Shloka 24

Characteristics of the King and His Servants

Rāja-dharma, Nīti, and Ethical Revenue

Devanagari script

धीराः कष्टमनुप्राप्य न भवन्ति विषादिनः / प्रविश्य वदनं राहोः किं नोदति पुनः शशी

Transliteration

dhīrāḥ kaṣṭamanuprāpya na bhavanti viṣādinaḥ / praviśya vadanaṃ rāhoḥ kiṃ nodati punaḥ śaśī

Translation

Die Standhaften werden, selbst wenn sie Mühsal erfahren, nicht von Verzagtheit ergriffen. Steigt der Mond nicht wieder empor, nachdem er in Rāhus Rachen eingegangen ist?

Word by Word

• धीराः: the steadfast/wise
• धीराः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कष्टम्: hardship
• कष्टम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनुप्राप्य: having encountered
• अनुप्राप्य: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनु-प्र-√आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• भवन्ति: become/are
• भवन्ति: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• विषादिनः: despondent
• विषादिनः: Karta-dharma (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• प्रविश्य: having entered
• प्रविश्य: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-√विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• वदनम्: mouth/face
• वदनम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• राहोः: of Rāhu
• राहोः: Sambandha (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• किम्: what?/why?
• किम्: Prashna (Interrogative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• उदति: rises
• उदति: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √उद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (again)

• शशी: the moon
• शशी: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशिन्/शशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, traditional dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: धैर्य: the wise do not sink into विषाद; adversity is transient like the moon’s eclipse and re-emergence.

Vedantic Theme: अनित्यता of conditions; steadfastness (धृति) and trust in order (धर्म/ऋत) amid परिवर्तन.

Application: When facing setbacks, remember cyclic recovery: maintain effort, avoid despair, and wait for conditions to clear while acting prudently.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial phenomenon (eclipse metaphor)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana moral similes: natural/cosmic examples used to teach steadiness and dharma

Characters & Entities

• Rahu
• Shashi (Moon)

FAQs

What is the importance of steadfastness (dhairya) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse praises the dhīra—one who remains steady in distress—teaching that despair is not the response of the spiritually mature; difficulties pass like an eclipse.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By using the eclipse metaphor, it implies that dark phases in experience are temporary; one should hold to dharma and clarity, trusting that relief and right order return again.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When facing loss, fear, or setbacks, avoid collapse into hopelessness; keep disciplined action and faith, remembering that even intense phases subside, as the moon reappears after Rāhu.