Shloka 5

Vasiṣṭha on Saṃsāra, Guṇas, and Misattributed Agency

Mahābhārata 12.292

Devanagari script

न धर्मार्थी नृशंसेन कर्मणा धनमर्जयेत्‌ । शक्तित: सर्वकार्याणि कुर्यन्नद्धिमनुस्मरेत्‌

Transliteration

na dharmārthī nṛśaṃsena karmaṇā dhanam arjayet | śaktitaḥ sarvakāryāṇi kuryann addhim anusmaret ||

Translation

Người cầu dharma không nên tích lũy của cải bằng những hành vi tàn nhẫn hay vô nhân. Trái lại, hãy làm trọn mọi bổn phận trong khả năng của mình, luôn ghi nhớ điều thật sự lợi ích và nâng cao—thiện ích tối thượng.

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• धर्मार्थी: one seeking dharma (righteousness)
• धर्मार्थी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मार्थिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नृशंसेन: by cruel (means)
• नृशंसेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नृशंस
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• कर्मणा: by an act/deed
• कर्मणा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अर्जयेत्: should acquire/earn
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ज्
• Form: Vidhi-linga, Optative, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• शक्तितः: according to (one's) ability
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शक्ति

• सर्वकार्याणि: all tasks/acts
• सर्वकार्याणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वकार्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• कुर्यन्: doing/performing
• कुर्यन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Shatr (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अद्धि: indeed, surely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्धि

• मनुस्मरेत्: should keep in mind/remember
• Type: Verb
• Root: मनु-स्मृ
• Form: Vidhi-linga, Optative, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

पराशर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma-seeking persons must not pursue artha (wealth) through nṛśaṃsa (cruel, harmful) actions; instead they should perform duties within their capacity while remembering the truly beneficial, higher good.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva’s instruction on conduct, Parāśara states a moral rule about livelihood and action: wealth gained through cruelty undermines dharma, so one should act responsibly, proportionate to one’s strength, with the higher welfare in view.