Shloka 25
साम्ब-हरणम्, बलदेवस्य रोषः, हस्तिनापुर-आकर्षणम्
धिङ् मनुष्यशतोच्छिष्टे तुष्टिर् एषां नृपासने पारिजाततरोः पुष्पमञ्जरीर् वनिताजनः बिभर्ति यस्य भृत्यानां सो ऽप्य् एषां न महीपतिः
dhiṅ manuṣyaśatocchiṣṭe tuṣṭir eṣāṃ nṛpāsane pārijātataroḥ puṣpamañjarīr vanitājanaḥ bibharti yasya bhṛtyānāṃ so 'py eṣāṃ na mahīpatiḥ
ధిక్కారం—వందమంది మనుషుల ఉచ్చిష్టంలాంటి రాజాసనంలో వీరి తృప్తి! ఏ రాజుని సేవకులను స్త్రీలు పారిజాత వృక్షపు పుష్పగుచ్ఛాలతో అలంకరించినా, అటువంటి అహంకార వైభవంతోనే జీవిస్తే అతడు నిజమైన భూపతి కాడు।
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya within the dynastic narrative of kingship and its moral evaluation)
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: To instruct that true sovereignty is ethical and selfless, not vanity fed by celestial luxuries, thereby correcting distorted ideals of kingship.
Leela: Dharma-upadesa
Dharma Restored: Rāja-dharma grounded in humility, service, and inner worth rather than pomp and sensual display.
Concept: External splendor—even celestial ornaments—cannot confer true lordship; inner dharma alone makes one fit to rule.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Measure success by integrity and service, not status symbols; practice simplicity and accountability in leadership.
Vishishtadvaita: Śrī (Lakṣmī) as true auspiciousness is aligned with dharma; prosperity without righteousness is spiritually empty and not ‘śrī’ in the fullest sense.
Vishnu Form: Krishna
Bhakti Type: Shanta
Lakshmi Presence: Sri
FAQs
The verse condemns attachment to mere status and courtly privilege, teaching that a throne without dharma is contemptible—true sovereignty is moral and dharmic, not decorative.
By using the image of pārijāta flower-clusters adorning servants, Parāśara shows that even heavenly luxury cannot confer legitimacy; rulership is validated by conduct, duty, and protection of the earth.
In Vaishnava thought, Vishnu sustains cosmic order (dharma); a king is “earth’s lord” only insofar as he reflects that sustaining order—otherwise his power is empty show.