Shloka 23

Characteristics of the King and His Servants

Rāja-dharma, Nīti, and Ethical Revenue

Devanagari script

मनस्तापं न कुर्वीत आपदं प्राप्य पार्थिवः / समबुद्धिः प्रसन्नात्मा प्रसन्नात्मा सुखदुःखे समो भवेत्

Transliteration

manastāpaṃ na kurvīta āpadaṃ prāpya pārthivaḥ / samabuddhiḥ prasannātmā prasannātmā sukhaduḥkhe samo bhavet

Translation

Apabila ditimpa bencana, seorang pemerintah jangan menimbulkan derita batin. Dengan buddhi yang seimbang dan jiwa yang tenteram, hendaklah ia tetap sama dalam suka dan duka.

Word by Word

• मनस्तापम्: mental anguish
• मनस्तापम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक) + ताप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मनसः तापः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• कुर्वीत: should do/should make
• कुर्वीत: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• आपदम्: calamity
• आपदम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आपद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्राप्य: having obtained/when faced with
• प्राप्य: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-√आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• पार्थिवः: the king/earthly ruler
• पार्थिवः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• समबुद्धिः: of even mind
• समबुद्धिः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (समा बुद्धिः यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्रसन्नात्मा: serene-souled
• प्रसन्नात्मा: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (कृदन्त; √सद्/√सन्, क्त) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (प्रसन्नः आत्मा यस्य/प्रसन्न-आत्मा), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्रसन्नात्मा: serene-souled
• प्रसन्नात्मा: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (कृदन्त) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पूर्ववत्; पुनरुक्ति (emphatic repetition)

• सुखदुःखे: in pleasure and pain
• सुखदुःखे: Adhikarana (Sphere/Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (सुखं च दुःखं च), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Dual)

• समः: equal/unchanged
• समः: Karta-dharma (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: समबुद्धि and प्रसन्नात्मा: do not intensify suffering through मनस्ताप; remain equal in सुख-दुःख.

Vedantic Theme: द्वन्द्वातीतता (transcending pairs of opposites) and सत्त्व-स्थैर्य; akin to sthitaprajña ideal.

Application: In adversity, regulate mind: pause, breathe, consult wise counsel, act without panic; practice daily reflection/meditation to build समत्व.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: inner landscape (mind) within royal duty

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana ethical counsel: steadiness of mind praised as protector of dharma in crisis

FAQs

What is the importance of equanimity (samabuddhi) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents equanimity as a core dharmic discipline: when misfortune arises, one should not intensify suffering through mental agitation, but remain steady and clear within.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it teaches mastery over मनस् (mind) and reactions; such steadiness supports dharmic living, which the Garuda Purana links with better karmic outcomes and a more auspicious post-death trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When setbacks occur, avoid panic-driven decisions; pause, stabilize the mind, and respond with balanced judgment—treating pleasure and pain without losing inner clarity.