Shloka 24

Bhṛgu Tests the Trimūrti; Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna Visit Mahā-Viṣṇu and Recover the Brāhmaṇa’s Sons

Devanagari script

हिंसाविहारं नृपतिं दु:शीलमजितेन्द्रियम् । प्रजा भजन्त्य: सीदन्ति दरिद्रा नित्यदु:खिता: ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

hiṁsā-vihāraṁ nṛpatiṁ duḥśīlam ajitendriyam prajā bhajantyaḥ sīdanti daridrā nitya-duḥkhitāḥ

Translation

Citizens who serve a wicked king—one who delights in violence and cannot master his senses—are doomed to poverty and unceasing misery.

Synonyms

• हिंसाविहारम्: one who sports in violence
• हिंसाविहारम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिंसा-विहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (नृपतिम्); तत्पुरुष-समास (हिंसायाः विहारः)

• नृपतिम्: the king
• नृपतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (नॄणां पतिः)

• दुःशीलम्: ill-natured
• दुःशीलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुः-शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (दुष्टं शीलं यस्य)

• अजितेन्द्रियम्: one who has not conquered his senses
• अजितेन्द्रियम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-जित-इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; नञ्-तत्पुरुष (अजितानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य)

• प्रजाः: the subjects/people
• प्रजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• भजन्त्यः: serving/worshipping
• भजन्त्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; प्रजाः इति कर्तृविशेषण (while serving)

• सीदन्ति: suffer/decline
• सीदन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• दरिद्राः: poor
• दरिद्राः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दरिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (प्रजाः इत्यत्र स्त्रीलिङ्गेऽपि सामान्यविशेषण-प्रयोगः), प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• नित्यदुःखिताः: always distressed
• नित्यदुःखिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य-दुःखित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण; कर्मधारय-समास (नित्यं दुःखिताः)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about a violent and immoral king?

It warns that when a ruler delights in violence, lacks good conduct, and cannot control his senses, the people who depend on him become degraded—falling into poverty and constant misery.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the suffering of citizens under an adharmic ruler?

To highlight rajadharma: the king’s character directly shapes the welfare of society. When leadership is driven by cruelty and sense-gratification, the subjects inevitably suffer.

Practical application: what is the modern lesson of this Bhagavatam verse?

Choose and support leadership—personal or societal—that is self-controlled and nonviolent in intent; otherwise, collective well-being declines and suffering increases.