Shloka 11
वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! विदुरजीकी बात समाप्त होनेपर धर्म और अर्थके तत्त्वको जाननेवाले अर्थशास्त्रविशारद अर्जुनने युधिष्ठिरकी आज्ञा पाकर कहा ।। अजुन उवाच कर्मभूमिरियं राजन्निह वार्ता प्रशस्यते । कृषिर्वाणिज्यगोरक्षं शिल्पानि विविधानि च,अर्जुन बोले--राजन्! यह कर्म-भूमि है। यहाँ जीविकाके साधनभूत कर्मोकी ही प्रशंसा होती है। खेती, व्यापार, गोपालन तथा भाँति-भाँतिके शिल्प--ये सब अर्थप्राप्तिके साधन हैं
arjuna uvāca | karmabhūmir iyaṃ rājan iha vārtā praśasyate | kṛṣir vāṇijya-gorakṣaṃ śilpāni vividhāni ca ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “O Janamejaya! When Vidura had finished speaking, Arjuna—versed in the science of polity and knowing the true principles of dharma and artha—at Yudhiṣṭhira’s command spoke: ‘O King, this is a land of work and duty. Here, the means of livelihood are what people praise. Agriculture, trade, the protection and rearing of cattle, and the many kinds of crafts—these are the instruments by which wealth is obtained.’”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Arjuna emphasizes an Artha-oriented ethic: in a ‘karmabhūmi’ society, wealth and stability arise from praised, productive livelihoods—agriculture, commerce, cattle-rearing, and skilled crafts—linking material prosperity to orderly social functioning under dharma.
After Vidura’s discourse concludes, Vaiśampāyana narrates to King Janamejaya that Arjuna—skilled in understanding dharma and artha—speaks at Yudhiṣṭhira’s command, beginning a practical statement about the praised means of livelihood in the world.