Shanti Parva Adhyaya 119 Shloka 20 - Mahabharata | Chinese | Vedapath

Vyasa

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Shloka 20

Bhṛtya-niyoga: Role-appropriate appointment of servants and protection of the royal treasury (भृत्यनियोगः कोशरक्षणं च)

Devanagari script

नाहंवादी न निर्द॑न्द्धो न यर्किंचनकारक: । कृते कर्मण्यमात्यानां कर्ता भृत्यजनप्रिय:

Transliteration

nāhaṃvādī na nirdvandvo na yatkiñcanakārakaḥ | kṛte karmaṇy amātyānāṃ kartā bhṛtyajanapriyaḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“不可好争，不可为诸对待之相所摇荡；不可随一时冲动而妄为。应当认可并扶持大臣们依正法妥善完成之事，并以慈爱善意对待仆从与依附之人。”

Word by Word

नnot

अहम्I

वादीa talker/arguer (one who speaks much)

नnot

निर्द्वन्द्वःfree from pairs of opposites (unaffected by dualities)

नnot

यत्किञ्चनकारकःone who does whatever comes to mind (a doer of anything whatsoever)

कृतेwhen done / in what has been done

कर्मणिin the act/work

अमात्यानाम्of the ministers

कर्ताapprover/authorizer; one who makes (it) his own responsibility

भृत्यजनप्रियःdear to servants/retainers; affectionate toward attendants

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

amātya (ministers/counsellors)

bhṛtyajana (servants/dependents)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhīṣma teaches disciplined kingship and ethical conduct: abandon egoistic self-assertion, remain steady amid opposites, avoid impulsive action, rely on and endorse properly executed ministerial work, and treat servants and dependents with affectionate care.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on the qualities of a good ruler/leader—emphasizing inner restraint, balanced judgment, sound delegation, and humane treatment of those who serve.