Shloka 52
Mohinī-prashna
The Question about Mohinī
किं देव कार्येण नराधिपस्य कृत्वा हि मन्युं विषयस्थितानाम् । तद्देवकार्यं स च यज्ञहोमो यद्रक्तपातो न भवेत् स्वराष्ट्रे ॥ ५२ ॥
kiṃ deva kāryeṇa narādhipasya kṛtvā hi manyuṃ viṣayasthitānām | taddevakāryaṃ sa ca yajñahomo yadraktapāto na bhavet svarāṣṭre || 52 ||
राजा का ‘देवकार्य’ क्या काम का, यदि वह अपने प्रदेशवासियों में क्रोध जगाकर उसे करे? सच्चा देवकार्य, वही यज्ञ और होम है—कि अपने ही राज्य में रक्तपात न हो।
Narada (teaching on Rajadharma in Uttara-Bhaga context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It elevates dharma above mere ritualism, declaring that the highest ‘divine service’ for a ruler is safeguarding life and preventing violence—making peace itself a sacred offering.
It implies that devotion is not only temple-ritual but compassionate governance: pleasing the Divine by protecting devotees/subjects and avoiding actions that generate anger, fear, and harm.
Ritual practice (yajña/homa) is interpreted through dharmic application—showing a Mimamsa-like principle: the ‘fruit’ of ritual is invalid if it contradicts ahimsa and the king’s protective duty.