Shloka 22
कालनियमः शोकशमनं च
Kāla as Regulator; Pacification of Grief
दुष्यन्त्याददतो भृत्या नित्यं दस्युभयादिव । दुर्लभं च धन प्राप्य भृशं दत्त्वानुतप्यते,“अपना वेतन यथासमय पाते हुए भी जब भृत्योंको संतोष नहीं होता, तब वे स्वामीसे अप्रसन्न रहते हैं और वह धनी दुर्लभ धनको पाकर यदि सेवकोंको अधिक देता है तो उसे उतना ही अधिक संताप होता है, जितना चोर-डाकुओंसे भयके कारण हुआ करता है
vaiśampāyana uvāca | duṣyanty ādadato bhṛtyā nityaṃ dasyubhayād iva | durlabhaṃ ca dhanaṃ prāpya bhṛśaṃ dattvānutapyate ||
वैशम्पायन उवाच—वेतनं लभमानाः अपि भृत्याः सन्तोषं न यान्ति; दस्युभयादिव नित्यं गृह्णन्ति गृह्णन्ति च। स्वामी च दुर्लभं धनं प्राप्य यदि भृत्येभ्यो भृशं ददाति, पश्चात् अनुतप्यते; तस्य संतापो दस्युभयसमो भवति।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral tension in household and royal life: dependents may remain dissatisfied even when paid, while the giver may suffer anxiety and regret when distributing hard-earned wealth. It points to the need for discernment in giving, prudent stewardship, and cultivating contentment on both sides.
Vaiśampāyana continues an ethical reflection in Śānti Parva, using the example of servants and a wealthy master to illustrate how fear, greed, and dissatisfaction can persist despite material provision, and how excessive giving of scarce wealth can lead to later remorse.