Shloka 7

Yamavākya

The Words of Yama

Devanagari script

सोऽहं देव तवादेशात् प्रजा धर्मेण शासयन् । पुण्येन पुण्यकर्तारं पापं पापेन कर्मणा ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

so'haṃ deva tavādeśāt prajā dharmeṇa śāsayan | puṇyena puṇyakartāraṃ pāpaṃ pāpena karmaṇā || 7 ||

Translation

اے ربّ! تیرے حکم سے میں رعایا کو دھرم کے مطابق چلاتا ہوں—نیکی کرنے والے کو نیکی کے پھل سے نوازتا ہوں اور گناہ کو اس کے گناہ کے انجام سے، اس کے کرم کے مطابق، بدلہ دیتا ہوں۔

Word by Word

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

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• देव: O Lord
• देव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम

• आदेशात्: from/according to the command
• आदेशात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

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

• धर्मेण: by righteousness/with dharma
• धर्मेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• शासयन्: governing
• शासयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शास् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present Active Participle), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘governing/disciplining’

• पुण्येन: by merit
• पुण्येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• पुण्यकर्तारम्: the doer of merit
• पुण्यकर्तारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य-कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक); पुण्य + कर्तृ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पापम्: sin/evil
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पापेन: by sin
• पापेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• कर्मणा: by action/deed
• कर्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

Speaker

A righteous ruler/king (addressing Deva, i.e., the Lord as the divine authority behind kingship)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Deva (Lord)
• Prajā (subjects)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It frames governance as a sacred duty performed under divine command, where justice mirrors karma: merit is met with auspicious results and sin with painful results, preserving dharma in society.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Bhakti is implied through obedience to the Lord’s ādeśa: a devotee-ruler serves God by protecting dharma and acting as an instrument of divine order rather than personal desire.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a technical Vedanga passage, it reflects dharma-śāstra logic—cause-and-effect ethics akin to disciplined reasoning used in textual interpretation (nirukta/nyāya style), applied to real-world administration of justice.