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Shloka 23

The Yayāti Episode: Succession and Royal Dharma Instructions to Pūru

प्रजानां वांछितं सर्वमर्पयस्व दिने दिने । प्रजासौख्यं प्रकर्तव्यं प्रजाः पोषय पुत्रक

prajānāṃ vāṃchitaṃ sarvamarpayasva dine dine | prajāsaukhyaṃ prakartavyaṃ prajāḥ poṣaya putraka

Dia após dia, concede aos teus súditos tudo o que desejam. Deves promover a felicidade do povo; nutre e sustenta os teus, meu filho.

प्रजानाम्of the subjects/people
प्रजानाम्:
Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन
वाञ्छितम्desired
वाञ्छितम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootवाञ्छित (कृदन्त; √वाञ्छ् (धातु) + क्त)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (past passive participle)
सर्वम्all
सर्वम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन
अर्पयस्वoffer/give
अर्पयस्व:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√अर्प् (धातु)
Formलोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
दिनेin the day
दिने:
Adhikarana (Location/Time locus अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootदिन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन
दिनेday by day
दिने:
Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootदिन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (repetition)
प्रजासौख्यम्welfare/happiness of the people
प्रजासौख्यम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रजा (प्रातिपदिक) + सौख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रजानां सौख्यम्)
प्रकर्तव्यम्to be done; must be undertaken
प्रकर्तव्यम्:
Kriya (Predicative obligation/विधेय)
TypeAdjective
Rootप्र + √कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन; तव्यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive/obligatory)
प्रजाःthe subjects/people
प्रजाः:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन
पोषयnourish/protect
पोषय:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√पुष् (धातु)
Formलोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
पुत्रकdear son
पुत्रक:
Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootपुत्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; स्नेहार्थक (endearing address)

Unspecified (an elder/teacher-figure addressing a ruler/son)

Concept: The ruler’s dharma is to actively provide for subjects’ legitimate needs and to prioritize collective happiness as a sacred obligation.

Application: In leadership roles—family, workplace, community—practice responsive generosity: listen, provide resources fairly, and measure success by others’ well-being.

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An elder counselor places a reassuring hand on a young prince’s shoulder while pointing toward a bustling marketplace where grain, cloth, and water are distributed fairly. The prince’s face softens into resolve as families smile, symbolizing governance as nourishment rather than domination.","primary_figures":["elder counselor/guru","young prince/king","subjects (farmers, artisans, children)"],"setting":"Palace courtyard opening into a city bazaar with granary doors, water pots, and orderly queues; banners of dharma symbols.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["saffron","ivory","leaf green","royal blue","terracotta"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: the guru and prince in the foreground with gold leaf halos, richly patterned garments, a stylized granary and distribution scene behind them, ornate archways, embossed gold detailing on jewelry and borders, warm reds and greens dominating with luminous highlights.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate counseling scene with delicate facial expressions, soft architectural lines, a lyrical cityscape with tiny figures receiving gifts, pastel sky, refined textiles, and gentle narrative clarity typical of Himalayan miniatures.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: frontal figures with bold outlines, the guru’s instructive gesture, the prince’s attentive posture, rhythmic rows of subjects, decorative borders, strong reds/yellows/greens with deep blue accents, temple-wall compositional symmetry.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: a welfare tableau framed by lotus and floral borders, repeated motifs of pots (pūrṇa-kumbha) and grain sheaves, peacocks perched on arches, deep blue ground with gold ornamentation, devotional undertone that equates charity with sacred offering."}

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["market ambience (soft)","temple bells (distant)","birds","footsteps on stone","gentle drone (tanpura)"]}

Sandhi Resolution Notes: सर्वमर्पयस्व = सर्वम् + अर्पयस्व; (दिने दिने) पुनरुक्ति; प्रजासौख्यम् = प्रजा + सौख्यम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष).

FAQs

It frames leadership as daily service: a ruler must prioritize the people’s welfare, provide what is needed, and actively sustain and protect the community.

It implies more than feeding—maintaining, protecting, and enabling prosperity and stability for the subjects through responsible rule.

In rājadharma language, it generally means fulfilling legitimate needs and rightful expectations of subjects, with the overarching duty of ensuring public welfare (prajā-sukha).