Shloka 37
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 123 — Bhīṣma–Droṇa–Vidura Upadeśa to Duryodhana
Keśava-vākya aftermath
“जो अधम मनुष्य इन्द्रियोंके वशीभूत होकर लोभवश धर्मको छोड़ देता है, वह अयोग्य उपायोंसे अर्थ और कामकी लिप्सामें पड़कर नष्ट हो जाता है ।।
kāma-arthau lipsamānas tu dharmam evādau ācaret | na hi dharmād apaiti arthaḥ kāmo vāpi kadācana ||
ଯେ ଅଧମ ମନୁଷ୍ୟ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରିୟବଶ ହୋଇ ଲୋଭରେ ଧର୍ମକୁ ତ୍ୟାଗ କରେ, ସେ ଅଯୋଗ୍ୟ ଉପାୟରେ ଅର୍ଥ ଓ କାମର ଲିପ୍ସାରେ ପଡ଼ି ନଶ୍ୟତି। ତେଣୁ ଯେ ଅର୍ଥ ଓ କାମ ଚାହେ, ସେ ପ୍ରଥମେ ଧର୍ମକୁ ଆଚରଣ କରୁ; କାରଣ ଅର୍ଥ କିମ୍ବା କାମ କେବେ ଧର୍ମରୁ ପୃଥକ ହୁଏ ନାହିଁ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Artha (wealth) and kāma (pleasure) should be pursued only on the foundation of dharma; abandoning dharma under greed and sense-slavery leads to ruin, because true prosperity and enjoyment cannot be sustainably separated from righteousness.
Vaiśampāyana, as the narrator, delivers a moral reflection within the Udyoga Parva’s counsel-filled context: he contrasts the downfall of those who chase gain through improper means with the proper order of life—dharma first, then artha and kāma.