Shloka 25

Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa

The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa

Devanagari script

धर्माणामविरोधेन सर्वेषां प्रियमाचरेत्‌ । ममायमिति राजा यः स पर्वत इवाचल:

Transliteration

dharmāṇām avirodhena sarveṣāṁ priyam ācaret | mamāyam iti rājā yaḥ sa parvata iva acalaḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：国王当行众人所喜之事，然不可与达摩相违。能以“此皆吾民、吾所亲”之心看待百姓的君王，便如山岳一般坚定不动。

Word by Word

• धर्माणाम्: of dharmas / of duties
• धर्माणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• अविरोधेन: without opposition / without conflict
• अविरोधेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविरोध
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• प्रियम्: what is pleasing / the agreeable (act)
• प्रियम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आचरेत्: should practice / should do
• आचरेत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मम: of me / my
• मम: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

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

• इति: thus (quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पर्वतः: a mountain
• पर्वतः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• अचलः: immovable / steadfast
• अचलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अचल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• king (rājā)
• mountain (parvata)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should win the goodwill of all through pleasing conduct, but never at the cost of dharma; ethical limits must govern popularity. Seeing the subjects as “my own” creates steadfast, responsible rule.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on the qualities of an ideal king: benevolence toward all, unwavering adherence to dharma, and a protective sense of ownership toward the people.