Shloka 97
भरतचरितम्—मृगासक्ति-हेतुकः समाधिभङ्गः, जातिस्मरत्वं, रहूगण-जाḍभरत-संवादः
त्वं राजा सर्वलोकस्य पितुः पुत्रो रिपो रिपुः पत्न्याः पतिः पिता सूनोः कं त्वां भूप वदाम्य् अहम्
tvaṃ rājā sarvalokasya pituḥ putro ripo ripuḥ patnyāḥ patiḥ pitā sūnoḥ kaṃ tvāṃ bhūpa vadāmy aham
You are the sovereign of all the worlds—yet to your father you are a son; to an enemy you are an enemy; to your wife you are a husband; to your child you are a father. O king, what single name can I truly use to define you?
A courtly speaker addressing a king (within Parasara’s narration to Maitreya); exact named speaker not specified in the provided excerpt.
Concept: A single person is named differently according to relational roles (king/son/enemy/husband/father), so no role-name can define the true self.
Vedantic Theme: Atman
Application: When triggered by praise/blame, recall the plurality of roles you inhabit; return to the stable ‘I’ prior to role-identification.
Vishishtadvaita: Supports the distinction between the enduring jīva and contingent relational dharmas, while allowing those roles to remain meaningful within dharma as service to the Lord.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
This verse frames a king’s identity as dharma-shaped and relational: the same person embodies multiple roles depending on the moral and social relationship, highlighting ordered society as part of cosmic and royal duty.
Within the dynasty-focused sections, Parasara presents kings as nodes of universal order—protectors of the earth whose greatness is tested not only by power but by rightly fulfilling duties toward family, subjects, and foes.
By portraying layered sovereignty—universal rulership alongside ordinary human roles—the text implicitly mirrors Vaishnava theology where supreme order ultimately rests in Vishnu, while earthly kingship is a delegated, dharma-bound reflection of that higher sovereignty.