Shloka 62

योग–सांख्यसमन्वयः, रथोपमा, व्यक्त–अव्यक्तविवेकः

Yoga–Sāṃkhya Synthesis, Chariot Allegory, and the Vyakta–Avyakta Distinction

Devanagari script

बालानां प्रेक्षमाणानां स्वयं भक्ष्यमभक्षयन्‌ | तथा भृत्यजनं सर्वमसंतर्प्प च दानवा:

Transliteration

bālānāṁ prekṣamāṇānāṁ svayaṁ bhakṣyam abhakṣayan | tathā bhṛtyajanaṁ sarvam asaṁtarpya ca dānavāḥ ||

Translation

Trong khi lũ trẻ nhỏ nhìn với niềm hy vọng, bọn Dānava lại tự mình ăn hết đồ ăn. Cũng vậy, chúng để mặc toàn thể gia nhân và kẻ nương tựa đói khát, không được no lòng, rồi chỉ ăn vì mình.

Word by Word

• बालानाम्: of the children
• बालानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• प्रेक्षमाणानाम्: of those watching/looking on
• प्रेक्षमाणानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रेक्ष्
• Form: Shatr (present active participle), Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• स्वयम्: themselves
• स्वयम्: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम्

• भक्ष्यम्: what is to be eaten; food
• भक्ष्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ष्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अभक्षयन्: they ate/devoured
• अभक्षयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: भक्ष्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• तथा: thus; likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• भृत्यजनम्: the group of servants
• भृत्यजनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्यजन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सर्वम्: all (of it/them)
• सर्वम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• असंतर्प्य: without satisfying; leaving unsated
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: संतृप्
• Form: Absolutive (ktvā/lyap), lyap (gerund) with privative a-

• दानवाः: the Dānavas (demons)
• दानवाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

शक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śakra (Indra)
• Dānavas
• children (bālāḥ)
• servants/dependents (bhṛtyajana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse condemns selfish consumption: taking resources for oneself while children and dependents watch in need is adharma. Ethical leadership requires first ensuring the welfare and nourishment of those under one’s care—especially the vulnerable.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śakra (Indra) describes the conduct of the Dānavas as a moral failing: they eat desirable food themselves while children look on and servants and household dependents remain unsatisfied, illustrating greed and neglect of duty.