Shloka 24

मोक्षोपाय-निर्णयः

Determination of the Means to Liberation

Devanagari script

राजानो लोकयात्रार्थ तप्यन्ते परमं तप: । तेडपत्रपन्ति तादृग्भ्यस्तथावृत्ता भवन्ति च

Transliteration

rājāno lokayātrārthaṁ tapyante paramaṁ tapaḥ | te ḍapatrapanti tādṛgbhyas tathāvṛttā bhavanti ca ||

Translation

胡摩特塞那说道：“诸王为使世间秩序得以安然延续，而修行至高的苦行。若其国中藏有盗贼与劫掠之徒，便自觉羞惭；因此，为使臣民清净、守礼、安乐，便投身于如此严整的自律与精进。”

Word by Word

• राजानः: kings
• राजानः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• लोकयात्रार्थम्: for the purpose of the world's maintenance (life-journey)
• लोकयात्रार्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक-यात्रा-अर्थ
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तप्यन्ते: perform austerity / undergo penance
• तप्यन्ते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Atmanepada

• परमम्: supreme, very great
• परमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

हुमत्सेन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Humat-sena
• kings (rājānaḥ)
• subjects/people (implied)
• thieves and robbers (from the given context)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king’s true ‘tapas’ is disciplined governance for public welfare: maintaining social order (lokayātrā), preventing crime, and cultivating the moral and material well-being of the subjects. Shame at disorder becomes a moral spur toward responsible rule.

What is happening in the narrative?

Humat-sena is explaining why rulers undertake severe discipline: not for personal display, but to ensure the smooth functioning of society. He frames effective law-and-order and the uplift of the people as a form of royal austerity.