Shloka 1

Kṣemadarśa–Kālakavṛkṣīya Saṃvāda: Counsel on Impermanence, Non-attachment, and Composure in Dispossession

Devanagari script

ऑपनक्रात बछ। अर: - हाथी

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | dhārmiko 'rthān asamprāpya rājāmātyaiḥ prabādhitaḥ | cyutaḥ kośāc ca daṇḍāc ca sukham icchan kathaṃ caret ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira hỏi: “Thưa ông nội, nếu một vị vua sống theo dharma mà dù nỗ lực vẫn không có được của cải; lại bị các đại thần quấy nhiễu; và còn bị tước mất cả kho tàng lẫn quyền cưỡng chế (quân đội/quyền trừng phạt), thì vị vua ấy—vẫn mong cầu an ổn và phúc lạc—phải tự xử thế ra sao?”

Word by Word

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3, Singular

• धार्मिकः: righteous
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धार्मिक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अर्थान्: wealth/means
• अर्थान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• असम्प्राप्य: not having obtained
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-आप्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (sense), Non-finite

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अमात्यैः: by ministers
• अमात्यैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमात्य
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• प्रबाधितः: oppressed/harassed
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-बाध्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च्युतः: fallen/deprived
• Type: Verb
• Root: च्यु
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कोशात्: from the treasury
• कोशात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोश
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• दण्डात्: from punishment/authority (coercive power)
• दण्डात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• सुखम्: happiness/well-being
• सुखम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• इच्छन्: desiring
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कथम्: how?
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम्

• चरेत्: should act/live/conduct himself
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-liṅ), 3, Singular

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• the King (rājā)
• ministers (amātya)
• treasury (kośa)
• daṇḍa (coercive power/army)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a dharmic dilemma in kingship: when a ruler loses wealth and coercive power and is undermined by ministers, what ethical course of conduct remains to preserve welfare and stability without abandoning righteousness.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s discourse on royal duty, Yudhiṣṭhira asks Bhīṣma for guidance about a righteous king who has become powerless—bereft of treasury and enforcement—and is pressured by his own ministers.