Shloka 10

धृतराष्ट्रस्य वंशोपदेशः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Dynastic Counsel on Legitimate Rule

Devanagari script

संधिविग्रहसंयुक्तो राज्ञां संवाहनक्रिया: । अवैक्षत महातेजा भीष्म: परपुरञ्जय:,“शत्रुनगरीको जीतनेवाले महातेजस्वी भीष्म संधि-विग्रहके कार्यमें संयुक्त हो राजाओंसे सेवा और कर आदि लेनेका काम सँभालते थे

Transliteration

sandhivigrahasaṁyukto rājñāṁ saṁvāhanakriyāḥ | avaikṣata mahātejā bhīṣmaḥ parapurañjayaḥ ||

Translation

风神（Vāyu）说：精通结盟与征伐之道的强大毗湿摩（Bhīṣma）——攻克敌城者——统摄王政诸务，包括向属王征收服役、贡赋及其他应纳之款。此颂凸显治国之德的分量：权力不唯用于战争，更须以有序之政、担当之责，以及在政治等级中对义务的自律管理来施行。

Word by Word

सन्धि-विग्रह-संयुक्तःengaged in (matters of) peace and war

राज्ञाम्of kings

संवाहन-क्रियाःservices/attendances (duties of attendance)

अवैक्षत्looked after / supervised

महातेजाःof great splendor

भीष्मःBhishma

परपुरञ्जयःconqueror of enemy cities

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāyudeva

Bhīṣma

rājānaḥ (kings)

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?

The verse underscores rājanīti (political ethics): a ruler’s duty includes disciplined oversight of both peace (sandhi) and conflict (vigraha), and the just administration of obligations (service/tribute). Power is framed as responsibility—governance requires order, accountability, and strategic judgment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva describes Bhīṣma’s role in the Kuru polity: Bhīṣma, famed for conquering enemy strongholds, is portrayed as supervising key functions of state—diplomacy/war policy and the management of subordinate kings’ services and dues—showing him as both warrior and administrator.