Shloka 14

राजा-दैवतत्वम् — The King as a Stabilizing ‘Daivata’ (Divine Function) in Social Order

Devanagari script

पापा हाूपि तदा क्षेम॑ न लभन्ते कदाचन । एकस्य हि द्वौ हरतो द्वयोशक्ष॒ बहवो5परे

Transliteration

pāpā hy api tadā kṣemaṁ na labhante kadācana | ekasya hi dvau harato dvayoḥ śakṣa bahavo 'pare ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：在那样的时候，连恶人也得不到安稳与福祉。因为两人合伙掠夺一人之时，其他有力而乘机者也会加入；罪行遂增，安全遂失。

Word by Word

• पापाः: sinful (people)
• पापाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• तदा: then/at that time
• तदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• क्षेमम्: security/welfare
• क्षेमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• लभन्ते: obtain/attain
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Atmanepada

• कदाचन: ever/at any time
• कदाचन: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन

• एकस्य: of one (person)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• हरतः: take away/steal
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ
• Form: Present, Third, Dual, Parasmaipada

• द्वयोः: of two
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Dual

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अपरे: others
• अपरे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Wrongdoing is self-defeating: when theft and exploitation begin, they attract further opportunists, causing disorder in which even the wicked cannot enjoy lasting safety or welfare (kṣema).

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs on dharma and governance; here he warns that once predation starts—two robbing one—others quickly join, escalating lawlessness and destroying social security.