Shloka 19

तापसाश्रममण्डलदर्शनम्

Entering Dandaka and Meeting the Sages

Devanagari script

इन्द्रस्येह चतुर्भागः प्रजा रक्षति राघव।राजा तस्माद्वरान्भोगान्रम्यान् भुङक्तेलोकनमस्कृतः।।।।

Transliteration

indrasyeha caturbhāgaḥ prajā rakṣati rāghava | rājā tasmād varān bhogān ramyān bhuṅkte lokanamaskṛtaḥ ||

Translation

ഹേ രാഘവാ! ഈ ലോകത്ത് രാജാവ് പ്രജയെ രക്ഷിക്കുന്നതിനാൽ ഇന്ദ്രശക്തിയുടെ നാലിലൊന്ന് അവനിൽ ഉണ്ടെന്ന് പറയുന്നു; അതുകൊണ്ട് ലോകം നമസ്കരിക്കുന്ന രാജാവ് ശ്രേഷ്ഠവും രമ്യവും ആയ ഭോഗഫലങ്ങൾ അനുഭവിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• इन्द्रस्य: of Indra
• इन्द्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-avyaya adverb

• चतुर्भागः: a fourth part
• चतुर्भागः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catur-bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvigu (द्विगु) compound: catur + bhāga; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रजाः: subjects/people
• प्रजाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• रक्षति: protects
• रक्षति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rakṣ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्; present), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• राघव: O Raghava
• राघव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tasmāt (अव्यय/तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: Hetu-avyaya (हेतु-अव्यय) 'therefore/from that'

• वरान्: excellent
• वरान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural; qualifying 'bhogān'

• भोगान्: enjoyments/pleasures
• भोगान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• रम्यान्: delightful
• रम्यान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural; qualifying 'bhogān'

• भुङ्क्ते: enjoys
• भुङ्क्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (present), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person, Singular

• लोकनमस्कृतः: honored by the world
• लोकनमस्कृतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: loka-namaskṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound: loka + namaskṛta; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying 'rājā'

Context

O Rama, in this world a king is considered the fourth part of Indra as he protects the people. Therefore, he is respected and he enjoys the choicest pleasures of life.

Characters & Entities

• Rāghava (Rāma)
• Indra
• King (rājā)
• People/subjects (prajā)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Legitimacy through protection: a king’s honor and prosperity are ethically grounded in safeguarding the subjects (prajā-rakṣaṇa), aligning power with responsibility.

What is the narrative situation?

The sages continue their discourse on rājadharma, explaining why kings are revered and enjoy privileges—because they protect society.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective leadership: the ideal ruler earns reverence not by birth alone but by steadfast guardianship of the people and commitment to dharma.