Shloka 29

धन-राजधर्म संवादः

Discourse on Wealth and Royal Duty

Devanagari script

इति देवा व्यवसिता वेदवादाश्न शाश्वता: । अधीयते<थध्यापयन्ते यजन्ते याजयन्ति च

Transliteration

iti devā vyavasitā vedavādāś ca śāśvatāḥ | adhīyate 'tha adhyāpayante yajante yājayanti ca |

Translation

ଅର୍ଜୁନ କହିଲେ—ଏହିପରି ଦେବତାମାନେ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ କରିଛନ୍ତି, ଏବଂ ଏହିପରି ବେଦମାନଙ୍କର ଶାଶ୍ୱତ ବାଣୀ। ଧନ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଦ୍ୱିଜମାନେ ବେଦବିଦ୍ୟା ପଢ଼ନ୍ତି ଓ ପଢ଼ାନ୍ତି; ଧନ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଯଜ୍ଞ କରନ୍ତି ଓ କରାନ୍ତି। ସେହିପରି ରାଜାମାନେ ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ଅନ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କୁ ଜିତି ଯେ ଧନ ଆଣନ୍ତି, ସେଇ ଧନରେ ସମସ୍ତ ଶୁଭ କର୍ମର ଅନୁଷ୍ଠାନ କରନ୍ତି। ପ୍ରକୃତରେ, ଅନ୍ୟଙ୍କୁ କ୍ଷତି ନ କରି ଲାଭ କରାଯାଇଥିବା ଧନ କୌଣସି ରାଜାଙ୍କ ପାଖରେ ଆମେ ଦେଖୁନାହୁଁ।

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• व्यवसिताः: resolved, determined
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यवसित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वेदवादाः: Vedic doctrines/teachings
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदवाद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• शाश्वताः: eternal
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अधीयते: one studies/recites
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-इ
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• अथ: then/and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अध्यापयन्ते: they cause to study/teach
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-आपय (caus. of अधि-इ)
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Atmanepada

• यजन्ते: they sacrifice/perform worship
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Atmanepada

• याजयन्ति: they cause (others) to sacrifice; officiate
• Type: Verb
• Root: याजय (caus. of यज्)
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

अर्जुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• devas (gods)
• Vedas
• kings (rājānaḥ)
• yajña (sacrifice)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a tension in dharma: Vedic-ritual life (study, teaching, sacrifice) depends on wealth, yet royal wealth is often acquired through conquest and harm. It raises an ethical problem about the sources of prosperity used for ‘auspicious’ acts.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna speaks, citing what is presented as an established, Veda-backed principle: wealth enables religious and social duties. He then points to the practical reality of kingship—wealth commonly comes from defeating others—thereby questioning the moral purity of royal resources used for righteous works.