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Shloka 30

Bhagīratha Brings Gaṅgā; Saudāsa’s Curse; Khaṭvāṅga’s Instant Renunciation

सोऽयं ब्रह्मर्षिवर्यस्ते राजर्षिप्रवराद् विभो । कथमर्हति धर्मज्ञ वधं पितुरिवात्मज: ॥ ३० ॥

so ’yaṁ brahmarṣi-varyas te rājarṣi-pravarād vibho katham arhati dharma-jña vadhaṁ pitur ivātmajaḥ

Panginoon ko, alam na alam mo ang mga prinsipyong panrelihiyon. Kung paanong ang isang anak ay hindi nararapat na patayin ng kanyang ama, ang brahmanang ito ay dapat protektahan ng hari, at hindi kailanman patayin.

saḥhe
saḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Roottad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormSarvanāma (pronoun/सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
ayamthis (very one)
ayam:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
TypeNoun
Rootidam (प्रातिपदिक)
FormSarvanāma (pronoun/सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
brahmarṣi-varyaḥthe best of brahmarṣis
brahmarṣi-varyaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject; predicate/apposition)
TypeNoun
Rootbrahmarṣi (प्रातिपदिक; brahman + ṛṣi) + varya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); ‘best among brahmarṣis’
teof you/your
te:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
TypeNoun
Rootyusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)
rājarṣi-pravarātfrom the foremost royal sage
rājarṣi-pravarāt:
Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
TypeNoun
Rootrājarṣi (प्रातिपदिक; rāja + ṛṣi) + pravara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन); comparative source: ‘from the foremost of royal sages’
vibhoO mighty one
vibho:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
TypeNoun
Rootvibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular (एकवचन)
kathamhow
katham:
Prashna (प्रश्न/Interrogative)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkatham (अव्यय)
FormInterrogative adverb (प्रश्नाव्यय)
arhatiis fit/deserves
arhati:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
TypeVerb
Root√arh (अर्ह् पूजायाम्/योग्यतायाम् धातु)
FormLaṭ (लट्/Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)
dharma-jñaO knower of dharma
dharma-jña:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
TypeNoun
Rootdharma (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √jñā धातु, ‘knower’)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular (एकवचन); address: ‘knower of dharma’
vadhamkilling, slaughter
vadham:
Karma (कर्म/Object of arhati)
TypeNoun
Rootvadha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)
pituḥof the father
pituḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Relation)
TypeNoun
Rootpitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)
ivalike
iva:
Upamāna-marker (उपमान-सूचक)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiva (अव्यय)
FormSimile particle (उपमावाचक निपात)
ātmajaḥa son
ātmajaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject of implied action; ‘a son’)
TypeNoun
Rootātmaja (प्रातिपदिक; ātman + ja)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); ‘son (born of oneself)’

The word rājarṣi refers to a king who behaves like a ṛṣi, or sage. Such a king is also called naradeva because he is considered a representative of the Supreme Lord. Because his duty is to rule the kingdom to maintain brahminical culture, he never desires to kill a brāhmaṇa. Generally, a brāhmaṇa, woman, child, old man or cow is never regarded as punishable. Thus the wife of the brāhmaṇa requested the King to refrain from this sinful act.

P
Paraśurāma
J
Jamadagni
R
Reṇukā
K
Kārtavīryārjuna

FAQs

This verse condemns the very idea—stating that an exalted brāhmaṇa sage, especially one connected to a noble lineage, is not fit to be killed, and such violence violates dharma.

It highlights the unnatural, irreligious nature of the act: harming a saintly brāhmaṇa is portrayed as as shocking and adharmic as a father killing his own child.

Respect the spiritually learned and avoid harm driven by anger or power; when conflict arises, choose dharmic restraint and seek justice without cruelty.