Shloka 9

जटायुरुपदेशः — Jatāyu Confronts Rāvaṇa

Ethical Admonition and Challenge

Devanagari script

राजा धर्मस्य कामस्य द्रव्याणां चोत्तमो निधिः।।।।धर्मश्शुभं वा पापं वा राजमूलं प्रवर्तते।

Transliteration

rājā dharmasya kāmasya dravyāṇāṁ cottamo nidhiḥ |

dharmaḥ śubhaṁ vā pāpaṁ vā rāja-mūlaṁ pravartate |

Translation

王はダルマとカーマと財の、最上の蔵である。正しさが吉祥として現れようと、罪へと傾こうと、その世における歩みは、王を根として進む。

Word by Word

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• धर्मस्य: of dharma
• धर्मस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• कामस्य: of pleasure
• कामस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• द्रव्याणाम्: of wealth/resources
• द्रव्याणाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dravya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• उत्तमः: best
• उत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifies nidhiḥ

• निधिः: repository/treasure
• निधिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• शुभम्: good
• शुभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object/apposition with dharmaḥ (good as dharma)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-nipāta

• पापम्: evil
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-nipāta

• राजमूलम्: having the king as its root
• राजमूलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāja-mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: राज्ञः मूलम्; Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective to dharmaḥ

• प्रवर्तते: proceeds/is practiced
• प्रवर्तते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Ātmanepada

Context

A king is the best repository of rigteousness, material wealth and pleasures. The king is the root of dharma, virtue and sin.

Characters & Entities

• Jatāyu
• Rāvaṇa
• king (rājā)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma in society is causally tied to governance: the ruler’s character determines whether public life trends toward virtue or vice.

What is the narrative situation?

Jatāyu warns Rāvaṇa that his wrongdoing is not merely personal; as a king, his actions become the root of wider moral disorder.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Accountability in power: a ruler must embody restraint and justice because his conduct generates social norms.