Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

तथा खातविधानं च योग: संचार एव च | चोरैराटविकैश्नोग्रै: परराष्ट्स्य पीडनम्‌

Transliteration

tathā khātavidhānaṃ ca yogaḥ saṃcāra eva ca | corair āṭavikaiś cograir pararāṣṭrasya pīḍanam ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“同样，掘坑设陷与布置其他隐蔽机关，运用权谋，以及暗中行军潜行——并且借凶悍盗贼与林野劫掠者骚扰敌国——皆是用以折磨、困厄对手之邦的手段。”

Word by Word

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

• खात-विधानम्: the arrangement/provision of trenches (moats)
• खात-विधानम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: खातविधान
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

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

• योगः: deployment; arrangement; strategic preparation
• योगः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• संचारः: movement; patrolling; circulation
• संचारः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: संचार
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

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

• चोरैः: by thieves
• चोरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चोर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• आटविकैः: by forest-tribesmen/bandits
• आटविकैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आटविक
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

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

• उग्रैः: by fierce (ones)
• उग्रैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• पर-राष्ट्रस्य: of the enemy/other kingdom
• पर-राष्ट्रस्य: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: परराष्ट्र
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• पीडनम्: harassing; afflicting; oppression
• पीडनम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीडन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• pararāṣṭra (enemy kingdom/state)
• cora (thieves/bandits)
• āṭavika (forest-raiders)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse lists harsh but recognized instruments of rājadharma (state policy in conflict): traps, stratagems, covert movement, and using irregular forces to pressure an enemy state—highlighting that governance includes pragmatic measures, even morally tense ones, when protecting one’s realm.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on kingship and policy. Here he enumerates specific tactics used to weaken an opposing kingdom, describing forms of covert and irregular warfare.