Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

न संत्याज्यं च ते धैर्य कदाचिदपि पाण्डव । धीरस्य स्पष्टदण्डस्य न भयं विद्यते क्वचित्‌

Transliteration

na saṃtyājyaṃ ca te dhairyaṃ kadācid api pāṇḍava | dhīrasya spaṣṭadaṇḍasya na bhayaṃ vidyate kvacit ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“般度之子啊，你切不可在任何时候舍弃坚忍。因为统治者若果决坚定，对作恶者公开而不迟疑地施以惩罚，则恐惧便无处立足。”

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• संत्याज्यम्: to be abandoned / fit to be given up
• संत्याज्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संत्याज्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

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

• ते: of you / your
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्वद्
• Form: Masculine/Feminine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• धैर्यम्: steadfastness, courage
• धैर्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धैर्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• कदाचित्: ever, at any time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित्

• अपि: even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• पाण्डव: O Pandava
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• धीरस्य: of the steadfast/brave (man/king)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीर
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• स्पष्टदण्डस्य: of one whose punishment/rod is clear/decisive
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्पष्टदण्ड
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• विद्यते: exists, is found
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (विद्+य)
• Form: Present, Atmanepada, Third, Singular, Indicative

• क्वचित्: anywhere, ever
• क्वचित्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित्

• पाण्डुनन्दन: O son of Pandu
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डुनन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Pāṇḍava (Yudhiṣṭhira implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should never give up courage and composure; when punishment is administered clearly and without wavering against wrongdoing, social order is protected and the king need not live in fear.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma counsels the Pandava king (Yudhiṣṭhira) on governance, emphasizing steadfastness and decisive enforcement of justice as foundations of secure rule.