Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 45

Varṇāśrama-dharma as a Path to Bhakti

Yuga-dharma Origins, Universal Virtues, Brahmacarya and Gṛhastha Duties

Devanagari script

सर्वा: समुद्धरेद् राजा पितेव व्यसनात् प्रजा: । आत्मानमात्मना धीरो यथा गजपतिर्गजान् ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

sarvāḥ samuddhared rājā piteva vyasanāt prajāḥ ātmānam ātmanā dhīro yathā gaja-patir gajān

Translation

ดุจบิดาช่วยบุตรธิดาให้พ้นจากความทุกข์ยาก พระราชาพึงกอบกู้ประชาชนทั้งปวงจากความลำบาก และดุจช้างพังผู้เป็นจ่าฝูงคุ้มครองช้างทั้งหลายพร้อมทั้งป้องกันตนเอง ฉันใด พระราชาผู้กล้าหาญไม่หวาดหวั่นก็พึงคุ้มครองราษฎรและคุ้มครองตนด้วย ฉันนั้น

Synonyms

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन — ‘all’; qualifies प्रजाः

• समुद्धरेत्: should rescue
• समुद्धरेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उद् + हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद — ‘should rescue’

• राजा: the king
• राजा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पिता: a father
• पिता: उपमान (Upamāna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘father’

• इव: like
• इव: सम्बन्ध (Comparative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-सूचक/particle of comparison

• व्यसनात्: from misfortune
• व्यसनात्: अपादान (Apādāna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन — ‘from misfortune’

• प्रजाः: the subjects
• प्रजाः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन — ‘subjects/people’

• आत्मानम्: himself
• आत्मानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘oneself’

• आत्मना: by himself
• आत्मना: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन — ‘by oneself/with oneself’

• धीरः: steadfast
• धीरः: कर्ता (Karta; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘steadfast/wise’; qualifies राजा

• यथा: just as
• यथा: सम्बन्ध (Comparative/Modal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमा/प्रकारवाचक — ‘just as’

• गजपतिः: the lord of elephants
• गजपतिः: कर्ता (Karta in simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘lord of elephants’; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गजानां पतिः)

• गजान्: elephants
• गजान्: कर्म (Karma/Object in simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

Purport

Lord Kṛṣṇa, having concluded His discussion of brahminical duties, now describes the character and activities of a king. Protecting all of the citizens from difficulty is an essential duty for the king.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about a king’s duty to protect citizens?

This verse teaches that a king must rescue and protect all citizens from calamities, caring for them like a father cares for his children.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in Canto 11?

In the Uddhava-gītā section, Kṛṣṇa explains varṇāśrama-dharma and right conduct; here He outlines rāja-dharma—protection of subjects and personal self-mastery as the basis of righteous rule.

How can this teaching be applied in modern leadership and daily life?

Leaders should prioritize the welfare of those under their care and practice self-governance—discipline, restraint, and steadiness—before attempting to guide others.