Shloka 22

राजधर्मस्य नवनीतम्—रक्षा, दण्ड, चार, उत्थान

Rājadharma’s ‘Essence’: Protection, Punishment, Intelligence, and Royal Diligence

Devanagari script

राज्यं सर्वामिषं नित्यमार्जवेनेह धार्यते | तस्मान्मिश्रेण सततं वर्तितव्यं युधिष्ठिर

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | rājyaṃ sarvāmīṣaṃ nityam ārjavenaiha dhāryate | tasmān miśreṇa satataṃ vartitavyaṃ yudhiṣṭhira |

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“王权恒为众人所贪恋、所欲求；在此世间，唯有以坦荡正直与清明操守方能维系。因此，哦，坚战啊，君主当常以审慎的调和而行——将坚定与必要的严厉，同温柔与慈悲相结合。”

Word by Word

• राज्यम्: kingdom, sovereignty
• राज्यम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वम्: entire, all
• सर्वम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• आमिषम्: object of enjoyment; bait/temptation
• आमिषम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आमिष
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• नित्यम्: always, constantly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• आर्जवेन: by straightforwardness, by honesty
• आर्जवेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्जव
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• इह: here (in this world/context)
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• धार्यते: is maintained/borne/managed
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ
• Form: Lat, Atmanepada, Passive, Third, Singular

• तस्मात्: therefore, from that reason
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्

• मिश्रेण: by a mixture, in a mixed manner
• मिश्रेण: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मिश्र
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• सततम्: continually, always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत

• वर्तितव्यम्: should be conducted/behaved
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत्
• Form: Gerundive (तव्यत्), Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• युधिष्ठिर: O Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिर: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• युधिष्ठिर: O Yudhiṣṭhira (repeated for emphasis)
• युधिष्ठिर: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• rājya (kingship/kingdom)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma teaches that sovereignty is universally coveted and thus fragile; it is best sustained through ārjava (straightforward integrity). Yet effective rule requires a balanced, mixed policy—firmness to restrain wrongdoing and gentleness to protect and nurture subjects.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma, lying on the bed of arrows, counsels King Yudhishthira on how to preserve and administer the kingdom: rule with honest rectitude, while blending severity and compassion as circumstances demand.