Shloka 27

Devanagari script

धर्म समाचरेत्‌ पूर्व ततो<र्थ धर्मसंयुतम्‌ ततः काम चरेत्‌ पश्चात्‌ सिद्धार्थ: स हि तत्परम्‌

Transliteration

dharmaṃ samācaret pūrvaṃ tato 'rthaṃ dharma-saṃyutam | tataḥ kāmaṃ caret paścāt siddhārthaḥ sa hi tatparam ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: “Trước hết hãy thực hành dharma; kế đó hãy tích lũy của cải theo đường lối phù hợp với dharma. Rồi sau, giữ hòa điệu với cả hai, mới có thể theo đuổi kāma (hưởng thụ chính đáng). Nhờ gom đủ ba mục tiêu của đời người theo đúng thứ tự như vậy, con người sẽ thành tựu chí hướng và mãn nguyện ước vọng.”

Word by Word

• धर्मम्: dharma, righteousness
• धर्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• समाचरेत्: should practice/observe
• समाचरेत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + चर्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पूर्वम्: first, earlier
• पूर्वम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• अर्थम्: wealth, purpose (here: wealth/artha)
• अर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• धर्मसंयुतम्: endowed with dharma, righteous
• धर्मसंयुतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म-संयुत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• कामम्: desire, pleasure
• कामम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• चरेत्: should pursue/practice
• चरेत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पश्चात्: afterwards, later
• पश्चात्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात्

• सिद्धार्थः: one whose aims are accomplished; successful
• सिद्धार्थः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्ध-अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• तत्परम्: devoted to that; intent on that (goal)
• तत्परम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्-पर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches the proper sequencing and integration of the three human aims (trivarga): begin with dharma (ethical foundation), then pursue artha (wealth/power) only when governed by dharma, and finally enjoy kāma (pleasure) in a way compatible with both. This ordered life leads to true success and fulfillment.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the didactic setting of the Śānti Parva, Vaiśampāyana continues conveying instruction on right conduct and governance of life’s aims, emphasizing that prosperity and enjoyment are legitimate only when rooted in dharma and pursued in a disciplined order.