Shloka 31
Yugapramāṇa–Kaliyuga-lakṣaṇa–Pralaya-kathā
Markandeya’s Account of Yugas, Kali Signs, and Dissolution
ततो राज्ञ: प्रधानत्वं शास्त्रप्रामाण्यदर्शनात् । उत्तर: सिद्धयते पक्षो येन राजेति भाषितम्,अतः शास्त्र-प्रमाणपर दृष्टिपात करनेसे राजाकी प्रधानता सूचित होती है। इसलिये जिसने राजाको प्रजापति बतलाया है, उसीका पक्ष उत्कृष्ट सिद्ध होता है
tato rājñaḥ pradhānatvaṃ śāstra-prāmāṇya-darśanāt | uttaraḥ sidhyate pakṣo yena rājeti bhāṣitam ||
Therefore, on seeing that the śāstras are authoritative, the king’s pre-eminence is established. Hence the opposing view is confirmed as the stronger one—namely, the position of him who has declared, ‘he is called a king.’
सनत्कुमार उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse grounds political authority in śāstra: when scripture is accepted as a valid pramāṇa, the king’s primacy in social order is affirmed, and the argument defining ‘king’ (rājā) is upheld as the stronger position.
Sanatkumāra is concluding a point in a doctrinal discussion: by appealing to the recognized authority of śāstra, he declares that the thesis supporting the king’s superior status is proven and the rival side is thereby validated as correct.