Shloka 36

Rukmāṅgada–Vāmadeva Saṃvāda: Ahimsa, Hunting, and the Fruit of Dvādaśī-Bhakti

Devanagari script

चतुर्भिः शोभनोपायैः प्रजाः सयम्य भूतले । स्वकर्मस्था विकर्मस्था नीता मधुभिदः पदम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

caturbhiḥ śobhanopāyaiḥ prajāḥ sayamya bhūtale | svakarmasthā vikarmasthā nītā madhubhidaḥ padam || 36 ||

Translation

以四种殊胜善巧之法，您在世间约束并调伏众民；无论安住本分正业者，乃至堕入邪行者，皆被引至摩杜毗陀（毗湿奴）之圣境。

Word by Word

• caturbhiḥ: by four
• caturbhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); numeral adjective

• śobhana-upāyaiḥ: by excellent means
• śobhana-upāyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śobhana (प्रातिपदिक) + upāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारय: ‘excellent means’

• prajāḥ: subjects, people
• prajāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• saṃyamya: having restrained
• saṃyamya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yam (धातु) + sam- + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Gerund in -ya (ल्यप्), ‘having restrained/controlled’

• bhūtale: on the earth
• bhūtale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक) + tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘on the earth’

• sva-karma-sthāḥ: engaged in their own duties
• sva-karma-sthāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + karma (प्रातिपदिक) + sthā (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective of ‘prajāḥ’; compound sense ‘standing in/engaged in one’s own duty’

• vi-karma-sthāḥ: engaged in wrong actions
• vi-karma-sthāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi (उपसर्ग) + karma (प्रातिपदिक) + sthā (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective of ‘prajāḥ’; ‘engaged in wrongful acts’

• nītāḥ: were led
• nītāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nī (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with ‘prajāḥ’

• madhu-bhidaḥ: of Madhubhid (Viṣṇu)
• madhu-bhidaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu (प्रातिपदिक) + bhid (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष epithet of Viṣṇu: ‘slayer of Madhu’

• padam: abode, state
• padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); destination of ‘nītāḥ’

Speaker

Narada (as narrator/teacher in the Uttara-Bhaga discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Madhubhid)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It teaches that righteous governance and moral discipline can elevate society spiritually—so that even those who stray into vikarma can be redirected toward Vishnu’s supreme abode.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By naming Vishnu as “Madhubhid” and presenting the goal as His “padam,” the verse frames social order and personal reform as ultimately meant to support God-centered living and attainment of Vishnu through devotion and dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana or Jyotisha) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is Niti/Raja-dharma—methods of restraint, guidance, and reform that align people back to svadharma.