Shloka 12

Devanagari script

भूतानामपर: कश्रिद्धिंसायां सततोत्थित: । वज्चनायां च लोकस्य स सुखेष्वेव जीर्यते,कोई-कोई मनुष्य तो सदा प्राणियोंकी हिंसामें ही लगा रहता है और सब लोगोंको धोखा दिया करता है, तो भी वह सुख ही भोगते-भोगते बूढ़ा होता है

Transliteration

bhūtānām aparaḥ kaścid dhiṃsāyāṃ satatotthitaḥ | vañcanāyāṃ ca lokasya sa sukheṣv eva jīryate ||

Translation

نارد نے کہا—کوئی شخص ایسا بھی ہوتا ہے جو ہمیشہ جانداروں کو ایذا دینے میں لگا رہتا ہے اور لوگوں کو دھوکا بھی دیتا ہے؛ پھر بھی وہ عیش و عشرت کرتے کرتے بوڑھا ہو جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

भूतानाम्of living beings

अपरःanother (person)

कश्चित्someone

हिंसायाम्in violence

सततalways/constantly

उत्थितःengaged/risen (set) upon

वञ्चनायाम्in deception

चand

लोकस्यof the people/world

सःhe

सुखेषुin pleasures

एवindeed/only

जीर्यतेgrows old/decays

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Narada

living beings (bhūta)

the world/people (loka)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a moral paradox: some people commit violence and deceive others yet appear to thrive and reach old age in comfort. It prompts reflection on the difference between outward prosperity and inner/ethical accountability, preparing the ground for deeper discussion of karma, justice, and dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Narada is describing a category of wrongdoers—habitual in harming beings and cheating society—who nevertheless seem to live pleasantly. This observation functions as an example within a broader Shanti Parva discourse on conduct, consequences, and the complexities of moral order.