Shloka 19

Devanagari script

प्रभवार्थ हि भूतानां धर्म: सृष्ट: स्वयम्भुवा । तस्मात्‌ प्रवर्तयेद्‌ धर्म प्रजानुग्रहकारणात्‌

Transliteration

prabhavārtha hi bhūtānāṃ dharmaḥ sṛṣṭaḥ svayambhuvā | tasmāt pravartayed dharmaṃ prajānugrahakāraṇāt ||

Translation

Zum Wohl und Gedeihen der Wesen schuf der Selbstgeborene (Brahmā) den Dharma. Darum soll ein König den Dharma in Gang setzen — ihn fördern und fest begründen —, damit seine Untertanen durch gerechte Herrschaft geschützt und begünstigt werden.

Word by Word

• प्रभव-अर्थम्: for the origin/purpose (of origin)
• प्रभव-अर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभव-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• भूतानाम्: of beings/creatures
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• धर्मः: dharma/righteous order
• धर्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सृष्टः: created/ordained
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु) / सृष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• स्वयम्भुवा: by the Self-born (Brahmā)
• स्वयम्भुवा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयम्भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• प्रवर्तयेत्: should set in motion/should promote
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वृत् (धातु) (प्रवर्तयति-कारण)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• धर्मम्: dharma
• धर्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रजा-अनुग्रह-कारणात्: because of (as) the cause of favoring the subjects
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा-अनुग्रह-कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

Speaker

उतथ्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Utathya
• Svayambhū (Brahmā)
• Dharma
• Prajā (subjects/people)
• Rājā (king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is not merely personal piety but a divinely instituted principle meant for the flourishing of all beings; hence rulers have a duty to actively uphold and propagate Dharma for the welfare of their subjects.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, the sage Utathya instructs on righteous governance, emphasizing that since Brahmā created Dharma for universal welfare, a king must promote Dharma within his realm as an act of benevolent protection of the people.