Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 7
Devanagari script
अधीत्य नीतिशास्त्राणि नीतियुक्तो न दृश्यते । अनभिशनज्ञश्न साचिव्यं गमित: केन हेतुना
Transliteration
adhītya nītiśāstrāṇi nītiyukto na dṛśyate | anabhiśanajñaḥ sacivyaṃ gamitaḥ kena hetunā ||
Translation
尤提士提罗说道：“即便研读了治国与伦理的论典，也未必见得此人真正为正行所导；反过来，有时不通政略之人却被擢升为大臣。这究竟因何而起？”
Word by Word
अधीत्यhaving studied
अधीत्य:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootअधि-इ (धातु) → अधीत (क्त्वान्त)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive), कर्तरि, —, —, —
नीतिशास्त्राणिtreatises on polity/ethics
नीतिशास्त्राणि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनीतिशास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसक, द्वितीया, बहुवचन
नीतियुक्तःendowed with policy/ethical conduct
नीतियुक्तः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootनीतियुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
दृश्यतेis seen / is found
दृश्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश् (धातु)
Formलट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथम, एकवचन, कर्मणि (passive sense)
अनभिज्ञःignorant / not knowledgeable
अनभिज्ञः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअनभिज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
चand / but
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
साचिव्यम्ministership / the office of a minister
साचिव्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसाचिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसक, द्वितीया, एकवचन
गमितःis made to attain / is led to
गमितः:
TypeVerb
Rootगम् (धातु) → गमित (क्त)
Formक्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन, कर्मणि (passive participle)
केनby what? / by whom?
केन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, तृतीया, एकवचन
हेतुनाby what cause/reason
हेतुना:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootहेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन
Speaker
युधिछिर उवाच
Characters & Entities
Y
YudhiṣṭhiraCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the gap between theoretical learning (studying nītiśāstra) and lived ethical competence, and questions why social-political appointments often do not align with merit or true discernment.
Yudhiṣṭhira raises a reflective inquiry about governance: why some who have studied policy are not actually righteous or capable in conduct, while others lacking such knowledge still obtain ministerial authority.