Shloka 3

अविद्याबीज-निरूपणं, योगस्वरूप-उपदेशः, मूर्तहरिधारणा-समाधि, जनकवंशीय-राजर्षिसंवादः

Devanagari script

क्षत्रियाणाम् अयं धर्मो यत् प्रजापरिपालनम् वधश् च धर्मयुद्धेन स्वराज्यपरिपन्थिनाम्

Transliteration

kṣatriyāṇām ayaṃ dharmo yat prajāparipālanam vadhaś ca dharmayuddhena svarājyaparipanthinām

Translation

This is the sacred duty of the Kshatriyas: to protect and rightly govern the people, and—through righteous warfare—to subdue those who obstruct the realm’s lawful sovereignty.

Word by Word

• क्षत्रियाणाम्: of kshatriyas
• क्षत्रियाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोग

• धर्मः: duty; dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यत्: namely; that (which is)
• यत्: Sambandha (Explanatory/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्राय; यद्-शब्दः अत्र अव्ययीभावे/सम्बन्धे (that is to say/namely)

• प्रजापरिपालनम्: protection of the subjects
• प्रजापरिपालनम्: Karma/Predicate-noun (Complement/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक) + परि-पालन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रजायाः परिपालनम्)

• वधः: slaying
• वधः: Karma/Predicate-noun (Complement/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Coordination/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• धर्मयुद्धेन: by righteous war
• धर्मयुद्धेन: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (धर्मं यत् युद्धम्)

• स्वराज्यपरिपन्थिनाम्: of those who obstruct one’s own kingdom
• स्वराज्यपरिपन्थिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + राज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + परिपन्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वराज्यस्य परिपन्थिनः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kṣatriya-dharma is defined as protecting subjects and, when necessary, waging dharma-yuddha against those who obstruct rightful rule.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Exercise authority as service: protect dependents, uphold justice, and use force only under strict ethical constraint and for public welfare.

Vishishtadvaita: Role-dharma is meaningful when aligned with the Lord’s order (niyati); governance becomes a form of service within divine sovereignty.

Characters & Entities

• Subjects (Praja)
• Kings

FAQs

What is the significance of Kshatriya-dharma in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse defines Kshatriya duty as twofold: protecting the people through just governance and using force only as dharmayuddha against those who threaten lawful order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the ethical use of violence by rulers?

He frames punishment and warfare as legitimate only when aligned with dharma—directed at obstructors of rightful sovereignty rather than driven by personal anger or conquest.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

In the Vishnu Purana’s worldview, dharma sustains the cosmos under Vishnu’s supreme order; righteous kingship becomes a worldly instrument for preserving that divinely grounded harmony.