Shloka 15

Characteristics of the King and His Servants

Rāja-dharma, Nīti, and Ethical Revenue

Devanagari script

ओङ्कारशब्दो विप्राणां येन राष्ट्रं प्रवर्धते / स राजा वर्धते योगाद्व्याधिभिश्च न बध्यते

Transliteration

oṅkāraśabdo viprāṇāṃ yena rāṣṭraṃ pravardhate / sa rājā vardhate yogādvyādhibhiśca na badhyate

Translation

Der heilige Laut Oṅkāra, den die Brahmanen bewahren, ist es, wodurch ein Reich gedeiht. Durch jene Disziplin und Heiligkeit wächst der König selbst durch Yoga und wird nicht von Krankheiten gebunden.

Word by Word

• ओङ्कारशब्दः: the sound ‘Oṅkāra’
• ओङ्कारशब्दः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक) + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (oṅkārasya śabdaḥ)

• विप्राणाम्: of the brāhmaṇas
• विप्राणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• राष्ट्रम्: the kingdom/state
• राष्ट्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राष्ट्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रवर्धते: grows, prospers
• प्रवर्धते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• वर्धते: increases, thrives
• वर्धते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• योगात्: from/through yoga (discipline)
• योगात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• व्याधिभिः: by diseases
• व्याधिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• बध्यते: is bound/afflicted
• बध्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra (Oṅkāra) and yogic discipline sustain both political prosperity and bodily health; rulership thrives when aligned with sacred sound and dharmic order.

Vedantic Theme: Praṇava as brahma-pratīka; inner steadiness (yoga) supporting sattva and well-being.

Application: Maintain daily praṇava-japa/recitation with purity; support learned brāhmaṇas and Vedic rites; cultivate yogic restraint to reduce stress and illness in leadership.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: polity/royal court and ritual sphere

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.111 (rājadharma/artha-nīti context: śāstra, treasury, counsel)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmins (Vipras)
• King (Raja)
• Omkara (Oṁ)

FAQs

What is the importance of Oṅkāra (Oṁ) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Oṅkāra as a sustaining sacred principle: when preserved and voiced within dharmic order (especially by vipras), it supports the flourishing of the realm and the well-being of the ruler.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it links spiritual discipline (yoga) and sacred sound (Oṁ) with freedom from bodily affliction, implying that dharmic, yogic living refines one’s condition in embodied life—an important foundation for a calmer transition at death discussed elsewhere in the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a disciplined practice centered on Oṁ (japa/recitation and contemplation) along with ethical governance and respect for learned spiritual guidance; the verse frames this as supportive of social stability, personal flourishing, and resilience against illness.