Sutra 38

Devanagari script

नश्यतां सर्वधर्माणां राजा धर्मप्रवर्तकः ॥ कZ_०३.१.३८च्द् ॥

Transliteration

naśyatāṃ sarvadharmāṇāṃ rājā dharmapravartakaḥ

Translation

ਜਦੋਂ ਸਾਰੇ ਧਰਮ ਘਟ ਰਹੇ/ਨਾਸ ਹੋ ਰਹੇ ਹੋਣ, ਤਦ ਰਾਜਾ ਧਰਮ ਨੂੰ ਚਲਾਉਣ ਵਾਲਾ (ਮੁੜ ਸਥਾਪਤ ਤੇ ਲਾਗੂ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ) ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• नश्यताम्: even if (they) perish / though the two perish (i.e., even if all dharmas perish)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश्
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थे), परस्मैपदम्, 3rd person dual; धातु: नश् (नश्यति)

• सर्वधर्माणाम्: of all dharmas / of all norms and duties
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: षष्ठी बहुवचनम्; पुंलिङ्ग (धर्म-शब्द)

• राजा: the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: प्रथमा एकवचनम्; पुंलिङ्ग

• धर्मप्रवर्तकः: (is) the establisher/enforcer of dharma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवर्तक
• Form: प्रथमा एकवचनम्; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रवर्तक (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक from √वृत् with प्र-; agent noun)

Entities Mentioned

• rājā (king/state)

More Details

FAQs

What is the implied theory of the state here?

A strong executive-centered theory: when customary and moral norms fail, sovereign authority must actively reconstitute enforceable order.