Shloka 24

मोक्षोपाय-निर्णयः

Determination of the Means to Liberation

Devanagari script

राजानो लोकयात्रार्थ तप्यन्ते परमं तप: । तेडपत्रपन्ति तादृग्भ्यस्तथावृत्ता भवन्ति च

Transliteration

rājāno lokayātrārthaṁ tapyante paramaṁ tapaḥ | te ḍapatrapanti tādṛgbhyas tathāvṛttā bhavanti ca ||

Translation

Humatsena nói: “Các bậc quân vương thực hành những khổ hạnh tối thượng để gìn giữ cho trật tự thế gian được vận hành điều hòa. Khi trong cõi nước còn dung chứa trộm cướp, họ cảm thấy hổ thẹn; vì vậy, với ước nguyện làm cho thần dân được thanh tịnh, nề nếp, và an lạc, họ tự ràng buộc mình vào sự tinh cần kỷ luật như thế.”

Word by Word

• राजानः: kings
• राजानः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• लोकयात्रार्थम्: for the purpose of the world's maintenance (life-journey)
• लोकयात्रार्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक-यात्रा-अर्थ
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तप्यन्ते: perform austerity / undergo penance
• तप्यन्ते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Atmanepada

• परमम्: supreme, very great
• परमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

हुमत्सेन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Humat-sena
• kings (rājānaḥ)
• subjects/people (implied)
• thieves and robbers (from the given context)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king’s true ‘tapas’ is disciplined governance for public welfare: maintaining social order (lokayātrā), preventing crime, and cultivating the moral and material well-being of the subjects. Shame at disorder becomes a moral spur toward responsible rule.

What is happening in the narrative?

Humat-sena is explaining why rulers undertake severe discipline: not for personal display, but to ensure the smooth functioning of society. He frames effective law-and-order and the uplift of the people as a form of royal austerity.