सता नृप

Transliteration

sarvalokam imaṁ śaktaḥ sāntvena kurute vaśe | tasmai mantraḥ prayoktavyo daṇḍam ādhitsatā nṛpa ||

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: “Người có năng lực có thể khiến cả thế gian quy phục bằng sự hòa giải và lời lẽ nhu hòa. Vì vậy, hỡi nhà vua, kẻ định dùng hình phạt phải vận dụng mưu nghị đã cân nhắc kỹ—để sức mạnh được dẫn dắt bởi trí tuệ, chứ không bởi bốc đồng.”

Word by Word

सर्वलोकम्the entire world (all people)

इमम्this

शक्तःable, capable

सान्त्वेनby conciliation, by soothing words

कुरुतेmakes, brings about

वशेunder control, in subjection

तस्मैto him

मन्त्रःcounsel, policy, advice

प्रयोक्तव्यःshould be employed/used

दण्डम्punishment, force

आधित्सताby one wishing/intending to apply (it)

नृपO king

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

nṛpa (the king addressed)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma teaches that the first and most effective instrument of rule is sāntva (conciliation). Even when punishment (daṇḍa) is contemplated, it must be preceded and guided by mantra—deliberate counsel—so that coercion remains ethical, proportionate, and purposeful.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises the king on methods of governance. Here he emphasizes that gentle persuasion can subdue people more effectively than force, and that any move toward punishment should be undertaken only after careful strategic and moral deliberation.