Shloka 15
भूतं हित्वा च भाव्यर्थे योडवलम्बेत् स मन्दधी: । अवमन्येत तं लोको यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु,जो पैदा हुए बच्चोंका परित्याग कर भविष्यमें होनेवालोंका भरोसा करता है, वह मूर्ख है; सब लोग उसका अनादर करते हैं; तेरी जैसी इच्छा हो, वैसा कर
bhūtaṃ hitvā ca bhāvyarthe yo ’valambet sa mandadhīḥ | avamanyeta taṃ loko yathecchasi tathā kuru ||
Mandapāla said: “He who abandons what is already present and clings to what is merely hoped for in the future is dull-witted. People will hold such a person in contempt. Therefore, do as you wish.”
मन्दपाल उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not abandon an existing, concrete responsibility or benefit for the sake of uncertain future hopes; such misplaced reliance is judged as folly and invites social contempt.
Mandapāla admonishes another party by warning that forsaking what is already at hand (especially one’s present obligations) in pursuit of a merely anticipated future outcome is foolish; he concludes by leaving the final choice to the listener: act as you wish.