Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 56
आराधयामास च तं कृतवीर्यात्मजो मुनिम् | एक समय कृतवीर्यकुमार अर्जुनने क्षत्रिय-धर्मको सामने रखते हुए विनय और शास्त्रज्ञाकेक अनुसार बहुत दिनोंतक मुनिवर दत्तात्रेयकी आराधना की तथा किसी कारणवश अपना सारा धन उनकी सेवामें समर्पित कर दिया
ārādhayāmāsa ca taṃ kṛtavīryātmajo munim | ekasamayam kṛtavīryakumāro 'rjunaḥ kṣatriyadharmaṃ puraskṛtya vinayena śāstrājñayā ca bahūn divasān munivaraṃ dattātreyam ārādhayāmāsa, tathā kenāpi kāraṇena svaṃ sarvadhanaṃ tasya sevāyāṃ samarpayāmāsa |
Bhishma said: “Krtavirya’s son Arjuna worshipped that sage. On one occasion, Arjuna, the prince of Krtavirya, keeping the kshatriya code foremost and acting with humility in accordance with scriptural injunction, served and revered the great sage Dattatreya for many days; and for some reason, he even surrendered all his wealth into the sage’s service. The episode highlights disciplined devotion guided by dharma, where power and possessions are subordinated to reverence for spiritual authority.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a powerful ruler should subordinate pride and possessions to dharma: true kshatriya conduct includes humility, disciplined service to sages, and obedience to scriptural guidance; wealth is to be treated as an offering when righteousness requires it.
Bhishma narrates that Kartavirya Arjuna devotedly worshipped and served the sage Dattatreya for many days, prioritizing kshatriya duty and proper conduct, and ultimately dedicated all his wealth to the sage’s service.