Shloka 7

Characteristics of the King and His Servants

Rāja-dharma, Nīti, and Ethical Revenue

Devanagari script

आभ्यर्च्य विष्णुं धर्मात्मा गोब्राह्मणहिते रतः / प्रजाः पालयितुं शक्तः पार्थिवो विजितेन्द्रियः

Transliteration

ābhyarcya viṣṇuṃ dharmātmā gobrāhmaṇahite rataḥ / prajāḥ pālayituṃ śaktaḥ pārthivo vijitendriyaḥ

Translation

Après avoir honoré Viṣṇu comme il se doit, le roi au cœur de dharma—voué au bien des vaches et des brāhmaṇas, maître de ses sens—devient capable de protéger et de gouverner ses sujets.

Word by Word

• आभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• आभ्यर्च्य: Sambandha (Prior action/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + भ्यर्च्/अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• धर्मात्मा: a righteous-souled (man/king)
• धर्मात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (धर्मः आत्मा यस्य)

• गोब्राह्मणहिते: in the welfare of cows and Brahmins
• गोब्राह्मणहिते: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + ब्राह्मण + हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गोब्राह्मणयोः हितम्)

• रतः: devoted/engaged
• रतः: Karta (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; धर्मात्मा-विशेषण

• प्रजाः: subjects/people
• प्रजाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• पालयितुम्: to protect/govern
• पालयितुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थक

• शक्तः: able
• शक्तः: Karta (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पार्थिवः/धर्मात्मा-विशेषण

• पार्थिवः: the king
• पार्थिवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विजितेन्द्रियः: one who has conquered his senses
• विजितेन्द्रियः: Karta (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विजित + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (विजितानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (to Garuḍa/Vinātā-putra), contextually within dharma instruction

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devotion to Viṣṇu and self-restraint empower righteous governance; welfare of cows and brāhmaṇas sustains dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-prasāda and indriya-nigraha as supports for right action; bhakti harmonizes power with humility.

Application: Leaders cultivate inner discipline, ethical counsel, and reverence for learning and non-violence; protect vulnerable communities and institutions of education and ritual.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: royal court/temple context (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Viṣṇu-bhakti as purifier and stabilizer of conduct; Garuda Purana: praise of go-brāhmaṇa-hita as dharma-protection

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahmanas
• Cows
• King
• Subjects (Prajā)

FAQs

What is the importance of go-brāhmaṇa-hita (welfare of cows and brāhmaṇas) in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse treats protection of cows and the well-being of brāhmaṇas as a hallmark of dharmic rule, indicating a king’s commitment to sustaining social-spiritual order and ethical governance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it presents the dharmic foundation—Viṣṇu worship and self-control—that purifies conduct and supports good karma, which the Garuḍa Purāṇa elsewhere links to favorable outcomes after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate self-restraint, align leadership (personal or civic) with dharma, and prioritize the protection and upliftment of vulnerable dependents—seen here through the traditional ideals of caring for cows and supporting ethical spiritual education.