Shloka 17

जनकस्य युद्धोपदेशः — Janaka’s Instruction on Steadfast Battle-Conduct

Devanagari script

शूरबाहुषु लोको<यं लम्बते पुत्रवत्‌ सदा | तस्मात्‌ सर्वास्ववस्थासु शूर: सम्मानमर्हति

Transliteration

śūrabāhuṣu loko ’yaṃ lambate putravat sadā | tasmāt sarvāsv avasthāsu śūraḥ sammānam arhati ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“正如孩童恒常倚靠其父，这整个世界也时时倚赖勇者之臂。因此，无论何种境况，英雄之士皆当受敬。”

Word by Word

• शूरबाहुषु: on/among the arms of heroes
• शूरबाहुषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूरबाहु
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• लोकः: the world
• लोकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• लम्बते: hangs/depends (on)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लम्ब्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• पुत्रवत्: like a son
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुत्रवत्

• सदा: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that reason
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (तद्)

• सर्वासु: in all
• सर्वासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• अवस्थासु: conditions/states
• अवस्थासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवस्था
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• शूरः: a hero/valiant man
• शूरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सम्मानम्: honour/respect
• सम्मानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्मान
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अर्हति: deserves/is worthy of
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• loka (the world/society)
• śūra (the brave/hero)
• putra (child/son)
• pitṛ (father, implied by the simile)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Society is sustained by those who possess courage and protective strength; therefore, bravery used for protection and stability merits respect in all circumstances.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, Bhīṣma is advising that the brave—especially those who uphold protection and order—function as society’s support, and thus deserve honor.