Mahabharata · 1.196.11–12
॥
Devanāgarī
ततस् ते पार्थिवश्रेष्ठ पूज्यमानाः सदा त्वया ॥
प्रकृतीनाम् अनुमते पदे स्थास्यन्ति पैतृके ॥
एवं तव महाराज तेषु पुत्रेषु चैव ह ॥
वृत्तम् औपयिकं मन्ये भीष्मेण सह भारत ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tatas te pārthivaśreṣṭha pūjyamānāḥ sadā tvayā ||
prakṛtīnām anumate pade sthāsyanti paitṛke ||
evaṃ tava mahārāja teṣu putreṣu caiva ha ||
vṛttam aupayikaṃ manye bhīṣmeṇa saha bhārata ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
ततः ते पार्थिवश्रेष्ठ पूज्यमानाः सदा त्वयाtataḥ te pārthivaśreṣṭha pūjyamānāḥ sadā tvayāThen, O best of kings, ever honored by you,
प्रकृतीनाम् अनुमते पदे स्थास्यन्ति पैतृकेprakṛtīnām anumate pade sthāsyanti paitṛkewith the consent of the subjects, they will take their place on their father's throne;
एवं तव महाराज तेषु पुत्रेषु च एव हevaṃ tava mahārāja teṣu putreṣu ca eva hathus, O great king, with regard to those Pandavas and your own sons,
वृत्तम् औपयिकं मन्ये भीष्मेण सह भारतvṛttam aupayikaṃ manye bhīṣmeṇa saha bhārataI deem this conduct fitting, in accord with Bhishma, O Bharata";
ततस्tatasoriginal form "tatas", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
चैवcaivaoriginal form "caiva", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
Translation
"Then, O best of kings, ever honored by you, they will take their place on their father's throne with the consent of the subjects; thus, O great king, with regard to those Pandavas and your own sons, I deem this conduct fitting, in accord with Bhishma."
Version
32d6d09ad331 · published Jul 12, 2026, 5:54:01 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here the consent of the subjects, too, is named as the foundation of rule. It is significant that Drona ties the Pandavas' enthronement to "the consent of the subjects": righteous rule rests on the love of the people, not on the ruler's will alone. It is significant that governance according to dharma reckons with the will of the people. Thus scripture shows the fullness of wise counsel; and Drona concludes his speech in accord with Bhishma.