Shloka 5

Devanagari script

एष वै लोकपालानां बिभर्त्येकस्तनौ तनू: । काले काले यथाभागं लोकयोरुभयोर्हितम् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

eṣa vai loka-pālānāṁ bibharty ekas tanau tanūḥ kāle kāle yathā-bhāgaṁ lokayor ubhayor hitam

Translation

This King alone, within his own body, will at various times uphold the functions of the world-protectors, manifesting diverse forms to carry out their respective duties for the welfare of both realms.

Synonyms

• eṣaḥ: this (king)
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमाविभक्ति, एकवचन

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• loka-pālānām: of the world-protectors (guardians)
• loka-pālānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/of ...)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘protectors of the worlds’), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति, बहुवचन

• bibharti: bears/sustains
• bibharti: Kriya (क्रिया/finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ekaḥ: alone/single
• ekaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमाविभक्ति, एकवचन

• tanau: in (his) body
• tanau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/in his body)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमीविभक्ति, एकवचन

• tanūḥ: bodies/forms
• tanūḥ: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीयाविभक्ति, बहुवचन

• kāle: at (each) time
• kāle: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/at time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमीविभक्ति, एकवचन (reduplicated for distributive sense)

• kāle: at time
• kāle: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमीविभक्ति, एकवचन (repetition: ‘from time to time’)

• yathā-bhāgam: according to due portion
• yathā-bhāgam: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (adverbial: ‘according to share/portion’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीयाविभक्ति, एकवचन (used adverbially)

• lokayoḥ: of the two (realms/parties)
• lokayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/of the two worlds/sides)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति, द्विवचन (Dual)

• ubhayor: of both
• ubhayor: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/of both)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-प्रयोग, षष्ठीविभक्ति, द्विवचन (Dual)

• hitam: welfare/benefit
• hitam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (कृदन्त, √dhā with hi- prefix sense ‘placed/beneficial’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीयाविभक्ति, एकवचन (used as noun: welfare)

Purport

The demigods in charge of the various departmental activities that maintain this world are but assistants to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When an incarnation of Godhead descends to this planet, demigods like the sun-god, the moon-god or the King of heaven, Indra, all join Him. Consequently the incarnation of Godhead is able to act for the departmental demigods to keep the planetary systems in order. The protection of the earthly planet is dependent on proper rainfall, and as stated in Bhagavad-gītā and other scriptures, sacrifices are performed to please those demigods who are in charge of rainfall:

Characters & Entities

• Pṛthu Mahārāja
• Lokapālas (guardians of the worlds)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the duty of a king to protect the world?

This verse says an ideal ruler embodies the functions of the world’s guardians and, at the right times, ensures proper allotment and welfare for both realms—governing as a protector, not an exploiter.

Why is Pṛthu Mahārāja compared to the lokapālas in Bhagavatam Canto 4?

Because his righteous rule is described as carrying the responsibilities of multiple cosmic administrators—maintaining order, distribution, and protection—reflecting comprehensive, dharmic leadership.

Practical application of “lokayoḥ ubhayor hitam” in modern life?

Act with responsibility that benefits both sides—self and society, present and future—by distributing resources fairly and making timely decisions guided by duty and compassion.