Shloka 13

Vāmadeva’s Rājadharma: Norm-Setting, Counsel, and the Prevention of Rāṣṭra-Vināśa (वामदेव-प्रोक्तं राजधर्मम्)

Devanagari script

निवृत्तं प्रतिकूलेषु वर्तमानमनुप्रिये । भक्त भजेत नृपति: सदैव सुसमाहित:

Transliteration

nivṛttaṁ pratikūleṣu vartamānam anupriye | bhaktaṁ bhajeta nṛpatiḥ sadaiva susamāhitaḥ ||

Translation

Vāmadeva nói: Nhà vua, luôn tự chủ và cảnh giác, phải luôn nâng niu và ban ân cho người bề tôi tận tụy—kẻ tránh xa việc đối nghịch hay gây hại, và chuyên tâm vào những điều thường xuyên làm vua hài lòng và đem lợi ích cho vua.

Word by Word

• निवृत्तम्: withdrawn, refraining
• निवृत्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निवृत्त (नि+वृत्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रतिकूलेषु: in hostile (matters/acts)
• प्रतिकूलेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिकूल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• वर्तमानम्: engaged, abiding
• वर्तमानम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्तमान (वृत्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अनुप्रिये: in what is pleasing/favorable (to the king)
• अनुप्रिये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुप्रिय
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• भक्तम्: a devoted (servant)
• भक्तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भजेत: should favor/associate with
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

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

• सदैव: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा + एव

• सुसमाहितः: well-composed, attentive
• सुसमाहितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुसमाहित (सु+समाहित)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वामदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāmadeva
• nṛpati (the king)
• bhakta (devoted servant)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should deliberately support and promote servants who are loyal and disciplined—those who avoid hostile, harmful, or contrary actions and consistently work for what benefits and pleases the king in a dharmic sense. Vigilance and self-control in the king are essential to recognize and reward such integrity.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva’s rājadharma instruction, the sage Vāmadeva addresses principles of governance. Here he advises the king on how to treat subordinates: favor the devoted servant who keeps away from inimical conduct and remains steadily aligned with the ruler’s welfare.