Shloka 48
राजधर्मः—प्रमादवर्जनं, दण्डनीतिः, दुर्बलरक्षणम्
Royal Dharma: Vigilance, Just Punishment, Protection of the Vulnerable
Devanagari script
न जात्वदक्षो नृपति: प्रजा: शक्नोति रक्षितुम् | भारो हि सुमहांस्तात राज्यं नाम सुदुष्करम्
Transliteration
na jātvadakṣo nṛpatiḥ prajāḥ śaknoti rakṣitum | bhāro hi sumahāṁs tāta rājyaṁ nāma suduṣkaram |
Translation
乌塔提耶说道：“孩子啊，无能之王终不能真正护佑其民。因为所谓‘王权’之业极其艰难，是一副沉重无比的担子。”
Word by Word
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
जातुever, at any time
जातु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootजातु
अदक्षःinefficient, not competent
अदक्षः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअदक्ष
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
नृपतिःking
नृपतिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनृपति
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
प्रजाःsubjects, people
प्रजाः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootप्रजा
FormFeminine, Accusative, Plural
शक्नोतिis able
शक्नोति:
TypeVerb
Rootशक्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
रक्षितुम्to protect
रक्षितुम्:
TypeVerb
Rootरक्ष्
FormTumun (infinitive)
भारःburden
भारः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootभार
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
हिindeed, for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
सुमहान्very great
सुमहान्:
TypeAdjective
Rootसुमहत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तातdear one, son (address)
तात:
TypeNoun
Rootतात
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
राज्यम्kingship, kingdom, rule
राज्यम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootराज्य
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
नामcalled, namely
नाम:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनाम
सुदुष्करम्very difficult to do
सुदुष्करम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootसुदुष्कर
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
उतथ्य उवाच
Characters & Entities
U
UtathyaN
nṛpati (king)P
prajā (subjects)R
rājya (kingship/kingdom)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Kingship is not merely a title but a demanding moral and practical responsibility; without competence (dakṣatā), a ruler cannot protect the people, and thus fails in rajadharma.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance, the sage Utathya addresses a listener (tāta) and emphasizes that ruling is an arduous burden; only a capable king can safeguard the subjects.