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Shloka 48

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

नक्तमेव च भक्तानि पाचयेत नराधिप: । न दिवा ज्वालयेदग्निं वर्जयित्वा5डग्निहोत्रिकम्‌

naktam eva ca bhaktāni pācayet narādhipaḥ | na divā jvālayed agniṃ varjayitvā agnihotrikam ||

毗湿摩说道:“大王啊,战时当令城中百姓唯于夜间炊食。白昼之中,除行阿耆尼霍特罗(Agnihotra)者所守之圣火外,不得为任何事点火。”

नक्तम्at night
नक्तम्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनक्तम्
एवonly/indeed
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
भक्तानिcooked foods/meals
भक्तानि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootभक्त
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
पाचयेत्should cause to be cooked / should have cooked
पाचयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootपच्
FormVidhi-linga (optative), non-past (injunctive/optative sense), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
नराधिपःthe king (lord of men)
नराधिपः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनराधिप
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
दिवाby day / in daytime
दिवा:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootदिवा
ज्वालयेत्should kindle / should light
ज्वालयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootज्वल्
FormVidhi-linga (optative), non-past (injunctive/optative sense), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada, Yes (णिच्)
अग्निम्fire
अग्निम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअग्नि
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
वर्जयित्वाhaving excluded / excepting
वर्जयित्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootवर्ज्
FormAbsolutive (क्त्वा), Active
अग्निहोत्रिकम्the (fire) for agnihotra / agnihotra-related (fire)
अग्निहोत्रिकम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअग्निहोत्रिक
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
K
king (naradhipa)
A
Agnihotra performers (agnihotrika)
F
fire (agni)

Educational Q&A

In wartime, a ruler should enforce practical security measures—such as restricting daytime fires that could reveal positions or invite attack—while still protecting essential Vedic duties by exempting Agnihotra rites.

Within Bhishma’s instruction on rajadharma (the duties of kings), he advises the king on wartime civic regulation: citizens should cook at night, and daytime fires should be prohibited except for those maintaining the Agnihotra.