Sutra 4

Devanagari script

एष त्रयीधर्मश्चतुर्णां वर्णानामाश्रमाणां च स्वधर्मस्थापनादौपकारिकः ॥ कZ_०१.३.०४ ॥

Transliteration

eṣa trayī-dharmaś caturṇāṃ varṇānām āśramāṇāṃ ca sva-dharma-sthāpanād aupakārikaḥ

Translation

这一吠陀三部（trayī）之所以有益，是因为它确立各自的本分（svadharma）——四种社会阶序（varṇa）与人生四期（āśrama）的本分。

Word by Word

• एषः: this (one/this treatise)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: sarvanāma-prātipadika; puṃliṅga; prathamā-vibhakti; ekavacana

• त्रयी-धर्मः: Vedic dharma (duty based on the three Vedas)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: samāsa: trayyāḥ dharmaḥ; puṃliṅga; prathamā-vibhakti; ekavacana

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: avyaya; samuccaya (coordination)

• चतुर्णाम्: of four
• Type: Numeral (Adjective)
• Root: चतुर्
• Form: saṅkhyā; ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti; bahuvacana; (governs वर्णानाम्)

• वर्णानाम्: of the varṇas (social classes)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण
• Form: puṃliṅga; ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti; bahuvacana

• आश्रमाणाम्: of the āśramas (life-stages)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम
• Form: puṃliṅga; ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti; bahuvacana

• च: and
• Type: Particle
• Root: च
• Form: avyaya; samuccaya

• स्व-धर्म-स्थापनात्: from/by the establishment of one’s own prescribed duties
• Type: Verbal noun (Action noun)
• Root: स्थाप (स्था)
• Form: samāsa: sva-dharma (karmadhāraya: ‘one’s own duty’) + sthāpana (kṛdanta, lyuṭ); napuṃsaka/puṃliṅga usage; pañcamī-vibhakti; ekavacana; ablative of cause/source: ‘from/by establishing…’

• आदौ: firstly; beginning with
• Type: Adverb
• Root: आदि
• Form: avyaya; locative-form used adverbially: ‘at first/primarily; beginning with…’

• उपकारिकः: beneficial; serviceable; helpful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपकारिन्
• Form: puṃliṅga; prathamā-vibhakti; ekavacana; predicate adjective agreeing with एषः/धर्मः

Entities Mentioned

• trayī
• dharma
• varṇa
• āśrama
• svadharma

More Details

FAQs

What is the strategic objective (Artha) of this verse?

To justify Vedic-legal learning as a governance asset: by fixing role-based duties across society, the state gains predictability, social discipline, and lower friction in administration and adjudication.

How does this apply to modern governance?

Modern states similarly rely on clear role definitions and enforceable norms (constitutions, administrative law, professional codes). When duties and jurisdictions are well-specified, compliance improves and enforcement costs fall.

What is the specific duty of the ruler/official mentioned?

No specific official is named here; the implied duty of the ruler is to uphold a stable normative-legal order by recognizing and institutionalizing role-based obligations, thereby supporting public order and welfare.