Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

यत्किञ्चित्कुरुते कर्म शुभं वा यादि वाशुभम् / तेन स्म वर्धते राजा सूक्ष्मतो भृत्यकार्यतः

Transliteration

yatkiñcitkurute karma śubhaṃ vā yādi vāśubham / tena sma vardhate rājā sūkṣmato bhṛtyakāryataḥ

Translation

Whatever action a servant performs—whether auspicious or inauspicious—by that the king’s power and fortune increase subtly, through the work carried out by his attendants.

Word by Word

• yat: whatever
• yat: Karma (Object—correlative/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• kiñcit: anything
• kiñcit: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiñcit (सर्वनाम/अव्ययप्राय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक (some/any)

• kurute: does
• kurute: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• karma: deed/action
• karma: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• śubham: good
• śubham: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (karmaṇi)

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

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (Condition marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक (if)

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

• aśubham: bad/inauspicious
• aśubham: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (karmaṇi)

• tena: by that/thereby
• tena: Karana (Instrument/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• sma: indeed/just
• sma: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्मृत्यर्थ/अनुवादक (emphatic particle, often with present)

• vardhate: grows/prospers
• vardhate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛdh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• sūkṣmataḥ: subtly/in detail
• sūkṣmataḥ: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb: subtly/in detail)

• bhṛtya-kāryataḥ: due to the servants’ work
• bhṛtya-kāryataḥ: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhṛtya + kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb: from/through servants’ work); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (bhṛtyasya kāryam)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The king accrues outcomes through delegated action; attendants’ good or bad deeds subtly amplify or diminish royal prosperity and power.

Vedantic Theme: Karma operates through instruments (nimitta); agency is distributed, yet responsibility adheres to the principal (kartṛ-bhāva in governance).

Application: Leaders must cultivate ethical culture, supervision, and training; delegate with accountability because others’ actions reflect back on the institution.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: palace/administrative apparatus

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.112 (sequence on servants/ministers and royal fortune)

Characters & Entities

• Rājā (king)
• Bhṛtya (servant/attendant)

FAQs

What is the importance of karma and delegated action in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that karma operates even through delegated work: a leader benefits (or is impacted) subtly through the deeds performed by those acting under his authority.

How does this verse explain subtle (sūkṣma) karmic influence?

It states that the king’s increase happens ‘subtly’—not always visibly—because outcomes and merit/demerit can accrue through the actions executed by attendants in the king’s sphere.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose ethical agents and systems: leaders, employers, and heads of families should ensure those acting on their behalf follow dharma, since their actions shape outcomes for the whole.