Shloka 5

Vasiṣṭha on Saṃsāra, Guṇas, and Misattributed Agency

Mahābhārata 12.292

Devanagari script

न धर्मार्थी नृशंसेन कर्मणा धनमर्जयेत्‌ । शक्तित: सर्वकार्याणि कुर्यन्नद्धिमनुस्मरेत्‌

Transliteration

na dharmārthī nṛśaṃsena karmaṇā dhanam arjayet | śaktitaḥ sarvakāryāṇi kuryann addhim anusmaret ||

Translation

ଯେ ଧର୍ମ ଚାହେ, ସେ କ୍ରୁର କିମ୍ବା ନିର୍ଦୟ କର୍ମରେ ଧନ ଅର୍ଜନ କରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ। ନିଜ ଶକ୍ତି ଅନୁସାରେ ସମସ୍ତ କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ କରି, ପରମ ହିତ—ଉଚ୍ଚତମ କଲ୍ୟାଣ—କୁ ସ୍ମରଣରେ ରଖିବା ଉଚିତ।

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• धर्मार्थी: one seeking dharma (righteousness)
• धर्मार्थी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मार्थिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नृशंसेन: by cruel (means)
• नृशंसेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नृशंस
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• कर्मणा: by an act/deed
• कर्मणा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अर्जयेत्: should acquire/earn
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ज्
• Form: Vidhi-linga, Optative, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• शक्तितः: according to (one's) ability
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शक्ति

• सर्वकार्याणि: all tasks/acts
• सर्वकार्याणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वकार्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• कुर्यन्: doing/performing
• कुर्यन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Shatr (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अद्धि: indeed, surely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्धि

• मनुस्मरेत्: should keep in mind/remember
• Type: Verb
• Root: मनु-स्मृ
• Form: Vidhi-linga, Optative, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

पराशर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma-seeking persons must not pursue artha (wealth) through nṛśaṃsa (cruel, harmful) actions; instead they should perform duties within their capacity while remembering the truly beneficial, higher good.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva’s instruction on conduct, Parāśara states a moral rule about livelihood and action: wealth gained through cruelty undermines dharma, so one should act responsibly, proportionate to one’s strength, with the higher welfare in view.