Shloka 23

Bhīṣma on the Śara-Śayyā: Yudhiṣṭhira and Kṛṣṇa Approach the Eldest for Śānti

Devanagari script

सत्ये तपसि दाने च यज्ञाधिकरणे तथा । धनुर्वेदे च वेदे च नीत्यां चैवानुरक्षणे

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

satye tapasi dāne ca yajñādhikaraṇe tathā |

dhanurvede ca vede ca nītyāṃ caivānurakṣaṇe |

Translation

毗舍摩波耶那说：“在真实、苦行与布施之中；在祭祀的正当施行与统摄之中；在弓术之学与吠陀之学的精通之中；并在治国之道与护民之责之中——于这一切方面，我未曾听闻有另一位大车战士可与你比肩。”

Word by Word

• सत्ये: in truth
• सत्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• तपसि: in austerity
• तपसि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• दाने: in giving/charity
• दाने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

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

• यज्ञाधिकरणे: in the conduct/administration of sacrifice
• यज्ञाधिकरणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञाधिकरण
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• तथा: likewise/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• धनुर्वेदे: in the science of archery (Dhanurveda)
• धनुर्वेदे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुर्वेद
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

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

• वेदे: in the Veda/knowledge
• वेदे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

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

• नीत्याम्: in polity/ethics
• नीत्याम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीति
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

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

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• अनुरक्षणे: in protection/guardianship
• अनुरक्षणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुरक्षण
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Excellence is measured not only by martial skill but by a complete dharmic profile: truthfulness, disciplined austerity, generosity, correct ritual responsibility, scriptural learning, sound policy, and the protective care of subjects.

What is happening in the narrative?

Within the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, Vaiśampāyana reports praise that highlights a warrior-ruler’s comprehensive virtues—linking Vedic authority, military competence, and ethical kingship through the duty of protecting the people.