Shloka 21

Dialogue of Father and Son (Pitṛputra-saṃvāda) — Mohinī Episode

Devanagari script

कच्चित्पासि प्रजाः सर्वाः कच्चिद्दण्डयसे रिपून् । न्यायागतेन वित्तेन कोशं पुत्र बिभर्षि च ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

kaccitpāsi prajāḥ sarvāḥ kacciddaṇḍayase ripūn | nyāyāgatena vittena kośaṃ putra bibharṣi ca || 21 ||

Translation

Wahai anakku, adakah engkau benar-benar melindungi seluruh rakyat? Adakah engkau menghukum musuh-musuhmu sebagaimana patut? Dan, anakku, adakah engkau memelihara perbendaharaan diraja dengan harta yang diperoleh melalui jalan yang sah dan adil?

Word by Word

• कच्चित्: is it the case that...?
• कच्चित्: प्रश्न-निपात (Interrogative/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक-निपात (interrogative particle: 'whether?')

• पासि: you protect
• पासि: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; you protect

• प्रजाः: the subjects
• प्रजाः: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; subjects/people

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; agrees with प्रजाः

• कच्चित्: whether
• कच्चित्: प्रश्न-निपात (Interrogative/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कच्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक-निपात

• दण्डयसे: you punish
• दण्डयसे: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दण्डय् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; you punish

• रिपून्: enemies
• रिपून्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; enemies

• न्यायागतेन: by lawfully obtained
• न्यायागतेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न्याय + आगत (प्रातिपदिक; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (न्यायेन आगतम्) 'obtained by justice'

• वित्तेन: with wealth
• वित्तेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; wealth

• कोशम्: the treasury
• कोशम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; treasury

• पुत्र: O son
• पुत्र: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन; O son

• बिभर्षि: you maintain
• बिभर्षि: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; you maintain/bear

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada as 'putra' in a teaching inquiry on rajadharma)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It frames kingship as a dharmic trust: protection of the people, disciplined use of force (daṇḍa), and purity of livelihood—wealth must be acquired through nyāya (justice), making governance a spiritual duty rather than mere power.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

While not explicitly naming bhakti, it supports Vishnu-bhakti indirectly by insisting on righteous conduct: a ruler who protects beings and avoids unjust gain aligns with dharma, which the Purana treats as a foundation for devotion and divine grace.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes nīti and dharma-śāstra style governance rather than a specific Vedanga; practically, it points to disciplined administration (daṇḍa) and lawful revenue (nyāyāgata-vitta) as core applied knowledge for rulers.