Shloka 4

Characteristics of the King and His Servants

Rāja-dharma, Nīti, and Ethical Revenue

Devanagari script

दोग्धारः क्षीरभुञ्जाना विकृतं तन्न भुञ्जते / परराष्ट्रं महीपालैर्भोक्तव्यं न च दूषयेत्

Transliteration

dogdhāraḥ kṣīrabhuñjānā vikṛtaṃ tanna bhuñjate / pararāṣṭraṃ mahīpālairbhoktavyaṃ na ca dūṣayet

Translation

പാൽ കറന്ന് പാലിൽ ജീവിക്കുന്നവർ പാൽ കെട്ടുപോയാൽ അത് കുടിക്കുകയില്ല. അതുപോലെ രാജാക്കന്മാർ ആവശ്യമായാൽ പരരാജ്യത്തിൽ നിന്ന് വരുമാനം സ്വീകരിക്കാം; എന്നാൽ അതിനെ മലിനമാക്കുകയോ നശിപ്പിക്കുകയോ അരുത്.

Word by Word

• dogdhāraḥ: milkers (those who milk)
• dogdhāraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dogdhṛ (प्रातिपदिक; दुह्-धातोः तृच्/कर्तरि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• kṣīra-bhuñjānāḥ: those consuming milk
• kṣīra-bhuñjānāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣīra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhuñjāna (कृदन्त; भुज्-धातोः शतृ/वर्तमानकाले)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; समासः—तत्पुरुष (क्षीरं भुञ्जानाः)

• vikṛtam: spoiled/tainted
• vikṛtam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vikṛta (प्रातिपदिक; वि + कृ-धातोः क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• tat: that (milk)
• tat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• bhuñjate: eat/consume
• bhuñjate: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• para-rāṣṭram: another's kingdom
• para-rāṣṭram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + rāṣṭra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (परं राष्ट्रम्)

• mahīpālaiḥ: by kings
• mahīpālaiḥ: Karta (Agent in passive sense/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahīpāla (प्रातिपदिक; मही + पाल)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (महीम् पालयति इति)

• bhoktavyam: should be enjoyed/used
• bhoktavyam: Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (प्रयोगे कर्मणि: 'भोग्यं/भुक्तव्यं')

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• dūṣayet: should spoil/corrupt
• dūṣayet: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dūṣ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Legitimate enjoyment/revenue must not become defilement or destruction; power entails stewardship.

Vedantic Theme: Ahimsa and dharmic restraint governing artha; non-exploitative action as a purifier of intent.

Application: In occupation, trade, or extraction, maintain standards that protect people and resources; avoid policies that ‘spoil the milk’—corruption, pollution, and abuse.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: neighboring polity/territory

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana raja-dharma: taxation/appropriation with restraint; protection of conquered/foreign territories

FAQs

What is the importance of rāja-dharma in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse frames kingship as stewardship: even when a ruler takes benefit (revenue/resources), dharma requires avoiding corruption, exploitation, and destruction of the land and its people.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it teaches ethical restraint and non-corruption—principles that shape karma. In the Garuḍa Purāṇa’s broader framework, such governance and conduct influence merit and future consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use resources you depend on without degrading them—whether public funds, workplaces, ecosystems, or communities; take only what is due and avoid actions that “spoil” the source.