Shloka 10

Daṇḍotpatti-kathana (Origin and Function of Daṇḍa) — वसुहोम–मान्धातृ संवाद

Devanagari script

अपि चैतत्‌ पुरा राजन्‌ मनुना प्रोक्तमादित:

Transliteration

api caitat purā rājan manunā proktam āditaḥ

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“再者，大王啊，这一原则自太古之初便由摩奴（Manu）所教示：君主若对可喜与不可喜之事心平等，不偏袒任何人，惩罚施用精确得当，并善护百姓——此等治国之举，本身无非就是法（dharma）。”

Word by Word

• अपि: also, moreover
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एतत्: this (teaching/statement)
• एतत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• पुरा: formerly, in olden times
• पुरा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• मनुना: by Manu
• मनुना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• प्रोक्तम्: said, declared
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular, Passive (participial)

• आदितः: from the beginning, at first
• आदितः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Manu
• King (addressed as rājan)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king’s true dharma is impartial governance: treating the pleasant and unpleasant alike, avoiding favoritism, applying punishment precisely and fairly, and thereby protecting the people.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma addresses the king and supports his counsel by citing ancient authority—Manu—stating that just, unbiased rule and proper use of daṇḍa constitute dharma.