Shloka 13
Nahūṣa-Ājagara Saṃvāda: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Definition of Brāhmaṇa and the ‘Vedyam’ Debate
इदं तु शक््यं सतत नरेन्द्र प्राप्तुं त्वया यललभसे कुबेरात् कुरुष्व बुद्धि द्विषतां वधाय कृतागसां भारत निग्रहे च,“परंतु ऐसा होनेपर चराचर जगत्में आपकी पुण्यमयी कीर्ति नष्ट हो जायगी। इसलिये कुरुवंश-शिरोमणि अपने पूर्वजोंके उस महान् राज्यको प्राप्त करके ही हम और कोई सत्कर्म करनेयोग्य हो सकते हैं। भरतकुलभूषण महाराज! आप कुबेरसे जो सम्मान या अनुग्रह प्राप्त कर रहे हैं, इसे तो सदा ही प्राप्त कर सकते हैं। इस समय तो अपराधी शत्रुओंको मारने और दण्ड देनेका निश्चय कीजिये
idaṃ tu śakyaṃ satataṃ narendra prāptuṃ tvayā yal labhase kuberāt | kuruṣva buddhiṃ dviṣatāṃ vadhāya kṛtāgasāṃ bhārata nigrahe ca ||
“But this much is always possible, O king: whatever favor or honor you are receiving from Kubera can be obtained by you at any time. Therefore, O Bharata, set your resolve now toward the slaying of hostile foes and toward the chastisement and restraint of those who have committed wrongdoing.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king should not postpone justice out of attachment to comfort or external favors: wealth or honor (even from Kubera) can be sought later, but the timely restraint and punishment of enemies and wrongdoers is a present duty aligned with kṣatriya-dharma and the protection of social order.
Vaiśampāyana reports counsel addressed to a Kuru king: the speaker urges him to form a firm resolve to deal decisively with hostile forces and guilty offenders, emphasizing that any boon or respect obtained from Kubera is not urgent and can be regained at any time.