Shloka 18

तापसाश्रममण्डलदर्शनम्

Entering Dandaka and Meeting the Sages

Devanagari script

धर्मपालो जनस्यास्य शरण्यस्त्वं महायशाः।पूजनीयश्च मान्यश्च राजा दण्डधरो गुरुः।।।।

Transliteration

dharmapālo janasyāsya śaraṇyas tvaṃ mahāyaśāḥ | pūjanīyaś ca mānyaś ca rājā daṇḍadharo guruḥ ||

Translation

महायशाः राजन्, त्वमेव अस्य जनस्य धर्मपालकः शरण्यश्च। पूजनीयः मान्यश्च, दण्डधरः राजा गुरुरिव च मार्गदर्शकः।।

Word by Word

• धर्मपालः: protector of dharma
• धर्मपालः: Pradhāna-predication (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma-pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound: dharma + pāla; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जनस्य: of the people
• जनस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; ṣaṣṭhī)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• शरण्यः: a refuge-worthy protector
• शरण्यः: Pradhāna-predication (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaraṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective to 'tvam'

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (युष्मद्), Nominative, Singular

• महायशाः: O great-famed one
• महायशाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya compound: mahā + yaśas; Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular

• पूजनीयः: worthy of worship
• पूजनीयः: Pradhāna-predication (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūjanīya (कृदन्त; √pūj (धातु))
• Form: Potential passive participle/gerundive (तव्यत्/अनीयर् sense), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• मान्यः: respectable
• मान्यः: Pradhāna-predication (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mānya (कृदन्त; √man (धातु))
• Form: Gerundive/PPP-derived adjective 'to be honored'; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• राजा: king
• राजा: Pradhāna-predication (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दण्डधरः: bearer of the rod (punisher)
• दण्डधरः: Pradhāna-predication (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍa-dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound: daṇḍa + dhara; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गुरुः: teacher/elder
• गुरुः: Pradhāna-predication (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Context

O king of great reputation, you are the refuge of the people, a protector of dharma, a chastiser of wrong-doers, a worshipful and respectable preceptor.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (as rājā, mahāyaśas)
• People/subjects (jana)
• Daṇḍa (royal punishment/justice)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Rājadharma: the king’s foremost duty is to protect dharma and provide refuge to the people, using just punishment (daṇḍa) to restrain wrongdoing.

What is the narrative situation?

After welcoming Rāma, the sages begin a formal address, describing the moral responsibilities and honor due to a righteous king.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s role as dharma-protector and moral exemplar—combining compassion (refuge) with firmness (just chastisement).