Shloka 46
देवतापितृप्रश्नः — Nārada at Badarīāśrama: the ultimate referent of daiva and pitṛ worship
इस संसारमें दुष्ट पुरुषोंक संग तथा ऊपरसे मित्रभाव एवं भीतरसे शत्रुता रखनेवाले लोग दर्शनमात्रसे तुम्हें कर्तव्यपथसे विचलित कर देंगे, इसलिये तुम पहलेसे ही परम उत्तम पुण्यसंचयके लिये प्रयत्न करो ।। धनस्य यस्य राजतो भयं न चास्ति चोरत: । मृतं च यन्न मुडचति समर्जयस्व तद् धनम्,जिस धनको न तो राजासे भय है और न चोरसे ही तथा जो मर जानेपर भी जीवका साथ नहीं छोड़ता है, उस धर्मरूपी धनका उपार्जन करो
vyāsa uvāca | asmin saṃsāre duṣṭa-puruṣa-saṅgaḥ tathā bahiḥ-mitrabhāvaḥ antaḥ-śatrutā ca—darśana-mātreṇaiva tvāṃ kartavya-pathāt vicalayiṣyanti; tasmāt tvaṃ pūrvam eva paramottama-puṇya-saṃcayāya yatnaṃ kuru || dhanasya yasya rājato bhayaṃ na cāsti corataḥ | mṛtaṃ ca yan na muñcati samarjayāsva tad dhanaṃ ||
Vyāsa said: In this world, the company of wicked men—and those who show friendship outwardly while harboring enmity within—can, by their very presence, shake you from the path of duty. Therefore, strive beforehand to build up the highest store of merit. Acquire that wealth which brings no fear from the king and none from thieves, and which does not abandon a person even after death—namely, the wealth of dharma.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Avoid the influence of wicked or two-faced people who can divert you from duty, and instead accumulate the only truly secure wealth—dharma/merit—which cannot be seized by rulers or thieves and remains with one beyond death.
Vyāsa delivers moral instruction within the Śānti Parva’s didactic setting, warning about corrupting associations and redefining ‘wealth’ as ethical-spiritual capital (dharma) rather than material possessions.