Shloka 11

Treasury Security, Protection of Informants, and the Kalakavṛkṣīya Exemplum (Śānti Parva 83)

Devanagari script

ततः स काकमादाय राजान द्रष्टमागमत्‌ | सर्वज्ञोडस्मीति वचन ब्रूवाण: संशितव्रत:

Transliteration

tataḥ sa kākam ādāya rājānaṃ draṣṭum āgamat | sarvajño ’smi iti vacanaṃ brūvāṇaḥ saṃśitavrataḥ |

Translation

随后，仙人携那乌鸦前来觐见国王。其人持戒严谨，自称：“我无所不知。”遂趋近君主——他已洞悉国中诸般行业，又从各处探得王家财物被朝廷官吏侵吞挪用的种种事件。

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• काकम्: a crow
• काकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: काक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आदाय: having taken
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada/Active (usage)

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Infinitive

• आगमत्: came, approached
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सर्वज्ञः: all-knowing
• सर्वज्ञः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अस्मि: I am
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Present (Lat), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• इति: thus, saying
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• वचनम्: speech, statement
• वचनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ब्रूवाणः: speaking, saying
• ब्रूवाणः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Present active participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Parasmaipada

• संशितव्रतः: one of firm/strict vows
• संशितव्रतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संशितव्रत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• king
• sage (maharshi)
• crow
• royal officials/employees

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse sets up an ethical inquiry into governance: a ruler must be vigilant about misappropriation by officials, and claims of superior knowledge (“I am omniscient”) should be tested against truth and used to uphold justice rather than to impress or dominate.

What is happening in the narrative?

A vow-observing sage arrives to meet the king, bringing a crow. He declares himself omniscient and comes after learning about the kingdom’s occupations and discovering scattered reports of the king’s wealth being stolen by state employees—preparing to confront or advise the king.