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Shloka 20

Sevaka-parīkṣā (Testing and Appointment of Servants) and Rājadharma Outcomes

Devanagari script

क्षान्तिस्तयविहीनश्च क्रूरबुद्धिश्च निन्दकः / दाम्भिकः कपटी चैव शठश्च स्पृहयान्वितः / अशक्तो भयभीतश्च राज्ञा त्यक्तव्य एव सः

Transliteration

kṣāntistayavihīnaśca krūrabuddhiśca nindakaḥ / dāmbhikaḥ kapaṭī caiva śaṭhaśca spṛhayānvitaḥ / aśakto bhayabhītaśca rājñā tyaktavya eva saḥ

Translation

Wer Geduld und Großmut entbehrt, grausamen Sinnes ist und zum Verleumden neigt; heuchlerisch und trügerisch, verschlagen und von Gier getrieben; untüchtig und furchtsam—einen solchen soll der König wahrlich verstoßen.

Word by Word
क्षान्तिforbearance
क्षान्ति:
Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
TypeNoun
Rootक्षान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासपूर्वपदम् — Feminine, Nominative, Singular; prior member in compound
दयcompassion
दय:
Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
TypeNoun
Rootदय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासपूर्वपदम् — (commonly feminine) Nominative Singular; prior member
विहीनःdevoid (of)
विहीनः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootविहीन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) < वि + √हा (धातु)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्षान्तिदयविहीन (द्वन्द्व-समाहार-आधारितः: क्षान्त्या दयया च विहीनः) — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; lacking forbearance and compassion
चand
च:
Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्ययम् — and
क्रूरcruel
क्रूर:
Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootक्रूर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमासपूर्वपदम् — prior member in compound
बुद्धिः(one with) cruel mind
बुद्धिः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootबुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रूरबुद्धिः (तत्पुरुषः/कर्मधारयः: क्रूरा बुद्धिः यस्य) — Feminine, Nominative, Singular; compound used as adjective for a person
चand
च:
Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्ययम् — and
निन्दकःslanderer/critic
निन्दकः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootनिन्दक (प्रातिपदिक) < √निन्द् (धातु)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular
दाम्भिकःhypocritical/pretentious
दाम्भिकः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootदाम्भिक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् — Masculine, Nominative, Singular
कपटीdeceitful
कपटी:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootकपटी (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् — Masculine, Nominative, Singular
चand
च:
Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्ययम् — and
एवindeed
एव:
Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअवधारण-अव्ययम् — emphasis
शठःrogue/knave
शठः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootशठ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular
चand
च:
Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्ययम् — and
स्पृहयाwith greed/longing
स्पृहया:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootस्पृहा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन — Feminine, Instrumental, Singular
अन्वितःaccompanied/possessed
अन्वितः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootअन्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) < अनु + √इ (धातु)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; स्पृहयान्वितः (तत्पुरुषः: स्पृहया अन्वितः) — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; accompanied by greed
अशक्तःincapable/weak
अशक्तः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootअशक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् — Masculine, Nominative, Singular
भयfear
भय:
Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
TypeNoun
Rootभय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमासपूर्वपदम् — prior member in compound
भीतःfrightened
भीतः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootभीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) < √भी (धातु)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भयभीतः (तत्पुरुषः: भयेन भीतः) — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; afraid due to fear
चand
च:
Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्ययम् — and
राज्ञाby the king
राज्ञा:
Karta (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootराजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (कर्ता/करण), एकवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Singular; agent in passive construction
त्यक्तव्यःto be abandoned
त्यक्तव्यः:
Karya (Obligation/विधेय)
TypeAdjective
Rootत्यक्तव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) < √त्यज् (धातु)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेयकृदन्त (तव्यत्), कर्मणि-भावः — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; gerundive 'to be abandoned'
एवcertainly
एव:
Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअवधारण-अव्ययम् — emphasis
सःhe (such a one)
सः:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adharma traits (cruelty, slander, hypocrisy, deceit, greed, incompetence, fearfulness) disqualify one from royal service; the king must abandon such persons.

Vedantic Theme: Tamas/rajas dominance leads to social harm; dharma requires discrimination (viveka) and protective action for loka-saṅgraha.

Application: Governance and management: implement integrity screening, anti-corruption measures, and remove persistently toxic, deceitful, or incompetent actors from positions of trust.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: royal administration/court (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.112 (dosha-list for servants; king’s duty to reject)

FAQs

This verse frames rajadharma as moral discernment: a ruler must protect the realm by rejecting advisors and associates who are cruel, greedy, deceitful, and fearful, since such traits undermine justice and stability.

Indirectly, it supports the Purana’s karmic ethic: inner qualities like cruelty, hypocrisy, and greed are adharma that lead to harmful actions and negative karmic outcomes, which the text elsewhere connects to post-death consequences.

Choose close collaborators carefully—avoid chronic slander, hypocrisy, deceit, and greed; cultivate patience and generosity, and build relationships with people who strengthen integrity and courage.

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