Shloka 73

Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)

Devanagari script

मूलकर्मक्रिया चात्र मायायोगश्न वर्णित: । दूषणं स्रोतसां चैव वर्णितं चास्थिराम्भसाम्‌

Transliteration

mūlakarmakriyā cātra māyāyogaś ca varṇitaḥ | dūṣaṇaṃ srotasāṃ caiva varṇitaṃ cāsthirāmbhasām ||

Translation

Bhishma dijo: «Aquí se expone el método correcto para desempeñar las ocupaciones fundamentales que producen riqueza—como la agricultura y el comercio. También se explica la aplicación práctica de la ‘māyā’ (ardid estratégico, artificio). Además, se describen los defectos y peligros ligados a los cursos de agua y a las aguas inestables.»

Word by Word

• {'mūla': 'root

• fundamental', 'karma': 'work

• action (often with ethical implications)', 'kriyā': 'procedure

• method of doing', 'cātra (ca + atra)': 'and here

• in this context', 'māyā': 'contrivance

• strategic device (not necessarily immoral, but requiring discernment)', 'yoga': 'application

• method', 'varṇitaḥ': 'described

• expounded', 'dūṣaṇam': 'fault

• harmful factor', 'srotasām': 'of streams/currents/water-channels', 'caiva (ca + eva)': 'and indeed

• and also', 'asthira': 'unstable

• unreliable', 'ambhasām': 'of waters'}

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma highlights that dharma-guided governance and personal conduct must include practical instruction: how to carry out essential economic occupations, how to use strategy responsibly, and how to recognize environmental and infrastructural risks (especially related to water).

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhishma continues outlining applied knowledge relevant to sustaining society—covering productive work, prudent use of strategic means, and cautions about hazards arising from waterways and unstable water sources.