Shloka 29

Gārhasthya-Śreṣṭhatā and Kṣatriya-Daṇḍadhāraṇa

Householder Primacy and the Royal Duty of Punishment

Devanagari script

सुद्युम्नस्त्वन्तपाले भ्य: श्रुव्वा लिखितमागतम्‌ । अभ्यगच्छत्‌ सहामात्य: पद्भ्यामेव जनेश्वर:

Transliteration

Sudyumnas tv antapālebhyāḥ śrutvā likhitam āgatam | abhyagacchat sahāmātyaḥ padbhyām eva janeśvaraḥ ||

Translation

द्वारपालैः श्रुत्वा लिखितमागतम्। सुद्युम्नो जनेश्वरः सहामात्यः पद्भ्यामेव तं प्रत्यभ्यगच्छत्॥

Word by Word

• सुद्युम्नः: Sudyumna
• सुद्युम्नः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुद्युम्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• अन्तःपालेभ्यः: from the door-keepers/guards
• अन्तःपालेभ्यः: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तःपाल
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Plural

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here), Singular

• लिखितम्: Likhita (proper name)
• लिखितम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिखित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आगतम्: come/arrived
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अभ्यगच्छत्: went up to/approached
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-गम्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सह: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह

• अमात्यैः: with ministers
• अमात्यैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमात्य
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• पद्भ्याम्: on foot (with the two feet)
• पद्भ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Dual

• एव: indeed/only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• जन-ईश्वरः: lord of the people (king)
• जन-ईश्वरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनईश्वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sudyumna
• Likhita
• gatekeepers (dvārapāla/antapāla)
• ministers (amātya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler should honor dharma by showing humility and prompt respect to holy guests; approaching a sage personally—even on foot—signals reverence and ethical kingship.

What is happening in the narrative?

The gatekeepers inform Sudyumna that the sage Likhita has arrived; the king immediately goes to meet him, accompanied by his ministers, and approaches on foot.