Shloka 31
Kośārtha-Rājadharma: Ethical Revenue Collection and Social Regulation (कोशार्थ-राजधर्मः)
Devanagari script
प्राज्ञ: शूरो धनस्थश्व स्वामी धार्मिक एव च | तपस्वी सत्यवादी च बुद्धिमांश्वापि रक्षति
Transliteration
prājñaḥ śūro dhanasthaś ca svāmī dhārmika eva ca | tapasvī satyavādī ca buddhimānś cāpi rakṣati ||
Translation
毗湿摩说：“智者、勇者、资财稳固者、名分正当之主、真正安住于法者——同样，苦行而有戒者、言真者、具慧者——此等各各皆能护持（他人）。”
Word by Word
प्राज्ञःwise
प्राज्ञः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootप्राज्ञ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
शूरःvaliant
शूरः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootशूर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
धनस्थःpossessed of wealth / well-provided
धनस्थः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootधनस्थ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
स्वामीmaster, lord
स्वामी:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootस्वामिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
धार्मिकःrighteous
धार्मिकः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootधार्मिक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
एवindeed, certainly
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
तपस्वीascetic
तपस्वी:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootतपस्विन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सत्यवादीtruth-speaking
सत्यवादी:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसत्यवादिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
बुद्धिमान्intelligent
बुद्धिमान्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootबुद्धिमत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अपिalso, even
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
रक्षतिprotects
रक्षति:
TypeVerb
Rootरक्ष्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
Speaker
भीष्य उवाच
Characters & Entities
भ
भीष्म (Bhīṣma)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Protection of society (rakṣaṇa) is grounded in multiple virtues—wisdom, courage, resources, rightful authority, righteousness, austerity, truthfulness, and intelligence—rather than in mere power alone.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, Bhīṣma is advising Yudhiṣṭhira by listing the kinds of persons whose qualities make them fit to safeguard others and uphold order.