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Shloka 27

Characteristics of the King and His Servants

Rāja-dharma, Nīti, and Ethical Revenue

Devanagari script

कारणेन विना भृत्ये यस्तु कुप्यति पार्थिवः / स गृह्णाति विषोन्मादं कृष्णसर्पविसर्जितम्

Transliteration

kāraṇena vinā bhṛtye yastu kupyati pārthivaḥ / sa gṛhṇāti viṣonmādaṃ kṛṣṇasarpavisarjitam

Translation

న్యాయమైన కారణం లేకుండా సేవకునిపై కోపపడే రాజు, నల్ల సర్పం విడిచిన విషంలాంటి ఉన్మాదకర విషాన్ని పొందుతాడు.

Word by Word
कारणेनwith/for a reason
कारणेन:
Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
TypeNoun
Rootकारण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन
विनाwithout
विना:
Negation/Exclusion (वर्जन)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootविना (अव्यय)
Formउपपद-अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable) governing तृतीया/पञ्चमी; here तृतीया
भृत्येtowards/with regard to a servant
भृत्ये:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootभृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन
यःwho
यः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)
तुbut/indeed
तु:
Discourse particle (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formविरोध/अनुवाद-निपात (but/indeed)
कुप्यतिgets angry
कुप्यति:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√कुप् (धातु)
Formलट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
पार्थिवःthe king
पार्थिवः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
सःhe
सः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निर्देश (demonstrative pronoun)
गृह्णातिincurs/receives
गृह्णाति:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√ग्रह् (धातु)
Formलट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
विष-उन्मादम्poison-madness (delirium)
विष-उन्मादम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootविष (प्रातिपदिक) + उन्माद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विषस्य उन्मादः)
कृष्ण-सर्प-विसर्जितम्released/inflicted by a black snake
कृष्ण-सर्प-विसर्जितम्:
Adjective of object (कर्मविशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootकृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + सर्प (प्रातिपदिक) + विसर्जित (वि+√सृज्, क्त-कृदन्त)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कृष्णसर्पेण विसर्जितम् = emitted/inflicted by a black serpent)
Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A king who becomes angry at a servant without cause suffers a poison-like madness, likened to black-serpent venom—anger harms the wielder.

Vedantic Theme: Krodha as a tamasic distortion that veils buddhi; adharma rebounds upon the agent (karma).

Application: Leaders should require due cause and inquiry before reprimand; cultivate anger-management and procedural fairness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: court/administration

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: nīti counsel on restraint, just punishment, and avoiding arbitrary cruelty

FAQs

This verse frames unjust anger—especially by those in power—as a self-destructive poison, implying karmic and psychological downfall when anger is indulged without cause.

While not describing the afterlife directly, it highlights a karmic principle: wrongful conduct by rulers (unjust wrath) creates demerit that can shape future suffering and negative destinies.

Do not punish or shame subordinates without evidence or reason; practice measured responses, due process, and compassionate leadership to avoid harm to others and oneself.

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