Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 19

Parīkṣit’s Inquiry into Vṛtrāsura’s Bhakti and the Beginning of Citraketu’s Trial

Devanagari script

अपि दारा: प्रजामात्या भृत्या: श्रेण्योऽथ मन्त्रिण: । पौरा जानपदा भूपा आत्मजा वशवर्तिन: ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

api dārāḥ prajāmātyā bhṛtyāḥ śreṇyo ’tha mantriṇaḥ paurā jānapadā bhūpā ātmajā vaśa-vartinaḥ

Translation

Wahai raja, adakah para isteri, rakyat, setiausaha dan hamba, serta persatuan pedagang—penjual minyak dan rempah—berada di bawah kuasamu? Adakah para menteri, penghuni istana, gabenor wilayah, anak-anakmu dan para tanggungan lain juga sepenuhnya dalam kawalanmu?

Synonyms

• अपि: also / I hope
• अपि: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्न/सम्भावना-निपात

• दाराः: wives
• दाराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• प्रजा-अमात्याः: subjects and ministers
• प्रजा-अमात्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक) + अमात्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (subjects in a list)

• भृत्याः: servants
• भृत्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• श्रेण्यः: guilds/corporations
• श्रेण्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अथ: and then / also
• अथ: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/समुच्चयार्थक (then/and)

• मन्त्रिणः: counsellors
• मन्त्रिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पौराः: townspeople
• पौराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• जानपदाः: countryfolk
• जानपदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानपद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• भूपाः: kings/rulers
• भूपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• आत्मजाः: sons
• आत्मजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वश-वर्तिनः: obedient, under control
• वश-वर्तिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वश (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: वशे वर्तन्ते (under control/obedient)

Purport

The master or king and his subordinates should be interdependent. Through cooperation, both of them can be happy.

Characters & Entities

• Citraketu
• Aṅgirā
• Nārada

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about a king’s duty toward citizens and ministers?

This verse shows the king’s dharma: he must ensure the welfare of wives, subjects, administrators, servants, guild leaders, counselors, and both townspeople and villagers—protecting and maintaining social order.

Why did King Citraketu ask about wives, ministers, and subjects when meeting the sages?

Receiving great sages, Citraketu first inquires about the well-being of all dependent groups in his realm, reflecting royal etiquette and responsibility even amid his inner grief.

Practical application of rajadharma from this shloka in modern life?

Leaders—at home or work—should actively check on the well-being of those they are responsible for: family, teams, advisors, and community, rather than focusing only on personal concerns.