Shloka 17

Sevaka-parīkṣā (Testing and Appointment of Servants) and Rājadharma Outcomes

Devanagari script

तुल्यार्थं तुल्यसामर्थ्यं मर्मज्ञं व्यवसायिनम् / अर्धराज्यहरं भृत्यं यो हन्यात्स न हन्यते

Transliteration

tulyārthaṃ tulyasāmarthyaṃ marmajñaṃ vyavasāyinam / ardharājyaharaṃ bhṛtyaṃ yo hanyātsa na hanyate

Translation

志も力も等しく、要（かなめ）を知り、勤勉で、国の重荷の半ばを担う家臣を殺す者は――ダルマにおいて、殺人者とは見なされない。

Word by Word

• तुल्य: equal
• तुल्य: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (अर्थम् इति विशेष्यस्य) — Neuter, Accusative, Singular; adjective qualifying 'artham'

• अर्थम्: purpose/meaning
• अर्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तुल्य: equal
• तुल्य: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सामर्थ्यम् इति विशेष्यस्य) — Neuter, Accusative, Singular; adjective qualifying 'sāmarthyam'

• सामर्थ्यम्: ability/capacity
• सामर्थ्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामर्थ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• मर्म: vital point/secret
• मर्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासपूर्वपदम् — Neuter, Accusative, Singular; prior member in compound

• ज्ञम्: knowing (a knower)
• ज्ञम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) < √ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; मर्मज्ञ (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः तत्पुरुषः: मर्माणि जानाति इति) — Masculine, Accusative, Singular; tatpurusha compound 'knower of secrets'

• व्यवसायिनम्: enterprising/determined
• व्यवसायिनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यवसायिन् (प्रातिपदिक) < √अस्/√इ? (न), from व्यवसाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (भृत्यम् इति) — Masculine, Accusative, Singular; adjective qualifying 'bhṛtyam'

• अर्ध: half
• अर्ध: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, अव्ययवत्-पूर्वपदम्; समासपूर्वपदम् — Neuter; prior member in compound

• राज्य: kingdom
• राज्य: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, समासपूर्वपदम् — Neuter; prior member in compound

• हरम्: taking away (one who takes)
• हरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक) < √हृ (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अर्धराज्यहर (तत्पुरुषः: अर्धराज्यं हरति इति) — Masculine, Accusative, Singular; tatpurusha compound

• भृत्यम्: servant/retainer
• भृत्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular (relative pronoun)

• हन्यात्: should kill/strike
• हन्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Optative, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्ययम् (particle of negation) — negative particle

• हन्यते: is killed
• हन्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive) — Present, Atmanepada, 3rd person, Singular; passive

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rajadharma and gradations of culpability: harming a key state-bearing servant is treated under exceptional moral-legal reasoning.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as loka-saṅgraha (maintenance of social order) overriding ordinary ethical intuitions; role-based duty (svadharma) shapes moral judgment.

Application: In leadership ethics: recognize indispensable contributors; establish clear legal/ethical protections and accountability frameworks for harm against critical public servants.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: royal court/kingdom (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.112 (rajadharma/amatya-bhrtya-lakshana context)

FAQs

What is the importance of governance ethics in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames a dharmic view of statecraft: a highly capable, trusted retainer is treated as integral to the kingdom’s functioning, and moral judgments in governance are discussed in terms of social role and responsibility.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by defining what is counted as a grave sin (or not) in dharmic evaluation, it points to how actions are weighed for karmic consequence—an underlying basis for later afterlife discussions in the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Recognize the ethical weight of harming indispensable, duty-bearing colleagues or dependents; treat key helpers as partners in responsibility and avoid abuse of power in institutional settings.