Shloka 24

Devanagari script

नाहं कामाजन्न संरम्भान्न द्वेषान्नार्थकारणात्‌ । न हेतुवादाल्लोभाद्‌ वा धर्म जह्यां कथंचन,“राजन! मैं कामसे, क्रोधसे, द्वेषसे, स्वार्थवश, बहानेबाजी अथवा लोभसे भी किसी प्रकार धर्मका त्याग नहीं कर सकता

Transliteration

nāhaṃ kāmāj janan saṃrambhān na dveṣān nārtha-kāraṇāt | na hetu-vādāl lobhād vā dharmaṃ jahyāṃ kathaṃcana ||

Translation

వైశంపాయనుడు పలికెను—ఓ రాజా! కోరికవల్ల గానీ, ఉగ్రకోపవల్ల గానీ, ద్వేషవల్ల గానీ, స్వార్థప్రయోజనార్థం గానీ, కుతర్కపు సాకులతో గానీ, లోభవల్ల గానీ—ఏ పరిస్థితిలోనూ నేను ధర్మాన్ని విడువను।

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम्
• Form: common, nominative, singular

• कामात्: from desire / due to desire
• कामात्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम
• Form: masculine, ablative, singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• जनन्: producing / generating
• जनन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), masculine, nominative, singular

• संरम्भात्: from anger / from violent agitation
• संरम्भात्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संरम्भ
• Form: masculine, ablative, singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• द्वेषात्: from hatred
• द्वेषात्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वेष
• Form: masculine, ablative, singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अर्थकारणात्: from self-interest / for the sake of gain
• अर्थकारणात्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ-कारण
• Form: neuter, ablative, singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• हेतुवादात्: from sophistry / from arguing pretexts
• हेतुवादात्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेतु-वाद
• Form: masculine, ablative, singular

• लोभात्: from greed
• लोभात्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोभ
• Form: masculine, ablative, singular

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• धर्मम्: dharma / righteousness
• धर्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• जह्याम्: I would abandon
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), Parasmaipada, 1st, singular

• कथंचन: in any way / at all
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथंचन

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• rājan (the King)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse asserts unwavering commitment to dharma: one must not forsake righteousness due to desire, anger, hatred, greed, self-interest, or clever rationalizations. Ethical integrity is presented as non-negotiable, especially for those in positions of responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates a statement emphasizing steadfast adherence to dharma. Addressed to a king, it frames the moral stance expected amid escalating conflict and political pressure.