Shloka 24
धन-राजधर्म संवादः
Discourse on Wealth and Royal Duty
यः कृशार्थ: कृशगव: कृशभृत्य: कृशातिथि: । स वै राजन् कृशो नाम न शरीरकृश: कृश:
yaḥ kṛśārthaḥ kṛśagavaḥ kṛśabhṛtyaḥ kṛśātithiḥ | sa vai rājan kṛśo nāma na śarīrakṛśaḥ kṛśaḥ ||
ରାଜନ! ଯାହାର ଧନ ଅଳ୍ପ, ଯାହାର ଗାଈ ଅଳ୍ପ, ଯାହାର ଭୃତ୍ୟ ଅଳ୍ପ, ଏବଂ ଯାହାର ଘରେ ଅତିଥିର ଆଗମନ ମଧ୍ୟ ବିରଳ—ସେଇ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ‘କୃଶ’ (ଦୀନ/କ୍ଷୀଣ) ନାମର ଯୋଗ୍ୟ। କେବଳ ଶରୀରରେ କ୍ଷୀଣ ହେଲେ ମାତ୍ର ‘କୃଶ’ କୁହାଯାଏ ନାହିଁ।
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse redefines ‘weakness’ as social and economic diminishment rather than mere bodily thinness: true ‘kṛśatā’ is the loss of means, cattle, dependents, and the flow of guests—markers of prosperity, responsibility, and dharmic household life.
Arjuna addresses a king and clarifies a moral distinction: he argues that the term ‘kṛśa’ should be applied to one whose household and resources have withered (wealth, cattle, servants, hospitality), not simply to someone who is physically lean.