Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

अलंकारे च भोज्ये च तथा स्नानानुलेपने । हेलनानि नरव्याप्र स्वस्थास्तस्योपशृण्वत:

Transliteration

alaṃkāre ca bhojye ca tathā snānānulepane | helanāni naravyāghra svasthās tasyopaśṛṇvataḥ ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“噢，人中之虎！当国王就站在近旁、亲自倾听之时，那些自以为安稳无虞的人竟嘲弄他——把他佩戴饰物、饮食、沐浴、涂抹檀香等事当作笑柄。然国王无所畏惧，仍站在那里，将这一切尽数听入耳中。”

Word by Word

• अलंकारे: in/with ornamentation; regarding ornaments
• अलंकारे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलंकार
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

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

• भोज्ये: in/with food; regarding what is to be eaten
• भोज्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोज्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

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

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

• स्नान: in/at bathing
• स्नान: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• अनुलेपने: in/at anointing (with unguents/sandal paste)
• अनुलेपने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुलेपन
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• हेलनानि: mockings; acts of derision
• हेलनानि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेलन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• नरव्याघ्राः: tigers among men (i.e., eminent men)
• नरव्याघ्राः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर-व्याघ्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• स्वस्थाः: at ease; unperturbed; fearless
• स्वस्थाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वस्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तस्य: of him; his
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• उपशृण्वतः: while he is listening; of him who listens nearby
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-श्रु (धातु: श्रु)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular, Present active participle

• पुरुषसिंह: O lion among men
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष-सिंह
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• King (rājā)
• naravyāghra (addressed listener)
• ornaments (alaṃkāra)
• food (bhojya)
• bathing (snāna)
• anointing/sandal paste (anulepana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should cultivate fearlessness and forbearance: even when others deride his personal comforts and royal routines, he should remain steady, not reacting with anger or vindictiveness, and uphold dignified self-control.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes a scene where people who feel safe in the king’s presence openly mock his adornment, meals, bathing, and anointing. The king, however, stands nearby and listens without fear, indicating restraint and composure amid disrespect.