Shloka 58
अध्याय ३३ — कर्म, दैव, हठ, स्वभाव और पुरुषार्थ पर द्रौपदी का उपदेश
Draupadī on Action, Fate, and Human Effort
न हि केवलधर्मात्मा पृथिवीं जातु कश्नन | पार्थिवो व्यजयद् राजन् न भूतिं न पुन: श्रियम्,“महाराज! केवल धर्ममें ही लगे रहनेवाले किसी भी नरेशने आजतक न तो कभी पृथ्वीपर विजय पायी है और न ऐश्वर्य तथा लक्ष्मीको ही प्राप्त किया है
na hi kevaladharmātmā pṛthivīṃ jātu kaścana | pārthivo vyajayad rājan na bhūtiṃ na punaḥ śriyam ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: “Tâu Đại vương, chưa từng có một bậc quân vương nào chỉ chuyên chú vào dharma mà có thể chinh phục cõi đất—cũng chẳng nhờ thế mà đạt được phú quý thế gian hay vương uy rực rỡ.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores a tension in rājadharma: exclusive absorption in personal righteousness, without the strategic pursuit of artha (power/resources), does not by itself secure sovereignty or prosperity. A king must integrate dharma with effective governance and statecraft to sustain order and success.
Vaiśaṃpāyana addresses a king and makes a general observation about rulers: mere devotion to dharma alone has not historically led to conquest of the earth or attainment of prosperity and royal fortune, implying the need for a broader, pragmatic approach to kingship.