Shloka 18

Devanagari script

पुरुषैरलमर्थस्ते विदितैः कुलशीलत: । आत्मा च रक्ष्य: सततं भोजनादिषु भारत,“भारत! जिन मनुष्योंके कुल और शील अच्छी तरह ज्ञात हों, उन्हींसे तुम्हें काम लेना चाहिये। भोजन आदिके अवसरोंपर सदा तुम्हें आत्मरक्षापर ध्यान देना चाहिये

Transliteration

puruṣair alam arthas te viditaiḥ kulaśīlataḥ | ātmā ca rakṣyaḥ satataṃ bhojanādiṣu bhārata ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “O Bhārata, you should employ only those men whose family background and conduct are well known. And at times such as meals and other daily occasions, you must always be vigilant in protecting yourself.”

Word by Word

पुरुषैःby/with men

अलम्enough; sufficient; (used with instr.) one should deal with

अर्थःneed; business; purpose

तेto you/for you

विदितैःwith those who are known

कुलशीलतःfrom (their) family and conduct; as regards lineage and character

आत्माself; person (oneself)

चand

रक्ष्यःto be protected; should be guarded

सततम्always; continually

भोजनादिषुin eating and the like; on occasions such as meals

भारतO Bharata

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bhārata

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Rely only on trustworthy people whose lineage and character are verified, and maintain constant vigilance for personal safety—especially in vulnerable moments like meals—so that duty and life are not endangered by negligence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana delivers a cautionary instruction to “Bhārata,” advising careful selection of attendants and continual self-guarding in everyday situations, reflecting the tense, security-conscious atmosphere of the later Mahābhārata narrative.