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Shloka 28

त्रिवर्गमूलनिश्चयः — Determining the Roots of Dharma, Artha, and Kāma

Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 123

धनानां राक्षसानां च कुबेरमपि चेश्वरम्‌ । पर्वतानां पतिं मेरुं सरितां च महोदधिम्‌,कुबेरको धन और राक्षसोंका, सुमेरुको पर्वतोंका और महासागरको सरिताओंका स्वामी बना दिया

dhanānāṃ rākṣasānāṃ ca kuberaṃ api ceśvaram | parvatānāṃ patiṃ meruṃ saritāṃ ca mahodadhim ||

Vasuharoma said: He appointed Kubera as the sovereign over wealth and over the Rākṣasas; he made Meru the lord of mountains, and the great ocean the master of rivers. The verse underscores a moral vision of cosmic order: authority is distributed according to fitness and function, so that the world is sustained through rightful governance and clear domains.

धनानाम्of riches/wealth
धनानाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootधन
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
राक्षसानाम्of the Rakshasas
राक्षसानाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootराक्षस
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
कुबेरम्Kubera
कुबेरम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकुबेर
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अपिalso/even
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
ईश्वरम्lord/master
ईश्वरम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootईश्वर
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
पर्वतानाम्of mountains
पर्वतानाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootपर्वत
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
पतिम्lord
पतिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपति
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
मेरुम्Meru
मेरुम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमेरु
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
सरिताम्of rivers
सरिताम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसरित्
FormFeminine, Genitive, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
महोदधिम्the great ocean
महोदधिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमहोदधि
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular

वसुहरोम उवाच

V
Vasuharoma
K
Kubera
R
Rākṣasas
M
Meru (Sumeru)
M
Mahodadhi (the great ocean)
M
Mountains
R
Rivers
W
Wealth

Educational Q&A

The verse presents a dharmic model of order: the world is sustained when powers and responsibilities are assigned appropriately—Kubera governs wealth, Meru stands as chief among mountains, and the ocean receives and regulates the rivers—illustrating rightful domains and functional hierarchy.

Vasuharoma is describing how the supreme arranger of the cosmos established rulers and superiors for different realms—wealth, certain beings (Rākṣasas), mountains, and rivers—by appointing Kubera, elevating Meru, and designating the great ocean as the rivers’ ultimate lord.