Mahabharata 3.2.41 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 2, Shloka 41

ब्राह्मणानुयात्रा—शौनकोपदेशः

Brāhmaṇas Follow into Exile and Śaunaka’s Instruction

Devanagari script

अर्थ एव हि केषांचिदनर्थ भजते नृणाम्‌ | अर्थश्रेयसि चासक्तो न श्रेयो विन्दते नर:

Translation

For some men, wealth itself becomes the cause of misfortune. For one who clings to the “śreyas” won through riches—worldly enjoyments—does not attain true welfare.

Word by Word

• अर्थः: wealth; material gain
• अर्थः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एव: indeed; only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• हि: for; indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• केषांचित्: of some (people)
• केषांचित्: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: क (किम्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• अनर्थम्: harm; misfortune
• अनर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भजते: brings about; results in; partakes of
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• नृणाम्: of men; of people
• नृणाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• अर्थश्रेयसि: in the good (pleasure/benefit) arising from wealth
• अर्थश्रेयसि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थश्रेयस्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• आसक्तः: attached; addicted
• आसक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आसक्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• श्रेयः: true good; welfare
• श्रेयः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विन्दते: finds; attains
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच