Shloka 69

Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154

Devanagari script

इसीप्रकार राजर्षि श्वेतका भी बालक मर गया था, परंतु धर्मनिष्ठ श्वेतने उसे पुनः जीवित कर दिया था ।। तथा कश्रिल्लभेत्‌ सिद्धो मुनिर्वा देवतापि वा | कृपणानामनुक्रोशं कुर्याद्‌ वो रूवतामिह,इसी प्रकार सम्भव है कोई सिद्ध मुनि या देवता मिल जायेँ और यहाँ रोते हुए तुम दीन- दुखियोंपर दया कर दें

Transliteration

tathā kaścid labhet siddho munir vā devatāpi vā | kṛpaṇānām anukrośaṃ kuryād vo ruvatām iha ||

Translation

तथैव राजर्षेः श्वेतस्य बालोऽपि मृतः; धर्मनिष्ठेन श्वेतेन स पुनः संजीवितः । तथा कश्चिल्लभेत सिद्धो मुनिर्वा देवतापि वा । कृपणानामनुक्रोशं कुर्याद् वो रुवतामिह ॥

Word by Word

• {'tathā': 'so

• in the same way', 'kaścit': 'someone

• some person', 'labhet': 'may obtain

• may meet', 'siddhaḥ': 'a perfected being

• one possessing spiritual attainments/powers', 'muniḥ': 'sage

• silent ascetic', 'vā': 'or', 'devatā': 'deity

• divine being', 'api': 'even

• also', 'kṛpaṇānām': 'of the wretched/poor/helpless (genitive plural)', 'anukrośam': 'compassion

• merciful concern', 'kuryāt': 'should do

• may perform', 'vaḥ': 'to you

• your (plural)', 'ruvatām': 'of those who are crying/weeping (genitive plural)', 'iha': 'here

Speaker

जम्बुक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• जम्बुक (Jambuka)
• सिद्ध मुनि (a siddha sage)
• देवता (a deity)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse elevates compassion (anukrośa) as a dharmic response to suffering: even when one is helpless and grieving, relief may come through the mercy of a spiritually accomplished sage or a deity, and the righteous are expected to show kindness to the afflicted.

What is happening in the narrative?

Jambuka expresses a possibility of rescue: that someone extraordinary—a siddha muni or even a divine being—might be encountered and, moved by the lament of those present, extend compassion to the miserable and alleviate their distress.