Shloka 14

षष्ठस्सर्गः — तपस्विरक्षणे राजधर्मोपदेशः

Sarga 6: The Sages’ Appeal and Instruction on Royal Duty

Devanagari script

यत्करोति परं धर्म मुनिर्मूलफलाशनः।तत्र राज्ञश्चतुर्भाग प्रजा धर्मेण रक्षितः।।।।

Transliteration

yat karoti paraṃ dharma muniḥ mūlaphalāśanaḥ |

tatra rājñaś caturbhāgaḥ prajā dharmeṇa rakṣitaḥ ||

Translation

บุญธรรมอันสูงสุดที่มุนีผู้ฉันรากไม้และผลไม้บำเพ็ญได้ ส่วนหนึ่งในสี่นั้นย่อมตกแก่พระราชา เมื่อพระองค์ทรงคุ้มครองประชาราษฎร์โดยธรรม

Word by Word

• सः: that
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ब्राह्मणभूयिष्ठः: consisting mostly of Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणभूयिष्ठः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्राह्मण-भूयिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ब्राह्मण + भूयिष्ठ (‘mostly Brahmins’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (गणः इति)

• वानप्रस्थगणः: group of forest-dwelling ascetics
• वानप्रस्थगणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानप्रस्थ-गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: वानप्रस्थ + गण, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महान्: great
• महान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (गणः इति)

• त्वत्-नाथः: having you as protector
• त्वत्-नाथः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वत् + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: त्वत् (gen. ‘of you’) + नाथ (‘lord’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having you as lord’

• अनाथवत्: like orphans
• अनाथवत्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनाथवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपमान-अव्यय (comparative indeclinable): ‘like the unprotected/orphans’

• राम: O Rama
• राम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• राक्षसैः: by demons
• राक्षसैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• वध्यते: is being killed
• वध्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): ‘is being slain’

• भृशम्: severely
• भृशम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/तीव्रता-अव्यय (adverb: greatly/excessively)

Context

O Rama, whoever protects the inhabitants of his kingdom at all times like his own son who he loves more than his own life will attain the world of Brahma and remain there for long years and will achieve prosperity thereafter.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• King (rājā)
• Sage (muni)
• People/subjects (prajāḥ)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

It teaches interdependence: ascetic dharma flourishes under royal protection, and the protector-king gains a share in the merit generated—linking political duty with spiritual consequence.

What is the narrative situation?

Sages justify their appeal by explaining the dharmic economy between tapas and kingship: protection enables righteousness, and righteousness benefits the protector.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective responsibility—righteous governance that safeguards communities and supports spiritual practice.