Shloka 55

Adhyāya 287 — Janaka’s Inquiry on Śreyas, Abhayadāna, and Asaṅga

Non-attachment

Devanagari script

उपसूष्टेषु दान्तेषु दुराचारेषु साधुषु । अविनीतेषु लुब्धेषु सुमहद्‌ दण्डधारणम्‌

Transliteration

upasūṣṭeṣu dānteṣu durācāreṣu sādhuṣu | avinīteṣu lubdheṣu sumahad daṇḍadhāraṇam ||

Translation

ନାରଦ କହିଲେ—ଯେଉଁଠି ଦାନ୍ତ (ଜିତେନ୍ଦ୍ରିୟ) ଲୋକମାନେ ପୀଡ଼ିତ ହୁଅନ୍ତି, ସାଧୁଜନଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ଦୁରାଚାର ହୁଏ, ଅବିନୀତ ଓ ଲୋଭୀ ଲୋକମାନେ ପ୍ରବଳ ହୁଅନ୍ତି—ଯେଉଁଠି ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ କଠୋର ଦଣ୍ଡର ପ୍ରଚଳନ ରହିଛି—ସେପରି ଦେଶରେ ନିର୍ବିଚାରେ ବସିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ।

Word by Word

• उपसूष्टेषु: among/with those who are well-trained/fully disciplined (lit. well-instructed)
• उपसूष्टेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपसूष्ट (ppp. of उप-√सूष्/√सूष्)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural

• दान्तेषु: among the self-controlled
• दान्तेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान्त (ppp. of √दम्)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural

• दुराचारेषु: among the wicked/ill-conducted
• दुराचारेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुराचार
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• साधुषु: among the good/virtuous
• साधुषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: साधु
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• अविनीतेषु: among the undisciplined/untrained
• अविनीतेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविनीत (ppp. of a-वि-√नी)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural

• लुब्धेषु: among the greedy
• लुब्धेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लुब्ध (ppp. of √लुभ्)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Plural

• सुमहत्: very great
• सुमहत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुमहत्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• दण्डधारणम्: the holding/administration of punishment
• दण्डधारणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड-धारण
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A person should avoid living unthinkingly under a regime where the good are oppressed and punishment is excessively harsh; ethical discernment is required in choosing one’s place of residence and allegiance.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva’s discourse on dharma and governance, Nārada describes signs of a disordered polity—where virtue is harmed and greed and indiscipline dominate—and warns against settling there without due consideration.