Shloka 89

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

त्रिविधं क्षत्रियस्यापि प्राहुर्वैशेषिकं धनम् / शुद्धार्थं लब्धकरजं दण्डाप्तं जयजं तथा

Transliteration

trividhaṃ kṣatriyasyāpi prāhurvaiśeṣikaṃ dhanam / śuddhārthaṃ labdhakarajaṃ daṇḍāptaṃ jayajaṃ tathā

Translation

They declare that even for a Kṣatriya there are three distinctive kinds of wealth: pure and rightful wealth, wealth obtained as taxes and revenue, and wealth gained through penalties and also through victory in war.

Word by Word

• त्रिविधम्: threefold
• त्रिविधम्: Karma/Pratipādya (Object/Topic)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि-विद (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + विध)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• क्षत्रियस्य: of a Kshatriya
• क्षत्रियस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवादबोधक-अव्यय (particle: 'also/even')

• प्राहुः: they say
• प्राहुः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम् (perfect, 3rd person plural, parasmaipada)

• वैशेषिकम्: special/particular
• वैशेषिकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैशेषिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• शुद्धार्थम्: pure in purpose/means
• शुद्धार्थम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; शुद्ध + अर्थ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (neuter nom/acc sg)

• लब्धकरजम्: obtained as tax/revenue
• लब्धकरजम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लब्ध-करज (प्रातिपदिक; लब्ध + करज)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (neuter nom/acc sg)

• दण्डाप्तम्: obtained through fines/punishment
• दण्डाप्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दण्ड-आप्त (प्रातिपदिक; दण्ड + आप्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• जयजम्: born of victory (war-gains)
• जयजम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जय-ज (प्रातिपदिक; जय + ज)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• तथा: likewise/and also
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'thus/likewise')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kṣatriya’s distinctive wealth arises from rightful resources, taxation, penalties, and victory—within the bounds of justice.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as regulator of power (śakti) and artha; righteous force as a duty when aligned with protection of order.

Application: Governance must keep revenue and penalties lawful and proportionate; war gains are legitimate only under dharmic conduct and just cause.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.90-91 (vaiśya wealth; restrictions for dvija)

Characters & Entities

• Kshatriya

FAQs

What is the importance of classifying a Kshatriya’s wealth in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines which sources of royal wealth are considered legitimate—righteous earnings, tax revenue, and wealth from lawful punishment and victory—so governance remains aligned with dharma rather than greed.

How does this verse relate to dharma and moral governance?

By listing taxes and penalties as recognized forms of wealth only when grounded in purity and justice, the text implies limits: revenue and danda must be collected lawfully and ethically, not oppressively.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat income and authority as accountable: earn honestly, collect dues fairly, enforce rules proportionately, and avoid profiteering from power—wealth is dharmic only when its means are clean.