Shloka 3

नेह धर्मानृशंस्याभ्यां न क्षान्त्या नार्जवेन च । पुरुष: श्रियमाप्रोति न घृणित्वेन कहिचित्‌,कर्मोके अनुसार उत्तम, मध्यम, अधम योनिमें भिन्न-भिन्न लोकोंकी प्राप्ति बतलायी गयी है, अतः कर्म नित्य हैं (भोगे बिना उन कर्मोंका क्षय नहीं होता)। मूर्ख लोग लोभसे ही मोक्ष पानेकी इच्छा रखते हैं। इस जगत्‌में धर्म, कोमलता, क्षमा, विनय और दयासे कोई भी मनुष्य कभी धन और एऐश्वर्यकी प्राप्ति नहीं कर सकता

neha dharmānṛśaṁsyābhyāṁ na kṣāntyā nārjavena ca | puruṣaḥ śriyam āpnoti na ghṛṇitvena karhi cit ||

Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Di dunia ini, seseorang tidak meraih kemakmuran hanya dengan dharma dan welas asih, tidak pula hanya dengan kesabaran atau kelurusan; dan tak seorang pun pernah memperoleh kekayaan serta kemegahan kuasa semata-mata karena berhati lembut.”

nanot
na:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna
ihahere, in this world
iha:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiha
dharmaby righteousness/duty
dharma:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootdharma
Formmasculine, instrumental, singular
anṛśaṃsyaby compassion/non-cruelty
anṛśaṃsya:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootanṛśaṃsya
Formneuter, instrumental, singular
ābhyāmby these two
ābhyām:
Karana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootidam (pronoun base: a-)
Forminstrumental, dual
nanot
na:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna
kṣāntyāby forbearance/patience
kṣāntyā:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootkṣānti
Formfeminine, instrumental, singular
nanor/not
na:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna
ārjavenaby straightforwardness/honesty
ārjavena:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootārjava
Formneuter, instrumental, singular
caand
ca:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca
puruṣaḥa man/person
puruṣaḥ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootpuruṣa
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
śriyamprosperity/wealth
śriyam:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootśrī
Formfeminine, accusative, singular
āprotiattains
āproti:
TypeVerb
Rootāp (āpnóti)
Formpresent, 3rd, singular, parasmaipada
nanot
na:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna
ghṛṇitvenaby pity/compassion
ghṛṇitvena:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootghṛṇitva
Formneuter, instrumental, singular
kadācitever/at any time
kadācit:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkadācit

युधिछिर उवाच

Y
Yudhiṣṭhira

Educational Q&A

The verse voices a hard-edged political and social realism: mere personal virtues—dharma, compassion, patience, and straightforwardness—do not automatically yield material prosperity or sovereignty. It highlights the tension between ethical ideals and the mechanisms by which wealth and power are often acquired in the world.

Yudhiṣṭhira is speaking in the Vana Parva context of reflection during exile, expressing disillusionment and questioning how virtue relates to worldly outcomes. His statement functions as a lament and a critique of the apparent mismatch between moral conduct and the rewards people receive.