Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 15

The Sūtas Foretell the Glories and Future Deeds of King Pṛthu

Devanagari script

रञ्जयिष्यति यल्लोकमयमात्मविचेष्टितै: । अथामुमाहू राजानं मनोरञ्जनकै: प्रजा: ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

rañjayiṣyati yal lokam ayam ātma-viceṣṭitaiḥ athāmum āhū rājānaṁ mano-rañjanakaiḥ prajāḥ

Translation

This King will please everyone by his practical activities, and all of his citizens will remain very satisfied. Because of this the citizens will take great satisfaction in accepting him as their ruling king.

Synonyms

• रञ्जयिष्यति: will delight
• रञ्जयिष्यति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रञ्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), णिच् (causative) भाव: to cause to be pleased

• यत्: which
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Relative marker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (singular), सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• लोकम्: the world/people
• लोकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• अयम्: this (king)
• अयम्: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular), सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• आत्मविचेष्टितैः: by his own activities
• आत्मविचेष्टितैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + विचेष्टित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural); तत्पुरुष: आत्मनः विचेष्टितानि = his own deeds/efforts

• अथ: then
• अथ: अनुक्रम (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), अनन्तरार्थक/प्रस्तावक (then/thereupon)

• अमुम्: that (man)
• अमुम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular), सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• आहुः: said/called
• आहुः: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• राजानम्: king
• राजानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• मनोरञ्जनकैः: with pleasing (names/words)
• मनोरञ्जनकैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस् + रञ्जनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (masc/neut), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural); तत्पुरुष: मनसः रञ्जनकाः = mind-delighting (epithets)

• प्रजाः: the subjects
• प्रजाः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

Characters & Entities

• Pṛthu Mahārāja
• prajāḥ (the citizens)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about an ideal king’s duty to the people?

This verse says an ideal ruler wins the hearts of the people by his own upright activities, and thus truly becomes “king” by pleasing and protecting the citizens.

Why did the citizens call him ‘king’ in Canto 4 Chapter 16?

Because they recognized that his character and deeds would bring satisfaction and well-being to the world; his ability to ‘delight’ the people qualified him for kingship.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Leadership—at home, work, or society—becomes legitimate when it is grounded in personal integrity and actions that genuinely benefit and uplift others.