Shloka 105

Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)

Devanagari script

सम्भावयति मातेव दीनमप्युपपद्यते । दहत्यग्निरिवानिष्टान्‌ यमयन्नसतो यम:

Transliteration

sambhāvayati māteva dīnam apy upapadyate | dahaty agnir ivāniṣṭān yamayann asato yamaḥ ||

Translation

梵摩达多说道：“他如母亲般关怀——在适当之时，连困苦之人亦不弃。然又如火，焚尽不善与可憎；又如阎摩，约束不义之徒。”

Word by Word

• सम्भावयति: honors, esteems, treats with regard
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-भावय् (भावयति)
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• माता: mother
• माता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: like, as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• दीनम्: the poor/distressed (person)
• दीनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अपि: even, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• उपपद्यते: is fitting/appropriate; is possible; is consistent
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√पद् (उपपद्यते)
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• दहति: burns
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दह्
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अग्निः: fire
• अग्निः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: like, as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• अनिष्टान्: undesirable (ones), evil-doers/foes
• अनिष्टान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• यमयन्: restraining, controlling
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यम्
• Form: Śatṛ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• असतः: of the wicked/untrue (person)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असत्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• यमः: Yama; the restrainer (god of death/justice)
• यमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच

Characters & Entities

• ब्रह्मदत्त (Brahmadatta)
• यम (Yama)
• अग्नि (Agni, fire)
• माता (mother, as a simile)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents the ideal of righteous authority: compassion and respect toward the vulnerable when appropriate, combined with firm restraint and corrective punishment toward wrongdoing—balancing maternal care with Yama-like justice.

What is happening in the narrative?

Brahmadatta is describing the qualities of a dharmic ruler/disciplinarian: he can nurture and uplift the distressed, yet he also destroys harmful elements like fire and restrains the unrighteous like Yama, emphasizing balanced governance.