Shloka 27
आपदर्थ धन रक्षेद् दारान् रक्षेद् धनैरपि । आत्मानं सतत रक्षेद् दारैरपि धनैरपि,आपफत्तिके लिये धनकी रक्षा करे, धनके द्वारा स्त्रीकी रक्षा करे और स्त्री तथा धन दोनोंके द्वारा सदा अपनी रक्षा करे
āpadarthe dhanaṃ rakṣed dārān rakṣed dhanair api | ātmānaṃ satataṃ rakṣed dārair api dhanair api ||
The brāhmaṇa said: “In times of calamity, one should safeguard one’s wealth; with wealth, one should also protect one’s wife and household. Yet above all, one should constantly protect oneself—even if that requires relying on, or even sacrificing, both wife and wealth.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
It teaches a hierarchy of protection in crisis (āpaddharma): preserve wealth for survival needs, use wealth to protect one’s household, but ultimately prioritize safeguarding one’s own life/self, even if difficult trade-offs are required.
A brāhmaṇa is giving proverbial ethical instruction, laying out practical guidance for conduct during emergencies—how to weigh wealth, family responsibilities, and self-preservation.