Shloka 107

Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)

Devanagari script

यश्षात्र धर्मो नित्योक्तो दण्डनीतिव्यपाश्रय: | तमशड्ुक: करिष्यामि स्ववशो न कदाचन

Transliteration

yaḥ kṣātra-dharmo nityokto daṇḍanīti-vyapāśrayaḥ | tam aśaṅkaḥ kariṣyāmi svavaśo na kadācana ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“那已宣示的刹帝利之永恒职责——依凭于‘檀陀尼提’（惩罚与治国之学）——我将毫不迟疑地奉行。我决不任性妄为。”

Word by Word

• यः: which/that (who)
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• क्षात्रः: royal; pertaining to kshatriya rule
• क्षात्रः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षात्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मः: duty; law; dharma
• धर्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नित्यः: eternal; constant
• नित्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उक्तः: said; declared
• उक्तः: Karta
• Type: Participle
• Root: वच्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• दण्डनीति-व्यपाश्रयः: based on/depending on the policy of punishment (dandaniti)
• दण्डनीति-व्यपाश्रयः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यपाश्रय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तम्: that (him/it)
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अशङ्कः: without doubt; unhesitating
• अशङ्कः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशङ्क
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• करिष्यामि: I shall do; I shall perform
• करिष्यामि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Simple Future (लृट्), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• स्ववशः: self-willed; acting under one’s own control
• स्ववशः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्ववश
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• कदाचन: ever; at any time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler/warrior must adhere to kṣātra-dharma grounded in daṇḍanīti—lawful governance and disciplined use of authority—rather than acting from personal whim.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva’s instruction on kingship and conduct, Bhīṣma affirms his commitment to the established, enduring royal duty tied to statecraft and punishment-policy, pledging not to become arbitrary or self-indulgent.