Shloka 30
The Dialogue between Rukmāṅgada and Dharmāṅgada
नान्यो हि धर्मः पुत्रस्य पितुर्वाक्यं विना प्रजाः । मयि दंडधरे शास्ता न यमो भवति क्वचित् ॥ ३० ॥
nānyo hi dharmaḥ putrasya piturvākyaṃ vinā prajāḥ | mayi daṃḍadhare śāstā na yamo bhavati kvacit || 30 ||
Wahai rakyat, bagi seorang anak tiada dharma yang lebih tinggi daripada taat kepada titah ayahnya. Di tempat aku berdiri sebagai pemegang hukuman dan pemerintah yang mendisiplinkan, Yama tidak berkuasa pada bila-bila masa.
Unspecified (contextual narrator/teacher voice within Uttara-Bhaga discourse)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It elevates pitṛ-vākya (a father’s command) as a primary form of dharma for a son, presenting obedience and humility as spiritual discipline that sustains social and moral order.
Though not directly about Vishnu-bhakti, it frames devotion as faithful service and surrender to rightful authority; such niyama and reverence are foundational virtues that support a life fit for bhakti and sacred practice.
It aligns with dharmaśāstric and smṛti-style norms of conduct (ācāra) and rajadharma (governance): the concept of daṇḍa (punitive authority) as a stabilizing force that reduces the need for Yama’s corrective role.