Shloka 27

Kṣātra-Dharma, Daṇḍanīti, and Social Order

Indra–Māndhātṛ Dialogue

Devanagari script

आत्मत्याग: सर्वभूतानुकम्पा लोवज्ञानं पालन मोक्षणं च । विषण्णानां मोक्षणं पीडितानां क्षात्रे धर्मे विद्यते पार्थिवानाम्‌ू

Transliteration

ātmatyāgaḥ sarvabhūtānukampā lokavyavahārajñānaṁ pālanaṁ mokṣaṇaṁ ca | viṣaṇṇānāṁ mokṣaṇaṁ pīḍitānāṁ kṣātre dharme vidyate pārthivānām ||

Translation

因陀罗说：“战场上的舍身，怜悯一切众生，通晓世道，护佑百姓，并使沮丧者与受压迫者脱离忧苦与折磨——这一切都包含在君王的刹帝利之法中。此等职责界定了正义的王道：为国度而以身犯险，以明辨而治理，并成为困厄者的庇护所。”

Word by Word

• आत्मत्यागः: self-sacrifice (offering up one’s own body/life)
• आत्मत्यागः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मत्याग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वभूतानुकम्पा: compassion toward all beings
• सर्वभूतानुकम्पा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वभूतानुकम्पा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• लोकज्ञानम्: knowledge of worldly affairs
• लोकज्ञानम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोकज्ञान
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• पालनम्: protection; maintenance (of subjects)
• पालनम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पालन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• मोक्षणम्: release; deliverance
• मोक्षणम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्षण
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• विषण्णानाम्: of the despondent
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषण्ण
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• मोक्षणम्: release; rescuing
• मोक्षणम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्षण
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• पीडितानाम्: of the afflicted/oppressed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीडित
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• क्षात्रे: in the kshatriya (royal/warrior) sphere
• क्षात्रे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षात्र
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• धर्मे: in the duty/law (dharma)
• धर्मे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• विद्यते: is found; exists
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (विद्+यते; √विद् in sense 'to be found/occur')
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• पार्थिवानाम्: of kings; of rulers
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

Speaker

इन्द्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• pārthivāḥ (kings/rulers)
• sarvabhūtāni (all beings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse defines righteous kingship (kṣātra-dharma) as a blend of valor and compassion: a king must be ready for self-sacrifice, understand worldly affairs, protect the people, and actively rescue the distressed and oppressed.

What is happening in the narrative?

Indra is speaking within the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, enumerating the essential qualities and obligations that belong to kings and warriors—especially their duty to protect and relieve suffering, not merely to wield power.