Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

षण्मासमथ वर्षं वा सन्धिं कुर्यान्नराधिपः / पश्यन्सञ्चितमात्मानं पुनः शत्रुं निपातयेत्

Transliteration

ṣaṇmāsamatha varṣaṃ vā sandhiṃ kuryānnarādhipaḥ / paśyansañcitamātmānaṃ punaḥ śatruṃ nipātayet

Translation

A king should make a truce for six months or even for a year; and, seeing his own strength and resources well amassed, he should then strike down the enemy again.

Word by Word

• ṣaṇmāsam: six months (duration)
• ṣaṇmāsam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṇmāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (ṣaṭ + māsa)

• atha: or else/then
• atha: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/विकल्पसूचक (then/alternatively)

• varṣam: a year
• varṣam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• sandhim: treaty/peace
• sandhim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sandhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• kuryāt: should make
• kuryāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• narādhipaḥ: the king (lord of men)
• narādhipaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (narāṇām adhipaḥ)

• paśyan: seeing
• paśyan: Karta (Agent participle/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: paś (धातु) + śatṛ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• sañcitam: accumulated/collected
• sañcitam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sañcita (कृदन्त; saṃ + ci धातु)
• Form: भूतकृत (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• ātmānam: himself/one’s own forces (self)
• ātmānam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक (again)

• śatrum: enemy
• śatrum: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• nipātayet: should strike down/bring down
• nipātayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + pat (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative sense: cause to fall)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within a didactic discourse on rāja-dharma and strategy)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rāja-nīti: temporary conciliation (sandhi) as a means to gather strength, followed by appropriate action against an enemy.

Vedantic Theme: Pragmatic dharma in governance; disciplined control of impulses (indriya-nigraha) applied to political action.

Application: In leadership, pause to consolidate resources and intelligence; act decisively only when conditions are favorable, avoiding impulsive conflict.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: royal court/kingdom

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.112 (rāja-dharma/nīti context)

FAQs

What is the importance of sandhi (truce) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames sandhi as a strategic, time-bound peace used to rebuild and consolidate one’s strength before re-engaging an adversary.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not address the soul’s journey or afterlife themes here; it belongs to a rāja-dharma/statecraft instruction emphasizing prudence and timing in conflict.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use pauses and negotiated “cooling-off” periods to rebuild capacity—skills, resources, alliances—before taking decisive action in competitive or adversarial situations.