Shloka 20

Āśrama-dharma: Duties of the Four Life-Stages (आश्रमधर्मः)

Devanagari script

परिनिछितकार्यस्तु नृपति: परिपालनात्‌ | कुर्यादन्यन्न वा कुयदिन्द्रो राजन्य उच्यते

Transliteration

pariniścita-kāryas tu nṛpatiḥ paripālanāt | kuryād anyan na vā kuryād indro rājanya ucyate ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：君王既已坚决判定当行之事，便应为护持国土、端正治理而行动。无论他另施措施抑或止于其分，只要其统治立基于坚定的职责与对臣民的守护，便可称为“诸王之因陀罗”。

Word by Word

• परिनिश्चितकार्यः: one whose duties are well-determined
• परिनिश्चितकार्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिनिश्चितकार्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• नृपतिः: the king
• नृपतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• परिपालनात्: from (his) protection/governance
• परिपालनात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिपालन
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• कुर्यात्: should do
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अन्यत्: something else
• अन्यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• कुयात्: should do
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• इन्द्रः: Indra (lord)
• इन्द्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उच्यते: is called
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada (Passive)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Indra
• nṛpati (the king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler becomes truly exemplary (‘Indra among kings’) by decisively discerning his duty and prioritizing the protection and orderly maintenance of the realm; excellence in kingship is measured by steadfast governance, not by mere activity for its own sake.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising the king on standards of ideal rule, emphasizing resolute decision-making and the central obligation of safeguarding subjects as the hallmark of royal greatness.