Shloka 10

अदारा-नीति

Crisis Composure) and ‘Jaya’ Śravaṇa (Morale-Instruction

Devanagari script

धर्मार्थगुणयुक्तेन नेतरेण कथंचन । दैवमानुषयुक्तेन सद्धिराचरितेन च,धर्म, अर्थ और गुणोंसे युक्त, देवलोक तथा मनुष्यलोकमें भी उपयोगी और सत्पुरुषोंद्वारा आचरणमें लाये हुए सत्कर्मसे ही तू मेरा प्रिय हो सकता है, इसके विपरीत असत्कर्मसे किसी प्रकार भी तू मुझे प्रिय नहीं हो सकता

Transliteration

dharmārthaguṇayuktena netareṇa kathaṃcana | daivamānuṣayuktena saddhir ācaritena ca ||

Translation

Only by conduct grounded in dharma, aimed at rightful prosperity, and endowed with good qualities—conduct that is beneficial in both the divine and human spheres and practiced by the virtuous—can you become dear to me. By the opposite, by unworthy deeds, you can never be dear to me in any way.

Word by Word

धर्मार्थगुणयुक्तेनby/with (that which is) endowed with dharma, artha, and virtues

नnot

इतरेणby/with the other (i.e., the opposite)

कथंचनin any way; somehow (at all)

दैवमानुषयुक्तेनby/with (that which is) connected with the divine and the human (worlds)

सद्भिःby the good (people); by the virtuous

आचरितेनpractised; performed

चand

Speaker

पुत्र उवाच

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Affection and approval should be earned only through righteous, beneficial, and virtuous conduct—validated by the practice of good people—never through contrary, unethical actions.

What is happening in the narrative?

A son addresses another person with a moral criterion for being ‘dear’: not lineage or persuasion, but adherence to dharma, artha in its rightful sense, and good qualities—conduct fit for both worldly life and higher (divine) standards.