Shloka 2
धन-यज्ञ-दानविवेकः
Wealth, Sacrifice, and Disciplined Giving
वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--राजन! युधिष्ठिरकी यह बात समाप्त होनेपर प्रवचनकुशल महातपस्वी देवस्थानने युक्तियुक्त वाणीमें राजा युधिष्ठिरसे कहा ।।
devasthāna uvāca | yad vacaḥ phālgunenoktaṃ na jyāyo 'sti dhanād iti | atra te vartayiṣyāmi tad ekāntamanāḥ śṛṇu ||
ਦੇਵਸਥਾਨ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਹੇ ਰਾਜਨ! ਫਾਲਗੁਨ (ਅਰਜੁਨ) ਨੇ ਜੋ ਕਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ‘ਧਨ ਤੋਂ ਵਧ ਕੇ ਕੁਝ ਨਹੀਂ’, ਇਸ ਬਾਰੇ ਮੈਂ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਸਮਝਾਵਾਂਗਾ। ਤੂੰ ਇਕਾਗ੍ਰ ਮਨ ਨਾਲ ਸੁਣ।
देवस्थान उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical inquiry: Arjuna’s claim that wealth is the highest good is not accepted uncritically. Devasthāna signals a reasoned evaluation of wealth’s place within a broader hierarchy of values (especially dharma), urging attentive listening before drawing conclusions.
After Yudhiṣṭhira’s preceding remarks, the ascetic-teacher Devasthāna begins his response. He introduces the topic—Arjuna’s assertion about wealth—and prepares to deliver a focused explanation, asking the king to listen with full concentration.