Shloka 22

Adhyaya 27 — Madālasa’s Instruction to King Alarka: Royal Ethics, Self-Conquest, and Statecraft

Sanskrit

यथेन्द्रश्चतुरो मासान् तोयोत्सर्गेण भूगताम् ।

आpyāययेत् तथा लोकं परिहारैर्महीपतिः ॥

Transliteration

yathendraś caturaḥ māsān toyotsargeṇa bhū-gatām | āpyāyayet tathā lokaṃ parihārair mahīpatiḥ ||

Translation

ಇಂದ್ರನು ನಾಲ್ಕು ತಿಂಗಳು ನೀರನ್ನು (ಮಳೆಯಾಗಿ) ಬಿಡಿಸಿ ಭೂಮಿಯನ್ನು ತಣಿಸುವಂತೆ, ರಾಜನು ವಿನಾಯಿತಿಗಳು, ಪರಿಹಾರಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಕ್ಷಮಾಶೀಲ ಕೃತ್ಯಗಳಿಂದ ಪ್ರಜೆಯನ್ನು ತಣಿಸಬೇಕು.

Word by Word

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमान-निर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative conjunction (यथार्थे)

• indraḥ: Indra
• indraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• caturo: four
• caturo: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (प्रातिपदिक/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; numeral adjective qualifying māsān

• māsān: months (for four months)
• māsān: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण; accusative of duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• toya-utsargeṇa: by the discharge of water
• toya-utsargeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: toya + utsarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भाव: toya-utsarga = 'release of water'

• bhū-gatām: (the earth) that has become dry/earth-bound
• bhū-gatām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhū + gata (गम्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; kta-participle used adjectivally; bhū-gatā = 'gone to the earth' (i.e., dried/earth-bound)

• āpyāyayet: should nourish/refresh
• āpyāyayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + pyai (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• tathā: so/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमेय-निर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; correlative adverb (तथार्थे)

• lokam: the people/world
• lokam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• parihāraiḥ: by remissions/reliefs (concessions)
• parihāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parihāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• mahīpatiḥ: the king
• mahīpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahīpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

Speakers

• Didactic narrator within rājadharma teaching

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "dharma", "secondaryRasa": "karuna", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Indra

Key Themes

• Rājadharma
• Welfare governance
• Tax relief and compassion
• Seasonal analogy

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Extraction must be balanced by replenishment: the king’s legitimacy depends on periodically easing burdens—through relief, exemptions, and humane administration—mirroring rain that sustains the land.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Instructional rājadharma; not pancalakṣaṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Rain’ symbolizes timely grace (anugraha). Power that only ‘takes’ dries the realm; power that also ‘releases’ restores vitality and loyalty.