Shloka 2
धन-यज्ञ-दानविवेकः
Wealth, Sacrifice, and Disciplined Giving
वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--राजन! युधिष्ठिरकी यह बात समाप्त होनेपर प्रवचनकुशल महातपस्वी देवस्थानने युक्तियुक्त वाणीमें राजा युधिष्ठिरसे कहा ।। देवस्थान उवाच यद् वच: फाल्गुनेनोक्त न ज्यायो5स्ति धनादिति । अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि तदेकान्तमना: शृणु,देवस्थान बोले--राजन्! अर्जुनने जो यह बात कही है कि “धनसे बढ़कर कोई वस्तु नहीं है।” इसके विषयमें मैं भी तुमसे कुछ कहूँगा। तुम एकाग्रचित्त होकर सुनो
devasthāna uvāca | yad vacaḥ phālgunenoktaṃ na jyāyo 'sti dhanād iti | atra te vartayiṣyāmi tad ekāntamanāḥ śṛṇu ||
Devasthāna said: “O King, concerning the words spoken by Phālguna (Arjuna)—that nothing is superior to wealth—I shall explain this matter to you. Listen with your mind wholly concentrated.”
देवस्थान उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical inquiry: Arjuna’s claim that wealth is the highest good is not accepted uncritically. Devasthāna signals a reasoned evaluation of wealth’s place within a broader hierarchy of values (especially dharma), urging attentive listening before drawing conclusions.
After Yudhiṣṭhira’s preceding remarks, the ascetic-teacher Devasthāna begins his response. He introduces the topic—Arjuna’s assertion about wealth—and prepares to deliver a focused explanation, asking the king to listen with full concentration.