Shloka 16

Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)

Devanagari script

गुणवन्तो महोत्साहा धर्मज्ञा: साधवश्च ये । संदधीत नृपस्तैश्न राष्ट्र धर्मेण पालयन्‌

Transliteration

guṇavanto mahotsāhā dharmajñāḥ sādhavaś ca ye | sandadhīta nṛpas tais tu rāṣṭraṃ dharmeṇa pālayan ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：遵循达摩而护持国土的国王，应先聚拢德行之士——精力宏大、志业奋发、明晓正法、品行端正——以此为助，然后与强盛诸王建立盟约与同盟。

Word by Word

• गुणवन्तः: virtuous, possessing good qualities
• गुणवन्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुणवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• महोत्साहाः: of great energy/enterprise
• महोत्साहाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महोत्साह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• धर्मज्ञाः: knowers of dharma
• धर्मज्ञाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• साधवः: good men, righteous persons
• साधवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• संदधीत: should make/arrange/establish (e.g., alliance)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + धा
• Form: Vidhi-linga (Optative), Present-system, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• नृपः: the king
• नृपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तैः: with/by those
• तैः: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• राष्ट्रम्: the kingdom/state
• राष्ट्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राष्ट्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• धर्मेण: by/according to dharma
• धर्मेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• पालयन्: protecting/ruling
• पालयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: पालयत् (पाल् धातोः caus. वर्तमान कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, शतृ (present active participle), Active

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• king (nṛpa)
• powerful kings (implicit)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s strength should rest on dharmic governance and the support of virtuous, capable advisers; with such a foundation, forming alliances with strong rulers becomes a legitimate and effective means to protect the realm.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction on rajadharma in the Shanti Parva, he advises the king on practical policy: appoint and rely on upright, energetic, dharma-knowing men, and then pursue treaties/alliances with powerful kings to secure the kingdom.