Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

क्षान्तिस्तयविहीनश्च क्रूरबुद्धिश्च निन्दकः / दाम्भिकः कपटी चैव शठश्च स्पृहयान्वितः / अशक्तो भयभीतश्च राज्ञा त्यक्तव्य एव सः

Transliteration

kṣāntistayavihīnaśca krūrabuddhiśca nindakaḥ / dāmbhikaḥ kapaṭī caiva śaṭhaśca spṛhayānvitaḥ / aśakto bhayabhītaśca rājñā tyaktavya eva saḥ

Translation

ക്ഷമയും ദാനവും ഇല്ലാത്തവൻ, ക്രൂരബുദ്ധിയുള്ള നിന്ദകൻ; ദാംഭികൻ, കപടി, ശഠൻ, ലോഭയുക്തൻ; അശക്തനും ഭയഭീതനും—ഇവനെ രാജാവ് തീർച്ചയായും ഉപേക്ഷിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• क्षान्ति: forbearance
• क्षान्ति: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासपूर्वपदम् — Feminine, Nominative, Singular; prior member in compound

• दय: compassion
• दय: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासपूर्वपदम् — (commonly feminine) Nominative Singular; prior member

• विहीनः: devoid (of)
• विहीनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विहीन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) < वि + √हा (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्षान्तिदयविहीन (द्वन्द्व-समाहार-आधारितः: क्षान्त्या दयया च विहीनः) — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; lacking forbearance and compassion

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् — and

• क्रूर: cruel
• क्रूर: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपदम् — prior member in compound

• बुद्धिः: (one with) cruel mind
• बुद्धिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रूरबुद्धिः (तत्पुरुषः/कर्मधारयः: क्रूरा बुद्धिः यस्य) — Feminine, Nominative, Singular; compound used as adjective for a person

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् — and

• निन्दकः: slanderer/critic
• निन्दकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निन्दक (प्रातिपदिक) < √निन्द् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दाम्भिकः: hypocritical/pretentious
• दाम्भिकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दाम्भिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कपटी: deceitful
• कपटी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कपटी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् — and

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्ययम् — emphasis

• शठः: rogue/knave
• शठः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् — and

• स्पृहया: with greed/longing
• स्पृहया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पृहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन — Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• अन्वितः: accompanied/possessed
• अन्वितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) < अनु + √इ (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; स्पृहयान्वितः (तत्पुरुषः: स्पृहया अन्वितः) — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; accompanied by greed

• अशक्तः: incapable/weak
• अशक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भय: fear
• भय: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपदम् — prior member in compound

• भीतः: frightened
• भीतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) < √भी (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भयभीतः (तत्पुरुषः: भयेन भीतः) — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; afraid due to fear

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् — and

• राज्ञा: by the king
• राज्ञा: Karta (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (कर्ता/करण), एकवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Singular; agent in passive construction

• त्यक्तव्यः: to be abandoned
• त्यक्तव्यः: Karya (Obligation/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्यक्तव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) < √त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेयकृदन्त (तव्यत्), कर्मणि-भावः — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; gerundive 'to be abandoned'

• एव: certainly
• एव: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्ययम् — emphasis

• सः: he (such a one)
• सः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adharma traits (cruelty, slander, hypocrisy, deceit, greed, incompetence, fearfulness) disqualify one from royal service; the king must abandon such persons.

Vedantic Theme: Tamas/rajas dominance leads to social harm; dharma requires discrimination (viveka) and protective action for loka-saṅgraha.

Application: Governance and management: implement integrity screening, anti-corruption measures, and remove persistently toxic, deceitful, or incompetent actors from positions of trust.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: royal administration/court (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.112 (dosha-list for servants; king’s duty to reject)

FAQs

What is the importance of rajadharma (kingly duty) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames rajadharma as moral discernment: a ruler must protect the realm by rejecting advisors and associates who are cruel, greedy, deceitful, and fearful, since such traits undermine justice and stability.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly, it supports the Purana’s karmic ethic: inner qualities like cruelty, hypocrisy, and greed are adharma that lead to harmful actions and negative karmic outcomes, which the text elsewhere connects to post-death consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose close collaborators carefully—avoid chronic slander, hypocrisy, deceit, and greed; cultivate patience and generosity, and build relationships with people who strengthen integrity and courage.