Shloka 41

धृतराष्ट्रस्य पश्चात्तापः तथा वनप्रस्थानानुज्ञा | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Remorse and Request for Forest-Retirement

Devanagari script

गोवद्रासभवच्चैव कुर्युर्ये ब्यवहारिण: । 'पाण्डुनन्दन! तुम्हारे राज्यके अंदर रहनेवाले जो कारीगर और शिल्पी तुम्हारा काम करें, तुम्हें उनके भरण-पोषणका प्रबन्ध अवश्य करना चाहिये; जैसे गधों और बैलोंसे काम लेनेवाले लोग उन्हें खानेको देते हैं || ४० इ ।।

Transliteration

govadrāsabhavac caiva kuryur ye vyavahāriṇaḥ | pāṇḍunandana! tava rājyāntaravartino ye kārīgarāḥ śilpinaś ca tava kāryaṃ kuryuḥ, teṣāṃ bharaṇa-poṣaṇasya prabandhaṃ tvayāvaśyaṃ kartavyaḥ; yathā gardabhaiḥ balībhiś ca kāryaṃ gṛhṇantaḥ lokās tebhyo bhojanaṃ dadati ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: „O Sohn des Pāṇḍu, in deinem Reich musst du die Handwerker und Kunstfertigen, die für dich arbeiten, gewiss versorgen und erhalten. Man soll keine Arbeit nehmen, ohne Nahrung zu gewähren—denn selbst wer Esel und Ochsen arbeiten lässt, gibt ihnen zu fressen.“

Word by Word

• गोवत्: like a cow/ox
• गोवत्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गो
• Form: indeclinable (vat-pratyaya: 'like/as')

• रासभवत्: like a donkey
• रासभवत्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रासभ
• Form: indeclinable (vat-pratyaya: 'like/as')

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: indeclinable

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव
• Form: indeclinable

• कुर्युः: should do / would do
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: vidhi-lin (optative), parasmaipada; 3rd person plural

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: masculine; nominative plural

• व्यवहारिणः: dealers/men engaged in transactions (practical men)
• व्यवहारिणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यवहारिन्
• Form: masculine; nominative plural

• स्वरन्ध्रम्: one's own weak point/flaw
• स्वरन्ध्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-रन्ध्र
• Form: neuter; accusative singular

• पररन्ध्रम्: another's weak point/flaw
• पररन्ध्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर-रन्ध्र
• Form: neuter; accusative singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: indeclinable

• स्वेषु: in one's own (matters/people)
• स्वेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: स्व
• Form: masculine/neuter; locative plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: indeclinable

• एव: indeed/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव
• Form: indeclinable

• परेषु: in others' (matters/people)
• परेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: masculine/neuter; locative plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: indeclinable

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pāṇḍunandana (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• artisans (kārīgarāḥ)
• craftsmen (śilpinaḥ)
• donkeys (gardabhāḥ)
• oxen/bulls (balīvāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler must ensure the livelihood and maintenance of those who work for the state—especially artisans and craftsmen. Taking labor without providing sustenance is unethical; even working animals are fed, so human workers deserve organized support.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana continues instructive counsel addressed to Yudhiṣṭhira (Pāṇḍunandana), emphasizing practical royal duty: the king should arrange the upkeep of workers in his realm who perform tasks for him.