Shloka 65

Devanagari script

हत्वा नृपानधर्मिष्ठान् घातयित्वार्जुनादिभि: । अञ्जसा वर्तयामास धर्मं धर्मसुतादिभि: ॥ ६५ ॥

Transliteration

hatvā nṛpān adharmiṣṭhān ghāṭayitvārjunādibhiḥ añjasā vartayām āsa dharmaṁ dharma-sutādibhiḥ

Translation

Having killed many kings devoted to adharma and having devotees such as Arjuna slay others, the Lord could easily ensure the rule of dharma through pious rulers like Yudhiṣṭhira.

Synonyms

• hatvā: having slain
• hatvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु) + ktvā (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा), indeclinable (अव्ययवत्) expressing prior action

• nṛpān: kings
• nṛpān: Karma (कर्म/Direct object of hatvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• adharmiṣṭhān: most unrighteous
• adharmiṣṭhān: Karma (कर्म/Direct object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adharmiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); superlative (-iṣṭha) qualifying nṛpān

• ghāṭayitvā: having caused to be slain
• ghāṭayitvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ghaṭ (धातु, causative) + ktvā (कृदन्त)
• Form: Causative absolutive (णिच् + क्त्वा): ghāṭayitvā; indeclinable (अव्ययवत्)

• arjuna-ādibhiḥ: by Arjuna and others
• arjuna-ādibhiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument—agents employed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arjuna (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: arjuna-ādi (अर्जुनादि); Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• añjasā: straightforwardly, easily
• añjasā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: añjas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial instrumental (तृतीयान्त-प्रयोगः) functioning as avyaya; manner adverb

• vartayām: maintained, set in motion
• vartayām: Karta (कर्ता/finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद); causative stem vartaya-

• āsa: did, was (aux.)
• āsa: Karta (कर्ता/auxiliary)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद); auxiliary with vartayām āsa (periphrastic)

• dharmam: dharma, righteousness
• dharmam: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dharma-suta-ādibhiḥ: by Yudhiṣṭhira and others
• dharma-suta-ādibhiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument—through whom)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma-suta (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound: dharma-suta-ādi (धर्मसुतादि; dharma-suta = Yudhiṣṭhira); Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

Purport

Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Eighty-ninth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna Retrieve a Brāhmaṇa’s Sons.”

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmasuta)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about removing adharmic rulers to protect dharma?

This verse states that irreligious kings were destroyed and that dharma was re-established through righteous leaders like Yudhiṣṭhira, with divine guidance working through devoted heroes such as Arjuna.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī mention Arjuna and Yudhiṣṭhira together in this verse?

He highlights how divine purpose is fulfilled through devotees: Arjuna and other warriors execute the necessary protection of society, while Yudhiṣṭhira—known as Dharmasuta—embodies the restoration and steady rule of dharma.

How can the teaching of this shloka be applied in modern life?

Support and practice dharma by resisting injustice, choosing ethical leadership, and acting decisively yet responsibly—so that righteousness is not only defended but also established through steady, principled conduct.