Shloka 526

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

Devanagari script

शीलं जिज्ञासमानेन राज्ञश्न सहजीविन: । मैं राजाके साथ रहनेवाले अधिकारियोंका शील-स्वभाव जानना चाहता था

Transliteration

śīlaṃ jijñāsamānena rājñaḥ saha-jīvinaḥ | mayā rājñā saha vartamānānām adhikāriṇāṃ śīla-svabhāvo jijñāsitaḥ, tasmāt sadā saśaṅkaḥ san mahā-sāvadhānena iha avasam | yathā sarpa-gṛhe vāsaḥ syāt, athavā śūra-vīrasya patnyāḥ gṛhe praviṣṭa iva |

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“我欲察知那些与国王同居共事之人的品行性情，故常居于此，时时戒惧，万分谨慎。这情形，犹如住在有蛇的屋中；又如一人误闯入勇士之妻的宅第一般。”

Word by Word

• शीलम्: conduct, character
• शीलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शील
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• जिज्ञासमानेन: by (one) wishing to know / inquiring
• जिज्ञासमानेन: Karana
• Type: Verb
• Root: जिज्ञास् (desiderative of ज्ञा)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular, Present active participle (शतृ), desiderative

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• सहजीविनः: companions, those living with (him)
• सहजीविनः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहजीविन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• the king (rājā)
• royal associates/officials (saha-jīvinaḥ/adhikāriṇaḥ)
• snake (sarpa)
• house (gṛha)
• hero/warrior (śūra-vīra)
• hero’s wife (patnī)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s environment can be morally and politically hazardous; therefore one must carefully assess the character (śīla) of those close to power and remain vigilant, acting with prudence rather than naïve trust.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma explains why he lived in the royal setting with constant caution: he was observing and testing the conduct of the king’s close associates/officials, comparing the danger of courtly proximity to living with a snake or committing a socially perilous intrusion.