Shloka 49
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
Devanagari script
संदर्शनेन पुरुषं जघन्यमपि चोदयेत् । आरम्भान् द्विषतां प्राज्ञ: सर्वार्थाश्न प्रसूदयेत्
Transliteration
sandārśanena puruṣaṃ jaghanyam api codayet | ārambhān dviṣatāṃ prājñaḥ sarvārthāś ca prasūdayet ||
Translation
毗湿摩说：即便只是看见卑鄙下作之人，明智的君王也应立刻警觉。谨慎的统治者当挫败仇敌的一切举动，使其事业与图谋归于毁灭——在祸患初起之时，便将此等威胁逐出国境。
Word by Word
संदर्शनेनby (mere) seeing/appearance
संदर्शनेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootसंदर्शन
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
पुरुषंa man/person
पुरुषं:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपुरुष
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
जघन्यम्base, vile, low
जघन्यम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootजघन्य
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अपिeven, also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
चोदयेत्should urge/impel, should drive away
चोदयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootचुद्
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
आरम्भान्undertakings, initiatives
आरम्भान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootआरम्भ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
द्विषताम्of enemies (haters)
द्विषताम्:
TypeNoun
Rootद्विषत्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
प्राज्ञःthe wise man
प्राज्ञः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootप्राज्ञ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सर्वार्थाश्नone who consumes/appropriates all gains (all-advantaging)
सर्वार्थाश्न:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्वार्थाशिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
प्रसूदयेत्should cause to perish/destroy, should bring to ruin
प्रसूदयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootप्रसूदय्
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
Bhishma (speaker)A
a wise king (rājā, implied)E
enemies (dviṣat)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
A ruler must be vigilant and proactive: even small signs of ignoble or dangerous elements should prompt timely action, and enemy plans should be neutralized before they mature.
In Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises the king on governance and security, emphasizing early detection of threats and decisive prevention of hostile enterprises.