Shloka 35

अरण्यवृत्ति-वैराग्योपदेशः | Forest Discipline and the Program of Non-Attachment

Devanagari script

कृत्वा हि विविध कर्म तत्तद्‌ विविधलक्षणम्‌ | पार्थिवैर्नुपति: स्वल्पै: कारणैरेव बध्यते

Transliteration

kṛtvā hi vividha karma tattad vividhalakṣaṇam | pārthivair nṛpatiḥ svalpaiḥ kāraṇair eva badhyate ||

Translation

طرح طرح کے، جدا جدا اوصاف والے بہت سے کام کر کے نامور ہونے والا بادشاہ بھی، نہایت معمولی سببوں سے دوسرے بادشاہوں کے ہاتھوں گرفتار ہو جاتا ہے، مغلوب ہوتا ہے یا مارا جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having done
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• विविधम्: various
• विविधम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कर्म: deed/action
• कर्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तत्: that
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तद्: that (each such)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विविध-लक्षणम्: of diverse characteristics
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध-लक्षण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पार्थिवैः: by kings/earthly rulers
• पार्थिवैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• नृपतिः: the king
• नृपतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्वल्पैः: by small (things)
• स्वल्पैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वल्प
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• कारणैः: by causes/reasons
• कारणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• एव: only/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• बध्यते: is bound/captured (is brought under control)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद, Third, Singular, Passive (कर्मणि प्रयोग)

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• nṛpati (a king)
• pārthiva (other kings/rulers)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Worldly power is unstable: even a celebrated ruler can be undone by seemingly minor causes. Therefore a king should not rely on fame or past achievements, but should secure rule through dharma, vigilance, and prudent governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s discussion on conduct and kingship, Yudhiṣṭhira reflects on the precariousness of royal fortune, noting that other kings can overpower even a renowned ruler for small pretexts or triggers.