Shloka 13

षष्ठस्सर्गः — तपस्विरक्षणे राजधर्मोपदेशः

Sarga 6: The Sages’ Appeal and Instruction on Royal Duty

Devanagari script

युञ्जानस्स्वानिव प्राणान्प्राणैरिष्टान्सुतानिव।नित्ययुक्तस्सदा रक्षन्सर्वान्विषयवासिनः।।3.6.12।।प्राप्नोति शाश्वतीं राम कीर्तिं स बहुवार्षिकीम्।ब्रह्मणस्स्थानमासाद्य तत्र चापि महीयते।।3.6.13।।

Transliteration

yuñjānas svān iva prāṇān prāṇair iṣṭān sutān iva |

nityayuktaḥ sadā rakṣan sarvān viṣayavāsinaḥ ||

prāpnoti śāśvatīṃ rāma kīrtiṃ sa bahuvārṣikīm |

brahmaṇaḥ sthānam āsādya tatra cāpi mahīyate ||

Translation

ഹേ രാമാ! എപ്പോഴും സ്ഥിരനിഷ്ഠനായി, പ്രാണത്തേക്കാൾ പ്രിയമായ സ്വന്തം പുത്രന്മാരെപ്പോലെ രാജ്യത്തിലെ എല്ലാവരെയും കരുതി നിരന്തരം സംരക്ഷിക്കുന്ന ഭരണാധികാരി ദീർഘകാലം നിലനിൽക്കുന്ന കീർത്തി നേടുന്നു; ബ്രഹ്മലോകം പ്രാപിച്ച് അവിടെയും ആദരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

यत्whatever

करोतिdoes / performs

परम्supreme

धर्मम्dharma / righteous act

मुनिःsage

मूलफलाशनःeating roots and fruits

तत्रtherein

राज्ञःof the king

चतुर्भागःa fourth share

प्रजाःthe people

धर्मेणby dharma

रक्षितःprotected

Context

O Rama, whoever protects the inhabitants of his kingdom at all times like his own son who he loves more than his own life will attain the world of Brahma and remain there for long years and will achieve prosperity thereafter.

Characters & Entities

Rāma

Brahmā (Brahmaṇaḥ)

FAQs

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

The verse defines the highest rāja-dharma as protective care rooted in parental compassion; such protection generates both worldly reputation and spiritual merit.

What is the narrative situation?

Sages instruct Rāma on the fruits of righteous protection, reinforcing why a dharmic ruler must shield vulnerable communities from violence.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Compassionate guardianship—seeing subjects as one’s own children and acting with constant discipline.