Shloka 14
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Duryodhana Saṃvāda on Restraint and Rājānīti
Chapter 50
भ्रातृज्येष्ठ: स्थितो राज्ये विन्दसे कि न शोभनम् | पृथग्जनैरलभ्यं यद् भोजनाच्छादनं परम्
vaiśampāyana uvāca | bhrātṛjyeṣṭhaḥ sthito rājye vindase kiṃ na śobhanam | pṛthagjanair alabhyam yad bhojanācchādanaṃ param ||
ମହାବାହୋ, ତୁମେ ଭାଇମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଜ୍ୟେଷ୍ଠ ହୋଇ ରାଜ୍ୟପଦରେ ଅବସ୍ଥିତ; ତୁମ ପାଇଁ କେଉଁ ଶୋଭନ ବସ୍ତୁ ଅପ୍ରାପ୍ତ? ସାଧାରଣ ଲୋକଙ୍କୁ ଯାହା ଅଲଭ୍ୟ, ସେଇ ଉତ୍ତମ ଭୋଜନ ଓ ବସ୍ତ୍ର ତୁମେ ପାଉଛ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
External prosperity—rank, power, fine food and clothing—does not by itself remove sorrow; the verse challenges the ethics of lamentation rooted in attachment and urges reflection on the true cause of grief beyond material sufficiency.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, a speaker addresses an elder brother who holds royal authority, pointing out that he already possesses privileges unavailable to ordinary people and questioning why he is still grieving, thereby setting a moral contrast between worldly abundance and inner distress.