Shloka 15

Hari’s Avatāras and the Cosmic Power of Pativratā-Dharma

Devanagari script

लक्ष्मणेनानुकूलेन ह्ययोध्यां स्वपुरीं गतः / राज्यं चकार देवादीन्पालयामास स प्रजाः

Transliteration

lakṣmaṇenānukūlena hyayodhyāṃ svapurīṃ gataḥ / rājyaṃ cakāra devādīnpālayāmāsa sa prajāḥ

Translation

അനുകൂലമായി സഹായിച്ച ലക്ഷ്മണനോടൊപ്പം അദ്ദേഹം സ്വന്തം നഗരമായ അയോധ്യയിൽ എത്തി; രാജ്യം ഏറ്റെടുത്തു ദേവന്മാരെയും പ്രജകളെയും സംരക്ഷിച്ച് ഭരിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• लक्ष्मणेन: with Lakṣmaṇa
• लक्ष्मणेन: Sahartha (Accompaniment/सहार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• अनुकूलेन: favourable, supportive
• अनुकूलेन: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुकूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; लक्ष्मणेन इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• अयोध्याम्: to Ayodhyā
• अयोध्याम्: Karma (Goal as object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयोध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• स्व-पुरीम्: his own city
• स्व-पुरीम्: Karma (Goal as object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (स्वा पुरी)

• गतः: went/has gone
• गतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः

• राज्यम्: the kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• चकार: he established/did
• चकार: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्ष), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• देव-आदीन्: the gods and others
• देव-आदीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (देवान् आदीन् = देवप्रभृतीन्)

• पालयामास: he protected/ruled
• पालयामास: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्ष) periphrastic, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• स: he
• स: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रजाः: the subjects/people
• प्रजाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

Speaker

Unknown (narratorial voice; not clearly attributable to Vishnu–Garuda dialogue from the provided excerpt alone)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rājadharma: the king’s duty is protection—of people, social order, and even the devas through maintenance of dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Lokasaṅgraha (upholding the world) through righteous action; governance as yajña-like responsibility.

Application: Leaders should return to core responsibilities, rely on capable support (Lakṣmaṇa), and prioritize protection, justice, and stability.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: capital city

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.142.16 (dharma-protection and yajñas)

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Ayodhya
• Devas
• Prajas

FAQs

What is the importance of dharmic kingship (rājadharma) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights righteous rule as protective governance—where the king safeguards both divine order (devas) and social order (subjects).

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

It does not directly address afterlife doctrine here; instead, it presents ethical governance as part of dharma, which in the Purana framework supports auspicious karmic outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Support and practice leadership that protects people and upholds moral order—placing public welfare and duty above personal interest.