Shloka 23

Kṣātra-Dharma, Daṇḍanīti, and Social Order

Indra–Māndhātṛ Dialogue

Devanagari script

कर्मणा वै पुरा देवा ऋषयश्चामितौजस: । त्राता: सर्वे प्रसह्यारीन्‌ क्षत्रधर्मेण विष्णुना

Transliteration

karmaṇā vai purā devā ṛṣayaś cāmitaujasaḥ | trātāḥ sarve prasahyārīn kṣatradharmeṇa viṣṇunā ||

Translation

Indra nói: “Thuở xưa, bằng hành động quyết liệt của mình, Thượng đế Vishnu đã dùng kỷ cương của kṣatriya-dharma mà cưỡng chế khuất phục kẻ thù, bảo hộ chư thiên và toàn thể các bậc hiền triết rực rỡ uy quang vô lượng.”

Word by Word

• कर्मणा: by (his) action/deed
• कर्मणा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• पुरा: formerly, in olden times
• पुरा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ऋषयः: the sages
• ऋषयः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अमितौजसः: of immeasurable vigor (mighty)
• अमितौजसः: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमित-ओजस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• त्राताः: protected, saved
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रातृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्रसह्य: forcibly, by overpowering
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रसह्य

• अरीन्: enemies
• अरीन्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• क्षत्रधर्मेण: by the kshatriya-duty/warrior code
• क्षत्रधर्मेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्र-धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• विष्णुना: by Vishnu
• विष्णुना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

इन्द्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Viṣṇu
• Devas
• Ṛṣis
• Enemies (Ari)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that force can be ethically legitimate when it is exercised as kṣatriya-dharma—duty-bound protection of society, especially the guardians of sacred order (devas and ṛṣis). Power is justified here not by conquest but by safeguarding and restoring dharma through disciplined action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Indra recalls an earlier precedent: Viṣṇu, acting in accordance with the warrior-kingly code, overpowered enemies and thereby ensured the safety of the gods and the mighty sages. The recollection functions as an authoritative example supporting the role of righteous protection in governance and conflict.