Shloka 36

Adhyaya 28 — Alarka Inquires into Varna and Ashrama Dharma; Madalasa Defines the Fourfold Duties

Sanskrit

तस्माद्राज्ञा प्रयत्नेन सर्वे वर्णाः स्वधर्मतः ।

प्रवर्तन्तोऽन्यथा दण्ड्याः स्थाप्याश्चैव स्वकर्मसु ॥

Transliteration

tasmād rājñā prayatnena sarve varṇāḥ svadharmataḥ | pravartanto 'nyathā daṇḍyāḥ sthāpyāś caiva svakarmasu ||

Translation

Darum muss der König sich bemühen, dass alle gesellschaftlichen Stände gemäß ihren eigenen Pflichten handeln; wer anders handelt, ist zu bestrafen und zudem wieder in seine rechte Arbeit zurückzuführen.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति निपातवत् (indeclinable-like) हेत्वर्थे/तस्मादर्थे (therefore)

• राज्ञा: by the king
• राज्ञा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्तृकरणभावे (by the king)

• प्रयत्नेन: with effort
• प्रयत्नेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; साधन/उपाय (with effort)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; वर्णाः इत्यस्य विशेषण

• वर्णाः: social classes (varṇas)
• वर्णाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• स्वधर्मतः: according to their own duty
• स्वधर्मतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) = स्वधर्मात्; ‘according to/from one’s own duty’

• प्रवर्तन्तः: engaging (in it)
• प्रवर्तन्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-वृत् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; वर्णाः इत्यस्य विशेषण (those acting/engaging)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय (adverb)

• दण्ड्याः: to be punished
• दण्ड्याः: Karya (कार्य/Obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दण्ड्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-योग्यतार्थक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• स्थाप्याः: to be established/placed
• स्थाप्याः: Karya (कार्य/Obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + ण्यत्/यत् (कृदन्त; gerundive)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• स्वकर्मसु: in their own duties/works
• स्वकर्मसु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य कर्मसु)

Speakers

• Madālasā instructing (to her son Alarka) within the Putrānuśāsana discourse

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "dharma", "secondaryRasa": "vira", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Rājadharma
• Social order
• Justice (daṇḍa)
• Varṇāśrama

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Rule is defined as responsibility: the king must not merely punish but also correct—restoring people to rightful conduct. Justice is rehabilitative as well as deterrent, aiming at dharmic stability.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Didactic dharma material within Purāṇic narration; it supports vaṃśānucarita/ideal kingship ethics rather than directly presenting cosmology or genealogies.

What is the esoteric significance?

Daṇḍa (punitive power) is treated as a sacred instrument that preserves ṛta/dharma. When used with ‘prayatna’ (disciplined effort), it becomes a stabilizing force that protects both society and the ruler’s own spiritual standing.