Shloka 24

राष्ट्रगुप्ति-संग्रहः

Protection of the Realm and Principles of Revenue & Local Administration

Devanagari script

पौरजानपदान सर्वान्‌ संश्रितोपश्ितांस्तथा | यथाशक्त्यनुकम्पेत सर्वान्‌ स्‍्वल्पधनानपि

Transliteration

paurajānāpadān sarvān saṁśritopaśritāṁs tathā | yathāśakty anukampeta sarvān svalpadhanān api ||

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: Nhà vua phải, trong khả năng của mình, ban lòng thương xót cho mọi người dân thành thị và thôn quê—dù họ đến nương nhờ trực tiếp hay xin được che chở qua một người trung gian—kể cả những kẻ chỉ có của cải ít ỏi. Bổn phận của bậc trị vì là cưu mang người yếu thế và đáp lại lời cầu hộ vệ một cách công bằng, không thiên vị vì địa vị hay tài lực.

Word by Word

• पौर: townsmen/citizens
• पौर: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• जानपदान्: country-folk/villagers
• जानपदान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानपद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• संश्रित: having taken refuge; resorted to (him)
• संश्रित: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-श्रि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• उपस्थितान्: present; having come near/appeared
• उपस्थितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-स्था
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• यथा: as; according to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• शक्त्या: by (one's) power/ability
• शक्त्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• अनुकम्पेत: should show compassion to; should pity
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-कम्प्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• स्वल्पधनान्: having little wealth; poor
• स्वल्पधनान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वल्पधन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अपि: even; also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• king (rājā)
• townspeople (paurāḥ)
• villagers/countryfolk (jānapadāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s dharma is to protect and show compassion to all who seek refuge—city and village alike—without discriminating against the poor; mercy should be extended according to the king’s capacity.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on governance, emphasizing that the king must respond kindly to subjects who come for protection, whether directly or through intermediaries.