Shloka 36

Aṃśāvataraṇa-kathana (Catalog of Divine/Asuric Portions in Human Births) — Chapter 61

Devanagari script

वशे शस्त्रप्रतापेन कुर्वन्तो5न्यान्‌ महीभूत: । एवं धर्मप्रधानास्ते सत्यव्रतपरायणा:

Transliteration

vaśe śastrapratāpena kurvanto 'nyān mahībhūtaḥ | evaṁ dharmapradhānās te satyavrataparāyaṇāḥ ||

Translation

अपने शस्त्रों के प्रताप और तेज से वे नरेश अन्य राजाओं को वश में करते थे; तथापि वे धर्म को प्रधान मानने वाले, सत्य-व्रत में दृढ़ और सदाचार में तत्पर थे।

Word by Word

वशेin (their) control

शस्त्रप्रतापेनby the might of weapons

कुर्वन्तःdoing / making

अन्यान्others

महीभूताःhaving become (lords of) the earth / earth-possessing

एवम्thus

धर्मप्रधानाःhaving dharma as foremost

तेthey

सत्यव्रतपरायणाःdevoted to vows of truth

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

mahībhūtaḥ (kings)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Political and martial power is acknowledged, but it is ethically framed: ideal rulers may subdue others through strength, yet remain dharma-centered and unwavering in truth.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana describes earth-ruling kings who, through martial prowess, bring others into subjection, while emphasizing their character—devotion to dharma and steadfast truthfulness.