Shloka 51
Mohinī-prashna
The Question about Mohinī
एतदेव व्रतं राज्ञो यत्प्रजापालनं चरेत् । न व्रतं किंचिदस्त्यन्यन्नृपस्य द्विजसत्तमाः ॥ ५१ ॥
etadeva vrataṃ rājño yatprajāpālanaṃ caret | na vrataṃ kiṃcidastyanyannṛpasya dvijasattamāḥ || 51 ||
அரசனுக்கான ஒரே விரதம் இதுவே: குடிகளைப் பாதுகாத்து நல்வழியில் ஆளுதல். ஓ த்விஜசிறந்தவர்களே! அரசனுக்கு இதைத் தவிர வேறு எந்த விரதமும் இல்லை.
Narada (addressing the Sanatkumara brothers / learned Brahmins)
Vrata: Rāja-vrata (defined here as prajā-pālana)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
It defines the ruler’s primary spiritual discipline as Rajadharma—protecting and nurturing the people—placing public welfare above private austerities.
It implies that devotion is expressed through duty aligned with dharma: a king serves the divine order by safeguarding beings, which functions as his lived offering.
It primarily reflects Dharmashastra-oriented application rather than a specific Vedanga; the practical takeaway is ethical governance and protection of subjects as the ruler’s mandated observance.