Shloka 36

Aṃśāvataraṇa-kathana (Catalog of Divine/Asuric Portions in Human Births) — Chapter 61

Devanagari script

वशे शस्त्रप्रतापेन कुर्वन्तो5न्यान्‌ महीभूत: । एवं धर्मप्रधानास्ते सत्यव्रतपरायणा:

Transliteration

vaśe śastrapratāpena kurvanto 'nyān mahībhūtaḥ | evaṁ dharmapradhānās te satyavrataparāyaṇāḥ ||

Translation

وبسطوة السلاح وبهائه أخضع أولئك الملوك غيرَهم لسلطانهم. غير أنهم كانوا مقدَّمين في الدَّرما—ثابتين على نذور الصدق، مواظبين على السلوك القويم.

Word by Word

• वशे: in (their) control
• वशे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• शस्त्रप्रतापेन: by the might of weapons
• शस्त्रप्रतापेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्रप्रताप
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• कुर्वन्तः: doing / making
• कुर्वन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Present (participle), Plural, Masculine, Nominative

• अन्यान्: others
• अन्यान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• महीभूताः: having become (lords of) the earth / earth-possessing
• महीभूताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महीभूत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• धर्मप्रधानाः: having dharma as foremost
• धर्मप्रधानाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मप्रधान
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सत्यव्रतपरायणाः: devoted to vows of truth
• सत्यव्रतपरायणाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्यव्रतपरायण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• mahībhūtaḥ (kings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Political and martial power is acknowledged, but it is ethically framed: ideal rulers may subdue others through strength, yet remain dharma-centered and unwavering in truth.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana describes earth-ruling kings who, through martial prowess, bring others into subjection, while emphasizing their character—devotion to dharma and steadfast truthfulness.