Shloka 8
धन-राजधर्म संवादः
Discourse on Wealth and Royal Duty
सर्वारम्भान् समुत्सृज्य हतस्वस्तिरकिंचन: । कस्मादाशंससे भैक्ष्यं कर्तु प्राकृतवत् प्रभो
sarvārambhān samutsṛjya hatasvastir akiñcanaḥ | kasmād āśaṃsase bhaikṣyaṃ kartuṃ prākṛtavat prabho ||
ਅਰਜੁਨ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ— ਪ੍ਰਭੋ! ਸਾਰੇ ਉਪਰਾਲੇ ਛੱਡ ਕੇ, ਸ਼ੁਭ ਸਹਾਰਿਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਵੰਝੇ ਅਤੇ ਨਿਰਧਨ ਹੋ ਕੇ, ਆਮ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਵਾਂਗ ਭਿੱਖ ਮੰਗ ਕੇ ਜੀਊਣ ਦੀ ਇੱਛਾ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕਿਉਂ ਕਰਦੇ ਹੋ?
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharma-question: whether abandoning one’s proper responsibilities and adopting mendicancy is ethically appropriate for a person of high station. It challenges renunciation that appears to evade svadharma (one’s rightful duty), especially in the context of governance and social order.
Arjuna addresses a revered ‘Lord/Master’ and expresses surprise that he would discard all enterprises and seek alms like a common man. The line functions as a pointed objection within a discussion on conduct and royal duty (rājadharma), pressing for justification of such a choice.