Shloka 29

Characteristics of the King and His Servants

Rāja-dharma, Nīti, and Ethical Revenue

Devanagari script

लीलां करोति यो राजा भृत्यस्वजनगर्वितः / शासने सर्वदा क्षिप्रं रिपुभिः परिभूयते

Transliteration

līlāṃ karoti yo rājā bhṛtyasvajanagarvitaḥ / śāsane sarvadā kṣipraṃ ripubhiḥ paribhūyate

Translation

Jener König, der die Herrschaft nur als Zeitvertreib betreibt, aufgebläht vor Stolz auf Diener und Verwandte, wird in Angelegenheiten der Regierung stets rasch von seinen Feinden gedemütigt.

Word by Word

• लीलाम्: sport/levity
• लीलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• करोति: does
• करोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक

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

• भृत्य-स्वजन-गर्वितः: proud of his servants and relatives
• भृत्य-स्वजन-गर्वितः: Adjective of subject (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वजन (प्रातिपदिक) + गर्वित (√गर्व्, क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भृत्यैः स्वजनैश्च गर्वितः = proud because of servants and kinsmen)

• शासने: in governance/discipline
• शासने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• क्षिप्रम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• रिपुभिः: by enemies
• रिपुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• परिभूयते: is overpowered/defeated
• परिभूयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + √भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense) ‘is overpowered/insulted’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (to Garuda/Vinata-putra) — general dharma instruction (speaker attribution follows the predominant Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A king who treats rule as sport, inflated by pride in servants and kinsmen, is quickly overpowered and humiliated by enemies in governance.

Vedantic Theme: Ahamkara and pramada lead to downfall; dharma requires vigilance and humility.

Application: Treat leadership as responsibility; avoid nepotism and overreliance on inner circle; maintain preparedness, intelligence, and accountability.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: polity/realm of rule

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: nīti counsel warning against pramada, garva, and reliance on flatterers; emphasis on swift consequences in rājadharma

FAQs

What is the importance of rajadharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that rulership is a serious dharmic duty, not entertainment; pride and complacency in administration invite defeat and dishonor.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing dharma in one’s role, it implies that negligence and arrogance create harmful karma, shaping future suffering rather than spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat authority and responsibility as service, not ego; stay disciplined, avoid overreliance on “your people,” and remain vigilant against ethical lapses that lead to downfall.