Shloka 27

धन-राजधर्म संवादः

Discourse on Wealth and Royal Duty

Devanagari script

अध्येतव्या त्रयी नित्यं भवितव्यं विपक्षिता । सर्वथा धनमाहार्य यष्टव्यं चापि यत्नतः

Transliteration

adhyetavyā trayī nityaṁ bhavitavyaṁ vipakṣitā | sarvathā dhanam āhāryaṁ yaṣṭavyaṁ cāpi yatnataḥ ||

Translation

Arjuna said: “One should study the three Vedas continually, and one should also cultivate the disciplines that stand as their counterpart—reasoned reflection and debate. Wealth should be acquired by every proper means, and sacrifices too should be performed with earnest effort.”

Word by Word

• अध्येतव्या: to be studied
• अध्येतव्या: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधि-इ (धातु) → अध्येय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्रयी: the triad (Vedic threefold knowledge / the Vedas)
• त्रयी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)

• भवितव्यम्: must be / should be (done/occur)
• भवितव्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भू (धातु) → भवितव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विपक्षिता: opposed / countered
• विपक्षिता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-√पक्ष (पक्ष्) (धातु) → विपक्षित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्वथा: in every way / by all means
• सर्वथा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय)

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आहार्यम्: to be procured / to be brought in
• आहार्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-√हृ (धातु) → आहार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यष्टव्यम्: to be sacrificed / worshipped (to be performed as a sacrifice)
• यष्टव्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यज् (धातु) → यष्टव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)

• यत्नतः: with effort / diligently
• यत्नतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)

Speaker

अर्जुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• trayī (three Vedas)
• dhanam (wealth)
• yajña (sacrifice)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse links four duties: continuous Vedic study, engagement with counter-arguments/critical inquiry, ethical acquisition of wealth, and diligent performance of sacrifice—presenting learning, reasoning, livelihood, and ritual as mutually supporting pillars of dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction-oriented setting, Arjuna speaks in a didactic tone, summarizing what he sees as essential practices for a righteous life: learning (trayī), reflective opposition (vipakṣa), responsible prosperity (dhanārjana), and sustained sacrificial duty (yajña).