Shloka 2

Sevaka-parīkṣā (Testing and Appointment of Servants) and Rājadharma Outcomes

Devanagari script

भृत्ये परिक्षणं वक्ष्ये यस्ययस्य हि यो गुणः / तमिमं संप्रवक्ष्यामि ये यथाकथितं किल

Transliteration

bhṛtye parikṣaṇaṃ vakṣye yasyayasya hi yo guṇaḥ / tamimaṃ saṃpravakṣyāmi ye yathākathitaṃ kila

Translation

I shall describe the examination of a servant—what qualities each should possess. Now I will state them precisely, just as they have been handed down in tradition.

Word by Word

• भृत्ये: in/with regard to a servant
• भृत्ये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of reference)

• परिक्षणम्: examination, testing
• परिक्षणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• वक्ष्ये: I shall tell
• वक्ष्ये: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/भविष्यत्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यस्य: of whom/whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• यस्य: of each (one)
• यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (distributive sense)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/हेतु-प्रदर्शन (emphasis/indeed)

• यः: which/that (who)
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृपद (relative pronoun)

• गुणः: quality, virtue
• गुणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय (predicate noun)

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोग (appositional)

• संप्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall explain fully
• संप्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + सम्+प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/भविष्यत्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्गयुक्त

• ये: which (things)
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; कर्तृपद (relative)

• यथा: as, in the manner that
• यथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• आकथितम्: as has been stated
• आकथितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कथ् (धातु) + आ (उपसर्ग) ; आकथित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; 'ये' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• किल: indeed, it is said
• किल: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), प्रसिद्ध्यर्थ/श्रुत्यर्थ (reportedly/indeed)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa/Vinātā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Proper examination and selection of servants according to prescribed qualities.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as social order (loka-saṅgraha) and right action guided by śāstra.

Application: Use clear, tradition-backed criteria when hiring/assigning roles; evaluate character and capability rather than mere claims.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Dharma/ācāra sections): guidance on rājadharma and sadācāra; adjacent verses 1.112.3-6 expand the criteria.

FAQs

What is the importance of examining a servant (bhṛtya-parīkṣaṇa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse introduces a dharmic framework for evaluating a servant’s virtues, emphasizing character-based selection rather than mere utility.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not address the afterlife here; it belongs to the Ācāra (conduct) teachings, setting ethical standards that support righteous living and karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use clear, virtue-focused criteria—trustworthiness, competence, and integrity—when hiring or entrusting responsibilities, aligning work relationships with dharma.