Shloka 4

Adhyaya 18 — Alarka's Story

Sanskrit

दत्त्वार्थरक्षिभिर्मार्गे रक्षितो याति दस्युतः ।

गोपाश्च घृततक्रादेः षड्भागञ्च कृषीबलाः ॥

Transliteration

dattvārtharakṣibhir mārge rakṣito yāti dasyutaḥ /

gopāś ca ghṛtatakrādeḥ ṣaḍbhāgaṃ ca kṛṣībalāḥ

Translation

بعد الدفع يسافر المرء في الطريق محروسًا بحراسٍ للأموال، آمنًا من قطاع الطرق. ورعاة البقر (يؤدون نصيبًا) من السمن المصفّى (ghee) واللبن المخيض ونحو ذلك؛ وأما الزراع (فيؤدون) السدس.

Word by Word

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त)

• अर्थ-रक्षिभिः: by the protectors/guards of property
• अर्थ-रक्षिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अर्थस्य रक्षिणः)

• मार्गे: on the road
• मार्गे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• रक्षितः: protected/guarded
• रक्षितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त/क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• याति: goes/travels
• याति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• दस्युतः: from robbers/bandits
• दस्युतः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दस्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• गोपाः: cowherds
• गोपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable conjunction (समुच्चय)

• घृत-तक्र-आदेः: of ghee, buttermilk, etc.
• घृत-तक्र-आदेः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक) + तक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; द्वन्द्व-समाहार with आदि (ghṛta-takra etc.)

• षट्-भागम्: a sixth share
• षट्-भागम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; द्विगु-समास (षड्भागः = one-sixth share)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable conjunction (समुच्चय)

• कृषि-बलाः: farm-labourers/agricultural workers
• कृषि-बलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृषि (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कृषेः बलाः)

Speakers

• Narrative speech on fiscal norms

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "vira", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Public security
• Tax shares
• Protection duty
• Economic order

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The king’s levy is framed as a wage for protection. When protection is real (safe roads, reduced banditry), taxation becomes morally intelligible.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Rājadharma embedded within vaṃśānucarita; it provides normative details about shares (bhāga) typical of dharma discourse in Purāṇas.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Safe passage’ symbolizes the dharmic function of authority: to reduce fear (bhaya) in society; fearlessness is treated as a tangible fruit of righteous rule.