Shloka 1

Sevaka-parīkṣā (Testing and Appointment of Servants) and Rājadharma Outcomes

Devanagari script

ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच / भृत्या बहुविधा ज्ञेया उत्तमाधममध्यमाः / नियोक्तव्या यथार्हेषु त्रिविधेष्वेव कर्मसु

Transliteration

'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca / bhṛtyā bahuvidhā jñeyā uttamādhamamadhyamāḥ / niyoktavyā yathārheṣu trividheṣveva karmasu

Translation

സൂതൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഭൃത്യർ പലവിധം: ഉത്തമൻ, അധമൻ, മധ്യമൻ. അവരുടെ യോഗ്യതപ്രകാരം, മൂന്നു തരത്തിലുള്ള കര്‍മ്മങ്ങളിലേ മാത്രം നിയോഗിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Sambodhana/Heading (Title/शीर्षक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular; शीर्षक/उद्देश

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; nominative singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada

• भृत्याः: servants
• भृत्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन; nominative plural

• बहुविधाः: of many kinds
• बहुविधाः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; nominative plural; विशेषण (qualifying ‘भृत्याः’); ‘बहवो विधाः’ (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्राय)

• ज्ञेयाः: should be known/are to be recognized
• ज्ञेयाः: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञेय (प्रातिपदिक; √ज्ञा + यत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; nominative plural; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive) ‘to be known’

• उत्तमाधममध्यमाः: (as) best, worst, and middling
• उत्तमाधममध्यमाः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम + अधम + मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; nominative plural; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (threefold list) qualifying ‘भृत्याः’

• नियोक्तव्याः: should be appointed
• नियोक्तव्याः: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियोज्य/नियोक्तव्य (प्रातिपदिक; √युज्/√योज् + तव्यत्, with नि-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; nominative plural; तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive) ‘to be appointed/assigned’

• यथार्हेषु: according to suitability
• यथार्हेषु: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; ‘यथा अर्ह’ = as is proper; सप्तमी-बहुवचन रूप ‘-एषु’ (locative plural) used adverbially

• त्रिविधेषु: in the three kinds
• त्रिविधेषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; locative plural; द्विगु ‘threefold’; विशेषण (qualifying ‘कर्मसु’)

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय; emphatic particle

• कर्मसु: in duties/works
• कर्मसु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; locative plural

Speaker

Sūta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: भृत्य-भेदज्ञान (उत्तम/मध्यम/अधम) तथा यथार्ह-नियोजन; कर्मत्रय (threefold work) within a disciplined system.

Vedantic Theme: गुण-स्वभावानुसार कर्म (svabhāva-based duty) as a harmonizing principle

Application: Assess competence and character; assign roles matching capability; define limited categories of tasks and clear expectations to prevent misuse and resentment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/administration

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana dharma/ācāra: गृहस्थ-व्यवस्था, सेवक-नियमन themes (general parallel)

FAQs

What is the importance of classifying people as uttama, madhyama, and adhama in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames a practical dharmic principle: understand people’s competence and character, and assign responsibilities accordingly to maintain order and right conduct.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it teaches righteous conduct in worldly duties, which supports good karma and moral discipline.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Assess capability and reliability before delegating; match tasks to skill and integrity, avoiding both favoritism and misassignment that leads to harm or inefficiency.