Shloka 27

Bhīmasena’s Counsel on Grief, Inner Conflict, and the Duty of Kingship (भीमसेन-उपदेशः)

Devanagari script

एतां बुद्धि विनिश्चित्य भूतानामागतिं गतिम्‌ । पितृपैतामहे वृत्ते शाधि राज्यं यथोचितम्‌

Transliteration

etāṃ buddhiṃ viniścitya bhūtānām āgatiṃ gatiṃ | pitṛpaitāmahe vṛtte śādhi rājyaṃ yathocitam ||

Translation

既已坚定此智——观诸众生之来去往复、前行之途——便当依父祖相传的祖法而立，按其所宜治理国度。

Word by Word

• एताम्: this (said) / this (idea)
• एताम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• बुद्धिम्: understanding, resolve
• बुद्धिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• विनिश्चित्य: having ascertained/decided
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नि-√चि
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite

• भूतानाम्: of beings/creatures
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• आगतिम्: coming, arrival
• आगतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आगति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• गतिम्: going, course, destiny
• गतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• पितृपैतामहे: in the ancestral (of father and grandfather)
• पितृपैतामहे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितृ-पैतामह
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• वृत्ते: conduct, practice, custom
• वृत्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्त
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• शाधि: rule, govern, instruct
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शास्
• Form: लोट् (imperative), Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• राज्यम्: kingdom, rule
• राज्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• यथा: as, in the manner that
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• उचितम्: proper, fitting
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उचित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• the king (Maharāja; implied addressee)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should govern with settled discernment, mindful of the transient movement and destiny of beings, and should anchor policy and personal conduct in the tested ethical tradition of the ancestors (pitṛ-paitāmaha-vṛtti), administering the kingdom in a fitting, dharmic way.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana, narrating the discourse of Śānti Parva, conveys counsel to a king: after internalizing a reflective insight about the life-cycle and fate of beings, the king is urged to take up rightful rule and administer the realm according to established ancestral standards of conduct.