Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

श्वगृध्रगोमायुयुतो राजहंससमो हासि

Transliteration

śvagṛdhra-gomāyu-yuto rāja-haṃsa-samaḥ asi; yathā śva-gṛdhra-gomāyubhiḥ parivṛto rāja-haṃsa upaviśet, tathā duṣṭa-karmacāribhiḥ tvaṃ parivṛtaḥ asi. yathā latānāṃ viśālaḥ samūho mahā-vṛkṣam āśritya vardhate, paścāt śanaiḥ śanaiḥ taṃ vṛkṣaṃ veṣṭayati, atikramya tato 'pi ūrdhvaṃ prasṛyate; atha sa eva śuṣyati bhayānakaṃ indhanaṃ bhavati; tataḥ dāruṇo dāvānalaḥ tasminn indhane āśritya taṃ mahā-vṛkṣam api dahati. rājann, tava mantriṇaḥ api tāḥ śuṣkā latā iva jātāḥ—tavaiva āśrayāt vardhitvā tava vināśa-kāraṇāni bhavanti. ataḥ teṣāṃ śodhanaṃ kuru.

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“你如同王天鹅被群犬、秃鹫与豺狼围困——同样，你也被贪腐的侍从所包围。又如藤蔓丛依附大树而繁茂，继而缓缓缠绕其身，越过其顶，伸展得更高；待藤蔓枯槁，便成可怖之薪，凶猛的林火凭此薪柴，竟能焚尽那棵大树——大王啊，你的群臣也已如那枯藤。因你的庇护而滋长，却反成你覆亡之因。故当澄清朝政：详加稽察，革除其人。”

Word by Word

• श्वगृध्रगोमायुयुतः: accompanied by dogs, vultures, and jackals
• श्वगृध्रगोमायुयुतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वन् + गृध्र + गोमायु + युत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजहंससमः: like a royal swan
• राजहंससमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजहंस + सम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• असि: you are
• असि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Present, Second, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• King (addressed as rājā/rājan)
• Royal swan (rāja-haṃsa)
• Dogs (śva)
• Vultures (gṛdhra)
• Jackals (gomāyu)
• Creepers/vines (latā)
• Great tree (mahā-vṛkṣa)
• Forest-fire (dāvānala)
• Ministers (mantriṇaḥ)
• Corrupt attendants/officials (duṣṭa-karmacārinaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler must not tolerate corrupt ministers and officials. Those who grow powerful under royal patronage can become the very instruments of the king’s downfall; therefore, the king should cleanse the administration through careful scrutiny and removal of the wicked.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction on kingship (rajadharma), he warns the king through two vivid images: a noble swan beset by scavengers, and creepers that, after thriving on a tree’s support, become dry fuel enabling a forest-fire to destroy that same tree. He applies the analogy to ministers who, supported by the king, now threaten him, urging their purification.