Shloka 16

Characteristics of the King and His Servants

Rāja-dharma, Nīti, and Ethical Revenue

Devanagari script

असमर्थाश्च कुर्वन्ति मुनयो द्रव्यसञ्चयम् / किं पुनस्तु महीपालः पुत्रवत्पालयन्प्रजाः

Transliteration

asamarthāśca kurvanti munayo dravyasañcayam / kiṃ punastu mahīpālaḥ putravatpālayanprajāḥ

Translation

Até os munis, embora livres do poder mundano, acumulam recursos quando não podem evitar necessidades práticas. Quanto mais, então, um rei—que protege os súditos como filhos—deve manter um tesouro.

Word by Word

• असमर्थाः: incapable, not competent
• असमर्थाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-समर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कुर्वन्ति: do, make
• कुर्वन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• द्रव्यसञ्चयम्: accumulation of wealth
• द्रव्यसञ्चयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सञ्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (dravyasya sañcayaḥ)

• किम्: what? (how much more)
• किम्: Prashna (Interrogative/प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• पुनः: again, further
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति/पुनरावृत्ति-अर्थे (adverb: again/further)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषणार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• महीपालः: the king (protector of the earth)
• महीपालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (mahīyāḥ pālaḥ)

• पुत्रवत्: like (his) son
• पुत्रवत्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-अर्थे (adverbial: like a son)

• पालयन्: protecting
• पालयन्: Karta (Agent-participle/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रजाः: subjects, people
• प्रजाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Artha (resources) is a necessary support for dharmic governance; even ascetics may store essentials, so a king must maintain a treasury to fulfill protective duties.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma upheld through appropriate means (upāya); non-attachment is distinct from negligence of duty.

Application: Maintain reserves for famine, defense, justice, and welfare; distinguish hoarding from prudent provisioning; align fiscal policy with protection of the vulnerable.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: kingdom/administrative sphere

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.111 (artha-nīti: wealth, friends, śāstra-guidance)

Characters & Entities

• Munis (sages)
• Mahipala (king)
• Praja (subjects)

FAQs

What is the importance of wealth (artha) in the Garuda Purana according to this verse?

This verse frames wealth as a practical necessity: if even sages may gather resources when needed, a king must certainly keep resources to fulfill protection and welfare duties.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it supports the dharmic principle that right action in one’s role (here, kingship and protection of subjects) shapes karmic outcomes; it is not a direct afterlife description.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat money and resources as instruments of responsibility—maintain reserves and use them ethically for protection, care, and public good rather than mere personal accumulation.