Shloka 25
साम्ब-हरणम्, बलदेवस्य रोषः, हस्तिनापुर-आकर्षणम्
धिङ् मनुष्यशतोच्छिष्टे तुष्टिर् एषां नृपासने पारिजाततरोः पुष्पमञ्जरीर् वनिताजनः बिभर्ति यस्य भृत्यानां सो ऽप्य् एषां न महीपतिः
dhiṅ manuṣyaśatocchiṣṭe tuṣṭir eṣāṃ nṛpāsane pārijātataroḥ puṣpamañjarīr vanitājanaḥ bibharti yasya bhṛtyānāṃ so 'py eṣāṃ na mahīpatiḥ
¡Vergüenza! Su deleite en un trono real que no es sino el despojo de cien hombres. Aunque las mujeres adornen a los servidores de un gobernante con racimos de flores del celestial árbol pārijāta, si él vive de tal vanidad, no es en verdad señor de la tierra.
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya within the dynastic narrative of kingship and its moral evaluation)
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: To instruct that true sovereignty is ethical and selfless, not vanity fed by celestial luxuries, thereby correcting distorted ideals of kingship.
Leela: Dharma-upadesa
Dharma Restored: Rāja-dharma grounded in humility, service, and inner worth rather than pomp and sensual display.
Concept: External splendor—even celestial ornaments—cannot confer true lordship; inner dharma alone makes one fit to rule.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Measure success by integrity and service, not status symbols; practice simplicity and accountability in leadership.
Vishishtadvaita: Śrī (Lakṣmī) as true auspiciousness is aligned with dharma; prosperity without righteousness is spiritually empty and not ‘śrī’ in the fullest sense.
Vishnu Form: Krishna
Bhakti Type: Shanta
Lakshmi Presence: Sri
FAQs
The verse condemns attachment to mere status and courtly privilege, teaching that a throne without dharma is contemptible—true sovereignty is moral and dharmic, not decorative.
By using the image of pārijāta flower-clusters adorning servants, Parāśara shows that even heavenly luxury cannot confer legitimacy; rulership is validated by conduct, duty, and protection of the earth.
In Vaishnava thought, Vishnu sustains cosmic order (dharma); a king is “earth’s lord” only insofar as he reflects that sustaining order—otherwise his power is empty show.