Shloka 52
Kardama Muni’s Penance, Viṣṇu’s Darśana, and the Arrangement of Devahūti’s Marriage
न यदा रथमास्थाय जैत्रं मणिगणार्पितम् । विस्फूर्जच्चण्डकोदण्डो रथेन त्रासयन्नघान् ॥ ५२ ॥ स्वसैन्यचरणक्षुण्णं वेपयन्मण्डलं भुव: । विकर्षन् बृहतीं सेनां पर्यटस्यंशुमानिव ॥ ५३ ॥ तदैव सेतव: सर्वे वर्णाश्रमनिबन्धना: । भगवद्रचिता राजन् भिद्येरन् बत दस्युभि: ॥ ५४ ॥
na yadā ratham āsthāya jaitraṁ maṇi-gaṇārpitam visphūrjac-caṇḍa-kodaṇḍo rathena trāsayann aghān
നീ രത്നാഭരണങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കരിച്ച ജയരഥം കയറി കുറ്റക്കാരെ ഭീതിപ്പെടുത്താതെയും, ധനുസ്സിന്റെ ടങ്കാരത്തോടെ ഭീകരധ്വനി ഉയർത്താതെയും, സൂര്യനെപ്പോലെ മഹാസേനയെ നയിച്ച്—അവരുടെ പാദാഘാതത്തിൽ ഭൂമണ്ഡലം വിറയ്ക്കുന്നവിധം—ലോകം പര്യടനം ചെയ്യാതിരുന്നാൽ, രാജാവേ, ഭഗവാൻ സ്ഥാപിച്ച വർണാശ്രമധർമ്മത്തിന്റെ എല്ലാ അതിരുകളും ദസ്യുക്കൾ തകർത്തുകളയുമായിരുന്നു।
It is the duty of a responsible king to protect the social and spiritual orders in human society. The spiritual orders are divided into four āśramas — brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa — and the social orders, according to work and qualification, are made up of the brāhmaṇas, the kṣatriyas, the vaiśyas and the śūdras. These social orders, according to the different grades of work and qualification, are described in Bhagavad-gītā. Unfortunately, for want of proper protection by responsible kings, the system of social and spiritual orders has now become a hereditary caste system. But this is not the actual system. Human society means that society which is making progress toward spiritual realization. The most advanced human society was known as ārya; ārya refers to those who are advancing. So the question is, “Which society is advancing?” Advancement does not mean creating material “necessities” unnecessarily and thus wasting human energy in aggravation over so-called material comforts. Real advancement is advancement toward spiritual realization, and the community which acted toward this end was known as the Āryan civilization. The intelligent men, the brāhmaṇas, as exemplified by Kardama Muni, were engaged in advancing the spiritual cause, and kṣatriyas like Emperor Svāyambhuva used to rule the country and insure that all facilities for spiritual realization were nicely provided. It is the duty of the king to travel all over the country and see that everything is in order. Indian civilization on the basis of the four varṇas and āśramas deteriorated because of her dependency on foreigners, or those who did not follow the civilization of varṇāśrama. Thus the varṇāśrama system has now been degraded into the caste system.
FAQs
This verse depicts the ideal ruler as one who, by strength and authority, restrains the sinful and protects the innocent—an essential part of dharma.
The imagery highlights royal power used in service of righteousness—splendor and force meant for upholding order, not personal cruelty.
Use your influence responsibly—set firm boundaries against harmful behavior while protecting those under your care.