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Shloka 8

Āstīka’s Commission and Approach to Janamejaya’s Sarpa-satra (आस्तीक-प्रेषणं यज्ञप्रवेशोपक्रमश्च)

चातुर्वर्ण्य स्वधर्मस्थं स कृत्वा पर्यरक्षत । धर्मतो धर्मविद्‌ राजा धर्मो विग्रहवानिव,वे चारों वर्णोको अपने-अपने धर्ममें स्थापित करके उन सबकी थधर्मपूर्वक रक्षा करते थे। राजा परीक्षित्‌ केवल धर्मके ज्ञाता ही नहीं थे, वे धर्मके साक्षात्‌ स्वरूप थे

cāturvarṇya-svadharmasthaṃ sa kṛtvā paryarakṣata | dharmato dharmavid rājā dharmo vigrahavān iva ||

พระองค์ทรงสถาปนาชนทั้งสี่วรรณะให้มั่นคงในหน้าที่ตามสวธรรมของตน แล้วทรงคุ้มครองตามครรลองแห่งธรรมะ พระราชาปรีกษิตมิใช่เพียงผู้รู้ธรรมะเท่านั้น หากประหนึ่งธรรมะเองได้อวตารเป็นมนุษย์

चातुर्वर्ण्यम्the fourfold social order (of the four varṇas)
चातुर्वर्ण्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootचातुर्वर्ण्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
स्वधर्मस्थम्established in its own duties
स्वधर्मस्थम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootस्वधर्मस्थ
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कृत्वाhaving made / having established
कृत्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)
पर्यरक्षत्protected all around / duly protected
पर्यरक्षत्:
TypeVerb
Rootपरि-रक्ष्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
धर्मतःaccording to dharma / righteously
धर्मतः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootधर्म
Formablatival adverb (tasil)
धर्मविद्knower of dharma
धर्मविद्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधर्मविद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
राजाthe king
राजा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
धर्मःdharma (righteousness)
धर्मः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
विग्रहवान्embodied / having a form
विग्रहवान्:
TypeAdjective
Rootविग्रहवत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
इवas if / like
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव

जनमेजय उवाच

J
Janamejaya
P
Parīkṣit
C
cāturvarṇya (the four varṇas)

Educational Q&A

A ruler’s legitimacy is grounded in dharma: he must establish people in their rightful duties and protect them through righteous means. Parīkṣit is praised as the living embodiment of moral order, not merely an intellectual expert in it.

Janamejaya describes King Parīkṣit’s ideal governance: he ensured the four varṇas remained steady in their respective obligations and provided protection accordingly, portraying him as dharma personified.