Shloka 3

Vāmadeva’s Counsel on Rooted Kingship and Non-violent Victory (वामदेवोपदेशः—दृढमूलराजधर्मः)

Devanagari script

यस्य स्फीतो जनपद: सम्पन्न: प्रिययाजक: । संतुष्टपुष्टसचिवो दृढमूल: स पार्थिव:,जिस राजाका देश समृद्धिशाली, धनधान्यसे सम्पन्न, राजाको प्रिय माननेवाले मनुष्योंसे परिपूर्ण और हृष्ट-पुष्ट मन्त्रियोंस सुशोभित है, उसीकी जड़ मजबूत समझनी चाहिये

Transliteration

yasya sphīto janapadaḥ sampannaḥ priyayājakaḥ | santuṣṭa-puṣṭa-sacivo dṛḍha-mūlaḥ sa pārthivaḥ ||

Translation

瓦摩提婆说：国土繁盛、财粮充足，百姓倾心归附、乐于奉敬，且群臣安足而强健的君王，方可称为根基牢固。如此富庶与使人满足的治理，正显出王权基础之稳。

Word by Word

यस्यof whom/whose

स्फीतःprosperous, flourishing

जनपदःrealm, country, territory

सम्पन्नःwell-provided, endowed, prosperous

प्रिययाजकःhaving dear/pleasing sacrificers (priests/worshippers)

सन्तुष्टपुष्टसचिवःhaving contented and well-nourished ministers

दृढमूलःfirm-rooted, having strong foundations

सःhe, that (king)

पार्थिवःking, ruler

Speaker

वामदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāmadeva

pārthiva (king)

janapada (realm/kingdom)

saciva (ministers)

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

What is the core teaching?

A king’s stability is measured by the welfare of his realm and the quality of his administration: a prosperous country, loyal and willing subjects, and satisfied, well-supported ministers together show that the ruler’s foundations are strong.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on royal duty (rājadharma), the sage Vāmadeva describes the marks of a well-established ruler, emphasizing public prosperity and contented ministers as indicators of sound governance.