Shloka 80

Devanagari script

युधिछिर उवाच धर्मार्थ ब्राह्मणे दानं यशो<र्थ नटनर्तके । भृत्येषु भरणार्थ वै भयार्थ चैव राजसु,युधिष्ठिर बोले--ब्राह्मणको धर्मके लिये दान दिया जाता है, नट-नर्तकोंको यशके लिये दान (धन) देते हैं, सेवकोंको उनके भरण-पोषणके लिये दान (वेतन) दिया जाता है और राजाओंको भयके कारण दान (कर) देते हैं

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | dharmārthaṁ brāhmaṇe dānaṁ yaśo'rthaṁ naṭanartake | bhṛtyeṣu bharaṇārthaṁ vai bhayārthaṁ caiva rājasu ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Gifts to a brāhmaṇa are made for the sake of dharma; gifts to actors and dancers are given for the sake of fame and public regard. Payments to servants are given for their maintenance; and to kings one gives out of fear—like a tax or tribute.”

Word by Word

युधिष्ठिरःYudhiṣṭhira

उवाचsaid

धर्मार्थम्for the sake of dharma

ब्राह्मणेto/with regard to a Brahmin (in the case of a Brahmin)

दानम्gift; giving

यशः-अर्थम्for the sake of fame

नट-नर्तकेin the case of an actor and a dancer

भृत्येषुin the case of servants

भरणार्थम्for maintenance/support

वैindeed

भयार्थम्out of fear; for fear

चand

एवonly; indeed

राजसुin the case of kings

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

brāhmaṇa

naṭa (actor)

nartaka (dancer)

bhṛtya (servant/retainer)

rājan (king)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse distinguishes motives behind giving: true charity aimed at dharma is directed to the worthy (brāhmaṇas), while other transfers of wealth may be driven by social prestige (to performers), obligation and livelihood (to servants as wages), or coercion and fear (to kings as tribute/tax). It invites ethical reflection on intention (bhāva) and context in acts of giving.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira is speaking in a reflective, didactic mode, classifying common forms of giving encountered in society and explaining the differing purposes behind them—religious duty, reputation, maintenance of dependents, and compelled payment to rulers.