Shloka 52
Mohinī-prashna
The Question about Mohinī
किं देव कार्येण नराधिपस्य कृत्वा हि मन्युं विषयस्थितानाम् । तद्देवकार्यं स च यज्ञहोमो यद्रक्तपातो न भवेत् स्वराष्ट्रे ॥ ५२ ॥
kiṃ deva kāryeṇa narādhipasya kṛtvā hi manyuṃ viṣayasthitānām | taddevakāryaṃ sa ca yajñahomo yadraktapāto na bhavet svarāṣṭre || 52 ||
ما نفعُ «خدمةِ الآلهة» لملكٍ إذا أثار الغضبَ في أهل أقاليمه ثم قام بها؟ إن الخدمةَ الحقّةَ للآلهة—بل الذبيحةَ (يَجْنَه) والقُربانَ بالنار (هُومَه) على الحقيقة—هي ألّا يقع سفكُ دمٍ في مملكته هو.
Narada (teaching on Rajadharma in Uttara-Bhaga context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It elevates dharma above mere ritualism, declaring that the highest ‘divine service’ for a ruler is safeguarding life and preventing violence—making peace itself a sacred offering.
It implies that devotion is not only temple-ritual but compassionate governance: pleasing the Divine by protecting devotees/subjects and avoiding actions that generate anger, fear, and harm.
Ritual practice (yajña/homa) is interpreted through dharmic application—showing a Mimamsa-like principle: the ‘fruit’ of ritual is invalid if it contradicts ahimsa and the king’s protective duty.