Shloka 37
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 141: Bhīma–Hiḍimba Confrontation and Protective Discourse
सततं निरयं प्राप्ता: परपिण्डोपजीविन: । न भवेम यथा राजंस्तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम्,राजन! आप कोई ऐसी नीति काममें लाइये, जिससे हमें दूसरोंके दिये हुए अन्नसे गुजारा करके सदा नरकतुल्य कष्ट न भोगना पड़े
satataṁ nirayaṁ prāptāḥ parapīṇḍopajīvinaḥ | na bhavema yathā rājan tathā nītir vidhīyatām ||
Dijo Duryodhana: «Quienes viven de la porción de otro son arrojados sin cesar a una condición semejante al infierno. Oh rey, dispón una política para que no tengamos que subsistir del alimento dado por otros y padecer así como en el infierno».
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames dependence on others for one’s livelihood (parapīṇḍopajīvin) as degrading and misery-producing, urging the king to adopt a policy that preserves autonomy and honor—highlighting how questions of sustenance, dignity, and statecraft intertwine in rajadharma.
Duryodhana addresses the king, arguing that living on others’ support is like living in hell, and presses for a concrete political course (nīti) that will prevent his side from being reduced to such dependence.