The Dialogue between Rukmāṅgada and Dharmāṅgada
नान्यो हि धर्मः पुत्रस्य पितुर्वाक्यं विना प्रजाः । मयि दंडधरे शास्ता न यमो भवति क्वचित् ॥ ३० ॥
nānyo hi dharmaḥ putrasya piturvākyaṃ vinā prajāḥ | mayi daṃḍadhare śāstā na yamo bhavati kvacit || 30 ||
ഹേ പ്രജകളേ, പിതാവിന്റെ വാക്ക് കൂടാതെ പുത്രന് മറ്റൊരു ധർമ്മമില്ല. ഞാൻ ദണ്ഡധാരിയായ ശാസകനായി നിലകൊള്ളുന്നിടത്ത് യമൻ ഒരിക്കലും പ്രവർത്തിക്കുകയില്ല.
Unspecified (contextual narrator/teacher voice within Uttara-Bhaga discourse)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
It elevates pitṛ-vākya (a father’s command) as a primary form of dharma for a son, presenting obedience and humility as spiritual discipline that sustains social and moral order.
Though not directly about Vishnu-bhakti, it frames devotion as faithful service and surrender to rightful authority; such niyama and reverence are foundational virtues that support a life fit for bhakti and sacred practice.
It aligns with dharmaśāstric and smṛti-style norms of conduct (ācāra) and rajadharma (governance): the concept of daṇḍa (punitive authority) as a stabilizing force that reduces the need for Yama’s corrective role.