Shloka 28

Kṣātra-Dharma, Daṇḍanīti, and Social Order

Indra–Māndhātṛ Dialogue

Devanagari script

निर्मर्यादा: काममन्युप्रवृत्ता भीता राज्ञो नाधिगच्छन्ति पापम्‌ | शिष्टाक्षान्ये सर्वधर्मोपपन्ना: साध्वाचारा: साधु धर्म वदन्ति

Transliteration

nirmaryādāḥ kāma-manyu-pravṛttā bhītā rājño nādhigacchanti pāpam | śiṣṭākṣānye sarva-dharmopapannāḥ sādhvācārāḥ sādhu dharma vadanti ||

Translation

ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର କହିଲେ—କାମ ଓ କ୍ରୋଧରେ ପ୍ରବୃତ୍ତ ହୋଇ ମର୍ଯ୍ୟାଦା ଛାଡ଼ିଦେଇଥିବା ଲୋକମାନେ ମଧ୍ୟ ରାଜଭୟରେ ପାପ କରିବାକୁ ସାହସ କରନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ। ଏବଂ ଯେ ଶିଷ୍ଟ, ସର୍ବଧର୍ମସମ୍ପନ୍ନ, ସଦାଚାରୀ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ପୁରୁଷମାନେ, ସେମାନେ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ରକ୍ଷାରେ ରହି ସଦାଚାର ଅନୁଷ୍ଠାନ କରି ଧର୍ମର ସଠିକ୍ ଉପଦେଶ ଦିଅନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• निर्मर्यादाः: unrestrained, without bounds
• निर्मर्यादाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मर्याद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• काममन्युप्रवृत्ताः: driven by desire and anger
• काममन्युप्रवृत्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काममन्युप्रवृत्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भीताः: afraid
• भीताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• राज्ञः: from the king (out of fear of the king)
• राज्ञः: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अधिगच्छन्ति: commit / incur / fall into
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-गम्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• पापम्: sin, wrongdoing
• पापम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• शिष्टाः: the cultured/learned (good people)
• शिष्टाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• चान्ये: and others
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च + अन्य

• सर्वधर्मोपपन्नाः: endowed with all dharmas
• सर्वधर्मोपपन्नाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वधर्मोपपन्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• साध्वाचाराः: of good conduct
• साध्वाचाराः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साध्वाचार
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• साधु: well, rightly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु

• धर्मम्: dharma, righteousness
• धर्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वदन्ति: speak, teach
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

Speaker

इन्द्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• the king (rājā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that effective kingship supports dharma in two ways: it restrains the unruly through fear of punishment, and it enables the virtuous to live safely, practice good conduct, and teach dharma openly.

What is happening in the narrative?

Indra is explaining a principle of rājadharma (the king’s duty): the presence of royal authority and protection reduces wrongdoing among the impulsive and provides security for disciplined, dharma-abiding people to uphold and propagate righteous conduct.