Shloka 4.38.21

उद्योगप्रवर्तनम् (Mobilization and Counsel on Kingship)

Devanagari script

हित्वा धर्मं तथाऽर्थं च कामं यस्तु निषेवते।।4.38.21।।स वृक्षाग्रे यथा सुप्तः पतितः प्रतिबुध्यते।

Transliteration

hitvā dharmaṃ tathārthaṃ ca kāmaṃ yas tu niṣevate | sa vṛkṣāgre yathā suptaḥ patitaḥ pratibudhyate ||

Translation

But one who forsakes dharma and artha and pursues only kāma is like a man asleep atop a tree—he awakens only after he has fallen.

Context

'One who neglects dharma and artha and pursues only kama (sensuous enjoyment) is like a man asleep on top of the tree, waking up only to realize that he has fallen down.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sugrīva
• Dharma
• Artha
• Kāma

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Unchecked indulgence without duty (dharma) and prudent governance (artha) leads to ruin; ethical life requires restraint and prioritizing what sustains oneself and one’s dependents.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma warns Sugrīva against exclusive pursuit of pleasure, using a vivid metaphor of danger and delayed awakening.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Temperance—control of desire so that rule and responsibility do not collapse.