Shloka 12

Kāmyake Arjuna-viyogaḥ — The Pandavas’ despondency in Kāmyaka during Arjuna’s absence

Devanagari script

अस्थिरत्वं च संचिन्त्य पुरुषार्थस्य नित्यदा । तस्योदये व्यये चापि न चिन्तयितुमरहसि,पुरुषको प्राप्त होनेवाले सभी विषय सदा अस्थिर एवं विनाशशील हैं। यह सोचकर उनके मिलने या नष्ट होनेपर तुम्हें तनिक भी चिन्ता नहीं करनी चाहिये

Transliteration

asthiratvaṁ ca sañcintya puruṣārthasya nityadā | tasyodaye vyaye cāpi na cintayitum arhasi ||

Translation

Bṛhadaśva said: “Reflecting always on the instability of human gains, you should not give way to anxiety—whether those gains arise or whether they pass away. Since all objects attained through human effort are fickle and perishable, neither their acquisition nor their loss deserves your distress.”

Word by Word

अस्थिरत्वम्instability, impermanence

चand

संचिन्त्यhaving reflected upon, considering well

पुरुषार्थस्यof human effort/endeavor

नित्यदाalways, at all times

तस्यof that (of it/of him)

उदयेin (its) arising, in gain/prosperity

व्ययेin (its) loss/decline, in expenditure

चand

अपिalso, even

नnot

चिन्तयितुम्to worry, to think anxiously

अर्हसिyou ought (to), you are fit (to)

Speaker

बृहदश्च उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bṛhadaśva

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Worldly attainments gained by human effort are inherently unstable; therefore one should cultivate equanimity and avoid anxiety both at their acquisition and at their loss.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bṛhadaśva offers counsel meant to steady the listener’s mind, urging a reflective, dharmic composure by emphasizing the perishable nature of all humanly acquired objects.