Shloka 24

राष्ट्रगुप्ति-संग्रहः

Protection of the Realm and Principles of Revenue & Local Administration

Devanagari script

पौरजानपदान सर्वान्‌ संश्रितोपश्ितांस्तथा | यथाशक्त्यनुकम्पेत सर्वान्‌ स्‍्वल्पधनानपि

Transliteration

paurajānāpadān sarvān saṁśritopaśritāṁs tathā | yathāśakty anukampeta sarvān svalpadhanān api ||

Translation

毗湿摩说：国王应尽其所能，对城中百姓与乡里村民一概施以怜悯——无论他们是亲自前来投奔，还是托人居间求护——即便他们家资微薄亦然。统治者的职责在于庇护弱者，对求护之请不因身份高下或财力多寡而有所偏私。

Word by Word

• पौर: townsmen/citizens
• पौर: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• जानपदान्: country-folk/villagers
• जानपदान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानपद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• संश्रित: having taken refuge; resorted to (him)
• संश्रित: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-श्रि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• उपस्थितान्: present; having come near/appeared
• उपस्थितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-स्था
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तथा: and also; likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• यथा: as; according to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• शक्त्या: by (one's) power/ability
• शक्त्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• अनुकम्पेत: should show compassion to; should pity
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-कम्प्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• स्वल्पधनान्: having little wealth; poor
• स्वल्पधनान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वल्पधन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अपि: even; also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• king (rājā)
• townspeople (paurāḥ)
• villagers/countryfolk (jānapadāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s dharma is to protect and show compassion to all who seek refuge—city and village alike—without discriminating against the poor; mercy should be extended according to the king’s capacity.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on governance, emphasizing that the king must respond kindly to subjects who come for protection, whether directly or through intermediaries.