Shloka 9

जटायुरुपदेशः — Jatāyu Confronts Rāvaṇa

Ethical Admonition and Challenge

Devanagari script

राजा धर्मस्य कामस्य द्रव्याणां चोत्तमो निधिः।।।।धर्मश्शुभं वा पापं वा राजमूलं प्रवर्तते।

Transliteration

rājā dharmasya kāmasya dravyāṇāṁ cottamo nidhiḥ |

dharmaḥ śubhaṁ vā pāpaṁ vā rāja-mūlaṁ pravartate |

Translation

Nhà vua là kho tàng tối thượng của dharma, của kāma và của tài vật. Dù chính pháp hiện thành điều lành hay biến thành tội lỗi, đường vận hành của nó trong đời đều lấy vua làm gốc.

Word by Word

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• धर्मस्य: of dharma
• धर्मस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• कामस्य: of pleasure
• कामस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• द्रव्याणाम्: of wealth/resources
• द्रव्याणाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dravya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• उत्तमः: best
• उत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifies nidhiḥ

• निधिः: repository/treasure
• निधिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• शुभम्: good
• शुभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object/apposition with dharmaḥ (good as dharma)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-nipāta

• पापम्: evil
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-nipāta

• राजमूलम्: having the king as its root
• राजमूलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāja-mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: राज्ञः मूलम्; Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective to dharmaḥ

• प्रवर्तते: proceeds/is practiced
• प्रवर्तते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Ātmanepada

Context

A king is the best repository of rigteousness, material wealth and pleasures. The king is the root of dharma, virtue and sin.

Characters & Entities

• Jatāyu
• Rāvaṇa
• king (rājā)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma in society is causally tied to governance: the ruler’s character determines whether public life trends toward virtue or vice.

What is the narrative situation?

Jatāyu warns Rāvaṇa that his wrongdoing is not merely personal; as a king, his actions become the root of wider moral disorder.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Accountability in power: a ruler must embody restraint and justice because his conduct generates social norms.