Shloka 21
उद्योगप्रवर्तनम्
Mobilization and Counsel on Kingship
हित्वा धर्मं तथाऽर्थं च कामं यस्तु निषेवते।।4.38.21।।स वृक्षाग्रे यथा सुप्तः पतितः प्रतिबुध्यते।
hitvā dharmaṃ tathārthaṃ ca kāmaṃ yas tu niṣevate | sa vṛkṣāgre yathā suptaḥ patitaḥ pratibudhyate ||
जो धर्म व अर्थ सोडून केवळ कामाचेच सेवन करतो, तो वृक्षाच्या टोकावर झोपलेल्या मनुष्यासारखा आहे—पडल्यावरच तो जागा होतो।
'One who neglects dharma and artha and pursues only kama (sensuous enjoyment) is like a man asleep on top of the tree, waking up only to realize that he has fallen down.
FAQs
Unchecked indulgence without duty (dharma) and prudent governance (artha) leads to ruin; ethical life requires restraint and prioritizing what sustains oneself and one’s dependents.
Rāma warns Sugrīva against exclusive pursuit of pleasure, using a vivid metaphor of danger and delayed awakening.
Temperance—control of desire so that rule and responsibility do not collapse.