Shloka 23

Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)

Devanagari script

विधान दैवविदहितं तत्र विद्वान्‌ न मुहाृति । यथा सृष्टोडसि राजेन्द्र तथा भवितुमरहसि,यह सब दैवका विधान है। इसमें विद्वान्‌ पुरुषको मोह नहीं होता है। राजेन्द्र! आपको विधाताने जैसा बनाया है, (जिस जाति और कुलमें आपको जन्म दिया है) वैसा ही आपको होना चाहिये

Transliteration

vidhānaṁ daivavihitaṁ tatra vidvān na muhyati | yathā sṛṣṭo ’si rājendra tathā bhavitum arhasi ||

Translation

“This is an ordinance established by destiny; therefore a wise person is not deluded about it. O best of kings, as the Creator has fashioned you—placing you in your birth, lineage, and station—so it is fitting that you should be: act in accordance with the nature and duty that have been allotted to you.”

Word by Word

vidhānamordinance, arrangement, decree

daiva-vidhitamordained by fate/divinity

tatratherein, in that matter

vidvāna wise man

nanot

muhyatiis deluded, becomes confused

yathāas, just as

sṛṣṭaḥcreated, made

asiyou are

rājendraO best of kings

tathāso, in that manner

bhavitumto be, to become

arhasiyou ought, you are fit

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

rājendra (addressed king)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Sandhi Notes