Shloka 79
The Discourse of Rukmāṅgada
Prabodhinī Ekādaśī, Kārtika-vrata, and Satya-dharma
राजानस्ते तु विज्ञेया ये प्रजापालने स्थिताः । गुर्विणी ह्यष्टमासीया शिशवश्चाष्टवत्सराः ॥ ७९ ॥
rājānaste tu vijñeyā ye prajāpālane sthitāḥ | gurviṇī hyaṣṭamāsīyā śiśavaścāṣṭavatsarāḥ || 79 ||
ప్రజలను కాపాడటంలో స్థిరంగా ఉండేవారే నిజమైన ‘రాజులు’ అని తెలుసుకో. ముఖ్యంగా ఎనిమిదో నెల గర్భిణి స్త్రీని, అలాగే ఎనిమిదేళ్ల వరకు పిల్లలను రక్షించేవారు.
Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition of instruction)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
It defines kingship as dharmic guardianship (prajā-pālana): spiritual merit and legitimacy arise from protecting the most vulnerable—pregnant women and young children—rather than from power or birth.
By elevating compassionate protection as a sacred duty, it aligns righteous action with devotion: serving and safeguarding living beings is treated as service to Dharma, which supports a Vishnu-centered bhakti life grounded in mercy and responsibility.
While not a technical Vedanga passage, it applies dharma-shastra reasoning: it sets a clear ethical rule for governance and conduct—special protection for those in vulnerable life-stages—useful for practical decision-making in society and law.