Shloka 45
Adhyāya 270 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on saṃnyāsa; Bhīṣma on calculable time, tamas, and karma
Vṛtra–Uśanā exemplum begins
कुण्डधार उवाच मां पूजयित्वा भावेन यदि त्वं दुःखमाप्तुया: । कृतं मया भवेत् कि ते कश्च ते<नुग्रहो भवेत्
Kuṇḍadhāra uvāca: māṃ pūjayitvā bhāvena yadi tvaṃ duḥkham āptuyāḥ | kṛtaṃ mayā bhavet ki te, kaś ca te ’nugraho bhavet ||
Kuṇḍadhāra dit : «Si, après m’avoir honoré d’un cœur sincère, tu devais encore connaître la souffrance, quel bien t’aurais-je donc fait ? Et quelle “faveur” de ma part pourrait-on dire, en vérité, t’avoir atteint ?»
कुण्डधार उवाच
Educational Q&A
True ‘grace’ or beneficence must be measured by its ethical and practical outcome—relief from distress and genuine welfare. Mere ritual honor, if it yields no real good, cannot be claimed as meaningful favor.
Kuṇḍadhāra responds in a reflective, admonitory tone, questioning the value of being worshipped if the worshipper still ends up in suffering—thereby reframing devotion in terms of tangible well-being and authentic benefit.