Shloka 7
Characteristics of the King and His Servants
Rāja-dharma, Nīti, and Ethical Revenue
आभ्यर्च्य विष्णुं धर्मात्मा गोब्राह्मणहिते रतः / प्रजाः पालयितुं शक्तः पार्थिवो विजितेन्द्रियः
ābhyarcya viṣṇuṃ dharmātmā gobrāhmaṇahite rataḥ / prajāḥ pālayituṃ śaktaḥ pārthivo vijitendriyaḥ
Setelah memuja Viṣṇu dengan semestinya, raja yang berhati dharma—berbakti pada kesejahteraan sapi dan brāhmaṇa serta menaklukkan indria—menjadi mampu melindungi dan memerintah rakyatnya.
Lord Viṣṇu (to Garuḍa/Vinātā-putra), contextually within dharma instruction
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.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: royal court/temple context (implied)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Viṣṇu-bhakti as purifier and stabilizer of conduct; Garuda Purana: praise of go-brāhmaṇa-hita as dharma-protection
FAQs
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.
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.
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.