Shloka 39

Devanagari script

ऐश्वर्यमदमत्तांश्ष मत्तान्‌ मद्यमदेन च | अप्रमत्ता: शठान्‌ शूरा विक्रान्ता: पर्युपासते

Transliteration

aiśvaryamadamattāṁś ca mattān madyamadena ca | apramattāḥ śaṭhān śūrā vikrāntāḥ paryupāsate ||

Translation

Wika ni Nārada: “Ang mga nalalasing sa kapangyarihan at ang mga nalalasing sa alak ay maingat na binabantayan at pinamamahalaan ng mga mapagmatyag—ng mga tuso, ng matatapang, at ng mapangahas—na naglilingkod lamang upang samantalahin ang kanilang kawalang-ingat.”

Word by Word

ऐश्वर्य-मद-मत्तान्those intoxicated with the pride of power/sovereignty

मत्तान्the intoxicated (ones)

मद्य-मदेनby intoxication from liquor

चand

अप्रमत्ताःthe vigilant / not careless

शठान्the deceitful (persons)

शूराःheroes / brave men

विक्रान्ताःvaliant / mighty

पर्युपासतेthey attend upon / wait upon / serve

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Power and intoxication breed heedlessness; such lapses attract opportunists. Therefore, one should remain apramatta (vigilant) and not become matta through aiśvarya-mada or madyamada, since crafty and bold people may ‘attend’ only to take advantage.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Narada’s discourse within the Shanti Parva’s instruction on conduct and governance, he observes a social pattern: the intoxicated—whether by authority or by drink—become targets for vigilant yet deceitful and forceful individuals who stay close, watching for openings.