Shloka 14
धन-राजधर्म संवादः
Discourse on Wealth and Royal Duty
अभिशस्तं प्रपश्यन्ति दरिद्रं पार्श्वतः स्थितम् दरिद्रं पातकं लोके न तच्छ॑सितुमरहति,दरिद्र मनुष्य पासमें खड़ा हो तो लोग इस तरह उसकी ओर देखते हैं, मानो वह कोई पापी या कलंकित हो; अतः दरिद्रता इस जगतमें एक पातक है। आप मेरे आगे उसकी प्रशंसा न करें
arjuna uvāca | abhiśastaṃ prapaśyanti daridraṃ pārśvataḥ sthitam | daridraṃ pātakaṃ loke na tac chaṃsitum arhati ||
Arjuna berkata: “Bila seorang miskin berdiri di dekat, orang memandangnya seakan ia tertuduh dan tercela. Di dunia ini kemiskinan diperlakukan seperti dosa; karena itu jangan memuji kemiskinan di hadapanku.”
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how society often treats poverty as a moral stain, equating material deprivation with blame and dishonor; it implicitly critiques this ethical failure and rejects romanticizing poverty when it results in humiliation and exclusion.
Arjuna responds to a discussion by stating that a poor person, even when merely standing nearby, is viewed with suspicion and contempt; therefore, Arjuna asks that poverty not be presented to him as something worthy of praise.