Shloka 33
Sanatsujāta-Āhvāna (Summoning Sanatsujāta) — Vidura’s Invocation and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Doubt
यथा स्वं वान्तमश्नाति शवा वै नित्यमभूतये । एवं ते वान्तमश्रन्ति स्ववीर्यस्योपसेवनात्
yathā svaṃ vāntam aśnāti śvā vai nityam abhūtaye | evaṃ te vāntam aśnanti svavīryasyopasevanāt ||
Sanatsujāta sprach: „Wie ein Hund, zu seinem steten Verderben, sein eigenes Erbrochenes frisst, so nähren sich auch jene von etwas, das dem Erbrochenen gleicht—diejenigen, die ihren ‘Machtglanz’ (Stand und geistige Potenz) zur Schau stellen und davon leben. Wer aus solcher Selbstdarstellung seinen Lebensunterhalt macht, sinkt in fortwährende Entwürdigung.“
सनत्युजात उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should not turn spiritual status, learning, or personal influence into a tool for livelihood through show and exploitation; such self-serving display leads to moral and spiritual decline.
In Sanatsujāta’s instruction (within Udyoga Parva), he uses a stark metaphor—like a dog eating its own vomit—to condemn those who repeatedly fall back into degrading conduct by living off the exhibition of their supposed power or sanctity.