Shloka 37
धन-राजधर्म संवादः
Discourse on Wealth and Royal Duty
शाश्वतो5यं भूतिपथो नास्यान्तमनुशुश्रुम । महान् दाशरथ: पन्था मा राजन् कुपथं गम:
śāśvato ’yaṃ bhūtipatho nāsyāntam anuśuśruma | mahān dāśarathaḥ panthā mā rājan kupathaṃ gamaḥ ||
Arjuna dit : «Voici la voie éternelle qui mène à la prospérité et au bien-être ; nous n’avons jamais entendu dire qu’elle eût une fin. Ô roi, c’est la grande route—la voie royale, large et consacrée par le temps. Ne t’en détourne pas, ô souverain, vers un chemin bas et funeste.»
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Arjuna urges adherence to the time-tested, dharmic ‘main road’ of righteous conduct—especially appropriate for rulers and kṣatriyas—and warns against choosing a degrading, harmful alternative (kupatha) even when tempted by expediency.
Arjuna addresses a king, affirming that the welfare-bringing path of dharma is ancient and without known end, and counsels the ruler to remain on this honored ‘highway’ rather than deviating into an ignoble course.