Shloka 21

Dialogue of Father and Son (Pitṛputra-saṃvāda) — Mohinī Episode

Devanagari script

कच्चित्पासि प्रजाः सर्वाः कच्चिद्दण्डयसे रिपून् । न्यायागतेन वित्तेन कोशं पुत्र बिभर्षि च ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

kaccitpāsi prajāḥ sarvāḥ kacciddaṇḍayase ripūn | nyāyāgatena vittena kośaṃ putra bibharṣi ca || 21 ||

Translation

Mein Sohn, schützt du wahrhaft alle deine Untertanen? Bestrafst du deine Feinde, wie es recht ist? Und, mein Sohn, erhältst du die königliche Schatzkammer mit Reichtum, der auf rechtmäßigem und gerechtem Wege erworben wurde?

Word by Word

• कच्चित्: is it the case that...?
• कच्चित्: प्रश्न-निपात (Interrogative/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक-निपात (interrogative particle: 'whether?')

• पासि: you protect
• पासि: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; you protect

• प्रजाः: the subjects
• प्रजाः: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; subjects/people

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; agrees with प्रजाः

• कच्चित्: whether
• कच्चित्: प्रश्न-निपात (Interrogative/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक-निपात

• दण्डयसे: you punish
• दण्डयसे: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दण्डय् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; you punish

• रिपून्: enemies
• रिपून्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; enemies

• न्यायागतेन: by lawfully obtained
• न्यायागतेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न्याय + आगत (प्रातिपदिक; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (न्यायेन आगतम्) 'obtained by justice'

• वित्तेन: with wealth
• वित्तेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; wealth

• कोशम्: the treasury
• कोशम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; treasury

• पुत्र: O son
• पुत्र: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन; O son

• बिभर्षि: you maintain
• बिभर्षि: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; you maintain/bear

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada as 'putra' in a teaching inquiry on rajadharma)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It frames kingship as a dharmic trust: protection of the people, disciplined use of force (daṇḍa), and purity of livelihood—wealth must be acquired through nyāya (justice), making governance a spiritual duty rather than mere power.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

While not explicitly naming bhakti, it supports Vishnu-bhakti indirectly by insisting on righteous conduct: a ruler who protects beings and avoids unjust gain aligns with dharma, which the Purana treats as a foundation for devotion and divine grace.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes nīti and dharma-śāstra style governance rather than a specific Vedanga; practically, it points to disciplined administration (daṇḍa) and lawful revenue (nyāyāgata-vitta) as core applied knowledge for rulers.