Shloka 8

ऋत्विग्धर्मः, दक्षिणा-न्यायः, तपसः परमार्थः

Ritvij-Dharma, the Norm of Dakṣiṇā, and the Higher Meaning of Tapas

Devanagari script

नेदं प्रतिधनं शास्त्रमापद्धर्मानुशास्त्रत: । आज्ञा शास्त्रस्य घोरेयं न शक्ति समवेक्षते,अतः दक्षिणामें दिये जानेवाले धनके विषयमें जो यह शास्त्र-वचन है, यह आपत्कालिक धर्मशास्त्रके अनुसार नहीं है। मेरी समझमें तो यह शास्त्रकी आज्ञा भयंकर है; क्योंकि यह इस बातकी ओर नहीं देखती कि दातामें कितने दानकी शक्ति है

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |

nedaṃ pratidhanaṃ śāstram āpaddharmānuśāsataḥ |

ājñā śāstrasya ghoreyaṃ na śaktiṃ samavekṣate ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “This scriptural rule about ‘repaying with wealth’ does not accord with the teachings on dharma in times of distress. To my mind, this command of the śāstra is harsh, for it does not take into account the donor’s actual capacity—how much he is truly able to give.”

Word by Word

• {'nedaṃ (na idaṃ)': 'not this

• this is not', 'pratidhana': 'repayment/return by wealth

• compensatory payment (esp. in the context of gifts/fees)', 'śāstram': 'scriptural injunction

• authoritative teaching', 'āpaddharma': 'dharma for times of calamity/distress (emergency ethics)', 'anuśāsataḥ': 'according to the instruction/teaching

• as enjoined', 'ājñā': 'command

• injunction', 'ghorā': 'terrible

• severe', 'na ... samavekṣate': 'does not consider

• does not take into account', 'śakti': 'ability

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Śāstra (scriptural authority)
• Āpaddharma (emergency dharma)