Shloka 33
अध्याय ७४: अक्रोध–क्षमा–निवासनीति
Chapter 74: Non-anger, Forbearance, and the Ethics of Residence
योडवमन्यात्मना55त्मानमन्यथा प्रतिपद्यते । न तस्य देवा: श्रेयांसो यस्यात्मापि न कारणम्,'जो स्वयं अपने आत्माका तिरस्कार करके कुछ-का-कुछ समझता और करता है, देवता भी उसका भला नहीं कर सकते और उसका आत्मा भी उसके हितका साधन नहीं कर सकता। मैं स्वयं आपके पास आयी हूँ, ऐसा समझकर मुझ पतिव्रता पत्नीका तिरस्कार न कीजिये। मैं आपके द्वारा आदर पानेयोग्य हूँ और स्वयं आपके निकट आयी हुई आपहीकी पत्नी हूँ, तथापि आप मेरा आदर नहीं करते हैं
yo 'vam anyātmanā ātmānam anyathā pratipadyate | na tasya devāḥ śreyāṁso yasyātmāpi na kāraṇam ||
Duṣyanta said: “Whoever, through a misguided sense of self, rejects his own true self and acts with distorted understanding—of such a person even the gods cannot become the source of welfare, for when one’s own inner self is not a cause of good, no external power can secure his well-being.”
दुष्यन्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
True welfare depends first on one’s own right understanding and self-respect: if a person’s own inner self (conscience and clear judgment) is not aligned with good, even divine help cannot effectively bring about his well-being.
In the Śakuntalā–Duṣyanta episode, Duṣyanta articulates a moral principle about self-guided conduct and the limits of external aid; the surrounding context is a tense exchange about recognition, honor, and rightful relationship.