Shloka 13

Characteristics of the King and His Servants

Rāja-dharma, Nīti, and Ethical Revenue

Devanagari script

एतदर्थं हि विप्रेन्द्रा राज्यमिच्छन्ति भूभृतः / यदेषां सर्वकार्येषु वचो न प्रतिहन्यते

Transliteration

etadarthaṃ hi viprendrā rājyamicchanti bhūbhṛtaḥ / yadeṣāṃ sarvakāryeṣu vaco na pratihanyate

Translation

ولهذا بعينه، يا أكرمَ البراهمة، يرغب الملوك في السيادة: لكيلا تُعارَض كلمتهم ولا تُحبط في جميع شؤونهم.

Word by Word

• एतदर्थम्: for this purpose
• एतदर्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (एतस्य अर्थः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (for this purpose)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• विप्रेन्द्राः: O best of Brahmins
• विप्रेन्द्राः: Sambodhyam (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (विप्राणाम् इन्द्राः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे (vocative sense)

• राज्यम्: kingdom, sovereignty
• राज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इच्छन्ति: desire
• इच्छन्ति: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• भूभृतः: kings (earth-bearers)
• भूभृतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक) + भृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (भूः भर्तारः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• यत्: because/that which
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative link/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक (relative)

• एषाम्: of them
• एषाम्: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• सर्वकार्येषु: in all affairs
• सर्वकार्येषु: Adhikaraṇa (Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (सर्वाणि कार्याणि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• वचः: word, command
• वचः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• प्रतिहन्यते: is not thwarted/repelled
• प्रतिहन्यते: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kings seek sovereignty so their word is not thwarted—revealing the psychological and administrative motive behind rulership.

Vedantic Theme: Rāga for control as a binding tendency; governance must be subordinated to dharma to avoid egoic misuse.

Application: Leaders should examine motives for authority; build accountability so ‘unopposed word’ does not become tyranny; align decisions with ethical counsel.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: royal court/kingdom

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana nīti/dharma discussions on kingship and brāhmaṇa counsel (general parallel motifs)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmins
• Kings (Bhūbhṛt)

FAQs

What is the importance of kingship (rājya) in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames kingship as the power to ensure one’s command is not obstructed—highlighting authority as a tool for executing decisions and maintaining order.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey; instead, it teaches a worldly dharma principle about power and governance, which indirectly relates to karma through responsible use of authority.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use authority—whether in leadership, family, or work—not for ego, but to carry out necessary duties consistently, while aligning decisions with dharma to avoid harmful karma.