Shloka 24

आपद्धर्मे राज्ञः नीतिः — Bharadvāja’s Counsel on Crisis-Statecraft (Śānti Parva 138)

Devanagari script

परीक्ष्यकारी युक्तश्न स सम्यगुपपादयेत्‌ । देशकालावभिप्रेतो ताभ्यां फलमवाप्नुयात्‌

Transliteration

parīkṣyakārī yuktaśna sa samyag upapādayet | deśakālāv abhipreto tābhyāṃ phalam avāpnuyāt ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“凡事先加审察而后行动，行止有度，常怀警觉之人，当以正法成就其所为。念及所欲之地与所宜之时，善用二者；凭借其助力，便能获得所求之果。”

Word by Word

• परीक्ष्यकारी: one who acts after examining; prudent-doer
• परीक्ष्यकारी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परीक्ष्यकारिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• युक्तश्नः: moderate in eating; disciplined in food
• युक्तश्नः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्तश्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• सम्यक्: properly; correctly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक्

• उपपादयेत्: should accomplish/bring about; should make proper use
• Type: Verb
• Root: उपपादय् (उप + पद्, caus.)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• देशकालौ: place and time
• देशकालौ: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश + काल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual

• अभिप्रेतः: intending; having in view
• अभिप्रेतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिप्रेत (अभि + प्र + इ, past passive participle)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ताभ्याम्: by/with those two (place and time)
• ताभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Dual

• फलम्: result; fruit
• फलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अवाप्नुयात्: would obtain; should attain
• Type: Verb
• Root: अवाप् (अव + आप्)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• deśa (place)
• kāla (time)
• phala (result)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Act only after careful examination, maintain self-discipline and vigilance, and choose the proper place and time; skillful use of these conditions leads to the desired outcome.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and practical governance, Bhishma continues advising the listener on how wise action succeeds: through deliberation, restraint, and correct timing and setting.