Shloka 37

धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्

Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct

Devanagari script

आर्तहस्तप्रदो नित्यं प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन्‌ । सत्य: सत्यानि कुरुते नित्यं यः सुखदर्शन:

Transliteration

ārtahastaprado nityaṁ prajā dharmeṇa pālayan | satyaḥ satyāni kurute nityaṁ yaḥ sukhadarśanaḥ ||

Translation

他常以援手济助困厄之人；他依正法护持臣民；他坚住真实，恒常言行皆真；并且人们仅见其仪容，便得安慰。如此行持，正是理想刹帝利之相——堪为君主。

Word by Word

• आर्त: distressed (persons)
• आर्त: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• हस्त: hand
• हस्त: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रदः: giver (one who gives)
• प्रदः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नित्यम्: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• प्रजाः: subjects, people
• प्रजाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• धर्मेण: by/with righteousness, according to dharma
• धर्मेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• पालयन्: protecting, governing
• पालयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: पालय् (पाल्)
• Form: Present (Shatru participle), Singular

• सत्यः: truthful
• सत्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सत्यानि: truths, truthful acts/words
• सत्यानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• कुरुते: does, performs
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• नित्यम्: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुख: happiness, comfort
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• दर्शनः: appearance; (one whose) sight/appearance
• दर्शनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Maheśvara (speaker)
• prajā (subjects/people)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse defines righteous kingship: a ruler should actively aid the distressed, protect the people through dharma, remain unwaveringly truthful in conduct and speech, and be so well-disposed that his very presence brings reassurance and happiness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śrī Maheśvara is describing the ethical marks of an exemplary kṣatriya/king, emphasizing public welfare, dharmic governance, and satya as the foundation of legitimate rule.