Shloka 12

राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)

Devanagari script

आदावेव कुरुश्रेष्ठ राज्ञा रञज्जनकाम्यया । देवतानां द्विजानां च वर्तितव्यं यथाविधि

Transliteration

ādāveva kuruśreṣṭha rājñā rañjanakāmyayā | devatānāṃ dvijānāṃ ca vartitavyaṃ yathāvidhi ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“噢，俱卢族中最卓越者，自一开始，国王若欲取悦百姓、赢得民心，便当依经典所定之法，恭敬奉事诸天与二次生者（dvija）：如法祭祀诸神，并以应有的尊崇与供养礼敬婆罗门。”

Word by Word

• आदौ: at the beginning
• आदौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि

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

• कुरुश्रेष्ठ: O best of the Kurus
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुश्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• राज्ञा: by the king
• राज्ञा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• रञ्जन: pleasing/delighting
• रञ्जन: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रञ्जन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• काम्यया: with the desire (to do so)
• काम्यया: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम्य
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• देवतानाम्: of the deities
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• द्विजानाम्: of the twice-born (Brahmins)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

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

• वर्तितव्यम्: should be conducted/one should behave
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत्
• Form: Gerundive (Anīyar/तव्यत्), Passive sense (impersonal obligation), Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• यथा: as/according to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• विधि: rule/prescribed procedure
• विधि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Kuruśreṣṭha (addressed Kuru prince, i.e., Yudhiṣṭhira)
• rājā (the king)
• devatāḥ (deities)
• dvijāḥ (twice-born/Brahmins)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king’s legitimacy and the happiness of the people are grounded in disciplined, scripturally guided conduct—especially proper worship of the deities and respectful support of Brahmins. This establishes moral order (dharma) and fosters public trust.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhīṣma advises the Kuru prince (Yudhiṣṭhira) on the foundational practices of rulership, emphasizing that the king should begin his reign by following prescribed religious and social duties toward gods and Brahmins to secure the people’s contentment.