Shloka 49

Adhyāya 270 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on saṃnyāsa; Bhīṣma on calculable time, tamas, and karma

Vṛtra–Uśanā exemplum begins

Devanagari script

न देवैरननुज्ञात: कश्चिद्‌ भवति धार्मिक: । एष शक्तो5सि तपसा दातुं राज्यं धनानि च

Transliteration

na devair ananujñātaḥ kaścid bhavati dhārmikaḥ | eṣa śakto 'si tapasā dātuṃ rājyaṃ dhanāni ca |

Translation

Kuṇḍadhāra said: “No one becomes truly righteous without the gods’ consent. But you have obtained the gods’ favor; therefore, by the power of your austerity you are now capable of granting others sovereignty and wealth.”

Word by Word

• {'na': 'not', 'devaiḥ': 'by the gods

• with the gods (instrumental plural of deva)', 'ananujñātaḥ': 'not permitted/approved

• not sanctioned', 'kaścit': 'anyone

• someone', 'bhavati': 'becomes

• is', 'dhārmikaḥ': 'righteous

• one who acts according to dharma', 'eṣaḥ': 'this

• here (emphatic reference)', 'śaktaḥ': 'able

• empowered', 'asi': 'you are', 'tapasā': 'by austerity

• by ascetic power (instrumental of tapas)', 'dātum': 'to give

• to bestow', 'rājyam': 'kingdom

• royal authority', 'dhanāni': 'wealth

• riches (plural)', 'ca': 'and'}

Speaker

कुण्डधार उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Kuṇḍadhāra
• deva (the gods)
• rājya (sovereignty/kingdom)
• dhana (wealth)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is not merely personal intention; it requires alignment with a higher cosmic order, expressed here as the gods’ sanction. When one gains divine favor through tapas, one’s capacity expands from self-discipline to beneficence—bestowing legitimate authority and wealth for the welfare of others.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kuṇḍadhāra addresses someone who has attained divine grace through austerities, affirming that such approval is the basis of true righteousness and declaring that the addressee is now empowered—by ascetic merit—to confer kingship and riches upon others.