Shloka 13
The Vena Episode and the Sukalā Narrative: The Speaking Sow, Pulastya’s Curse, and Indra’s Appeal
भर्तुश्चापि महाराज भटस्यास्य महात्मनः । कोयं धर्मो महावीर्यो गतः स्वर्गं पराक्रमैः
bhartuścāpi mahārāja bhaṭasyāsya mahātmanaḥ | koyaṃ dharmo mahāvīryo gataḥ svargaṃ parākramaiḥ
ಮಹಾರಾಜ, ಈ ಮಹಾತ್ಮ ಯೋಧನ ಪತಿಯ ವಿಷಯದಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಹೇಳಿರಿ—ಯಾವ ಧರ್ಮದಿಂದ ಆ ಮಹಾವೀರನು ತನ್ನ ಪರಾಕ್ರಮದಿಂದ ಸ್ವರ್ಗವನ್ನು ಪಡೆದನು?
Unspecified (a narrator/interlocutor addressing a king: "mahārāja")
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भर्तुश्चापि = भर्तुः + च + अपि; कोयं = कः + अयम्; (पाठे) महावीर्यो = महावीर्यः (विसर्ग-लोपः); स्वर्गं = स्वर्गम्; पराक्रमैः इति तृतीया बहुवचनम्।
FAQs
It asks what specific dharma (righteous conduct or duty) enabled a great warrior-hero to attain heaven through his acts of valor.
It links the hero’s ascent to both dharma and parākrama (valor), implying valor is praised when aligned with righteous duty rather than being merely violence or ambition.
That royal and martial excellence should be grounded in dharma; the verse frames heavenly attainment as the result of valor guided by righteous principles.