Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

न च वश्यो भवेदस्य नृपो यश्चातिवीर्यवान्‌ | हीनश्न बलवीर्याभ्यां कर्षयंस्तत्परो वसेत्‌

Transliteration

na ca vaśyo bhaved asya nṛpo yaś cātivīryavān | hīnaś ca balavīryābhyāṁ karṣayaṁs tatparo vaset ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：兵力与武威不足之王，不可屈身为那极其强盛之君的附庸。宁当以自保为念，存身以待，暗中以隐秘而持久之策消磨强敌之势，而非公开对决。

Word by Word

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

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

• वश्यः: submissive; under control
• वश्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वश्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भवेत्: should be; might become
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अस्य: of him; of this (king)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

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

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

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

• अति-वीर्यवान्: very powerful; possessing excessive strength
• अति-वीर्यवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्यवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हीनः: deprived; lacking
• हीनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• बल-वीर्याभ्याम्: by strength and prowess
• बल-वीर्याभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल; वीर्य
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Dual

• कर्षयन्: weakening; reducing; wearing down
• कर्षयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृष्
• Form: Shatr (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तत्-परः: intent on that; devoted to that (strategy)
• तत्-परः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वसेत्: should dwell; should remain
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• nṛpa (king)
• ativīryavān nṛpa (exceedingly powerful king)
• prabala śatru (powerful enemy, implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma teaches pragmatic statecraft: a weaker king should not accept humiliating subservience to an overwhelmingly powerful ruler; instead he should preserve autonomy and patiently weaken the adversary through discreet, strategic means rather than direct confrontation.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance and policy, Bhishma advises the listener on how a king should respond when facing a far stronger rival—counseling caution, concealment, and long-term strategy over open submission or reckless battle.