Shloka 40

नरनारायण-नारदसंवादः

Nara-Nārāyaṇa–Nārada Discourse on Vision, Elements, and Entry into Vāsudeva

Devanagari script

प्रमादरहित पराक्रमी शूरवीर भी ऐश्वर्य तथा मदिराके मदसे उन्मत्त रहनेवाले शठ मनुष्योंकी सेवा करते हैं ।। क्लेशा: परिनिवर्तन्ते केषाज्चिदसमीक्षिता: । स्वं स्वं च पुनरन्येषां न किंचिदधिगम्यते,कितने ही लोगोंके क्लेश ध्यान दिये बिना ही निवृत्त हो जाते हैं तथा दूसरोंको अपने ही धनमेंसे समयपर कुछ भी नहीं मिलता

Transliteration

pramāda-rahitaḥ parākramī śūra-vīraḥ api aiśvarya-tathā madirā-mada-se unmattān śaṭha-manuṣyānāṃ sevāṃ kurvanti. kleśāḥ parinivartante keṣāñcid asamīkṣitāḥ; svaṃ svaṃ ca punar anyeṣāṃ na kiñcid adhigamyate.

Translation

Nārada said: Even vigilant, valiant heroes—men of prowess—sometimes end up serving deceitful people who are intoxicated by power and wealth, and maddened by drink. And in the world, some people’s troubles subside without anyone even noticing; yet others receive nothing at the proper time even from what is rightfully their own, because their resources are diverted to others.

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'pramāda-rahitaḥ', 'definition': 'free from negligence

• vigilant, careful'}, {'term': 'parākramī', 'definition': 'mighty, energetic, possessing valor'}, {'term': 'śūra-vīraḥ', 'definition': 'heroic warrior

• brave man'}, {'term': 'aiśvarya', 'definition': 'sovereignty, power, prosperity'}, {'term': 'madirā', 'definition': 'liquor, intoxicating drink'}, {'term': 'mada', 'definition': 'intoxication

• also pride/arrogance born of power or wealth'}, {'term': 'unmatta', 'definition': 'maddened, frenzied, out of control'}, {'term': 'śaṭha', 'definition': 'deceitful, crafty, dishonest'}, {'term': 'sevā', 'definition': 'service, attendance, dependence upon'}, {'term': 'kleśāḥ', 'definition': 'afflictions, hardships, sufferings'}, {'term': 'parinivartante', 'definition': 'turn back, cease, come to an end'}, {'term': 'asamīkṣitāḥ', 'definition': 'unobserved, unconsidered, without being noticed'}, {'term': 'svaṃ svaṃ', 'definition': 'one’s own (share/wealth/due) respectively'}, {'term': 'anyeṣām', 'definition': 'of others'}, {'term': 'na kiñcid adhigamyate', 'definition': 'nothing is obtained/received'}]

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse warns that even capable and disciplined people can become entangled in serving deceitful, power-intoxicated persons; it also highlights the uneven workings of worldly fortune—some sufferings end unnoticed, while others fail to receive even their rightful share. The ethical thrust is to be discerning in whom one serves and to recognize how pride, wealth, and intoxication distort relationships and justice.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s didactic setting, Nārada is speaking in a reflective, advisory mode. He comments on social and moral realities: the paradox of heroes serving unworthy masters and the unpredictable cessation of troubles, alongside the frustration that people may not obtain their own due because resources and attention are misdirected.