Shloka 50

Babhruvāhana Meets a Preta: Vṛṣotsarga, Heirless Death, and the Signs of Preta-Affliction

Devanagari script

वर्णानाञ्चैव सर्वेषां राजा बन्धुरिहोच्यते / तन्मां तारय राजेन्द्र मणिरत्नं ददामि ते

Transliteration

varṇānāñcaiva sarveṣāṃ rājā bandhurihocyate / tanmāṃ tāraya rājendra maṇiratnaṃ dadāmi te

Translation

সকল বর্ণের জন্য এ জগতে রাজাই বংশীয়-বন্ধু বলে কথিত। অতএব, হে রাজেন্দ্র, আমাকে উদ্ধার করুন; আমি আপনাকে মণিরত্ন দান করিব।

Word by Word

• वर्णानाम्: of the varṇas (social classes)
• वर्णानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (वर्णानाम्)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• बन्धुः: a kinsman, protector
• बन्धुः: Karta (Predicate complement/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• इह: here (in this world)
• इह: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• उच्यते: is said/called
• उच्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• तत्: therefore
• तत्: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् निपात-प्रयोग; तद् = therefore/so

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• तारय: save, deliver
• तारय: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense in usage (तारय = cause to cross/save)

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• राजेन्द्र: Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (राज्ञाम् इन्द्रः)

• मणिरत्नम्: a gem and jewel (precious treasure)
• मणिरत्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (मणिः च रत्नं च) समाहारार्थे नपुंसक

• ददामि: I give
• ददामि: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (dative)

Speaker

A distressed petitioner/sufferer addressing a king (rājendra) as protector

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rājadharma: the king is a protector-kin to all varṇas; authority entails compassionate rescue and upholding rites and order.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as sustaining order (loka-saṅgraha); power is legitimate when aligned with protection and compassion.

Application: Leaders and institutions should act as guardians for all communities, especially those without support; ensure equitable access to rites and welfare.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: court/assembly

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana passages on rājadharma and protection of subjects; Pretakalpa narratives where the living intervene to relieve preta-suffering

Characters & Entities

• Raja (King)
• Varna (social orders)

FAQs

What is the importance of rajadharma (duty of the king) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the king as a universal “bandhu” (protector/kinsman) for all varṇas, highlighting the ruler’s duty to safeguard and support those in distress.

How does this verse connect to the Garuda Purana’s after-death narrative?

In Preta Kanda themes, beings in suffering often seek deliverance; here the plea “tāraya” reflects the urgent desire to be saved, echoing the broader motif of rescue from hardship through rightful authority and dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Leaders and institutions should act as protectors for everyone without discrimination, and individuals should seek help through ethical channels rather than exploitation—valuing dharma over bribery.