Shloka 9

Devanagari script

समस्तस्मृतिशास्त्रज्ञः पण्डितो ऽथ जितेन्द्रियः / शौर्यवीर्यगुणोपेतो धर्माध्यक्षो विधीयते

Transliteration

samastasmṛtiśāstrajñaḥ paṇḍito 'tha jitendriyaḥ / śauryavīryaguṇopeto dharmādhyakṣo vidhīyate

Translation

One learned in the entire corpus of Smṛti and śāstras, truly wise and self-controlled, and endowed with valor, strength, and noble qualities—such a person is appointed as dharmādhyakṣa, the superintendent of dharma (judge of righteousness).

Word by Word

• समस्तस्मृतिशास्त्रज्ञः: knower of all smṛti-texts and śāstras
• समस्तस्मृतिशास्त्रज्ञः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (समस्तानि स्मृतिशास्त्राणि जानाति) (Masculine, Nominative singular; tatpurusha)

• पण्डितः: scholar
• पण्डितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण्डित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative singular)

• अथ: then, moreover
• अथ: Sambandha/Discourse marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक/प्रस्तावार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable: then/now)

• जितेन्द्रियः: self-controlled
• जितेन्द्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (कृदन्त; √जि (धातु) + क्त) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (जितानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य) (Masculine, Nominative singular)

• शौर्यवीर्यगुणोपेतः: endowed with valor, vigor, and virtues
• शौर्यवीर्यगुणोपेतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शौर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + उपेत (कृदन्त; √इ (धातु) + उप + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (शौर्यवीर्यगुणैः उपेतः) (Masculine, Nominative singular; instrumental tatpurusha)

• धर्माध्यक्षः: superintendent of dharma, judge
• धर्माध्यक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अध्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धर्मस्य अध्यक्षः) (Masculine, Nominative singular)

• विधीयते: is appointed/ordained
• विधीयते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धा (धातु) + वि; विधीयते
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma-administration requires both śāstra-jñāna and character: self-control plus courage to uphold righteousness.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as an expression of cosmic order; sattva and tapas support right discernment (viveka) in governance.

Application: For judges/ethics officers: ensure deep literacy in norms, personal restraint, and moral courage; competence without character is insufficient.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: court/assembly (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring stress on dharma as adjudicated by learned, self-controlled authorities (general internal parallel)

FAQs

What is the importance of appointing a dharmādhyakṣa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that dharma must be protected through qualified oversight—someone learned in Smṛti-śāstra, self-controlled, and virtuous—so that justice aligns with sacred law rather than personal bias.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it supports the idea that moral order (dharma) is administered through competent authority; such order shapes karma and accountability, which in Garuda Purana frames the soul’s post-death consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose or become leaders and decision-makers who combine scriptural/ethical literacy with self-discipline and courage—especially in roles involving judgment, law, and community guidance.