Shloka 26
The Dialogue between Rukmāṅgada and Dharmāṅgada
नहि मेऽन्यः स्मृतो धर्मस्त्वद्वाक्यकरणं विना । पितुर्वाक्यमकुर्वाणः कुर्वन्धर्मानधो व्रजेत् ॥ २६ ॥
nahi me'nyaḥ smṛto dharmastvadvākyakaraṇaṃ vinā | piturvākyamakurvāṇaḥ kurvandharmānadho vrajet || 26 ||
आपके वचन का पालन किए बिना मुझे कोई अन्य धर्म ज्ञात नहीं। जो पिता के वचन का पालन नहीं करता, वह अन्य धर्मकर्म करता हुआ भी अधोगति को जाता है।
Unspecified (a son/speaker affirming obedience to the father’s command within the narrative)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It elevates obedience to a rightful elder’s command—especially a father’s word—as a core expression of dharma; neglecting it nullifies the merit of other ‘righteous’ actions and leads to spiritual decline.
By stressing faithful compliance with an authority’s word, it mirrors bhakti’s essential discipline: honoring and acting upon the beloved Lord’s (or guru’s) injunctions rather than selectively practicing religious deeds.
It reflects dharma-śāstra and sadācāra (normative conduct) principles rather than a technical Vedāṅga; the practical takeaway is that ethical authority and injunction (vidhi/ājñā) guide the proper fruit of rituals and virtues.