Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 81

Threefold Suffering, Twofold Knowledge, and the Definition of Bhagavān (Vāsudeva); Prelude to Keśidhvaja–Janaka Yoga

Devanagari script

राज्यमेतदशेषेण यन्न गृघ्रंति पंडिताः । क्षत्रियाणामयं धर्मो यत्प्रजापरिपालनम् ॥ ७९ ॥

Transliteration

rājyametadaśeṣeṇa yanna gṛghraṃti paṃḍitāḥ | kṣatriyāṇāmayaṃ dharmo yatprajāparipālanam || 79 ||

Translation

Les sages ne convoitent pas la souveraineté pour elle-même, fût-elle entière. Le véritable dharma du kṣatriya est ceci : protéger et gouverner justement les sujets.

Word by Word

• rājyam: kingdom
• rājyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Accusative, Ekavacana

• etat: this
• etat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (एतद्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Accusative, Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun

• aśeṣeṇa: entirely
• aśeṣeṇa: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tṛtīyā (Instrumental) Ekavacana used adverbially (kriyāviśeṣaṇa): 'entirely/without remainder'

• yat: which
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Relative marker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Accusative, Ekavacana; relative pronoun

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: niṣedha-avyaya

• gṛghṇanti: accept; take
• gṛghṇanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (ग्रह्) (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana; (textual variant spelling gṛghraṃti for gṛhṇanti)

• paṇḍitāḥ: the wise
• paṇḍitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṇḍita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• kṣatriyāṇām: of kṣatriyas
• kṣatriyāṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣatriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• ayam: this
• ayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun

• dharmaḥ: duty; dharma
• dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• yat: namely which
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Relative marker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Accusative, Ekavacana; relative pronoun introducing definition

• prajā-paripālanam: protection of the subjects
• prajā-paripālanam: Pratiyogin (प्रतियोगिन्/Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक) + paripālana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Accusative, Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (protection of subjects)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha-dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Kshatriya
• Prajā (subjects)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It reframes political power as a responsibility rather than an object of desire—inner detachment (vairāgya) paired with outer duty (dharma) through protecting and sustaining the people.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By discouraging greed for dominion and emphasizing service to living beings, it supports a bhakti-aligned ethic: rule as stewardship under dharma, not as ego-driven possession.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily teaches rājadharma (applied dharmaśāstra/itiḥāsa-purāṇa ethics) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; its practical takeaway is governance grounded in protection, justice, and restraint.