Shloka 22

Characteristics of the King and His Servants

Rāja-dharma, Nīti, and Ethical Revenue

Devanagari script

लङ्घयेच्छास्त्रयुक्तानि हेतुयुक्तानि यानि च / सहि नश्यति वै राजा इह लोके परत्र च

Transliteration

laṅghayecchāstrayuktāni hetuyuktāni yāni ca / sahi naśyati vai rājā iha loke paratra ca

Translation

Si un rey transgrede lo sostenido por la śāstra y fundado en recta razón, ese rey en verdad perece, tanto en este mundo como en el venidero.

Word by Word

• लङ्घयेत्: should transgress/overstep
• लङ्घयेत्: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लङ्घ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• शास्त्रयुक्तानि: scripture-based
• शास्त्रयुक्तानि: Karma (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त; √युज्, क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शास्त्रेण युक्तानि/शास्त्रसम्बद्धानि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• हेतुयुक्तानि: reasoned/with proper grounds
• हेतुयुक्तानि: Karma (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेतु (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त; √युज्, क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (हेतुना युक्तानि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• यानि: which (things)
• यानि: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• स: he
• स: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Emphasis (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic)

• नश्यति: perishes/is ruined
• नश्यति: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• वै: certainly
• वै: Emphasis (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/assertive particle)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: here)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• परत्र: in the other world/after death
• परत्र: Adhikarana (Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (there/afterlife)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śāstra-yukti-viruddha conduct produces destruction in this life and the next; dharma is both rational and scriptural.

Vedantic Theme: ऋत/धर्म as sustaining order; कर्मफल extends beyond death; बुद्धि guided by śāstra prevents पतन.

Application: Use a twofold test for decisions: (1) śāstra/ethical norms, (2) sound reasoning and evidence; avoid arbitrary rule and impulsive decrees.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: normative/ethical domain

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: frequent linkage of dharma-violation to परत्र (afterlife) suffering; kings especially accountable

Characters & Entities

• Rājā

FAQs

What is the importance of following śāstra and reason in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse states that governance must be aligned with scriptural dharma and rational justification; ignoring them leads to ruin here and adverse consequences after death.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s fate after death in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

It links adharma—especially by leaders—to consequences beyond the present life, implying that violations of dharma shape one’s post-death outcome through karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Make decisions—especially in positions of authority—by combining ethical tradition/principles (śāstra) with clear reasoning (hetu), avoiding arbitrary or self-serving actions.