Shloka 28

Madātyaya Nidāna and Lakṣaṇa: Liquor’s Qualities, Tridoṣa Presentations, and Fainting Signs

Devanagari script

तमश्चिराच्च बुध्ये हृदुरः सुप्रसेकवान् / गुरुभिस्तिमितै (रै) रङ्गे राजधर्मावबन्धान् (वत्)

Transliteration

tamaścirācca budhye hṛduraḥ suprasekavān / gurubhistimitai (rai) raṅge rājadharmāvabandhān (vat)

Translation

After a long time, that darkness is understood; the heart grows heavy and drenched. In the assembly, amid grave and motionless elders, the bonds of rāja-dharma—royal duty—are grasped, as though binding one fast.

Word by Word

• तमः: darkness; stupor
• तमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• चिरात्: after a long time
• चिरात्: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• बुध्ये: I awaken/understand
• बुध्ये: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; धातु: बुध् (to know/awaken)

• हृदुरः: hard-hearted; dull
• हृदुरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृदुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• सुप्रसेकवान्: having excessive salivation/flow
• सुप्रसेकवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-प्रसेकवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः उपसर्ग-पूर्वपद (सु) + प्रसेकवत्; विशेषण

• गुरुभिः: by heavy/serious (ones)
• गुरुभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (instrumental)

• तिमितैः: by stiff/immobile (ones)
• तिमितैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तिमित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण; (timitá = stiff/immobile)

• रै: (uncertain reading)
• रै: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: र (प्रातिपदिक?)
• Form: पाठभेद/अस्पष्ट; सम्भाव्य तृतीया बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• रङ्गे: in the arena/stage
• रङ्गे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• राजधर्मावबन्धान्: the restraints/bonds of royal duty
• राजधर्मावबन्धान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजधर्म-अवबन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (राजधर्मस्य) + अवबन्ध; कर्मपद

• वत्: like; as if
• वत्: Sambandha (Comparison/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वत् (अव्यय/तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (like/as)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra) [attribution based on standard Garuda Purana dialogue frame; verse text is corrupt/uncertain]

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rāja-dharma is experienced as a binding constraint that must be consciously grasped amid elders and tradition.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-tamas as obscuration; dharma as a regulating force that disciplines the mind and action within society.

Application: Treat leadership obligations as deliberate vows: consult elders/mentors, recognize the weight of decisions, and act from duty rather than impulse.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: court/सभा

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: rāja-dharma/ācāra discussions in Dharma-kāṇḍa sections (general parallel)

FAQs

What is the importance of rāja-dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights rāja-dharma as a binding obligation—duty is not optional, and conscience awakens painfully when one realizes the weight of moral law.

How does this verse explain inner awakening or remorse?

It portrays delayed understanding—darkness (ignorance) clears only after time, leading to heaviness of heart, suggesting the psychological and karmic pressure of neglected duty.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do not postpone ethical decisions; act according to duty and justice early, because delayed realization often arrives with emotional burden and regret.