Shloka 30

कपोत-लुब्धकसंवादः — Hunter’s Remorse and Renunciatory Resolve

Devanagari script

कुलीनान्‌ सचिवान्‌ कृत्वा वेदविद्यासमन्वितान्‌ | प्रशाधि पृथिवीं राजन्‌ प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन्‌

Transliteration

kulīnān sacivān kṛtvā vedavidyāsamanvitān | praśādhi pṛthivīṃ rājan prajā dharmeṇa pālayan ||

Translation

毗湿摩曰：“大王，当以出身高贵且通晓吠陀之士为辅臣。然后依于法（dharma）护持臣民，治理此大地。”

Word by Word

• कुलीनान्: well-born, of noble family
• कुलीनान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुलीन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सचिवान्: ministers, counselors
• सचिवान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सचिव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• कृत्वा: having made
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here), Non-finite

• वेदविद्यासमन्वितान्: endowed with Vedic learning
• वेदविद्यासमन्वितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेदविद्यासमन्वित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• प्रशाधि: rule, govern
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-शास्
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पृथिवीम्: the earth
• पृथिवीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

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

• प्रजा: subjects, people
• प्रजा: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• धर्मेण: by/with righteousness, according to dharma
• धर्मेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• पालयन्: protecting, governing (while protecting)
• पालयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: पालयत् (पालयन्)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• King (Yudhishthira implied)
• Earth/kingdom (pṛthivī)
• Subjects (prajā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king’s rule should be grounded in dharma and supported by competent advisers: ministers should be both socially reputable (kulīna) and intellectually/ethically trained (endowed with Vedic learning), so that governance becomes protection of the people rather than mere control.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma addresses the king (contextually Yudhishthira) and gives practical counsel on statecraft: appoint qualified ministers and govern the realm by upholding dharma while safeguarding the subjects.