Shloka 62

Devanagari script

बालानां प्रेक्षमाणानां स्वयं भक्ष्यमभक्षयन्‌ | तथा भृत्यजनं सर्वमसंतर्प्प च दानवा:,छोटे बच्चे आशा लगाये देखते रहते हैं और दानवलोग खानेकी चीजें स्वयं खा लेते हैं। सेवकों तथा अन्य सब कुट॒म्बीजनोंको भूखे छोड़कर अपने खा लेते हैं

Transliteration

bālānāṁ prekṣamāṇānāṁ svayaṁ bhakṣyam abhakṣayan | tathā bhṛtyajanaṁ sarvam asaṁtarpya ca dānavāḥ ||

Translation

While little children look on with hope, the Dānavas consume the food themselves. Likewise, leaving the whole body of servants and dependents unsatisfied and hungry, they eat only for their own sake.

Word by Word

बालानाम्of the children

प्रेक्षमाणानाम्of those watching/looking on

स्वयम्themselves

भक्ष्यम्what is to be eaten; food

अभक्षयन्they ate/devoured

तथाthus; likewise

भृत्यजनम्the group of servants

सर्वम्all (of it/them)

असंतर्प्यwithout satisfying; leaving unsated

दानवाःthe Dānavas (demons)

Speaker

शक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śakra (Indra)

Dānavas

children (bālāḥ)

servants/dependents (bhṛtyajana)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse condemns selfish consumption: taking resources for oneself while children and dependents watch in need is adharma. Ethical leadership requires first ensuring the welfare and nourishment of those under one’s care—especially the vulnerable.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śakra (Indra) describes the conduct of the Dānavas as a moral failing: they eat desirable food themselves while children look on and servants and household dependents remain unsatisfied, illustrating greed and neglect of duty.