Shloka 36

Aṃśāvataraṇa-kathana (Catalog of Divine/Asuric Portions in Human Births) — Chapter 61

Devanagari script

वशे शस्त्रप्रतापेन कुर्वन्तो5न्यान्‌ महीभूत: । एवं धर्मप्रधानास्ते सत्यव्रतपरायणा:

Transliteration

vaśe śastrapratāpena kurvanto 'nyān mahībhūtaḥ | evaṁ dharmapradhānās te satyavrataparāyaṇāḥ ||

Translation

Durch die schiere Macht und den Glanz ihrer Waffen brachten jene Könige andere unter ihre Herrschaft. Doch standen sie in der Dharma an erster Stelle—standhaft in Wahrheitsgelübden und dem rechten Wandel ergeben.

Word by Word

• वशे: in (their) control
• वशे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• शस्त्रप्रतापेन: by the might of weapons
• शस्त्रप्रतापेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्रप्रताप
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• कुर्वन्तः: doing / making
• कुर्वन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Present (participle), Plural, Masculine, Nominative

• अन्यान्: others
• अन्यान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• महीभूताः: having become (lords of) the earth / earth-possessing
• महीभूताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महीभूत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• धर्मप्रधानाः: having dharma as foremost
• धर्मप्रधानाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मप्रधान
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सत्यव्रतपरायणाः: devoted to vows of truth
• सत्यव्रतपरायणाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्यव्रतपरायण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• mahībhūtaḥ (kings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Political and martial power is acknowledged, but it is ethically framed: ideal rulers may subdue others through strength, yet remain dharma-centered and unwavering in truth.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana describes earth-ruling kings who, through martial prowess, bring others into subjection, while emphasizing their character—devotion to dharma and steadfast truthfulness.