Shloka 26

Characteristics of the King and His Servants

Rāja-dharma, Nīti, and Ethical Revenue

Devanagari script

गन्धर्वविद्यामालोक्य वाद्यं च गणिकागणान् / धनुर्वेदार्थशास्त्राणि लोके रक्षेच्च भूपतिः

Transliteration

gandharvavidyāmālokya vādyaṃ ca gaṇikāgaṇān / dhanurvedārthaśāstrāṇi loke rakṣecca bhūpatiḥ

Translation

ഗന്ധർവവിദ്യ—ഗാനം, വാദ്യങ്ങൾ—മറ്റും ഗണികാഗണങ്ങളെയും നിരീക്ഷിച്ച ശേഷം, രാജാവ് ലോകത്തിൽ ധനുർവേദവും അർത്ഥശാസ്ത്രവും (രാജനീതി) എന്ന വിദ്യകളെയും സംരക്ഷിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• गन्धर्व-विद्याम्: the Gandharva art (music/dance lore)
• गन्धर्व-विद्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गन्धर्वाणां विद्या)

• आलोक्य: having considered
• आलोक्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + √लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having observed/considered’

• वाद्यम्: musical instruments/music
• वाद्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• गणिका-गणान्: groups of courtesans
• गणिका-गणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणिका (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गणिकानां गणाः)

• धनुः-वेद-अर्थ-शास्त्राणि: the treatises of archery and polity/economics
• धनुः-वेद-अर्थ-शास्त्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुः (प्रातिपदिक) + वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (धनुर्वेदश्च अर्थशास्त्रं च)

• लोके: in the world/realm
• लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• रक्षेत्: should protect/maintain
• रक्षेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• भूपतिः: the king
• भूपतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A ruler should examine and preserve music/instrumental arts and regulated performance culture, and also safeguard military science and polity for the welfare of the world.

Vedantic Theme: Loka-saṅgraha: governance as dharmic stewardship rather than personal enjoyment.

Application: Support arts education and cultural institutions while maintaining competent defense and ethical administration; balance soft power (culture) with hard power (security).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: court/kingdom

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: rajadharma passages emphasizing protection of subjects and maintenance of śāstras; Garuda Purana: nīti-style counsel to kings on administration and discipline

Characters & Entities

• Gandharvas

FAQs

What is the importance of arts and Gandharva-vidya in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats music, instruments, and performance traditions as valuable social knowledge that a ruler should recognize and preserve as part of sustaining a well-ordered realm.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it frames dharma in worldly life—good governance and protection of knowledge—which supports social order and ethical living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Support and protect both cultural education (arts) and civic competence (security, policy, ethics) so society remains stable, refined, and safe.