Shloka 52
Mohinī-prashna
The Question about Mohinī
किं देव कार्येण नराधिपस्य कृत्वा हि मन्युं विषयस्थितानाम् । तद्देवकार्यं स च यज्ञहोमो यद्रक्तपातो न भवेत् स्वराष्ट्रे ॥ ५२ ॥
kiṃ deva kāryeṇa narādhipasya kṛtvā hi manyuṃ viṣayasthitānām | taddevakāryaṃ sa ca yajñahomo yadraktapāto na bhavet svarāṣṭre || 52 ||
ರಾಜನು ತನ್ನ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಜನರಲ್ಲಿ ಕೋಪವನ್ನು ಉಂಟುಮಾಡಿ ‘ದೇವಕಾರ್ಯ’ ಮಾಡಿದರೆ ಅದರಿಂದ ಏನು ಪ್ರಯೋಜನ? ನಿಜವಾದ ದೇವಕಾರ್ಯ, ಅದೇ ಯಜ್ಞವೂ ಹೋಮವೂ—ತನ್ನ ಸ್ವರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ರಕ್ತಪಾತವಾಗದಿರುವುದೇ.
Narada (teaching on Rajadharma in Uttara-Bhaga context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It elevates dharma above mere ritualism, declaring that the highest ‘divine service’ for a ruler is safeguarding life and preventing violence—making peace itself a sacred offering.
It implies that devotion is not only temple-ritual but compassionate governance: pleasing the Divine by protecting devotees/subjects and avoiding actions that generate anger, fear, and harm.
Ritual practice (yajña/homa) is interpreted through dharmic application—showing a Mimamsa-like principle: the ‘fruit’ of ritual is invalid if it contradicts ahimsa and the king’s protective duty.