Shloka 57
कृतयुगवर्णनम् तथा राजधर्मोपदेशः
Kṛtayuga Description and Instruction on Royal Dharma
संचयेन तथाल्पेन भवन्त्याब्यमदान्विता: । धनं विश्वासतो न्यस्तं मिथो भूयिष्ठशो नरा:
saṃcayena tathālpēna bhavanty abhyamadānvitāḥ | dhanaṃ viśvāsato nyastaṃ mitho bhūyiṣṭhaśo narāḥ, rājan |
Vaiśaṃpāyana dit : « Ô roi, une faible accumulation de richesses suffit à enfler les hommes de l’ivresse de l’opulence. Et lorsque l’argent est confié en dépôt, la plupart—s’entendant entre eux—s’efforcent de s’en emparer, et, sans vergogne, nient : “Tu n’as rien ici.” »
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns that even modest wealth can breed arrogance, and that trust regarding money is often betrayed; ethical conduct requires resisting pride and honoring deposits and promises.
Vaiśaṃpāyana addresses the King with a moral observation about human behavior: people become intoxicated by small gains and commonly deny entrusted wealth, highlighting the fragility of trust in society.