Shloka 20
धन-राजधर्म संवादः
Discourse on Wealth and Royal Duty
जिसके पास धन होता है, उसीके बहुत-से मित्र होते हैं; जिसके पास धन है, उसीके भाई-बन्धु हैं; संसारमें जिसके पास धन है, वही पुरुष कहलाता है और जिसके पास धन है, वही पण्डित माना जाता है ।।
adhanenārthakāmena nārthaḥ śakyo vidhitsitum | arthāḥ arthān nibadhnanti gajair iva mahāgajāḥ ||
Arjuna said: For one who is poor yet longs for wealth, arranging the means to gain it becomes nearly impossible; whereas for the wealthy, wealth tends to multiply. Resources bind further resources to themselves—just as, in a forest, great elephants draw other elephants after them. The verse points to a social reality: money attracts allies, kinship, status, and even the reputation of learning, revealing how worldly honor often follows prosperity rather than virtue.
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Worldly society tends to grant friendship, kinship, status, and even the label of ‘learned’ to those who possess wealth; moreover, wealth itself tends to generate more wealth, while poverty makes acquiring resources difficult. The verse highlights the ethical tension between true merit and socially conferred honor.
In the Shanti Parva’s reflective discourse, Arjuna voices an observation about how material prosperity shapes social relationships and reputation. He uses the image of great elephants drawing other elephants to illustrate how resources naturally attract further resources.