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Shloka 30

Kṣemadarśa–Kālakavṛkṣīya Saṃvāda: Counsel on Impermanence, Non-attachment, and Composure in Dispossession

पुरस्ताद्‌ भूतपूर्वत्वाद्धीनभाग्यो हि दुर्मति: । धातारं ग्ते नित्यं लब्धार्थश्न न मृष्यते,जब पहले सम्पत्ति प्राप्त होकर नष्ट हो जाती है, तब उसीके कारण अपनेको भाग्यहीन माननेवाला दुर्बुद्धि मनुष्य सदा विधाताकी निन्‍्दा करता है और प्रारब्धवश प्राप्त हुए पदार्थोंसे उसे संतोष नहीं होता है

purastād bhūtapūrvatvād dhīna-bhāgyo hi durmatiḥ | dhātāraṃ nindate nityaṃ labdhārthān na mṛṣyate ||

Bhishma sprach: Wenn jemand einst Reichtum besaß und ihn dann verliert, macht ihn gerade diese Erinnerung zum Toren, der sich für vom Glück verlassen hält. Unablässig tadelt er den Ordner (Schicksal/Vorsehung) und findet keine Zufriedenheit in dem, was ihm kraft früherer Bestimmung zufällt.

purastātformerly; in front; earlier
purastāt:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootpurastāt
bhūtapūrvatvātbecause of having existed before; due to prior occurrence
bhūtapūrvatvāt:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootbhūtapūrvatva
FormNeuter, Ablative, Singular
hīna-bhāgyaḥunfortunate; deprived of good fortune
hīna-bhāgyaḥ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Roothīna-bhāgya
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
hiindeed; for
hi:
TypeIndeclinable
Roothi
durmatiḥa foolish/ill-minded person
durmatiḥ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootdurmati
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
dhātāramthe Disposer; Creator; Fate (personified)
dhātāram:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootdhātṛ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
nityamalways; constantly
nityam:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootnitya
nindateblames; censures
nindate:
TypeVerb
Root√nind
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
labdha-arthaḥhaving obtained objects/means; having gained what is got
labdha-arthaḥ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootlabdha-artha
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
nanot
na:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna
mṛṣyateis content; endures; is satisfied
mṛṣyate:
TypeVerb
Root√mṛṣ
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
D
Dhātā (the Ordainer/Fate)

Educational Q&A

Past attachment to former prosperity breeds a sense of misfortune and leads to blaming Fate; the ethical remedy implied is contentment and acceptance of what comes through prārabdha (one’s operative destiny), rather than resentment and complaint.

In Bhishma’s instruction during the Śānti Parva, he describes a psychological pattern: a person who once had wealth and then loses it becomes bitter, continually criticizes the cosmic dispenser (Dhātā), and remains dissatisfied even with what he still receives.