Shloka 80

Devanagari script

युधिछिर उवाच धर्मार्थ ब्राह्मणे दानं यशो<र्थ नटनर्तके । भृत्येषु भरणार्थ वै भयार्थ चैव राजसु

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | dharmārthaṁ brāhmaṇe dānaṁ yaśo'rthaṁ naṭanartake | bhṛtyeṣu bharaṇārthaṁ vai bhayārthaṁ caiva rājasu ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira répondit : «On donne au brāhmane pour le dharma ; on donne aux acteurs et aux danseurs pour la renommée et l’estime du peuple. On paie les serviteurs pour leur subsistance ; et aux rois on donne par crainte, comme un impôt ou un tribut.»

Word by Word

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular

• धर्मार्थम्: for the sake of dharma
• धर्मार्थम्: Karma
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धर्मार्थ
• Form: Accusative used adverbially as purpose ('for the sake of dharma')

• ब्राह्मणे: to/with regard to a Brahmin (in the case of a Brahmin)
• ब्राह्मणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• दानम्: gift; giving
• दानम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• यशः-अर्थम्: for the sake of fame
• यशः-अर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यशोऽर्थ
• Form: Accusative used adverbially as purpose ('for the sake of fame')

• नट-नर्तके: in the case of an actor and a dancer
• नट-नर्तके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नट-नर्तक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Dual

• भृत्येषु: in the case of servants
• भृत्येषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्य
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• भरणार्थम्: for maintenance/support
• भरणार्थम्: Karma
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भरणार्थ
• Form: Accusative used adverbially as purpose ('for maintenance')

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• भयार्थम्: out of fear; for fear
• भयार्थम्: Karma
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भयार्थ
• Form: Accusative used adverbially as purpose ('out of fear/for fear')

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: only; indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• राजसु: in the case of kings
• राजसु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• brāhmaṇa
• naṭa (actor)
• nartaka (dancer)
• bhṛtya (servant/retainer)
• rājan (king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse distinguishes motives behind giving: true charity aimed at dharma is directed to the worthy (brāhmaṇas), while other transfers of wealth may be driven by social prestige (to performers), obligation and livelihood (to servants as wages), or coercion and fear (to kings as tribute/tax). It invites ethical reflection on intention (bhāva) and context in acts of giving.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira is speaking in a reflective, didactic mode, classifying common forms of giving encountered in society and explaining the differing purposes behind them—religious duty, reputation, maintenance of dependents, and compelled payment to rulers.