Shloka 1
Cāturāśramya-dharma—Marks of the Four Āśramas (चातुराश्रम्यधर्मः)
अफड---रू- पज्चषष्टितमो< ध्याय: इन्द्ररूपधारी विष्णु और मान्धाताका संवाद इन्द्र उवाच एवंवीर्य: सर्वधर्मोपपन्न: क्षात्र: श्रेष्ठ: सर्वधर्मेषु धर्म: । पाल्यो युष्माभिलोंकहितैरुदारै- विंपर्यये स्पादभव: प्रजानाम्
indra uvāca | evaṁvīryaḥ sarvadharmopapannaḥ kṣātraḥ śreṣṭhaḥ sarvadharmeṣu dharmaḥ | pālyo yuṣmābhir lokahitair udārair viparyaye syād abhavaḥ prajānām ||
Wika ni Indra: “O hari, sa ganyang paraan ang kṣātra-dharma—ang dharma ng mandirigma—ay makapangyarihan at ipinahahayag na pinakadakila sa lahat ng dharma, ganap sa lahat ng kabutihang sumusuporta rito. Kaya’t ang mga mararangal na tulad mo na naghahangad ng kapakanan ng daigdig ay dapat laging magtaguyod ng kṣātra-dharma na ito. Kapag ito’y binaligtad o pinabayaan, mapapahamak ang mga tao.”
इन्द्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that kṣātra-dharma (royal/warrior duty) is foremost because it safeguards social order: a ruler must actively uphold protection, justice, and public welfare; neglect of this duty leads to the ruin of the people.
Indra addresses a king, urging him to maintain kṣātra-dharma for the sake of lokahita (public good). The statement frames kingship as a moral responsibility: when royal duty is inverted or abandoned, the subjects suffer destruction.