Shloka 60

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

Devanagari script

क्रीडितुं तेन चेच्छन्ति ससूत्रेणेव पक्षिणा । अस्मत्प्रणेयो राजेति लोकांश्वैव वदन्त्युत

Transliteration

krīḍituṃ tena cecchanti sasūtreṇeva pakṣiṇā | asmatpraṇeyo rājeti lokāṃś caiva vadanty uta ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“他们想戏弄国王，如同玩弄一只被线拴住的鸟；甚至对百姓宣称：‘国王在我们掌控之下——是我们的仆役。’”

Word by Word

• क्रीडितुम्: to play (to sport)
• क्रीडितुम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रीड्
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive)

• तेन: with him/with that (king)
• तेन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

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

• इच्छन्ति: they desire/wish
• इच्छन्ति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्
• Form: Present (लट्), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• ससूत्रेण: with a string (tether) / string-bound
• ससूत्रेण: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ससूत्र
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• इव: like, as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• पक्षिणा: with a bird
• पक्षिणा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अस्मत्प्रणेयः: to be led/controlled by us; our dependent
• अस्मत्प्रणेयः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्मत्प्रणेय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इति: thus (quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• लोकान्: people; the populace
• लोकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• श्व: tomorrow
• श्व: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्वस्

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

• वदन्ति: they say
• वदन्ति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद्
• Form: Present (लट्), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• उत: also, moreover
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• king (rājā)
• people (lokāḥ)
• bird (pakṣin)
• string/cord (sūtra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma warns that when courtiers or power-brokers treat the king as a controllable instrument, governance becomes a game of manipulation; such contempt for rightful authority undermines dharma and harms the people.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes a situation where influential persons seek to ‘play’ with the king—keeping him effectively tethered like a bird on a string—and boast to the public that the king acts only at their command.