Shloka 24

एष वृद्धाननाथांश्व पड्गूनन्धांश्व मानवान्‌ । पुत्रवत्‌ पालयामास प्रजा धर्मेण वै विभु:,ये बूढ़े, अनाथ, पंगू और अंधे मनुष्योंका भी स्नेहपूर्वक पालन करते थे। ये नरेश अपनी प्रजाकी धर्मपूर्वक पुत्रकी भाँति रक्षा करते थे

eṣa vṛddhān anāthāṁś ca paṅgūn andhāṁś ca mānavān | putravat pālayāmāsa prajā dharmeṇa vai vibhuḥ ||

كان ذلك الملك الجبّار يحمي حتى الشيوخ والعاجزين والعرج والعميان من بين رعيّته. متمسّكًا بالدارما، كان يرعى شعبه بعنايةٍ تماثل عناية المرء بحفظ أبنائه وتربيتهم—مثالًا للملوكية قائمًا على الرحمة والواجب القويم.

एषःthis (man/king)
एषः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
वृद्धान्the aged
वृद्धान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootवृद्ध
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अनाथान्the helpless/orphaned
अनाथान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअनाथ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
पङ्गून्the lame
पङ्गून्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootपङ्गु
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अन्धान्the blind
अन्धान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअन्ध
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
मानवान्people/men
मानवान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमानव
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
पुत्रवत्like (his) sons; as a son
पुत्रवत्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुत्रवत्
पालयामासprotected/maintained
पालयामास:
TypeVerb
Rootपाल्
FormPerfect (Periphrastic), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
प्रजाःsubjects; people
प्रजाः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootप्रजा
FormFeminine, Accusative, Plural
धर्मेणby righteousness; according to dharma
धर्मेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
वैindeed
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
विभुःthe mighty one; the lord (king)
विभुः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootविभु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

अर्जुन उवाच

A
Arjuna (speaker)
T
the king/ruler (vibhuḥ, implied)
S
subjects/people (prajāḥ)

Educational Q&A

The verse presents an ideal of rajadharma: a ruler’s duty is to protect all subjects—especially the vulnerable (elderly, helpless, disabled)—with parental care, and to govern in accordance with dharma rather than self-interest.

Arjuna describes the conduct of a powerful ruler, emphasizing that he maintained and safeguarded his people righteously, extending special care even to those who are socially and physically vulnerable.