Shloka 50
अध्याय ३३ — कर्म, दैव, हठ, स्वभाव और पुरुषार्थ पर द्रौपदी का उपदेश
Draupadī on Action, Fate, and Human Effort
प्रतिषिद्धा हि ते याच्ञा यया सिद्धयति वै द्विज: । तेजसैवार्थलिप्सायां यतस्व पुरुषर्षभ,“नरश्रेष्ठ! ब्राह्मण जिस याचनाके द्वारा कार्यसिद्धि कर लेता है वह तो आप कर नहीं सकते, क्योंकि क्षत्रियके लिये उसका निषेध है। अत: आप अपने तेजके द्वारा ही धन पानेका प्रयत्न कीजिये
pratiṣiddhā hi te yācñā yayā siddhayati vai dvijaḥ | tejasāivārthalipsāyāṃ yatasva puruṣarṣabha ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “O best of men, the kind of begging by which a brāhmaṇa may accomplish his purpose is forbidden to you, for it is prohibited for a kṣatriya. Therefore, strive to obtain wealth by your own valor and splendor (tejas) alone.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes varṇa-appropriate conduct: a kṣatriya should not seek success through begging (a mode acceptable for brāhmaṇas in certain contexts) but should pursue wealth and aims through tejas—courage, capability, and rightful exertion—upholding royal dignity and duty.
Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates an instruction addressed to a ‘best of men’ (a kṣatriya figure): he is told that the strategy of requesting alms to achieve an objective is prohibited for him, and he must instead strive to secure resources through his own prowess.